Paddu's Last Letter To Her Family, 16-8-01

NEWS

Hi folks!

All ok on the farm, but I have the flu, and Keshav too is coughing occasionally. His little caretaker girl, Bharati, is also on sick leave, so life ain't easy. Think she gave us the flu, she came one day in between.

We have found a buyer for our jeep, so are riding around in it for the last few days. Dad is sending his Fiat to Mysore where Mathew has found an innovative diesel engine expert, very well recommended, who says he's fixed Fiat diesels before with a simple improvement of his own invention - basically to provide larger pipes for the lubricating oil to reach the engine, for those of you who care. Anyway, he says this work will sort out its problems, so Dad wanted to give it a go, it was otherwise giving lots of trouble regularly. Anyway, we may just keep it here once it's fixed, and let dad get himself a new one, as its easy to maneuver and park in the city, also gives a comfortable ride, compared to the jeep anyway! Now that the piggery is shut down, we don't really need to regularly transport huge amounts of anything. For our Green bazaar days we plan to use a carrier on top.

My Shoushi doggie is in heat, cannot stomach Anton, who tries helplessly to do things, but can't, and is in love with the neighbouring farm's dog instead, who comes visiting regularly. This time unfortunately she's already been crossed, after this we'll have to spay her, also our two young bitches, still teenagers. A Sanjay Gandhi operation, maybe we should do the cat too. Hope I've not alienated everyone, for one reason or the other...

Anju, how are you now, I do hope you're well on the road to recovery. What has been happening at your school, hope all is ok.