London

It's almost lunch time in London, but I am not hungry because lunch was served just before the plane landed in Heathrow. For the first time in my life I finished everything that was on my plate in an airplane and asked for more. Who would have thought Neil Perry's dishes could translate just as well on a Qantas labeled plate?

Checking out from the airport was a breeze, thanks to the strings my work pulled to get me out of the airport as soon as possible so I can be out and at our London office stat. Since the client was paying an exorbitant amount of money per an hour of my time and the clock has been ticking since 16 hours ago, I was sure they had something to do with it too.

The first thing I did once in the privacy of the company car is to switch my Blackberry on and immediately reminders and emails rang out. One of them sounded urgent - 'Client wants to meet tomorrow for an early breakfast meeting at 6am for a run through of the proposal.' Great, only half a day left to run a few more sensitivities and finalise the proposal. Well, technically I also have the whole night too. Will do.

'Mam, we're here.' I nodded and got out of the car. The chaffeur helped with my heavy briefcase, carrying it all the way to the receptionist' desk where he handed it back to me after introducing me to the blonde behind the desk. She smiled and led me to a waiting lift and pressed the only button on the panel, floor number 35.

I hardly had time to tap my shoes twice in impatience when the doors opened into a a large open space. Another assistant was standing by the lift to help with my briefcase and showed me into an office reserved for me. My favourite Root Beer drink was waiting for me on the large antique desk. Judging from the chilled glass and the bubbling foam, I could see it had just been poured. How on earth did they know I love Root Beer!

I sat for a little while taking in the fantastic view of London city underneath and around me. The London Eye moving so slowly in the distance was mesmerising. The Thames was actually quite idylic in the surprisingly sunny and warm autumn day like this.

Suddenly there was a tap on the door and I turned around in my chair only to find.... no, I am not in London. Not in a large office with a fantastic view of the outside but in a shared cubicle with grey partitions and darker grey carpets. And I dare say surrounded by grey faces too. The phone is ringing and I am sure it will be be someone complaining of a $2 credit interest miscalculation in their bank account with an average balance of $2M. Yes... immaterial, insignificant, inconsequential. Yes, back to my mundane mundane life...

Climbing Everest

Someone once said that half the battle is won or lost in our mind.

Since about three months ago, I have been very keen bordering fanatical, on scaling the 1000 Steps at the Kokoda Memorial Park regularly. As I have previously written, this trail comprises of about 900 uneven steps up a hill set in very green and natural surroundings. I try to go at least once every weekend, so much so that when my manager asked me what I was doing for the weekend he would always also ask me if I would be going to the 1000 steps too.

Lately though I have lost the discipline to do that so after a hiatus of about a month, I resolved (after seeing a roll of fat hanging out of a pair of jeans I recently bought) to start the regime again. No better time to do it but now, on a Friday evening after work.

There was an avalanche of excuses in my head as I left the office. 'It's not sunny enough, it might be dangerous to go up as there might not be many people at a time like this, you're not dressed properly for the occasion, it's not warm enough, you might not make it to the top because you haven't done it for some time, you might faint halfway' etc. In my head I was already starting to lose the battle already.

I was very surprised to see the car park full as I turned into the park. It turns out that there are many people who go up the trail after work too although I was the only one who was dressed inappropriately in Friday office casuals. If I had gone home to change I know I would not make it out the front door again for the day.

Even while I was climbing the steps, my mind was still restless and tossed doubts of whether I will make it all the way to the top but I did persevere and made the full circuit in about forty five minutes, my usual pace.

The battle was finally won.