Plain water, Tea and Cola

by Thomas Sim, 15 March, 2003

My colleagues were teasing each other about the symbolic meaning of plain water, tea and cola. They mean wife, mistress and that 'wild thing'.

To start with, plain water is essential for life. It would be our daily necessity and biological need. In management accounting, it is like fixed cost! No matter what you do to it, you need to cover the fixed cost. It is in the system, in the blood and you cannot run away. Plain water is the most basic of all drinks, it is the mother of drinks.

Tea is like tea break; a break from the stressful routine plain water drinking. Tea has anti-oxidant (SuperOxide Dismutase) which is what they call SOD. It is good for the body and rejuvenate your aging soul. Tea is also a mild diuretic; it cleanses your intoxicated body. However, too much tea could also harm your colon - you get electrolyte disturbances and/or intestine mucosa erosion.

What about Cola? It is so tempting, sweet, cooling and god! Refreshing. It recharges your battery of life. Ironically it is so… damaging to your pancreas, to your teeth, to your kidney and your stomach. But, we would all agree that it is an antidepressant and it charge up our lives, especially after a hot afternoon. It takes beyond plain thirst to understand the refreshness of cola.

Tea and cola are like variable costs, you pay more if you want better quality or quantity.

Of them all, it means different thing during different part of our lives. When you think of long term healthy life, plain water is a definite must. It literally means for 'life'. Especially in desperate situation, plain water could save life. Ironically, we take plain water for granted.

When the need of some class and a bit of up-society flare, you need tea and the aroma of the quality and taste. It is kind of show off at times. Needless to say, for the ables, and when the moment comes, you want to run wild and spoil yourself, you look for cola. That moment, you don't care what the hell is acid or sugar.

Hi, guys! No matter when you ended up with, wake up! You still need plain water!

So, for those who have been drinking tea and cola, please come home to drink plain water!