One of the Calvin and Hobbes stories is about the pair of them being taken on a vacation, camping. Amidst all the uproarious chaos that inevitably ensues, the enfant terrible walks up to his father, who is painting a picture of an island. Calvin attempts a rather unflattering guess at the subject of the picture, and his father threatens him with dire consequences if he remains in the vicinity. Calvin rushes to his mother to complain, but as she is reading, he has to content himself with a penetrating observation - he tells Hobbes that adults are very tense when they are on recreation.

It is frustrating to have a weekend come around when you haven't planned for it. In the midst of all the sound and fury that is the week, Saturday sort of creeps up on you. This was one such weekend. On occasions such as these, it is largely sports that I gorge on. Not cricket, because I have lost interest in it and anyway, India has been receiving a thorough drubbing at the hands of South Africa. The Sunday match was no exception - while Sachin Tendulkar scored some much awaited runs, Graham Smith returned the compliment in far more telling fashion. South Africa added insult to injury by finishing in 30 something overs for the loss of just a wicket. So much for my interest in the game.

Manchester United continued their excellent form in the English Premier League. Christiano Ronaldo seemed to make a bit more of his fall than was warranted in the 18 yard box, but they deserved to lead by a goal at half time. When Middlesborough equalized, ManU wasted no time responding. They had thrashed Everton 3-0 mid-week, and while Chelsea managed a draw at Old Trafford, it seems like ManU has found their rhythm this season. I hope they romp through their European Championship game with Benfica this week.

I am watching the Everton - Westham United game as I write this : Pulsating first half but no goals yet.

The Bangalore Strand Bookstore annual sale is on at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Holding it at the stadium is indicative of the sheer volume of books on display (more than 4000 titles, I am told). I am not too sure all books are discounted specially for the sale, but it is a sight for sore bookworm eyes - Three halls full of books spanning all genres. I bought several, but the highlight was the discovery of two by Ismail Kadare, the 2005 Man Booker Prize winner, - The File on H. and The Successor. Besides his winning the prize, I am curious about Albania, a country that I know very little about.

I haven't started on any of the books I bought, because I was deep into the irresistibly named A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian. Marina Lewycka imagines a tapestry of the Ukraine in the British Midlands, woven around the family of a widower who, in the twilight of his life, meets a glamorous gold digger with "superior" breasts. The man believes that life in his native land was transformed by the humble tractor. In the midst of all the upheavals wrought by his feuding daughters, the Botticellian blonde, the latter's ex-husband, her current lover, and others, he is trying to complete a work dedicated to the excellent iron horse. The book, with its under-stated humour and lively pace, is well worth a read.

Everton just scored, through Osman.

Earlier in the week, we had, three friends, gathered at one of our favourite watering holes, Koshy's. More about the institution that is Koshy's some other time. Acquaintances from the restaurant have just published a book, On a Trail with Ants. It is titled thus as the authors believe that they as observers were in actual alliance with the observed, as the ants went about their lives. The handbook has over 150 photographs in colour, including two of the Dilobocondyla bangalorica, a recently discovered arboreal ant. If any of you has more than passing interest in myrmecology, the primer might be useful, and you can contact the authors at antbook.india@gmail.com.

The 'Hammers are still trying, but the equalizing goal still eludes them.

And so, yet another Sunday draws to a close -

I don't know about the petty part, but I like the sentiment.

Stop press : Vaughan scored in injury time for Everton, and the game ended Everton 2 WHU 0.

Tags : books; soccer; bangalore