An Indian friend of Canadian residency who visits Mumbai after a holiday in England brought me souvenirs of London’s iconic postbox and telephone booth that were made out of die-cast metal in China. He was there for the World Cup. Got free tickets to the Grand Stand at Lord’s. Though I suspect he knows nothing about cricket. But a World Cup match at Lord’s is a World Cup match at Lord’s. Who would not go if invited? I asked him, since he was at Lord’s and in London, to get me keepsakes of old Father Time and a London policeman’s helmet. Also a nice bottle of Scotch. Instead, he got me the postbox and telephone booth and two bars of Belgian dark chocolate. He’s a Parsi, delightfully eccentric and an absolute scream, and I love him to death. So I forgave him his thoughtful choice of gifts. The dark chocolate I enjoy. Like red wine, it is supposed to contain anti-oxidants that are good for the heart. There’s nothing wrong with my heart. But if I am to have chocolate then I prefer the dark variety. Somebody once presented me with several bars of expensive Lindt milk chocolate that had sea salt and red chili as added ingredients. They were utterly dreadful. I have experimental taste buds but red chili and sea salt in chocolate are too much of an adventure for me.
More than the Belgian dark chocolate, I am excited about the postbox and telephone booth. They still work in the Queen’s city, you know. And if you have been to London and come back without taking pictures leaning on a postbox or stepping out of a telephone booth, something is wrong with you. There’s also the red double-decker bus and black London cab that you must travel in at least once. But to return to my bright red souvenirs, I’m wondering where to place them on my bookshelf. It has curios from around the world given by friends like the excitable Parsi sportsman to remind me of their travels. I thought next to my old Enid Blytons would be a nice place. These are from a childhood spent lost in the adventures of boys who played a detective in rural England and solved mysteries that baffled the village policeman. There’s also my set of James Bond novels in which Ian Fleming’s famous Secret Service agent 007 begins his every case in cold, grey London before it takes him to sunny and exotic destinations elsewhere. The postbox and telephone booth would be at home with either collection. For now, they are still in the gift box to remind me of the Parsi friend who flew back to Vancouver in Canada last night via London in England.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. He has interviewed almost every famous person. In the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. In a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work, Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward.
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