A PEEK INTO SCHUMI'S DIARY - MONACO

Hello tifosis. I had a bit of a strange weekend, I can tell you. So far I have not revealed the true reason of what is happening to me in Rascasse on Saturday, but quite honestly and obviously I would like to get it all over my chest.

To start with, I'd like to thank the Ferrari pitcrew for going on the Planet-F1 poll and voting "No it was a complete accident." For the last two days.

Because this is truly what it was. I know many people have said many nasty things about what I did, but it is true. Keke Rosberg said it was the cheapest dirtiest trick, but what does he know about F1. When he was World Champion in 1982 he won it with only seven points, and three of those he got by converting Air Miles. Jarno Trulli said if he was parking the car he could do it better, well maybe that's what he'll be doing for a living after this season. Jacques Villeneuve said it was the most embarrassing thing he's ever seen. Well, he clearly hasn't seen Ron Dennis dance!!

I challenged all the critics and said they should come up and tell me I'm a cheat to my face. All they have to do is get through the tight security around the outside of the Ferrari motorhome, fill in a "Schumi-you're-a-cheat" accreditation form and wait to hear back from Don Corleone (the latest one). Then we shall see, eh, eh!!

Anyway, back to what happened on my second hot lap ...

It all started on the Friday, our day off. As you know in Monaco we practise on Thursdays and take Friday off, because it is traditional in Monaco that nobody works on Friday because nobody has to do very much except scratch their arses and buy stuff. Anyway, we had a hard promotional day and at the end of it, Luca, Chris, Ross and I decided to do what the old F1 drivers used to do in the swinging 1960s - pay a visit to the Tip Top club. So, we got there and I had a couple of ginger beers while Ross helped Luca, who was still there chasing dolly birds on his Motability scooter.

I'm not used to the fizzy bubbles and all of a sudden I was going dizzy and only remember waking up in this hotel room in my underpants and there is this blonde model with enormous gazongas absolutely stark naked. The kind of girl Kimi Raikkonen can't pull at a pole dancing club. And she was walking towards me saying: "Schumi, you have been very bad, I will have to tie you up now." I can remember blurting out, "No, no, I tipped the waiter 20 euros, that is enough." At which point Chris Dyer my engineer comes in and rescues me before she can take a video for F1 Racing Magazine or BBC or CNN ...

Now, you know your Schumi. On the Saturday I was totally focused on the job in my hands and I have already secured the pole position. For the second run, was travelling at speed towards the Rascasse when suddenly I get to the hairpin and look up. There, on the balcony, is the blonde with the enormous norks waving her mobile phone at me and dressed in nothing but earrings and a big smile.

The shock is so great that I stamp on the brake pedal and lock the brakes, (as you have seen on TV) then my mind goes blank and all of a sudden I have wandered towards the wall like Yuji Ide on one of his better laps. I stagger out of the car and everybody is shouting, "You parked the car, you cheat," while I was secretly thinking "I hope the blonde with the enormous norks hasn't got any photos". So when people ask me what happened, I can hardly tell them about my hotel romp ... hence all the trouble!!

Thankfully I am lucky to have the support of some understanding tifosis like you, who know I am not just fabricating an elaborate cover story because secretly I was actually cheating, which quite honestly and obviously I wasn't.

BETRAYED

Just heard the news about about our so honorable education minister being invited for convocation at our alma mater!! Talk of betrayal ... Homer couldn't have possibly found a better example!!

As shocked as I was at this psychophancy, I still can't quite believe the decision!! Over and above that it first has to be approved by a host of administrative big heads ... the supposed administrators of IIT Kgp - kind of makes it even more incredulous!!

When students across the nation are trying to ensure that India's future remains unharmed, we the cream of the nation sit aloof thinking of silent protests, online petitions and the greater good of remaining on good terms with our administration. Granted, its a sensible and rationial approach, but only when "the administrators" deserve that. This single act has taken away any faith I had in the institute authorities. Rage, betrayal, humiliation are among some of the feelings in me at the moment. The proudest moment in your life, spoilt by a group of "ever so caring" individuals who think of nothing better than the students' good ... dedicated to serving the students!! Personally, I would have found the humble yet honest postman in the Indian Postal Service a better person to receive my degree from than our (OH!!) so high profile honorable chief guest!!

Or maybe the our wonderful authorities wanted to call him over to show student solidarity against the proposed policy by giving the students a chance to organize a mass boycott!! Hah ... wishful thinking, dude !!

For the 1st time in my life, have I felt ashamed to be a Kgpian ... can only hope it will be the last!!

MOVING ON IN LIFE

Kolkata, Kgp, Canada ... at times I wonder how 3 chapters of life got over so easily. Ironically, the place which has been the biggest part of this seemingly unreal book, seem to occupy the least time in my mind. Perhaps its an indication of things taken for granted at home!!

In retrospect, Kolkata formed the base which subconsciously affects and influences everything in my brain. Kgp forms the greatest memories which revive laughter and fun in an otherwise dull life; most importantly it reminds me of how beautiful life can be!! Of course, all of us somehow realize this only after those 4 or 5 years when its time to bid adieu to the place!! And finally coming to Canada, its just the tip of the iceberg that I've seen, the proverbial iceberg in this case being the Schlumberger life. It was unforgiving, stressful and even painful at times but having left the place, images often flash up and now I realize that I had come to love the place and the people a lot.

