Chinaman, My New Book
I do not run short of ideas to write.
The latest is the Chinaman in cricketing parlance, the left arm unorthodox spin.
But this piece is not about cricket but about China and Chinese.
My relationship with Chines is ambivalent.
Ever since Ma Ra regime brought down Chines prostitutes to Ceylon (I was not the spoke person for Ceylonese prostitutes), there was love an hate relationship with China and its people.
Aggravated by Chinese invasion of Tibet.
Mao Zedong systematically destroyed all Buddhist monasteries in China on the pretext of destroying Opium Trade which was started by the British.
To begin with I do not like the Harmony OS and Harmony Chip that originate from China.
Chinese can never master Linux.
Their language is pictorial not based on English alphabet and cannot the decipher Linux Base.
The book on Linux Fundamentals is on editing stage and it is an academic exercise.
I would protect Linux ideas in this book.
All the Linux hearsay ideas which cannot be included in this book would be included in the book named Chinaman.
If at all, Chinese will destroy the Code Base of Linux.
Cyber security from Chinese influence is paramount for Linus Torvalds.
That is my heightened grouse.
Then there are Chinese massage parlors.
Acupuncture
Chinese Medicine
Chopsticks
Gambling
Gymnastics
Belt and Road
Chinese Fried Rice
Food Addictives
No Chinese food in our kitchen
The bottom line is I have almost become vegetarian now. Ceylon Tea, Jaffna Walpanam (bananas) and Curd (I have got used to a type of Chinese Yoghet Drink) are my vegetarian base.
Despise all Chinese food with Ajinamoto.
We suffered from Chines restaurant syndrome in UK. We coined this syndrome in England in early 1980s.
We used to get a irritating headache after Emglish Beer and Chinese food.
Of course, Italy winning world cup in 1982, I became addicted to Pizza, Ravioli, Patsa and all types of Italian food.
Olive Oil was the latest addition to the meal.
Olive oil is supposed to be good for one's heart.
I never had headaches with Pilsner, Lion Larger, Three Coins and other beers in Ceylon.
By the way, I was a Gin and Tonic guy with snooker and billiards as side dishes.
No alcohol after retirement except occasionally on a birthday party.
It stared with stopping smoking in 1979 after landing on the plane to England.
I forget even the names of cigarettes, of yesteryear.
Bristol ? 2 or 3 ? Aces (card tricks) Indian ??? Simla.
Best Beers of Ceylon
9 – Lion Strong Beer. 8.8%. A yellow, strong pilsner-like brew. Not my favourite, but drinkable.
8 – Baron’s Strong Brew. 8.8%. Grainy and malty, a bit rough. Now brewed in Singapore.
7 – Carlsberg Special Brew. 8.8%. Pretty much the same as Lion Strong Beer taste-wise.
6 – Grand Blonde. 8.8%. Clear gold beer, with alcohol burn but a bit smoother than some.
5 – Three Coins Lager. 4.8%. ‘The ‘all malt beer.’
4 – Bison XXXTRA Strong. 8.0% (Now brewed at 8.8%). Cool name, somewhat sweet.
3 – Lion Lager. 4.8%. Smooth, clean, a bit of hop bite.
2 – 3C Irish Dark. 7.5%. Amber, malty, heady beer. Sadly this Three Coins is not currently brewed.
1 – Lion Stout (Sinha Stout) 8.8%. Always great.
The beer world in Ceylon has changed a bit since my visit.
That Bison beer that used to be ‘only’ 8.0% is no surprise, surprise, 8.8%!
My beloved Three Coins beers are also now mostly retired or not currently being brewed by the new company that owns them.