The Second Timer

Please click the photo above to play the daily videoA new week, and the sky over the Klang Valley hadn’t got the memo. The haze was still hanging about, that pale, indecisive grey that’s neither weather nor not-weather. It makes the whole city look slightly out of focus, as if someone forgot to wipe the lens. I’ve stopped pretending it’ll lift by lunchtime. It never does.

I spent part of the weekend catching up on Week 4 of the NFL, which tells you everything about my relationship with live sport. I’m a delayed-viewing man now. There’s something faintly absurd about watching a game whose result the rest of the world settled days ago, carefully avoiding headlines like a man stepping around puddles. But I’ll defend it. Knowing nothing and watching it unfold, even late, is still better than reading a score and feeling nothing at all. American football remains a sport I enjoy far more than I can sensibly explain. Every few plays I think, why does this need four downs and a committee meeting? Then someone throws a forty-yard spiral and I forgive it everything.

The morning itself was smooth, which I don’t say lightly. Smooth mornings are rare enough that I’ve learnt not to comment on them while they’re happening, in case they hear me. Coffee, a clear inbox, nobody needing anything urgently. Small mercies, and I’ll take them.

Lunch was with the pharma folk. These lunches are a peculiar genre: half conversation, half presentation, with a sandwich somewhere in the middle trying to keep the peace. I don’t mind them. You learn things, occasionally useful ones, and the food is usually better than whatever I’d have grabbed myself. I’d just rather the slides came after dessert.

The afternoon clinic made up for the gentle start. Busy, steady, one thing after another, the kind of afternoon where you look up and the light outside has changed without asking permission. Not unpleasant. Just full. By the end I had the slightly hollow satisfaction of a day properly spent.

Home, and a delivery waiting. The ZONE Timer by New Thing Lab, my second one. I already have one at home, sitting on the desk and quietly bullying me into finishing things. This one’s going to the clinic. Some would call buying the same gadget twice a lack of imagination. I’d call it evidence that the first one works. If anything, it’s a compliment to the designers that I didn’t bother shopping around.

There’s an odd pleasure in a single-purpose object these days. It doesn’t notify me, doesn’t update itself overnight, doesn’t want my email address. It counts down, and then it stops. I wish more things in life had that kind of clarity.

So, a Monday that behaved itself, mostly. Hazy outside, busy in the middle, tidy at the edges. A new timer to keep the next few weeks honest. Whether I actually listen to it is another matter entirely.

Jiro Found His Sushi?

I heard about this documentary for quite some time, but never actually got around to have a look at it. On New Year's Day, while recovering from the on call the evening before, I rented the documentary on my Apple TV. They were doing 99c rental at the time.

Fascinating insight into the commitment of these sushi chefs looking for perfection. Jiro must be approaching 90 today and he hosted Barack Obama and Prime Minister Abe in April 2014 at his modest restaurant - which only sat 10. Such was the regard held for him - not to mention the Three-Star Michelin award that he had.

After watching this, I appreciate the art a lot more. Now I remembered why the sushi bars in Kyoto were small and homely. With not too many items on the menu.

Banzai!

It's June! And this would mean that I can enjoy my sushi again. I did promise to stay away of Japanese food for the month after Malaysia got beat in the Thomas Cup Final. I meant the month of May of course!

So, the curfew was lifted, and it was time to enjoy a bit of sashimi and temaki!

Banzai!!!

Food and Football

After clearing the mess at the house, we went out for a date, Puan Anita and I. I fancied some wagyu beef. Off we went to Yuzu at KLCC. The last time we went there must've been a couple of months before puasa.

Really hit the spot and as usual, I overeaten. Being post-call, it didn't take much to make me doze off. By the time all the food was in my tummy, driving hone proved to be a challenge.

It's all gone ....Quick nap when I reached home, and woke up in time to catch a bit of Cardiff v Man City. Couldn't believe Cardiff pulled a fast one of Citeh!

United won't be playing until early hours of tomorrow morning. A curtain raiser at Old Trafford, when we welcome Jose Mourinho's return with his Chelsea outfit. Should be an interesting one, although the pre-match banter was a bit of a tame one ..... we need more needle!

Teppanyaki Disappointment

We had a nice dinner last night, although I would still have to wait ton have a fast of a proper sushi in Japan. It was a teppanyaki affair we had last night, and I opted for the seafood variety, which the chef was struggling to provide.

We ended up having some garden salad being cooked on a stone stove. In the end, even the chef came around and asked us what else we would like. But the opening gambit of fresh prawns, grilled in front of our very eyes was a successful one. The prawn was fresh, sweet and succulent. But everyone ended up with only one piece.

The miso was rather too salty. And although the meal as a whole was fine, I was expecting that bit extra. This being at the heart of Japan and all.

I was told that we as a group would be heading to a sushi bat tonight. Let's see what Japan dining is all about .... more entries from this trip here.