25 Feb 2023 Saturday - different strokes for different folks

Still groggy from yesterday's late night and drinking, the morning rain softened the day's activities - originally planned as a tennis morning with Ni. Instead EH arrived with Or Kuih made by his sister visiting from the States. 

What remained was a lunch with the PAM council members, I sat with Ivy and Datuk PI and a light conversation ensued; about ArcAsia, about Sri Lanka, about mutual friends, and traveling with difficult dietary restrictions. I divide people I meet into two broad groups; ones that I would have lunch with, and ones that I won't. From this visit to Kuching - I counted 4; the editor, the co editor and past chairperson and an outcast (whom everyone avoided like the plague), whom I thought was sincere in his quest to be vocal and difficult. 

Their approach is quite different from ours; we are less bureaucratic, we reach out to contributors personally, and they respond to us directly. This way we know what is in store in the coming months. We speak to sponsors directly as well, and they tell us what works for them, and what does not. We out ourselves in their shoes, and provide the service and feedback that we would like to enjoy ourselves.