Footprints and Photos ... Part 2

Before THE GOA trip!



During THE GOA trip!

Ashley! Is that you??!! What are you guys doing?!

Now which rally is this?

The first ever Bahrain GP

Monty .. This is Stephen working from home! Bet you have never seen this style!

Footprints and photos ... Part 1

With Jose and ‘THE’ Vitara.

One of the first trips into Shoaib, 4 tree point, 1 tree point, cars getting stuck, digging sand out, BBQ with fine braised sand etc!!

Steve with … sorry, but I only recognise OG.  Someone please chip in with names and comments.  I think this was in 1996, Ooty/Kodai .. 

  

With Jeffery

One of the many impromptu music and drinking sessions over lame excuses of wanting to eat ‘home cooked naadan curry!’



Stephen and Arun ... Enjoy in Peace!

 





Marathon camping!  No pre-planned agenda other than drive, have fun, camp! Stayed outdoors for I think 2 or 3 nights!



Another memory from this trip was when that silly donkey attacked our camp just before dawn.  I saw a brave Prashina peeping out from their tent with glimpses of a rather sloshed Shamil behind her checking on the intruder!  I heard you tell her ‘You check Prashi, I am right behind you!’ Ofcourse this comment has never been owned by Shamil who thinks Prashi and I made this up!

 



Shamil – was this trip with the rather infamous and never said so ‘Not now!!’ comment from Steve?!

It was just too cold for Sarah’s friend in the tent. So I reached for the car keys in Steve’s jeans pocket. He was so drunk, very cozy in his sleeping bag that he screamed out loud ‘Not now …. !!’ Ofcourse this comment has never been owned by Steve who thinks Prashi and I made this up!



The most painful part about camping is getting the sand out of the tent before pack-up.  I think eventually Steve and Shamil invested in a hand-held car rechargeable hoover amongst other gadgets!

Shamil and Steve pretending – Not sloshed! No hangover!  Yeah rite!

Stephen and OG - Tull concert in India



Impeccable knowledge and taste with wines

Dear Shyla, the little girls, Stephen’s family and friends,

I have been overseas and just returned to the Centre. Since I haven’t seen Stephen in his office or around the lunch room this past couple of days, I enquired with Helen about his whereabouts. Needless to say I am shocked beyond belief at what I heard.

Shyla, I hope you remember me from our dinner at my vineyard on June 11th. This was My husband and I were very impressed with Stephen. We never thought he would take up our dare to taste wine from black wine glasses!
We observed his ease with Sniff, Swirl, Taste – impeccable knowledge and taste in wines.

I have confirmed with the centre Shyla, I will be retiring next year June. In all my years of working I have seldom come across a young man with Stephen’s capabilities. I consider myself very fortunate to have been his acquaintance. I am still conjuring the strength to call and speak with you Shyla.

And I do realise it will be school holidays next month. You and the girls have an open invitation to come by the vineyard and stay while. I am sure it will bring you peace and good memories of the couple of times you spent as a family here. You are welcome anytime to be our guest of honour.

With love and prayers,
Catherine

And time goes by ...

Mamzar Beach, Dubai

Come the 19th of this month, it will be a quarter of a year since Steve passed away.


Some say time has passed by so quickly – 3 months?!

Matter of perception! And I won’t share mine here in the fear that I will bring down your spirits – the bottled spirits or the other ones! Excuse is what one waits for to hit the spirits! And let me not be the excuse :)

Thank you everyone for writing on this blog and keeping it so active.

It has been heart warming to read the blog and comments. Has made my grief a bit easier to bear :)

Big Red and beyond! UAE

Steve loved Photography. And whilst he synchronised changing times and technology, he had become quite a master of capturing moments with his Manual SLR.

His camera back-pack would always encompass accessories – filters, lens, film rolls and the Digital camera would often lie unattended and over looked as he would always prefer to photograph with his manual SLR.

Needless to say – his favourite model was Sarah with nature as a backdrop. Here are a few shots! Regards, SS

Khasab, Oman

London Hyde Park, UK

Sydney, Australia

UK

Titisee, Germany

Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness, Scotland

Ras al-Khaimah Beach, UAE

Technical Support from Heaven!

wohoo Stephen Uncle! wassup ..

Yes yes writing to u in better spirits today
Thanks for helping me out now .. with the Internet stuff up … Ur gud :) .. So now I knw ur around ..which is awesome ..
Yaa – strange .. I knw the tel company is not in my mobile ctc list ..n i still looked .. yaa .. n ..saw ur name .. and .. said ‘Just help me now OK Stephen Uncle, make this stupid internet connection work!’
Giggle – and it just started working … wohoo .. not working for hours and working when I aksed you .. yay ..

U might wanna fly up to australia and console that wife of urs
She misses u .. I'm not sure if she wil get over u ever.. but she's all urs .. Make her happy ok .. Make rachel do a jump here n there and sarah to continue being more supportive .. She wil be fine then ..

Thanks again for now ..

I miss u .. U randomly pop into my mind .. Jst miss knowing that ur ntt around .. Sigh ..

I wld like to say ur my guardian angel .. :) yay ..
Feels good and secure ..
Will see u soon ok .. One day

Ow btw ..did u hear abt t solar tsunami? Musta been awsum 4 u to see it .. grandstand view.As usual..only the best view ..

Love, u know who! yaa .. ur fav niece :)