Book Review: The Girl who disappeared by Vikrant Khanna

A pacy thriller. 

That would be the headline of the review. 

Thrillers and mysteries are not an easy genre to write. Primarily because readers have read literally hundreds of plots and are waiting to pre-empt the plot. 

Therefore, the author has to take the reader along on the journey, but also find a way to stay one step ahead of the reader. 

The book has easy, credible characters. The story progresses at an easy, bordering on languid, pace. But the advantage of a book is that one can speed read the slow sections if one wants to. 

The characters and the plot develop simultaneously, with details getting added in each chapter. 

While the overall plot is credible, but just so, the rest of the story also has some plot holes that leave the reader, if not frustrated, definitely wondering. Maybe, a writer cannot cover all bases of probability, or the book would become too big to be readable. 

If you have a flight or a short train/bus ride, or are looking for a pacy read to spend a lazy winter afternoon, this book would be a good fit. 

An Ebay Australia listing for Probe8!

 

This is a new one!!!!

Pakistan becomes the first country to successfully counter illegal residents

 While we were busy with other major news, Pakistan, on October 3rd, asked everyone living illegally in the country to move out voluntarily by November 1st or be arrested, and thousands of people left - on their own.

The UN tried to intervene, the Afghan government tried to influence, but the *interim* government of Pakistan kept its stand unchanged. They must leave, or they will be arrested.

This, from an interim government.

Some of these undocumented people reached Pakistan in 1979 but never documented themselves or applied for refugee/citizen status.

This makes Pakistan the first country in the world to successfully deal with illegal immigration.

PS: Is there a human cost? Sure. Is this the right thing to do? No idea. But I think it deserves to be recognised that Pakistan became the first country to issue a warning and actually get illegal residents to voluntarily leave.

Investment Strategies my Gradnparents Taught

 1. Plan for the biggest expenditure first.

2. If it doesnt make common sense, then it doesnt make any sense.
3. Protect your assets and dont blame the managers.
4. While running after Lakshmi, NEVER overlook the importance of Saraswati (meaning, if you have 2 potential partners - one, whose ability to create material wealth is proven but his maturity is slightly lower, and second, who will not help you make as much money, but is a more mature/ wise person, go for the latter.)
5. ALWAYS use a part of your income for charity, and make sure your children know of it.
6. There comes a time when any incremental wealth / income will give u disproportionately more heartburn/ stress. Know what that point is for you. Dont go beyond it.
7. Remember that the reason why you are trying to make all that money, is to be able to sleep peacefully. And remember that peacefully is the key word.
8. Gold never grows old.
9. Dont invest in stocks. Invest in businesses. And then stay.

PS: I will keep adding to this post as more and more things come to mind. I have to put it at one place.. for moi! :-) And.. Thank you!! (to the Grandparents)

On Being a Fleximom

 This post is about being a flexi time/part time/ telecommuting worker, especially if you are a woman.

I have been helped by professional advice from other women, so today, am trying to pay it forward (yes, saw that movie today and cried buckets) .

1. Flexi time is not part time : This, imho, is the single most important lesson for professionals. just because someone is not monitoring your activities does not mean that they are not monitoring the quantum of work being delivered. In particular, sales and allied jobs - your job may or may not need you to enter time sheets and visit sheets, but people notice.

2. Keep it professional: If possible, have a separate corner in your house/room, no matter how young your child or how full your house. If you do flexi time or part time, make sure that those times are dedicated to work and work alone.

3. Excel at something: If you are going to work part-time/flexi time or telecommute, it is important to excel at at least one thing, or take ownership of at least one thing for which you are very important. it really helps.

4. Commitment is not part time or flexi time: Remember that. Your organisation will allow flexibility on the work, not on the work ethic.

5. Communicate and Stay in touch: Sure, you cannot network after office and you cannot go out with the others. But does that stop you from communicating in other ways? Share professional advice, help people in their work, send regular updates to your stakeholders, and make an effort to understand their end of the communication.

6. KRA please: Ask your employers what your KRA(Key Result Areas) are. Is it logging in 4/8 hours for sure? Is it completing the work, no matter how long it takes? is it being available on call at all times, even if u r not working all the time? Find out what this KRA is, and then, make sure that you deliver on it just like another employee without the perks of flexi time etc.

7. Do not accept unacceptable behavior: After you have delivered your end of the bargain, do not let anyone treat you unfairly. You have been fair - you have asked for certain concessions, and you have delivered - professionally and well, on your KRAs, so why should you be short changed on praise or promotion?

And last, but not the least, this talk by Sheryl Sandberg - Facebook COO, is one of the BEST things i have come across in a long long time, about being a woman professional. raise a toast then!

 

That moment when you are listed on thriftbooks.com, and the price of your used book is more than the new book. 

On Memory Loss and Recovery

 After long Covid, I developed serious memory loss. I would forget the morning by evening and the evening by morning. It was a happy place.

Last week, my son shared that this memory loss is affecting him. He worries about me.

Yesterday, I got into a casual chat that turned out to be a 90-minute discussion with some important decisions. Obviously, there was no notepad in the hand and no notes.

At midnight, i documented every single decision made in that meeting from memory. More than 20 decision points. This week, I also remembered most things from long term and short-term memory.

Within a week, the brain learnt to remember better. I am nowhere near my photographic memory of pre-Covid, but it's getting better at an amazing pace.

The human mind works in surprising ways.