What a wealth of kindness and good feelings. Many thank to all of you. My neighbour is a software wallah and dropped in to help me, and I am back on the forum. As for my health, I am working on it. My appetite is creeping back, I am dropping my ration of pain-killer, and my shiny new bicycle, lightweight and folding, allowed me to take it on trains and so reach a lecture in Bloomsbury last night. I shopped in our good shopping street today. But I came back uphill with the bike folded into the boot of a minicab.

If I may adapt a charming line from a correspondent, I try to be the kind of person Fodors forum readers think I am. Well now, I turn with pleasure to current Fodors questions.

Thanks again to you all.

Ben Haines

Hello Ben, nice to have you back. As a fellow cycling enthusiast my sympathies are with you, but not to worry, I'm sure you'll be in full cycling mode soon. My own bike sits patiently in my front porch, awaiting the end of cold and snow.

By the way, I assume a 'wallah' (as in 'software wallah') means 'expert.' Wonderful word, I wonder what the origins are.

Sue: Wallah is British-Indian from the Hindu meaning servant, as in tea-wallah, fan-wallah & fire wallah.

The experience of the British on the Indian sub-continent immeasurably enriched the English Language.

My mother was born in India, one of the final products of the Raj and returned in '49 to a home country she'd never seen before. Her language and that of her (now deceased mothers even more so) is liberally laced with idiomatic phrases and words that well mark her out as an Empire Child.

You should see some of the Indian-English language newspapers published in India, like the Hindu Times and The Deccan. A very precise and yet flowery english is used. It's really both very attractive and, dare I say it, quaint.

regards to BH and all the other great posters on these boards.

Dr D.

Dear Mr Haines, So glad to see you back and about again. There are so many intersting lectures next several weeks,how nice to be able to enjoy them again.

Thank you Dr_Do_Good for enlightening me. I had a sneaking suspicion that it might be Indian in origin, along with such words as 'verandah' and 'gymkhana'. (I would never have guessed 'servant' though!) I will make a point of looking for the newspapers you mention next time I'm in London, a newstand there might carry them.

Welcome back Ben, what a nice Valentine this is to see you back. I two, ride a folding bike.
Sue, you can read the Hindu times on line. As I have friends in India, I readit sometimes.

I have been wondering where Ben has been. Every time I see a train question I check it out just to read Ben's response, but I haven't seen any lately and now I know why.

Get well soon Ben. Glad to see you are now re-linked. We all appreciate your advice.

Best Regards,

Delighted to have you back, Mr Haines. I am off to London in a couple of weeks and was researching some of your previous threads when I caught up with the fast-breaking news contained in this one. I am a 4-year veteran of this website and cannot tell you how much your info and the grace with which you deliver it has meant to me over the years.

Best wishes on the speedy recovery of your appetite and healing of the "pins"!

Mr. Haines: What a shame! You have been sorely missed. I had thought your lack of helpful advice was because you yourself were traveling. I'm sorry to hear it was a health problem instead. I sincerely hope you will be well again soon, and back with us helping plan our trips, as well as off on a wonderful trip of your own.

Good to have you back Mr. Haines . . all the best.

Rich

Welcome back Mr. Haines. As you can see from the above, you were missed.

Dear Mr. Haines,
I am so truly sorry to hear of your illness, and I am so glad to see you made it back to this Forum.

I was in the UK last month, and although I thought of the possibility of meeting you, did not want to disturb you, particularly if you were not feeling well. I hope and pray you feel much better, and will be here to give us sound advice, and inject civility when needed.

My very best wishes to you, and you are still now and forever one of my knights (with shining armor optional, clean clothes are certainly a fine substitute!).

BC

Mr Haines,
On a rainy grey day in Florida, it felt like the sun came out when you returned to Fodors!
How lovely to have a new light bike, that will be next on my getting fit list.
Sending continued Good Health wishes, Scarlett ((F))

Best wishes to Mr. Haines for a complete & speedy recovery. I enjoy his posts and practical advice!

I'm curious as to why I have been told to take my well wishes "somewhere else". As I'm sure you are all aware, I mean what I say. Therefore, when I wish Ben Haines the speediest and fullest recovery, I mean it most sincerely.

Welcome back Mr. Haines. I enjoy reading your posts and appreciated the recent advice you provided for one of my questions. Take care, WT

Mr. Haines,

I congratulate you. It is very hard in ones normal day to day life to touch so many people, but it is obvious from the number of posts here that you have done so. Your selfless help to us all is much appreciated. (I can attest to that through email correspondence with you.) Countless people whom you have never "met" hold you in quite high regard. To transpose your humanity to a medium in which personal humanity is lost most of the times must be a testament to your character. And for that I commend you. And let that be an example for which we all strive to reach.

I hope your health continues to improve. And thank you.

Ben: Just saw this thread. My sincere best wishes for a quick and complete recovery. Anyone who knows where Koszeg is, is tops in my book. We look forward to your return.

Hoping you get well soon, Mr Haines.

Welcome back, Mr. Haines! Will be looking for more of you over the next few weeks!