Mars is closer to the earth and bad things are a happening. The blast, the deteriorating economy and a cancelled trip to a paradise island, or so they tell me.

Well, it all began this Monday when I was told that I was to go to Indonesia to revamp a network there. Well, I have been fascinated by Indonesia ever since after Alit was my room-mate, and was/ am looking forward to the trip.

Now, the very next day, it so turned out that most of the chaos was caused by a burnt out modem, which I realised after talking to one of the engineers there over the phone. We despatched a new v.92 USR modem and peace was soon restored. So my trip was postponed to the next week, since the revamp could wait a while, and there were things in Singapore that needed attending to.

But then again, fate had other plans. In the wee hours of yesterday dawn, what do I receive but an sms saying that I was to leave today at any cost with some equipment that would be delivered today morning. After what was a long day at work followed frentic packing, among other things.

Impaled, thats appropriate, for what happened to me when I reached office today, toothpaste and undergarments in a green airbag that has been my short journey companion for many a year now. it's the south african green, not the paki green, and I kinda like that bag. The cruel twist of fate and the juxtaposition of all the mean bullying planets in the sky shook hands to screw me yet again. The equipment had not arrived and I was offered the bait of taking a taxi to the terminal on the morn of tomorrow, which I had no choice but to accept, pretty much like people accept gloomy skies.

Maybe a trip to the temple or some repetitive chanting of the Gan'apati Atharvashirsha tonight will ensure me being on that boat when the clock strikes eight tomorrow.