Teeming

Teeming. First drops just on leaving the room. Without any real sign from indoors it was the old Indian-Malay sapu sapu cleaner from earlier in the afternoon with his forecast that prompted the umbrella. Gone quart past 6, two chapatti, dahl and small serve lady finger. Did young Mimi make a mistake with $6 or return six? Pelting, and unfortunate seating again opposite a Chin chap. How few of the younger generation manage the simple courtesies. As always keen to dispatch the submission, registered and into the barrel. Bozo at the other end of the table voted for the retention of the pillar fan the dunderhead. Perhaps he can’t afford it at home and not about to deny himself the luxury dining out. The Amartya Sen excellent as fully expected; precisely the kind of development and extension needed for this India focus. In the current era the man might be placing a wee bit much hope and trust in reasoned discourse, but never mind. Onward. A venture precisely in that direction might indeed be the best course, even a month holed up in a hotel in old Madras/Chennai and venturing the usual 5-6sqkms offering some initial something. A smashing watching it against the trees out front of the Converts! Against the not-so-dark grey western sky it was quite invisible. Barefoot older cyclist stopping with his pedaling and raising his feet at the sight of the puddle ahead; cardboard squares were doing good service as shields. The old uncle who said some days ago in a similar pour that rain never bothered him stood true to his word: he had indicated to a reluctant companion the route out across Onan, up a way and either into the Converts or else the Haig shelters. Under his flat-cap without flinching through the heart of the deluge come hell or high water. Some cyclists were armed with brollies; the thin plastic ponchos providing jack shit of cover (to quote an old plumber from Downunder.) Motor-cyclists seem to have taken caution, hardly a one. The singleted Malay on the end of the table who had declined the offer of an inner place later attempted to shield his legs with an angled chair. Coffee coloured, steady and firm, an atap roof possibly even in his recent history. Half an hour later the easing brought the Ciggie lady over from the Haig to this half of her clientele.