Memoir 2: Leaving Home...

(The massacre I caused at home in the beautiful London suburb of Pinner)

1 year on, my memory serves me well. Here is a diary extract I wrote a year ago...

June 29th 2008

Sitting in my parents room, my suitcase all over my parents bed, my clothes scattered all over the floor. It looks like a massacre has occurred. The multicolour arrangement of clothes and things that I probably don't need look more like I'm packing Joseph's Technicolour dream coat into my bag. British Airways, that trusted airliner, said one could take 25kg, but at the moment, it looks like I got at least 40kg! Hm..what to delete from the very neat arrangement Pooja [older sister] has made of my bag. Well I can't take the gifts out for the family I have never met. I mean, that's just rude! Books - I've taken 4. Okay am I really going to read all of them? Yeah I probably will, so no to that! Boxers - I've taken 10! Why 10? Underwear is apparently cheap in India...three hours till my flight and all I'm thinking about is damn Chaddie's!

Ah sod it. I'll think of something.

1 hour later....

Hmm...I've just had to stuff lots of yogurt and sugar down my throat. Apparently its a good luck tradition, My mums been doing this to me since god knows. Before my GCSE's and A levels she did it, before I left for University she did it, before I started my MA she did it, and now not knowing when she's going to see me again, she's decided that EVERY one in my family (all 4 of them) must stuff it down my throat!

I've quickly looked around the house to say bye to every room. My mum has even made me say bye to the rabbit too. Apparently it has feelings. Well what about my feelings? The rabbit never consoled me after Arsenal lost to Liverpool in the Champions League! Well anyway, I'll say bye to her, although I think she's more interested in her lunch...

The bags are in the car, all 40kg of them, and I'm ready to go...my sister Shreena refuses to drop me to the airport. It's too emotional for us. Instead we embrace and just hold one another for about 3 minutes in complete silence whilst the rest of my family look on. She pulls away and finally says "Go now smelly boy, you smell too much I can't breathe anymore!".

Time to leave for the airport. Bye Pinner. Hello Terminal 5....