Chapter 4 – Unwelcome Changes It was soon after the Raja’s proposal word came to the London household Priya’s grandfather Ram Gopal who she’d never met had passed away. Because of Ram Ropal’s elevated position in the community the Indian newspapers gave full page reports of his life and accomplishments. A date was notified … Continue reading Priya
Chapter 3 – Priya London The Humphrey London family were called into conference when all sons had returned from their respective shipping journeys. It had been some time since John’s and Gita’s death but the shock of those combined deaths continued to be felt. Priya missed her parents terribly and the first few weeks saw the child constantly … Continue reading Priya
Chapter 2 – Family Gita was fifteen years old when her Maharashtra Brahman father Ram Gopal decided to take the family on a trip from Bombay to visit with northern relatives in Gujarat to discuss business. The only practical fast mode of transportation was on boats that regularly traded around the Arabian Sea and provided passenger accommodation as well as cargo space. … Continue reading Priya
Chapter 1 – The Club Matilda Sheffield-John glanced languidly around the veranda of the club house from the comfort of her favourite wicker chair. In the distance she could see a knot of men gathered around the chair where her husband Major Sheffield-John was relating his tired old stories of glorious battles for the Raj in distant places. … Continue reading Priya
On the map above I’ve shaded green the States visited in our 1980 trip Chapter 1 – East Coast Travel On April 10 1980 Ian, Georgine and two girls Helen and Gina picked up hand carry items and trudged wearily onto a Kuwait Airways flight to London. We’d been due to depart hours before take off, but for some reason I’m still not clear on … Continue reading First USA Visit
We’d just finished our journey on the narrow winding road approximately one hour drive from Pune city in India, and entered the area of the dam delivering our water supply. We were being shown around the district by expatriate friends Weldon and Clara and they thought it would be nice to show us the beautiful park areas surrounding this dam and spend time picnicking there. … Continue reading Night the Dam Burst
Searching by the riverside for specks of gleaming gold Sluicing through the pebbles and the sand, Hope to make a fortune for it’s here the miner told Nuggets found were bigger than your hand. Back from California when the goldfields ceased to yield, Australia now the land of hoped success, Shanty town now sitting where there once was grazing field, Every miner working under stress. … Continue reading Gold for Mary
New Beginnings Mili stood silently in front of the newly placed marble slab. Freshly imprinted on the slab was the name Angelo Marconi and in smaller letters it indicated he’d died in a motorcycle accident at age 30. Mili, just turned 29, stared at the freshly turfed ground around the slab and bent down to place flowers in the vase provided at the foot of … Continue reading Culture Clash
The press of city traffic passes by With hopeful eye she watches as they go More people, should she give another try? Perhaps another coin to her they’d throw But none of them would even spare a glance This ragged miss was standing in their way ‘Till someone special happened there by chance He stood there wondering what it was he’d say What fate had … Continue reading The Vagrant
James Elijah and Mary Unwin Immigrants to their “Promised Land” Queensland, Australia Chapter 1 – The Odyssey In the County of Cheshire, England early 1870’s dark tales were being told by school teachers and seafaring men about a great island continent in the Antipodes known as the Great Southland or Australia. Many who went there were never heard from again. It seemed that it was … Continue reading The Immigrants
