Category: Chennai

The Barbie Sari

Joey Jones1 Comment

What’s the funniest misunderstanding you’ve ever been part of?

Many moons ago, I saw the most amazing sari. Pink, sparkly, perfect for the little girl in England, I had in mind.

I was in Chennai, living my best life.

Often, when  I was shopping I had my lovely friend Sister Mary with me. She was from  Bangalore. A beautiful place, I had heard. But I don’t recall her being  with me that day.

I’d set my sights on this gorgeous piece and asked the young man its price.

Whatever he said, I responded ‘ Blimey, that’s a bit steep, innit?’.

Bless him, his face was a picture. In fact, as a race, these people are stunning. Their hands, their bone structure,their eyes. Incredible.

He looked at me, bewildered but desperately trying to understand what I had said to him.

I’m a Brummie, I often/mostly converse in colloquialisms.  It’s possible other folk in the UK may not have understood what I said.

‘Blimey- = Blind me/ blasphemous. ‘ That’s a bit steep’  High/ that’s a lot. ‘ innit’= isn’t it?.

I will never forget the look on his face when I uttered those words without a second thought.

But as I write this it, it occurs to me I was so comfortable, in India back then, I didn’t feel the need to regulate my speech. No exaggerated pronunciation, no raising of my voice, no issues.

I was home.

Thank you, Chennai.Thank you to my employers, colleagues, and friends. I had the time of my life x

The Daily Prompts can take us places…

Joey Jones13 Comments

Which languages do you speak and how did that impact your life?

The multilingual amongst us will get to shine the brightest today..and so you should! The ability to converse in other languages is some superpower in my eyes.

When English is your mother tongue, there is less of an incentive to learn another. Lazy of us, I think.

There was a time I was familiar with hearing Arabic and Tamil on a daily basis, and if I had stayed in that place, I might be holding my own.  As it is the only practice I get now with Tamil is with the lad at the petrol station who appears remarkably impressed I can say hello, ask him if he’s had his breakfast then thank him and say goodbye. Bless him.

( He can speak several languages and has a degree in engineering. He’s humble and kind)

I think sometimes that I wish I had stayed overseas…

My lovely friend Sister Mary. Beautiful inside and out

When Tony found his voice

Joey Jones8 Comments

What’s a moment you wish you could freeze and live in forever?

Tony came to me a battered and bruised street dog. He was severely malnourished, unsteady on his feet, broken.

He began to heal, his cloudy eyes cleared, and then one day out of the blue, he barked for the first time. Emotional, moi? Yup

Being Joe

Joey Jones18 Comments

Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.

You may recognise this scrappy little pup. I’ve posted about him before.

This is the first photo I took of him over 20 years ago.

I’d been overseas for many years, and for a multitude of reasons ( all stories in themselves), I decided it was time to head back to the UK. ( Was that wise? Yes, another story there)

For the last 6 months of my stay, I rented a house in Palavakkam, just off the East Coast Road, heading south out of Chennai city.

( I owe a great deal to a taxi driver, Michael, who found and secured the place for me. It was perfect. I’d like to thank him more, but have so far run aground trying to trace him….but I digress)

The van from The Blue Cross of India would drop me at the end of my road each evening. Giving me some time to decompress before I reached home.

One night, this little pup was in the street, hanging out with the big dogs amongst the traffic.  I scooped him up and brought him back with me…..There’s much I could write about here… but this post is how he got his name.

A lovely old friend and workmate of mine said she would have him when I returned to the UK….She was called Mary. So I called him Joseph. Joe.

On the afternoon I took him over to her house he had a great time hanging out with her kids, and then he raced up to me, sat himself at my feet and said,’ can we go home now?’ …We did, and he came with me and my big older boy Tony to England.

We shared a life for 14 years ❤️

UK to India

Joey Jones4 Comments

Share a story about the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home.

London to Chennai 5121 miles.

It was beautiful, in so many ways, and I do have stories to tell. But not today. I’m not feeling it. Instead, a poem called ‘Freedom’…….

Give me the long, straight road before me, 

A clear, cold day with a nipping air, 

Tall, bare trees to run on beside me, 

A heart that is light and free from care. 

Then let me go! – I care not whither 

My feet may lead, for my spirit shall be 

Free as the brook that flows to the river, 

Free as the river that flows to the sea. 

by Oliver Runner..Published in 1918

You can take the girl out of India….

Joey Jones3 Comments

What foods would you like to make?

I would like to perfect a South Indian breakfast. Having written about favourite foods before, I won’t elaborate. Simply to say it’s divine. Maybe I should learn to master a pressure cooker?

For the majority of the years I lived and worked in India there was a cook in the house. How lucky was I to have my breakfast presented each morning, in such a manner. A daily feast. Amazing!

Often I would drop into the kitchen to see what was going on. It was always such a hive of activity. Pans rattling, wonderful aromas, huge piles of palak ( spinach) and bunches of fresh corriander…local chit chat and a Tamil film score in the background….. wow