Settle on the flight to Melbourne. Spot a shining new tablet in the seat pocket. Some forgetful traveller might be moaning somewhere. Look for the hostess, can’t spot her. Oh, there’s one in the pocket of the seat on the right, and left too, the entire row. In fact, they are in every seat pocket. Did everyone on the last flight had a collective bout of amnesia? Can’t be, it isn’t. Like everything electronic, in-flight entertainment too is hand held now. Tap the tablet and icons come to life. Pictures are sharp and flipping channels is so easy. It’s time every airline unscrews those dumpy television screens from the back of seats and pulls out those ever-so inconvenient chunky remotes on the arm rest. In years to come, finally, that obnoxious flyer in the front seat and his obsession to recline too far back wouldn’t disturb your movie watching.

Are they humans, are they prancers?

Travel to a posh Melbourne suburb to visit friends. Pass a natural reserve and get a story that will keep repeating whenever kangaroos get mentioned in the future. About 50 of them, of all shapes and sizes, stare at the car parked beyond a short picket fence. They seem excruciatingly shy. Flee as cameras come out. Their very powerful hind legs push the soft earth below and they hop away in the bushes. Wonder if kangaroos can be called four-legged or are they, like humans, the other living beings with hands.

Barbeque Nation

They have barbeques in their backyards, on rooftops, in a parking lot, at stadiums and on those many public fire places that are installed in parks and picnic spots. Not far from where the kangaroo spotting took place, next to a hill, overlooking a scenic creek, there are several LPG hot plates. Families and friends, drive down with meat, switch on the fire, have a good time, clean the place and return home. Yes, can’t think of it working that way in India.

Fluff love

Friend has a tiny Pomeranian dog that ran away from home a few New Year Eves back. The family was away at a party and Mushky panicked because of the fireworks around. A day later they got a call, the dog had been traced. “How?” you wonder. Well, every pet here is stitched with an electronic chip that has owners’ details stored. Mushky had met with an accident; one of her legs had multiple fractures. The vet suggested surgery, hospitalisation and a $2500 bill. Second opinion gave a cheap option. “Amputate it, dogs survive on two legs also,” said a doctor, just off the boat from India. The family didn’t have the heart to do it. After dinner Mushky comes bouncing in and jumps into the owners’ arm.

On a positive note

Get chosen for the random explosive check by airport. The security lady shares this information with such a broad smile that you almost feel privileged. She gets up from her chair with the same enthusiasm that Big B shows when he hands out KBC winners cheques. A rod goes inside the backpack and is later inserted into a high-tech device with a monitor. “Test is negative,” she says. Recall Rameez Raja’s tale about Mohammad Asif’s dope test. The story goes that when Asif was told he had tested “positive” he was so relieved. To his horror, he was later informed in this case “positive” was actually “negative”.