GIFTS

Here’s my 6.30am to 7.o0 am slice of the day.

It’s almost time to rush out. I get my fruits and nuts in a plastic container and make sure the kitchen is tidy. My plan is to have a salad for lunch at the cafeteria, so I don’t bother taking any lunch from home.

With my socks on I decide which shoes to wear. Trainers? Maybe… I check the weather forecast on my phone, 22 to 24 degrees Celsius. I can wear my sandals. I stretch and pull my socks off my feet and make sure my feet are well oiled. I then spend a minute or two deciding which sandals to wear, black or brown. I always go for comfort so I know either one will do.

I quickly check the time… 6.43am, it’s time to get in the lift to ride six floors down. As my ride gets to me around 6.45am I make sure I am standing at my entrance by that time.

I greet our security man, three of them alternate and they look identical to me. With their minimal English ,my greeting is, “Xin Ciao ” which always receives a delightful response. I dash to the entrance with my three bags. It’s a three bag day today. My ruck sack, hand bag and my little green basket which holds my fruits and nuts.

The car arrives between 6.45 and 6.48am religiously each week day morn. My two colleagues pick me up in our chauffeur driven taxi. Mr. H, speaks no English so here too, “Xin Ciao” works. When we do communicate we are at the mercy of Google Translate.

Our ride to work is quick at that time of the morning. The sights are sometimes novel . This morning I saw three workmen on a tiny motor bike. I exclaimed … “There are three adults on the bike!”