Still a decent hour to be able to communicate with the Ef .. Would have been late again but did not visit the studio for recording .. was feeling weak, so stayed back and shall be within the sheets soon ..

Inventions in the field of gadgetry are moving faster than I can think .. for the mind to be active and strong and contained, someone once told me to eat walnuts – after breaking the hard shell the nut, pardon the pun, looks like a replica of the brain .. so walnuts it was in the morning .. was because since the hospital the restrictions on food have been severe, and I wonder if walnuts are a desired element .. it is believed though and often joked about that the other name for walnuts is ‘promotional nuts’ … give it to the boss to eat, boss falls ill, you get a promotion !!

I wonder then if ‘eating one’s brains’, came from such ..

No but seriously the brain deteriorates rapidly as age catches up. You pick up the phone to dial a number and while you wait for the connection, you suddenly discover you have forgotten the reason for calling. So … the solution, and a home made one at that is that the moment you decide to make that call, pull out the pen and paper and write down what you wish to say to the person you called, so you have reference. Problem really is .. well not really a problem, but a situation .. that when you have written down the agenda, you find you have remembered all that you had wished to say without referring to that little slip of, tree derived residue, at the time of the call ..

Is this the indication of age, or is it that the brain is occupied in so many acts at the same time – multitasking – as we had some time back spoken about – that it takes a while to register reason .. either way its not a most welcome element in life ..

Okaay !! So am getting into the business of acquiring a Sitar and a Sarod soon enough so I may have the pleasure to be pulling a few strings !! These are times I shall look forward to .. my Sitar, my Sarod, my Piano and me … sounds like the title of a really bad book or movie ! ha ! But … even though I may be able to learn the instruments now, just the fact that I shall be holding them and pretending to be some great master, shall indeed be of great interest and value to me. In the early days of mine in the film Industry, someone took a picture of mine … well several pictures of mine holding or playing a Sitar, I think as property for the decoration of the walls of the sets of our film ‘Abhimaan’ … and now no one is willing to believe that I do not play the Sitar .. ‘stop trying to kid us Mr B, we’ve seen pictures of yours with the Sitar” !! What does one say to such a misconception ! One allows it to breathe its life until it perishes on its own .. many an obstacle in life behaves thus I have noticed .. they all come out looking untrue and false, but battling it has its limitations … at which point of time it would be wiser to just adopt silence, and let preposterous falsehood burn itself out !!!

A tough task for most … easy for those that are in need of sainthood or are pretty close to adopting it !! And since we have spoken of sainthood and astrological indications, we shall distance ourselves from such talk ..

India has been eliminated from the Asia Cup Cricket .. Bangladesh beat Pakistan tonight and since we did not have the required points, we are on our way back. The two teams, BD and P reach the finals and shall battle to win the prestige cup. And the wit and humor on Twitter on this remarkable feat is just .. well remarkable … I would rather refrain from any comment on it … !!

A considerate son returns from London after an event on cinema and gifts me a present. Touched. Presents always bring that smile and feel on our faces. Its not the value of the gift, its the thought, the card, the writing, the packaging, the ribbons and soft hue of tissues for wrapping, that well designed box or bag … just so endearing .. specially when there is no birthday around for miles ..

The Ef keeps doing that so often that I really do not have sufficient words to say just words in response .. but each of you must know that beyond that moment of delivery, beyond that formal acknowledge – that special pen, the paper weight, vou vous, dolls, little curios, cuddlies, a film a book, t shirts, clothing, perfumes … just about every little object of desire that is precious, has great meaning for me … and you must know that …

Love to all ..

Amitabh Bachchan