Ahhh, Jaya - maybe a little OVER -generous - I must guard against these late night posts.. heh.

Nobody EVER knows what to say when they hear that story so don't fuss if the words don't flow. It took me a while too. Now I'm totally cool with it. It's a long time ago.

But no-one gets away with life without a punch or two in the face. That was one of mine. I don't think I'm Robinson Crusoe.

A long time ago Dogster, but never forgotten.

My father who is 82, recently started telling me about his growing up years. His mother divorced his father in 1929 for another man - scandalous in those days. Not knowing what to do with a 3 year old, she packed him up and sent him to be raised by his fraternal grandmother in Connecticut. To this day, he said it was the best thing his mother did for him. His grandmother raised him with the love his mother would not have been able to give.

My point? Well...for the good or the bad, we don't forget much about our early years. And sometimes, oftentimes, things do (eventually) turn out for the better. Keep well.

Dogster,
As usual this makes the best reading, whether at home or on the road.

Thank you for keeping me company tonight.

Awwww, NY - now you're really making me feel good. I'm very flattered you found the time to come visit in the midst of your travels.

All I seem to do is write now. So I'm delighted when someone likes it.

Am glad to hear that you are writing. You certainly have the ability, obviously a man of many creative talents.

Please keep the stories coming they make much better reading than my brought along books.

Dogster, we are anxiously awaiting your Maheshwar installments.

Thanks ladies:
Maheshwar is ready to go, plus a whole new piece on Sikkim and Darjeeling - but there are a few too many breathless India trip reports at the moment.

'Arghhh - I saw a cow! Wow, it's so crowded, OMG I breathed the air and I nearly DIED! I took my shoes off and walked barefoot! Incredible!...'

Why add to them? I'll wait till the coast gets clear. Too much Gasp! India! Gasp! can be a bad thing.

beacause of this type of report, we need your style more than ever!!

dogster, Your audience isn't reading "breathless in India", we want to read "breathing India"! Do post!

Divali is next Tuesday. Will you be in India?

If so, I'm super jealous but hope you have a great time if you are there!

No-o-o-o Jaya, I wish. At the moment I'm deep in the darkness of a tiny Sikkimese village in a valley not far from Rinchenpong.

'Omm-m-m-m-m-m Mane Padme Om-m-m-m-mmm' go the monks.

Doggy is lost.

Alas, all in my imagination. When I find myself I'll show you where I've been.

Diwali, arghh, Diwali, I'm here, not there, I'm sad. But then you pop in, and rhk, and Marija and NY and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all - and I think, mmm, that's O.K. - I'll stay in Sikkim right now.

Soon: sordid secrets, danger and peril, politics and intrigue by the Ranggit River - I may even re-issue the rewritten Bhutan. First Maheshwar, 'cos I promised.

Maybe the weekend...

Yes, please get it up this weekend! I fly out Monday, and won't be spending much time here again until December.

It's so nice when you get back in contact with us!

a) we know you're ok,
b) you're our favorite person we've never met! and,
c) hopefully "b" will change once we get you to a GTG.

Keep well and stay healthy out there.

Can't wait. I am overloaded with work at the moment and your reports always offer some respite....

I'll find a computer someplace and delve into your continution-can't wait!