Tag: Garçon Biltoo

A Letter From Mauritius, Garçon Biltoo, 29 October 1979

Subsequent to my visit to Mauritius in July & August 1979 to visit the Biltoo family, now documented at length on Ogblog…

…I received several letters from the good people I met there. My transcriptions of these letters received might dabble a little with the grammar and spelling but are largely verbatim transcriptions.

This one is from Garçon Biltoo, Anil’s uncle.

Janee and Garçon Biltoo

First my dictated transcription and then a scan of the airmail letter itself.

Dear Ian,

Hoping that you are well as well as your parents, as for us we are in good health.

We miss you a lot as well as Anil and think that you talk a lot about your first trip abroad. When you will pay us a visit, perhaps in a couple of years?

Geeta, Ratna and others send you their compliments and think to see you again among them. Manjula and Vanisha always talk about you and Anil., they ask me when you will come again. I always told them on the next plane.

Hoping that you have already developed all the films taken by you in Mauritius to show your family and friends over there.

The horse racing will be closed on the 4th of November 1979, it’s the last race on 4th of November 79 and will start anew in May 1980. Do come and we will make a lot of money. The last race held on 27th of October 79 one of the races was won by Karim Khan it cost Rs.30 to win Rs.500.

I just learnt from Anil that some thieves came into your house while your parents were absent And stole some clothes and jewels belonging to your dear mother. I am very sorry for it, but nevertheless the police will find the thieves and imprison them.

Have you already finished the good Rum Made In Mauritius which you brought with you. I hope that you made your friends taste it when you were celebrating your birthday. Anyway how is Anil? Does he always tease you or is he very pacific these days?

You will soon have school holiday, because Christmas and New Year is approaching. When you come to Mauritius you will have more money to your pound because our government devalued its money.

I leave you and say goodbye to you and your parents. I am going to write to Anil and his dad.

Love

Garçon

A Letter From Mauritius, Beena Mohonee, 19 September 1979

Subsequent to my visit to Mauritius in July & August 1979 to visit the Biltoo family, now documented at length on Ogblog…

…I received several letters from the good people I met there. My transcriptions of these letters received might dabble a little with the grammar and spelling but are largely verbatim transcriptions.

This one is from Beena Mohonee (one of Anil Biltoo’s cousins by marriage through Janee Biltoo, Garçon Biltoo’s wife’s family). I am pretty sure she is one of these two young ladies:

One of these two is Beena, I am fairly sure

First my dictated transcription and then a scan of the airmail letter itself.

Dear Ian,

It’s a great pleasure to send you this letter. I do hope that you are enjoying yourself very much as well as your mum and dad.

As far as I am concerned, me and my parents are all well.

Well Ian, I hope that you have well reached England and that you have not forgotten us. Here we are awaiting a letter from you but since now no letter has come. What about you relate me a bit about what you’re doing if you are busy studying.

Ian, here we think of you and Anil very much, and Auntie Janee has got a letter from Anil in which he sends his best regards. Hope that Anil is also well and that he is studying more seriously.

Well Ian what about your pictures which you took in Mauritius?

Those at the seaside and of the party. I would like and I am waiting impatiently to see the photo I long to have seen and to have our photo. Specially those we took together with you and all the family.

Ian please send me the photo on my own address. Well Ian here I’m working as you know I’m studying at the same time. So life is more complicated for me as I have so much to do.

Well, I hope that you will be happy on receiving my letter and I do hope that you will send me a reply as soon as possible. I send you all the best regards of my sister and mum. Please do not forget my picture.

I and here hope to hear from you very soon.

Please send my kind regards to Anil and others.

Bye-bye.

From your unforgettable friend,

Beena

Several Farewell Parties, Palmar, Belle Mare & Rose Hill, Mauritius, 17 August 1979

An overview of my 1979 trip to Mauritius, courtesy of the wonderfully hospitable Biltoo family, can be found by clicking here or below:

Here is an extract from my “Remaining Journal”, which is in effect my diary entry for 17 August 1979 – my last diary entry written during the Mauritius trip.

Friday 17th of August 1979 –

Having stayed at Marraz’s, we went on a grand family picnic at Palmar (and Belle Mare). Had a terrific time there and in the evening we ended up with a sort of improvised party with Janee’s nephews, nieces and cousins. We stayed at Garçon’s last night, with a mind to finishing our shopping in Curepipe with the help the chauffeur.

