Do leave home without it - the handphone, that is

I HAVE rabbited on about modern communications in many articles. The first one was when SIA announced e-mail facilities on their aircraft. My concern then, and now, is that humans ought to be able to escape from communication with others.

My first big problem was prior to e-mail or handphones. It was 1981 and we had escaped from Singapore for the beach just north of Kuantan. We were staying at the Titik Inn, a few shacks behind the beach with a communal barbeque facility. Take your own sleeping bag, frozen beer and steaks.

It was magical, because we saw horseshoe crabs mating - the shallows were awash with them - and it was also my introduction to swimming in a fluorescent sea.

It was magical until the second day, when we were hailed by one of the owners. I must call the office right aw…