Preparing to be Hercule Poirot

Chances are you think you know all about the private investigator (PI). He works from a poorly-lit office that's low on organisation and high on smoke. There, he greets walk-in clients with clever lines and sharp insights, and promises quick results. He then goes about collecting information from bystanders, tails witnesses, takes pictures, searches buildings, finds clues that others have missed, and cracks the case.

In truth, it isn't really that easy. Not only do PIs have to work really hard on the job, they have to work really hard to get the job too. To start with, while being a jack of all trades helps, experience in military enforcement, criminal law, business or political science is truly useful. Next, potential PIs need to enroll themselves in detective school where they learn skills such as checking for fingerprints, collecting samples of evidence and using firearms. They also need to develop their written skills. This comes in handy when they have to produce reports. To make research and information gathering easier, they need to be deft with credit checks and computer-based search resources like Lexis-Nexis.

Developing people skills is crucial as a large part of the job involves speaking to people and extracting information from them. It's crucial that people trust PIs enough to confide in you. An extensive and reliable contact list also helps. Remember private investigation is a lonely affair: people need to prepare themselves for long, irregular, solitary hours.

Finally, before they begin to apply their newlyacquired skills, candidates need to apply for a private investigator's license. The local police station or a detective agency can guide them through the application process. A word of caution here: No one who has any sort of criminal record or an offence history-however frivolous- should apply for a PI licence. They won't get it.

POWER NAP: WHY, WHEN and HOW TO TAKE IT

Whether you're a student or a professional, at work or at home, a power nap can revive you instantly, enhancing your ability to concentrate and the ability to act upon that idea. So what exactly is a power nap, and how do you go about it? Typically, a power nap is between 10 and 30 minutes long, and is taken in the middle of the day to reinvigorate you for the rest of the day. Power naps can be taken at just about any place where you can relax: a sofa, a car, your desk. The key is for you to be mentally comfortable in the place; otherwise, the power nap loses its effect. If your office is napfriendly, just put off the light and snooze on your couch. If not, shift base to your car. Push your seat back, lock the doors and zone out.

Minimise distraction
Turn off your mobile phone and any other potential distractions. If there is background noise or if you suffer from tinnitus, put on headphones with relaxing music. If the light keeps you from falling asleep, wear an eye mask to simulate darkness.

Before your nap
Have caffeine right before you nap. This may sound strange and counterintuitive, but caffeine takes up to 45 minutes to be absorbed. Consuming some right before your catnap will improve your performance later.Remember to set an alarm to go off in 20 minutes. If you're one of those people who can't fall asleep immediately, clock in an extra 5 minutes.

Wake up correctly
When you wake up, give yourself a minute or two to bring yourself back. Concentrate on your breathing, feel your body and do a few stretches. Wash your face, drink water and expose yourself to bright light. If you can, take a short walk to get your body back in sync with your mind.

FLOWER POWER

When it comes to women, flowersthe eternal symbol of love, almost always score you brownie points or get you off the hook, as the case might be. Provided you get them right. For, just like every guy has a 'type' of car, every girl has a 'type' of flower too.

The beer-drinking, jeans and t-shirtwearing girl's flower is the Daisy.

Besides that, green plants, meadow flowers and woodsy accents suit this down-to-earth personality best.

The demure girl who keeps mostly to herself likes the Sunflower. Failing that, what pleases her are lush arrangements with a great variety of flowers.

The opinionated, bird of paradise likes the Bird of Paradise. If that's not possible, monochromatic bouquets with a few, large flowers work best.

The chic, stylish, ultimate fashionista loves the Lily, which spells devotion.

In addition, arrangements of exotic flowers and unusual combinations of shape and texture satiate this lady's need for exclusivity and attention.

Daddy's girl for whom life is served up on a silver platter swears by the Pink Rose. In addition, bouquets of soft colours, light fragrances and accents of lace or ribbon leave her swooning.

DIVE INTO THE DEEP END

Nervous while swimming in the deep? Don't be. Simply follow these tips:

1. Once you're comfortable with your basics, get a water noodle and position it so that it is wedged under your armpits. Swim to the deep end and back as many times as you can. Don't panic even if you stop and can't touch the floor with your feet. You won't drown.

2. After a few days of this, swim to the edge of the deep end without your support and swim back. Gradually increase the lengths and learn to use your arms and feet to stay afloat when not swimming.

3. Always make sure that you have a strong swimmer or a lifeguard watching out for you when you're learning.

PULL OFF WHITE PANTS!

There is just one basic rule here. Never, ever, ever wear white trousers with white shoes. If you do, you will end up looking like Jumping Jeetu aka Jeetendra, the Indian Elvis of the 70s who made the combination famous by being perennially uncool. Tan works well, as do other light colours.

That said, with the warm days still lingering, there should be many opportunities ahead where you can don that pureas-virginal-snow pair of pants and look dapper. One classic that every well-bred male must have in his wardrobe is a navy blazer.

Combine with a white trouser, tuck a white handkerchief into your coat pocket and you will be, by far, the most suave man in the room. In the summer, loose, white linen pants make you look elegant and can be perfectly paired with a blue shirt made of the same material. A pair of shades to complete the ensemble and you are, Mr. Sophistication personified.

The intellectual male can opt for a white or cream courdroy pant. Totally acceptable and comfortable.

Polo tees and denim shirts work well with white pants too.

Finally, if you are a young stud, skinny white denim jeans can make quite the statement.

Add a fitted shirt and you'll be the king of the heap. So go ahead and pull on the whites and live dangerously.

After all, you only live once!

-Arjun Sawhney

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK
If you read this magazine regularly, you already know the benefits of barefoot running: Fewer ankle sprains and chronic foot injuries; less deformed toes; improved balanced; prevention of varicose veins; and stronger muscles in the calf, hips and under the foot. If you're still not convinced or don't want to step on glass, rocks or dirt, you can try barefoot running shoes. In 2007, the Vibram FiveFingers shoe was selected as one of Time's Best Inventions of the Year, as it gives you all the benefits of running barefoot without the physical risks that come with it. But a lot goes into choosing the right size shoe, and this is what Vibram suggests you do: Stand with your heels flush against a vertical wall. Slide a ruler under each foot and measure the distance from the wall to the tip of the longest toe. Take the longer of the two measurements.

Your toes and heel should fit into each pocket comfortably, with your longest toe grazing the end of the toe pocket. You do not need wiggle room as desired in traditional footwear. If you absolutely refuse to wear a FiveFinger shoe, opt for the more conventional looking Nike Free, VivoBarefoot or Newton Running.

SECURE YOURSELF
There's no cause for alarm. Securing your home and family can now be done at the press of a smart button. Analyse your requirements and budget before buying the equipment. If you want video surveillance, drawing a layout of the house will help you understand what components you will need. Since smart homes need complex wiring systems to be installed at the back end, rope in a tech vendor at the very beginning.

Program all the sensors you buy-for doors and windows, glass breakage, motion detectors and pressure-into the keypad that is used to arm, disarm and fix the alarm system. Though only one keypad is required, you can get several and install them at each entrance to your home. Get a video phone for the entrance to see your callers before you let them in.

Remember, while wireless systems are easier to install, wired ones are more reliable under stress.