Even now, with dozens of hotels along that coast, both Palmar and Belle Mare still have public beaches, where lovely people such as the Biltoos and their extended families might well still party, as we did.

This looks like Manjula’s belated birthday party. Whether this is the same as the “impromptu evening party” at the end of our trip or not I cannot be 100% sure, but based on other diary entries mentioning its postponement several times, I think it might well be
Manjula looks as though she has been at her daddy’s bottle of rum, but perhaps she was just tired out from all the excitement of the day.

Elements of the beach party – playing ball games, dancing, eating and generally having a good time – are charmingly recorded on cine film – to be seen towards the end of this video – c8:30 to c11:15

These gatherings/parties at the end of our stay were a highlight among many highlights for me – the culmination of unforgettable and life-forming experiences over five weeks in Mauritius.

Shopping With Ahalia, Then Dinner With The Biltoos And Goolys, 16 August 1979

An overview of my 1979 trip to Mauritius, courtesy of the wonderfully hospitable Biltoo family, can be found by clicking here or below:

Here is an extract from my “Remaining Journal”, which is in effect my diary entry for 16 August 1979.

Thursday 16th of August 1979 –

Went out shopping with Ahalia (bought a tablecloth and one or two gifts). Moved back to Marraz’s about noon, whiled away the afternoon and in the evening we had a dinner party there ( Garçon, Janee and kids, Narrain, Tiffin and most of their kids).

Standing Left To Right: Anil Gooly, Tiffin Gooly, Narrain Gooly…the other five are all Anil Gooly’s siblings

Same as above with Dat Biltoo, Me, Anil Biltoo and the family dog included. Goodness knows who took the picture. I’ll guess Marraz

Another Day At The Races In Mauritius, This Time In the Press Box, 12 August 1979

An overview of my 1979 trip to Mauritius, courtesy of the wonderfully hospitable Biltoo family, can be found by clicking here or below:

Here is an extract from my “Remaining Journal”, which is in effect my diary entry for 12 August 1979.

Sunday 12th of August 1979

Stayed at Marraz’s last night, went to Garçon’s in morning for lunch and went on to the races with Shan (sports editor of Le Mauricien) who took us (Anil and I) into the press box. We didn’t do very well at the races, but anyway, we went back to Marraz’s for dinner and the night.

I was wondering how I got such a good spot for this photo

Shan Ip Ting Wah was still hanging around the Mauritius Turf Club as recently as 2016 (interview in French/Creole):

Am I getting confused or was it Shan who cooked our hare for us?:

Meeting A Footballer And A Grizzly Hare Story, Souillac, Mauritius, 1 August 1979

One thing I do recall very clearly was a difference of opinion between Marraz and Garçon in the matter of introducing me and Anil to the “joys” of horse racing. Garçon was a real fan of the racing, as evidenced by much of his letter to me a couple of months later:

A Letter From Mauritius, Garçon Biltoo, 29 October 1979

Marraz was not keen on racing…or at least not keen to initiate a couple of 16/17 year old lads into the scene. I recall Marraz being pleased when he learned that we had not done well that day and that he issued a stark warning about gambling.

In my case, the Marraz line of argument won. I had been a little uneasy about gambling on both of our visits to the racecourse in Mauritius and never really got the bug for it. But I can see it as a fun day out and we have several times organised days at the races for our staff – e.g. this one:

A Day At the Races, Z/Yen at Lingfield, 9 July 2008

Through A Rose Hill Coloured Glass Darkly, Mauritius, 8 August 1979

An overview of my 1979 trip to Mauritius, courtesy of the wonderfully hospitable Biltoo family, can be found by clicking here or below:

Here is an extract from my tenth letter, which is in effect my diary entry for 8 August 1979:

We returned to Garçon’s early, and went on another photogenic trip north, this time along the coast. It was a long trip, which helped Anil not one bit.

That afternoon and evening Anil slept and in the evening Bill, Garçon and Janee went to the pictures (French) and I stayed in alone.

Of course, one of the occasional electrical cuts had to happen that evening, and I didn’t know where the candles were. So I stumbled (literally) to the rear house (I’ll explain that better on my return) where they gave me some candles, and Sanjay (Janee’s nephew) came in to keep me company.

(Change of pen please maestro […my writing was getting faint…] – that’s better!!!)

