The ladies in waiting in the cabin were most polite and generous. And soon after takeoff sleep moved in in fits and starts. The luxury of a bed in flight has changed the way we travel these days. Beds, movies, music, news, pop corn and a cabin to yourself where you can draw the doors for privacy is the stuff of the ultimate. I remember the day when channel music was introduced in flights and the excitement it had caused. And now this. But before this there was Regent Air in USA for the NewYork LA sector, in the 80’s and what an experience that was. A special aircraft, specially built in the interiors with limited seats, perhaps just 15 or 20 and then the works. Stretch limo picked you up from your residence and drove you right up to the door of the plane. Ticketing and luggage all taken care by the airline. There were lounges inside, bar, health club for massages and hair dressing salons, separate ‘rooms’ for movie shows - it was just too much !! On landing into waiting limo that dropped you home and the luggage already delivered at your doorstep. And great company on flight at times - Kareem Abdul Jabbar, that phenomena of basketball and the Lakers, for example.

All that has ended I believe. Private charters now offering similar if not better facilities. Your own bedroom with king size bed and private dressing area and bathroom with showers and the works. Believe one of the Saudi Arabian royalty has his private swimming pool inside his 747 Jumbo !! There is no end and limit to where and how can be done.

The more you have the more you want ! The simple human philosophy and from where we need to stay away if possible.

We hide behind our guilt at times, if at all we exercise it, by telling ourselves that we have worked so hard for all this and that we deserve it. Fair enough, but somewhere there does creep in that element of care and consideration for the others that have lesser.

The delight of meeting up with the grandchildren has been divine ! Their growth in height and weight is the first that strikes you . ‘Goodness Navya ! You have grown so much taller since I last saw you, and Agastya, what have you done to your hair. Its like a spiked porcupine … “. Common routine dialogue, even though we may have met just a week back !

But the acumen of this generation and the speed with which they think and operate is remarkable. The little ones make a mockery of our computer skills and are so adept at any problem or issue that may arise out of our Mac and iphone and iPad and handycams for computer and … the list just goes on and on ..

They laugh at the kind of queries that we put up and go about their business of running the latest gadgetry with the ease of a master. Simultaneously they shall also be respectfully answering their Mother on some domestic chore, eating their favorite ice cream and cake and swinging to their latest music idol - Justin Bebier or some such name, a 16 year old kid sensation, that had a 80,000 packed Wembley Stadium screaming their lungs out at a recent concert ; Navya and Agastya being among the crowd !!

I cuddle the two GC and boast about their Nana doing the same at a concert in 1989/90 - the Jumma Chumma Concert, and they do not pay much attention to it.

“But Nana ??!!! This is JUSTIIINNN ..!!!”

And I realize that obviously Justin has a greater place in their lives than ol’ Nani Nana !!

All in all a great day spent with them and the new gadget their Mother has presented me with … the Bloggie !! A phone like object that records video in HD and can put it on your computer instantly. More content coming your way !!

Aamir and wife Kiran are here too. He sends me a note of his presence in the same facility, I meet up with him downstairs and now we will meet up for dinner tomorrow.

I have touched the preparations for Paris just obliquely. And this is primarily because the ‘butterflies’ needed more attention !

More later .. love

Amitabh Bachchan