January 2007, seemed to be an interesting time for meeting old friends, that too after more than 3 to 4 decades! I did meet Richard and Jenny Herbert on the 7th January after Sunday Mass at St. Patrick's Church. Now, I was sent a photograph of Richard by Godfrey and Colleen Cabral (you can see them on an earlier visit to Morning Star) which showed a gentleman with a rather 'jesuit' intellectual forehead. So off I went to St. Patrick's looking for a person matching the photograph look-alike, and I did meet a person who fitted the bill, but poor fellow, he was most confused at the names I threw him asking him if he was so and so, etc. He did add more confusion saying he was from Australia, but no connection. I then went around and did spot a match sitting in the church with a slim lady, but from the about experience decided to wait till they were out of church and then pop the question.

Finally after service I braced myself to meet the gentleman, but then lo and behold he was not around and did not appear from the door where I saw him sitting. The I went inside and then there i saw them engrossed in dialogue with Bangalore's famous 'Mrs. Ross' , then I knew I was right this time and asked the gentleman to come outside. Once outside we caught up with old times. My wife Maisy happened to meet this couple during her stay recent  trip to Australia, so she knew what they looked like. Then we fixed a date to meet and we did meet , spending an enjoyable evening with them at 'Desmonds' (owner is Desmond Rice) and also in the company of Dudley Mascarenhas another old time 'local friend'. After all my secrets were out, imagine to my surprise that I was noticed by Richard during my school days to have been known for my 'brisk walking' , geeze!!, I would have been competing with 'Lugan'! Finally a trip was fixed to visit Morning Star, and we set off to the orphanage picking up Dudley on the way.

Spending a few moments with Richard and Jenny, taking in the breath-taking view from their room, it's always priority with me to capture scenes at the moment, because they never return when you want and the way you see it. Here is a pan view of Ulsoor Lake. Click on the image to get a bigger, hopefully more clearer view.

Once reaching there after a crushed car ride, a little stretching of legs was required. The scene opened out and slowly Morning Star began to unfold. As usual, Kannan rushes to meet the visitors, this time he was missing, the kids were watching a movie I think. Then John came to meet the group, and the rush of kids followed as they came to meet Richard, Jenny, Dudley and Maisy. The kids are very fond of Maisy and they rushed to her and clung to her and since this was a first visit  after her trip to Australia, they took her around to see the changes. In the meanwhile, Richard and Jenny with Dudley distributed some lollipops and 'kit-kat' chocolates. They then went inside to meet the challenged children and give them the sweets also. This is where the changes normally take place, as the visitors are not used to the 'love and affection' of these children, and it then dawns on them to equally hug them back. The kids divided themselves and took Jenny, Dudley, Richard on separate excursions. We also did get to see some of their lovely works of art, apart from the granite mural.

After going around the block, they  headed to ward the children's 'Park' and they chatted with John and Joy and then set off back home with a new experience, 'making their day' as Richard expressed, with a new heart and a promise to help the kids even more than what they did earlier through Colleen and Godfrey.

An aftermath, Dudley was so taken up with the kids, that he came back the following Sunday with his daughter and spent time with the Morning Star kids!!.

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