Paulo Coelho's The Witch of Portobello

Hello friends,

So there were about 400 or so people at the Paulo Coelho's latest book signing of The Witch of Portobello. I managed to get there a bit late, and I was person number 292. The organizers were spreading the news that Paulo will only sign personally the first 200 people who were standing in line and they will aso get a chance to meet him personally, and the people following the 200 will get only a signed copy from him. I didn't mind that because I had met Paulo personally, shook his hands and took a picture with him at Borders on Oxford street in London for the signing of his book Eleven Minutes.

I was still very excited about his new book and to get a signed copy. While I was standing there, I happened to see a family I knew, and they asked me to join them, and so I got bumped up about 30 people ahead, which was a blessing because as we came to the entrance of the bookshops, there were only a handful of tickets left to get the signed books. I thanked my heavenly stars, and I managed to get the new book signed, complete with the tshirt, pen, and a 30dhs discount voucher from Magrudys. I started reading the book the minute I got home, and I am almost half way through. It's really exciting and fun to read it. I am deliberately trying to slow myself down now so I can enjoy reading it for the longest time possible.

I have read all of his other books, except for The Zahir, and my favortie one is Veronika Decides to Die, because that book was given to me by a friend when I was on the brink of suicide. That book made me re-evaluate my life and knocked some sense into my head about trying to kill myself.

I will post up the pictures and review of the book once I am done.

On a more different note, as I was driving in the morning, I was listening to Channel 4 fm, and a competition came up. Listeners had to call in to win The Departed dvd, but you had to be the 4th caller. I didn't bother, but then I did call. "Hello, whom am I speaking to?" "This is Mansur." " Do you know you have to be the 4th caller to win?" "Oh yes, and I am hoping hard I am the 4th one!" "Well, Mansur, I have to inform you that you are indeed the 4th one!!!!"


For the first time ever in Dubai, I have actually won something-- even if its a dvd of a movie with 4 Oscars and one I havent seen-- I still won something!!!!

Mansur