To the OWC members.
It is with mixed emotions that I write this letter, excitement at the prospect of moving to Cairo, Egypt – new beginnings, sadness to be leaving Chennai, home for the last 5 years. I can honestly say that living in Chennai has been wonderful and yet quite challenging at times for us personally and professionally.
I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to be involved in the OWC and have made many wonderful friends in the process. The OWC is well positioned to continue its charity work. Chennai is changing rapidly and with a steady membership, and a committee of dedicated hardworking individuals the work of the OWC will hopefully continue to support those less fortunate than us. Happily for me, I will maintain a relationship with OWC by checking the blog site every now and then!
Living in Chennai has greatly enriched my life. It has made me laugh, smile, and jump up and down in excitement at times and also cry and roll my eyes heavenwards and shout in complete frustration at other times. I have enjoyed life a lot here and it has been made very easy by knowing such kind and caring people who live in the Chennai community. My thanks go out to all of you, for the years of genuine kindness, unstinting support and generosity. Your collective names would fill pages, but you know who you are, some have moved on but are not forgotten.
A privilege of living here has been that we have come to know, respect and cherish the Indian people and Indian way of life. India will always remain in our hearts. Our children have grown up here and genuinely have had a fabulous early childhood. They have been spoilt rotten by our staff and have had a happy and carefree existence, with wonderful holidays and cultural experiences. We have dozens of photos and happy memories to take away with us and to remind them of their life in India.
I'll miss the craziness of Chennai. The bumpy roads, the street scapes, the kids playing Cricket – everywhere. The happy, smiling people. The fabulous food. From the wide, tree lined avenue of TTK Road to the cows crossing the road ever so slowly on the ECR. Where else in the world will you find a doctor’s office adjacent to a herd of cattle or a bike repair shop next to a Restaurant?
We have spent fabulous holidays exploring the country, meeting new people and finding out about the history of India. We will be intrigued to know and see how the city of Chennai evolves in the future.
This is closing a chapter, certainly, but not closing a book, and in the meantime my fondness for Chennai won't ever go away, I'll just honor it differently now, and in the meantime I have some new challenges and obligations to fulfill.
Thank you for your support and friendship.
I would also like to say thanks for the beautiful flowers and kind words written in the last newsletter.
In closing, I will say peace, goodness and love to all.
With warm regards,
Felicity Kelly
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1 comment:
We owe a huge thanks to felicity for all her hard work and efforts over the past five years - I met her within 24 hours of arriving, and we have both never looked back - from supporting each other through times in hospital (both of us!), to running OWC committees, playgroup and endless events together, to just being there for each other through the rough times and especially through the good times - the birth of Rhea etc!! Laura, Olivia and Nikhil have spent hours upon hours playing together - special moments for them. Felicity has been a pillar of strength when I needed it, I hope I was the same for her. I will miss her more than I can say.
Sejal
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