It has to be the old Ali Babba himself and his 40 brittle plastic pots. This photo is very deceptive. Some people out there might mistook him for an elderly voluminous Vegetarian. But in fact this old Ali has had enough! He is going to call it quits after having gone through some sickness and what's not. As he suddenly realise that he is getting old he is finally pulling the curtain. Here goes Forever, and forever farewell. If we do chance to meet again why we shall smile: if not lets make this a good one whilst it last. The countdown begins...
Running a small business is not an easy task. You need to adapt yourself a self-disciplinary approach and virtually adopting a self denial course in your life. No Super, no Accumulated Leave, no Sick nor no Compassionate leave let alone long weekends and public holidays. You just miss out what everyone else does. You sleep late and wakeup late because restaurant is basically a night-time commerce. This restauranting (I made this one up so I knew there'll be a red line underlining for an erroneous spelling it but does it matters so long as it conveys a message and a feeling) is one hell of a marathon run I have done since 1978 and a real loner at one. Just imagine had I been doing something else I would have had great grand children by now or a much healthier lifestyle than what I have .
But then again we look at the positive side. See the number of personal call cards the Teahouse wall attracts. It sure has some meaning for our customers. They are proud to identify themselves with and strongly support what we attempt to do. Here in this tiny dining room they feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.This makes my old task all the more relevant socially and personally in this tightly run situation .
They say a picture is worth more than whatever it conveys. Here It exudes bubbly exuberance and teeming live with absolute human happiness. People are enjoying themselves in a most unrestrained manner.Which helps to explain frequently why hospitality staff like myself stay on for so many years in such an ungodly trade. Perhaps at times we do feel exalted and dignified 
Alas! The Finale!
But there are times you have to draw a line in life and say to oneself 'enough is enough'. I have been living my entire life focused on the past years, wishing that it would have had far better outcome than what it is now . But the time has come at last to draw a line with my long winded past, acknowledging the fact that a huge chapter of my 30 years of life is coming to an end and I am looking forward to the next phase of my life and I am really excited in fully embracing the new changes to come. My first forethought is to land myself as a part-time English teacher somewhere quiet and tranquil in a fishing village in Asia. Do wish me some luck and good fortune. My commercial lease for the premises actually runs out on the 30th June 2011 this year. But I intend to have all of these wrapped up by the the end of 30th May that is a month earlier before I can hand over the key to the rightful owner.
But you are not in any way smelling the beginning of the end of my blog here. On the contrary. It shall continue and you shalt remember now that I have more leisure time at my disposal to mesmerise and to spellbound you the more and perhaps in the near future with many snapshots and interesting blogs from wherever I am.Ultimately I foresee this journal to be transformed and evolved into something more vibrant and over-encompassing. One day I should by retaining the old posts and the new rename it as' Dom's Teahouse Talking Point'. Shall we? Until my next post I fare thee well wherever you are... Cheers!
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