(Dear IPOATthe Fourth, that a happy ending is altogether unlikely?

[Hullygully]

Or not?

I have this in my portmanteau. I shall blend in with the locals a treat.

Aye Ma'am. In India, everyone has jewelled elephants for breakfast, served to them by jewelled-elephatn-wallahs.

Ah well, pastures new! We may have to find ourselves a boat, I am not at all sure what happened to the last one.

We have lost a fair few of our fellows, mayhap we will find them on some lone ashram. Has anyone seen dear Ms Mary?

[[http://binalshah.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/meditative-monkey1.jpg Om shanti>>

Oh FFS.

Om shanti

Hare Krishna

Anyone for a samosa? Tis a long way to the port.

oohh yummy, yes please.

I must say I prefer a nice yogurt drink whose name temporarily escapes me to those endless tisanes.

Bhaaji?

I want to say Lathi - but that's a policeman hitting stick.

Lassi.

Here, have a selection of indian style snacks I have created in the royal kitchens...

Let me see, Bhajis, fresh coconut chutney, koftas, poppadoms, chicken tikka nibbles....

Thank you, Mimi. Do you have any dosas?

oh yes, amusingly miniature ones...

Mmmmffff anyone any boat ideas?

Port Out, Starboard Home, eh?

I can aid you all in your spiritual journey, alas the physical I must leave to you. I am as useless as ever.

Ah, yes, some lovely cool lassi. Or some refreshing nimbu pani. Could someone pass the samosas? Thank you kindly.

Are we on the boat yet? I think Mimi sold the previous one to the Ikea merchants of Alexandria. I suppose we could go over land instead. Someone did want to swing by Petra, as I recall.

(Was going to have fish pie for dinner, but may now have to make samosas and some sort of curry).

I must swoon, but I wonder Mimi, do you not have any more of those balloon affairs at your disposal?

Indeed, I believe there is to be a balloon ascension in Hyde Park this very afternoon! I shall check the pamphlet I spotted in the vestibule.

ah, here it is!

Oh what very luck and fortune!

Let us nibble longer upon these spicy delicacies and then hie us to the park where we may, ahem, hijack yon balloon and head East.

ahh - a ballooon ride. i missed the last one. How exciting.

I am of a most delicate disposition. Will there be some less spicy morsels available en route? I realise we are relying upon wind for our transport but too much of anything is surely undesirable.

Paggy, dear, you didn't miss the last one, you brought dear Captain Darcy, oozing in a trunk...This time we may inspect your luggage before boarding.

Sausage?

I did?

I remember transporting my darling Captain and how well that turned out. He was quite himself in no time but to be sure he did lean a little on his footless side when over tired...

Well I must assume thatthe Queen of Huns used some foul trickery to wipe my mind when she had me at the mercy of her Quinny - I feel it must be so. To this day I can hear that ominous buzzing in my dreams...

Sauisage ? How delightful..

[om nom]

Oh I do love a good ride!