Which makes me come to my final phase in life ... from the hectic, bustling life in Canada to a very serene European lifestyle in the rather infamous city of Amsterdam. It has been a quiet first few weeks here, except for some celebrations (Amsterdam style specifically :D) but I feel its a beautiful country, rich fields of tulips with quaint little farmhouses lined with countless windmills, contrasted with the bustling city life of Amsterdam, which on the other extreme has historical mesuems dedicated to art and culture and of course, not to miss out, the fabulous canals and tunnels in the city.

As I sit staring out of my window looking at the gentle waters flowing by on a relaxed quiet weekend ... here are few images that caught my eye and which I've tried to reproduce on a jpg format!! Cheers Amsterdam ....

Tulips in all their glory (from a train) ...

Land of the windmills ...



A peek outside my window ...



























Maybe soon it will be time to move on again and Oh foolish brain ... you'll wallow in the depths of nostalgia!! Wonder why we realize the value of everything so late?

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Back again after a really long break which provided lots of "food for thought". There was a whole range of things on which I could have written this comeback post, some being the 49.5% reservation issue, my travels around Canada, thoughts on coming into Netherlands or even the glorious life in Amsterdam!! However, I chose to refrain from all of these just to put into words some thoughts on those special people who have made such a huge difference in my life.

This post has been influenced a lot by the more popular series by the same name (I'm yet a novice 'coz am only in the 3rd season) but what many people watch just for the sake of a laugh did set me thinking what life would have been without those few people who make fun of you but at the same time lend you that shoulder letting you know that you always have the proverbial pillar to lean on.

Being the "typical Taurean", as many people on Orkut may be familiar with, friends for me always have been a select group of few people who realize quite long after meeting me for the first time, that I indeed can speak or even can be worth hanging out with!!

Looking back on school days, I distinctly remember having been obsessed with ensuring that I sat with the same 2 guys (it was a boys' school ... I cudn't help it!) starting from Class 6!! Even in the 10th standard, when we had a rather harsh class teacher who took it upon herself to change all of our places to mix us up, somehow I managed to get back my friends around me a couple of weeks later. Even in high school, the equation remained pretty much the same.
Those last few days in 2001 when it was time to bid farewell to all those wonderful guys, my mind was blank ... it seemed that the world had come to an end.

As life moved on in university, again slowly but surely we built up another close well knit group and before we realized four years had flown by and once again deja vu ... time to bid farewell and move on in life.

Finally looking back at 2005- the most recent group of friends, brought together in a strange land from different corners of the world by a company that believes in cultural diversity. Yet as if Fate pre-ordained, 6 gruelling months later, when we had grown so habituated to each other as if we hadknown each other for years, it turned out to be same cruel, old story ... separated and sent to countries as diverse as China, UK, Saudi, Algeria, Yemen, Thailand and Canada!!

The point of this post is not to post an account of friends I've had all these years; its just to ponder back how similar each situation has been ... the only difference has been the span of time we've known each other before having opened up and putting forward that hand to form that special bond of friendship. Each time at the back of my mind, I knew someday we'd be forced to move away and yet each time that got overruled by stronger urges to form that social network.

Yet why that urge ... is it that we make friends because we find similar mindsets or is it just a method we adopt to survive in a harsh, new environment? After all animals in packs always turn out stronger in the face of adversaries. Friendship has always been a 2 way deal where either side is willing to sacrifice and help the other; but isn't that something we take as a condition for the relationship? The question uppermost in my mind at this moment is - "Is friendship a veiled expression of selfishness that we glorify in no uncertain words or is it just that special bond that links people together irrespective of their past history?
[ All comments to help me sort that out are welcome :-) ]

But to end this rather long post, there are no words that I can pen (or type) to put down my gratitude and feelings to my friends. I'll not mention thanks for I believe friendship knows not that word. But to all those who've reached out to take my outstretched hands, never let go of that grip. Your marks will always remain special to me ...

BETRAYED

Just heard the news about about our so honorable education minister being invited for convocation at our alma mater!! Talk of betrayal ... Homer couldn't have possibly found a better example!!

As shocked as I was at this psychophancy, I still can't quite believe the decision!! Over and above that it first has to be approved by a host of administrative big heads ... the supposed administrators of IIT Kgp.

When students across the nation are trying to ensure that India's future remains unharmed, we the cream of the nation sit aloof thinking of silent protests, online petitions and the greater good of remaining on good terms with our administration. Granted, its a sensible and rationial approach, but only when "the administrators" deserve that. This single act has taken away any faith I had in the institute authorities. Rage, betrayal, humiliation are among some of the feelings in me at the moment. The proudest moment in your life, spoilt by a group of "ever so caring" individuals who think of nothing better than the students' good ... dedicated to serving the students!! Personally, I would have found the humble yet honest postman in the Indian Postal Service a better person to receive my degree from than our (OH!!) so high profile honorable chief guest!!

Or maybe the our wonderful authorities wanted to call him over to show student solidarity against the proposed policy by organizing a mass boycott!! Hah ... wishful thinking, dude !!

And for the 1st time in my life, have I felt ashamed to be a Kgpian ... can only hope it will be the last!!