Which would you prefer to see written in your passport as your 'Place of Birth'; Kathmandu or Woking?
Lady Magnon should have been born in Kathmandu, but a sudden outbreak of Yellow Fever meant that her pregnant mother was advised to leave, and head back to Blighty. I should explain that Lady M's late father was 'Our man in Kathmandu'; in fact he was responsible for setting-up Nepal's very first foreign consulate, back in the ****'s.
The unborn Lady M was then carried by bearers across the mountains into India, from where a ship eventually took her back to England's leafy Surrey, and her birth in Woking.
As is traditional, the bearers went on strike half-way across the mountains, and my father in law had to negotiate crazy terms in order for them to continue. Not really what you need when 'slowly' rushing for the Maternity Ward of a hospital on the other side of the world.
The photo above is NOT of the actual bearers; a similar one does exist, but somewhere back in an English loft.
"... As is traditional, the bearers went on strike half-way across the mountains, and my father in law had to negotiate crazy terms in order for them to continue. ..."
ReplyDeleteChinese bus drivers tend to do the same, especially on long trips at night. Besides that, they are very parochial and don't like going out of their own home region and often they meet an empty bus in the middle of the night - negotiate a 'handover fee' - and order everyone off their bus and onto the other bus. You get a few kliks down the road at night and they announce that they are not going to your intended destination but are heading elsewhere and if you do not want to go in that direction so you had better get off Now!.
Usually leaving you stranded by the road, in the middle of the night and far from where you want to be in a strange land!
Charming!
DeleteI make the distinction, tho', between 'Bus Drivers' and "Coach Drivers" - Coaches travel the main routes and are a controlled industry. Buses are mainly independents who go to lesser accessible locations.
ReplyDeleteMorning Cro - what on earth made this miscellaneous bit of information pop into your brain - interesting though it is!
ReplyDeleteGoodness knows. I think Lady M had been talking about her very early life in Moscow; which is where she went directly after Woking!
DeleteTomorrow I return to normality; the Elders are in flower. Time for Elderflower Champagne.
DeleteI think mine are ready too! I was going to ask you about this.
Delete"carried by bearers across the mountains into India, from where a ship eventually took her back to England's leafy Surrey"
ReplyDeleteSounds like a trip of a lifetime!
How extraordinary,makes me feel like a mere peasant lol..this is truly an amazing story for your grandchildren.What a wonderous life you have both lead Cro.
ReplyDeleteNothing but trouble!
DeleteI was born not too far from Woking - one of the most boring towns in the south. Oh well, it was the first place in Britain to boast a dedicated Mosque...
ReplyDeleteAnd she could have been born in one of the most exotic!
DeleteLife can indeed be cruel. Woking, you say? Why, the very name is enough to induce a state of catatonic un
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventurous way to start off life.
ReplyDeleteAnd the adventure continues, huh, Mr. M. I love the story, I am so glad the lovely Lady M is here to continue the adventure.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend and look forward to the Elderflower recipe. My wine is slowly getting there, has a wonderful aroma, can hardly wait.
Thank you for sharing.
Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThat's one heck of a birth story.
ReplyDelete