Random hits on the keyboard

I registered for my next marathon. The 18th Kathmandu Marathon is scheduled for Saturday, 10 October 2026, just one day before Ghatasthapana. The following morning, Dashain will begin. Families will gather, kites will appear in the sky, Dashain dhuun and smells of the festival. And for me, if all goes according to plan, it will also mark the end of a three-month break from alcohol. What a day to resume a glass of whiskey. I am giving myself three months to prepare properly. No shortcuts. No excuses. Clean eating. Consistent running. Adequate rest. I am breaking my last year's marathon record of 4 hours and 28 minutes. This year, the target is clear: sub-four hours. The difference between 4:28 and 3:59 is not only twenty-nine minutes, but it is also going to be what I do in these three months. My run, my food, my sleep and many more, all my small decisions will definitely make a difference. In many ways, the marathon itself is the easy part. The race lasts a few hours. The preparati...

I iron my dresses on an old green rug. I have an ironing stand, but it feels much easier on the green rug on the floor. It is muscle memory. My hands seem to know the routine. Today, I thought that I should write something about my green rug. I took the photo, and here we go. I received the rug, about 25 years ago, as a scale item, along with many others. I no longer own the uniform, boots and badges, but the rug remained, for no particular reason. It still looks good and reminds me a lot of the stories associated with my police life.  It's been more than 22 years since I left the police, but the identity has remained with me. I am often introduced as a former police officer rather than anything else. Apart from the identity, the service has given me a lot of lessons that have shaped my life, for good or bad. The service changed my course of life, my career, my ambitions, my education, my travel, my thoughts and whatnot.  Whether joining the police was the right decision, I wi...