Single minded devotion Naval officers stayed at the Nuffield Club in Portsmouth when deputed to establishments nearby. The club had installed a penny and slot gambling machine (one arm bandit) outside the dining hall. It cost a shilling for a try. If one got three apples in a row, a whole bunch of coins fell out. Otherwise the machine swallowed the coin with a vulgar belch. One evening a friend suggested we went for a Chris Barber jazz concert followed by dinner outside. I had never been to jazz concerts before and joined him. Kamath declined saying that he wanted a quite evening and to retire early. He said that he would have a small flutter in the machine. I enjoyed the concert with spirited negro spiritual singing by Sister Maria Rosette Thorpe, a renowned gospel singer. We had a leisurely dinner and came back around eleven The outing cost us about ten pounds. Kamath was still sitting in front of the machine with a pile of coins by his side. I literally had to drag him away. He had to make do with sandwiches as dinner service was closed. He hit the jackpot twice but still was about three pounds down. Kamath believed in Oscar Wildes motto The best way to overcome temptation is to succumb to it!
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 02:18:03 +0000
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