My conscience does not allow or permit me to have escaped from my routine last night. Well … routine is not the correct word … it is too matter of fact and managerial sounding … my desire, my commitment, my obsession now is perhaps closer … my reason to breathe and the oxygen that I shall need ! So I am up and doing what I should have done last night ..! And thank you all for your generous understanding.

This incidentally is in lieu of my post last night. It does not mean that an attempt to write another tonight shall be avoided. No .. tonight there will be another attempt. Or who knows many attempts.

As has been rightly pointed out, sleep has a magical effect on the body and a good rest makes the morning even better. I feel even better this morning than many mornings of the past. The morning formalities over, breakfast, or my version of breakfast shall arrive soon and out in the swinging palms and bright sun ( all those of you suffering from extensive snow showers, do pardon me ) I shall sit myself down dressed in the barest minimum to take in the much required Vit D, or C or F or whatever it is supposed to give !!

Goa is perennial. No matter how often we come here, no matter what and where the nature of work, there is always some region that has been unexplored, some region that has its own beauty, unseen so far and some aspect of its wonderful history and geography unexplored.

Rock, our driver, of Portuguese descent, has driven us through an old route lined with some very unique houses, the history of which and its architecture he describes with great pride. Sea shelled windows, Goan ambience, laid back cosy and secluded within the silence of lush green forestry, is a feast for the eyes. The smiling faces of the passers by, the ‘cribs’ hand made with great care and ingenuity by the side of the roads, bringing in the spirit of Christmas, depicting the birth of Jesus and the new year decorations of lights and star lit lanterns, even in the little village homes of the modest is a delight.

It is incredibly peaceful, quiet and sound less here and that brings with it its own attraction. The birds have started their little conferences, the gentle water fountain that circulates the water in the splash pool tucked away in the corner of our enclosed lawn, now providing that feel of an endless flowing stream, is inviting me to come and cool down after the body burns from the sun and the hammock, netted and tied up between two palm trunks lies vacant, ready to be occupied.

Goa … so many memories attached to it and yet not enough.

The grand children shall be joining us later and they have already sent in their requests and demands. The little lady did not have much to ask, but the little fellow wanted to know if there are jet ski’s around ! I told him yes, but shall now have to check if they are actually available ! Ha ha … the simple wants of the little … so endearing !

During the shooting of my first film ‘Saat Hindustani’, we had wanted to take a shot from a high perched building on a hill overlooking the main square and we had asked the permission of one such house, which Abbas Saheb felt was the likely choice. The owners had agreed. They were a family of a doctor, Portuguese, had stayed back despite the independence and the departure of their countrymen from Goa and were the most lovely, caring and gentle mannered people I have ever met. They had a son and a daughter in their early teens and they became so close and friendly with us that we took them along wherever we went. We communicated with them and kept in touch even when we returned to Mumbai. They would write to us and had on occasion visited us, our gang of the film that is. But time has passed now and I wonder where they are. I still cross that quaint and beautiful house on top of the hill and remember those days and the occupants of the house. They were so soft spoken and gentle and really God’s own. I wonder where … I heard on and off that they went back to Portugal. That the little girl was unwell … just have no idea … but so keen to know about them ..

Is this an old age trait. As you get along in years you begin to value old friends relationships, people you had known, and need to connect again with them. Of sitting and spending time recollecting old stories and moments and just reminiscing the ‘good ol’ days’. I wonder where it comes from ?

Ok … time to sign off ! The mini pool beckons and I need to check on the jet ski’s before I get attitude from Agastya when he arrives !!

Love you all and those in winter distress, sending you loads of sunshine, bright and beautiful  ..

Amitabh Bachchan