Saturday, December 15, 2007
Adieu
I feel like Julie Andrews as she came over the crest of the mountain and looked out into the beyond in the 1965 musical, The Sound of Music. I feel like singing--
So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, To you and you and you.
I'm glad to go, I cannot tell a lie
I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly
So long, farewell, Auf Weidersehen, goodbye. Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye.
The Reunion of the class of 1957--and others from other classes--is December 27-30, 2007 in Udhagamandalam (Ooty) in the Nilgiri Hills in south India. It is at 7,500 ft in the clouds. See my last blog for an update on the programme (British spelling now!)
Many have written letters. This para from Chris Willy aka Chilly: "First I want to congratulate Joy and her helpers (Manohar and Fay) for getting together what looks like an absolutely wonderful trip. Living in Ooty for the winter months, when we often had quite heavy frosts, and crackling nightly fires, it was a time I so enjoyed. ... About six of us biked down from Ooty to Mettupalayam. On a scout trip down there, we went swimming in a river that had just hundreds of iridescent butterflies. My happiest moments were in the wild. Mum loved nature. We visited the elephants at Tepakadu, and went on the most amazing ride starting before dawn. All you could see was this beedie glow high above you. Then it descended, and there was this huge silent beast. The sun came up through the teak leaves, and the elephant, guided by the deft touched of the mahout, steered stealthily toward an abundance of wild game, spotted deer, a gaur, chattering monkeys and colourful jungle cocks. In the evening we listened to a tiger or panther roar from our Forestry bungalow. It would take forever recalling those remarkable times."
I wonder if the hush is still there in parts of the Nilgiri hills.
We stop at Tepakadu on the way to Masinagudi before we visit IPAN --Hill View Farm Animal Refuge in Mavanhalla which has been described as "one of the finest shelters in India " by Animal Aid India. We spend Christmas in Coonoor at the Wallwood Gardens at 6,000 ft surrounded by tea estates--with Wendy, Jyoti, Margo, Terry, Gail, Sharon and Darlene. I hope those train tickets are delivered as promised to Margo when she arrives in Bangalore on the morning of the 22nd.
But before all that...I have to meet Bill in Hong Kong. He is flying on Cathay Pacific and I, because of mileage miles, am flying on Singapore Airlines. We leave at midnight.
PERSONAL NOTES: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Bill. He closed out 5 architectural projects yesterday and is also involved with the historical renovation of the Palo Alto Art League. Congratulations to Holly for graduating from Mt. Albert High School in Auckland as the best all-rounder with numerous awards and accolades. Good on ya! Mum, for traveling to NZ for Christmas--I knew you could do it. Happy Birthday to Meta and Oliver, too.
Sayonara. In Tamil it is Poyitu varen. Literally translated as "I am going--only to return" . And, so do I.
So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, To you and you and you.
I'm glad to go, I cannot tell a lie
I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly
So long, farewell, Auf Weidersehen, goodbye. Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye.
The Reunion of the class of 1957--and others from other classes--is December 27-30, 2007 in Udhagamandalam (Ooty) in the Nilgiri Hills in south India. It is at 7,500 ft in the clouds. See my last blog for an update on the programme (British spelling now!)
Many have written letters. This para from Chris Willy aka Chilly: "First I want to congratulate Joy and her helpers (Manohar and Fay) for getting together what looks like an absolutely wonderful trip. Living in Ooty for the winter months, when we often had quite heavy frosts, and crackling nightly fires, it was a time I so enjoyed. ... About six of us biked down from Ooty to Mettupalayam. On a scout trip down there, we went swimming in a river that had just hundreds of iridescent butterflies. My happiest moments were in the wild. Mum loved nature. We visited the elephants at Tepakadu, and went on the most amazing ride starting before dawn. All you could see was this beedie glow high above you. Then it descended, and there was this huge silent beast. The sun came up through the teak leaves, and the elephant, guided by the deft touched of the mahout, steered stealthily toward an abundance of wild game, spotted deer, a gaur, chattering monkeys and colourful jungle cocks. In the evening we listened to a tiger or panther roar from our Forestry bungalow. It would take forever recalling those remarkable times."
I wonder if the hush is still there in parts of the Nilgiri hills.
We stop at Tepakadu on the way to Masinagudi before we visit IPAN --Hill View Farm Animal Refuge in Mavanhalla which has been described as "one of the finest shelters in India " by Animal Aid India. We spend Christmas in Coonoor at the Wallwood Gardens at 6,000 ft surrounded by tea estates--with Wendy, Jyoti, Margo, Terry, Gail, Sharon and Darlene. I hope those train tickets are delivered as promised to Margo when she arrives in Bangalore on the morning of the 22nd.
But before all that...I have to meet Bill in Hong Kong. He is flying on Cathay Pacific and I, because of mileage miles, am flying on Singapore Airlines. We leave at midnight.
PERSONAL NOTES: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Bill. He closed out 5 architectural projects yesterday and is also involved with the historical renovation of the Palo Alto Art League. Congratulations to Holly for graduating from Mt. Albert High School in Auckland as the best all-rounder with numerous awards and accolades. Good on ya! Mum, for traveling to NZ for Christmas--I knew you could do it. Happy Birthday to Meta and Oliver, too.
Sayonara. In Tamil it is Poyitu varen. Literally translated as "I am going--only to return" . And, so do I.
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