Thank you all for coming.

Eight years ago after talking about it for a long while I went to tell my mother that I had taken the year off to drive overland to India. She said with reluctance – “Go and get it out of your system”.

When I went to my boss in London last year and asked for the year off to drive to India and build a cottage he said he’d rather I didn’t – but if I had to then “Go and get it out of your system”

The problem is of course that I can’t “get it out of my system”. India is part of me – and this mad project here – of building a holiday cottage on the other side of the world from where I work is a way of acknowledging this.

A year ago this week someone else who had “India in the system” died in a tragic accident up in Ladakh. John-Mark Raghaviah James was my oldest and dearest friend. In fact I first met him 19 years ago at school just up the hill here in Ooty. John-Mark too was to be in India this whole year commissioned to write “the definitive guide to touring India by motorbike”. We had planned to do some of these tours together.

I have named this cottage “Raghaviah Cottage” after John-Marks Indian middle name. John-Marks mother Christina, and his 4 siblings, Rachel, Oliver, Giles and Sebastian are all here with us and in a minute I am going to ask Christina and her grandson Ethan to cut this ribbon.

But first a few thank you’s. This is by no means a comprehensive list – and the order has little significance though I’ll start by being chronological.

Paul Dodds – for introducing me in January to Jeff MacManus
Jeff - known fondly as “Jungle Jeff” – for first bringing me to Bokkapuram and showing me how “mad” – and hence appropriate – building here is. 
Hugh (or Q) Tyman – for first showing me this plot and introducing me to Jungle Retreat and Rohan.
Then 2 of the most important thank you’s to people not present
Rohan for selling me the land plus lots of general support and Nevin Wilson – who will be here soon – for taking on the responsibility of owning the place.
Then there is Hermi and Ayesha at Jungle retreat for lots of support.
And many more of you too.

Finally the most important lot – Balan and crew here who have done a wonderful and speedy job in building this place in just over 4 months.

Thank you all.