Sent a tentative budget of 6.8 million pounds for the next 12 months of LLTLF functioning. Assuming one show every two months. Top of the line artists. But left the details purposely vague till Tom has a chance to revert on specifics.

She did not send a thank you note.

5.43 p.m.

There is no point in worrying about that money in the bank any more. I don’t have the time to now call up Lily or Dominic Dawood Ibrahim and sort this out.

Thinking of going to that place I went with Gouri. Expensive yes, but the food was really quite exceptional.

7.58 p.m.

Once a third-rate support staff member with useless education and criminal tendencies, always a third-rate support staff member with useless education and criminal tendencies. BASTARD.

During dinner I got this SMS from Sugandh: ‘Nice waiter joke. But not as good as Raveena movies illegally downloaded on apartment Internet. I have told the manager to bill you for the service. Next time I will tell police. Enjoy dinner. Andy.’

I HATE EVERYTHING.

The french fries were even better this time.

The British Museum is apparently open at night for the next few days. I am quite tempted to go one day after office and have a look at all the free items. But I have to plan this properly. So far, as you know Diary, my attempts at culture have been full of disasters.

But … I feel more positive and adventurous these days …

15 April 2007

10.05 p.m.

MASSIVE Dufresne team lunch at a Jamie Oliver restaurant. No oysters. But I had some veal for the first time. Not bad. Tasted like a mix of beef and chicken.

Almost all the new people have come in for the new project team. It is like a United Nations of strategic management consulting. Out of the 7 here, Dawood Ibrahim is French, I am Indian, there is one local London boy, one Spanish dude, one Turkish guy, one Swedish fellow and one American who is arriving tomorrow.

Hilarious thing happened during the dinner. So as we assembled in the private dining room everyone began to introduce themselves and generally network. So this Swedish fellow comes late and runs into the room. For some reason he looks at me first, shakes hands and says: ‘Menander!’ (At the time I thought he said Maninder.)

Now you know how I am with foreign cultures. I like languages, food items and things like that, and prefer to mix rather than stay aloof. So I also shook his hand and said ‘Maninder! Maninder!’ assuming it is some form of Swedish greeting like hello or ‘enthaanu visheshangal’!