He’s only 11, and speaks no English, so two hours of conversation with him in French was my first real attempt to get my rusty cogs in motion. He says my accent is good and that I speak very well!!! I’m not so sure.

I’m fairly sure Sanjay is the little fella front between Anil and Dutt. Vanisha on Anil and Dutt’s shoulders.

A Day And Night At Shahil’s, Mauritius, 7 August 1979

An overview of my 1979 trip to Mauritius, courtesy of the wonderfully hospitable Biltoo family, can be found by clicking here or below:

Here is an extract from my tenth letter, which is in effect my diary entry for 7 August 1979:

As you may tell from the date my diary is a little behind again, and it was only the receiving of two letters from you today that reminded me. I think that the last time I wrote was the morning of the seventh or the evening of the six it doesn’t really matter.

You are my greatest fan; three letters and not one complaint about my handwriting. It is atrocious I admit.

Anyway the morning of the seventh Anil and I went shopping in Rose Hill about thrice, in short bursts. Anil (as usual) has almost completely finished ploughing through his money, and his only hope is that he wins at the races on Sunday!! Last Sunday, Garçon, who is in the know, made a few hundred pounds, so Anil’s got the bug! If it’s one of Garçon’s bad weeks, he’s [Anil’s] had it!!!

In the afternoon we went to Shahil’s for tea and dinner, and then a snap decision to stay the night, which was good fun, but a late night.

Shahil Trying To Look Cool
Anil, Shahil & Me. Not a great photograph. I have just spotted the two-finger signal from Shahil above Anil’s head, 40 years later.
Dutt (Bill), Anil, Shahil, Nanda, Shahil & Nanda’s parents and their two younger siblings
(I think I’m calling all of this but corrections welcomed):
Left to Right: Baby, Shahil, Min, Anil, Nanda

Anil decided to have one of his respiratory attacks (not quite asthma but nearly) that (of course, seeing as he was separated from his tablets) meant he spent the whole night wheezing. He is still ill, I’m afraid to say and was very irritable today, as he was confined to barracks on his birthday, but that’s another story..

Return To Rose Hill, Mauritius, 5 August 1979

An overview of my 1979 trip to Mauritius, courtesy of the wonderfully hospitable Biltoo family, can be found by clicking here or below:

Here is an extract from my ninth letter, which is in effect my diary entry for 5 August 1979:

This morning we got ready to leave, which we will do straight after lunch. I won’t be too sad to leave, as although it has made a real break there has not been all that much to do here and I look forward to getting back to bustling, jolly town life.

7 August 1979:

Well straight after lunch that day we did leave and got back about 3 o’clock to find the house seeming stale. It was almost like returning home but in a strange sort of way.

Welcome home

Garçon went over to Marraz’s – Marraz was supposed to come to dinner. He didn’t come. But Garçon brought some letters for me including yours and Gillian’s (which was like both sides of the same story from different angles). I get the impression that Gillian and friend must have wandered off, because Rebecca is very reliable as far as that sort of thing is concerned.

I knew that you hadn’t heard from me as early as the 25th, as Mrs B told Mr B you’ve got your first on 26. It does take as long as 10 days sometimes, and sometimes only 5 or 6. You also tend to get letters in bulk, so I’m told.

Anyway, we had dinner with Janee’s brother that night and turned in early.

Dinner With The In-Laws, Souillac, Mauritius, 4 August 1979

An overview of my 1979 trip to Mauritius, courtesy of the wonderfully hospitable Biltoo family, can be found by clicking here or below:

Here is an extract from my ninth letter, which is in effect my diary entry for 4 August 1979:

Here is news of yesterday. We did not go into town yesterday, but had another lazy day. In the evening Janee’s sister and brother-in-law came to dinner which was pleasant. Anil and I both had an early night as Anil had an asthma attack and I felt a slight cold coming on. It doesn’t seem to have materialised very much today, however, and I’m beginning to think it may just be a relaxed throat or something.

One fresh air machine too many, Anil?

An Awful Lot Of Nothing Day, So An Excuse For Lots Of Family Photos, Souillac, Mauritius, 3 August 1979

An overview of my 1979 trip to Mauritius, courtesy of the wonderfully hospitable Biltoo family, can be found by clicking here or below:

Here is an extract from my eighth letter, which is in effect my diary entry for 3 August 1979:

Today yet again we did an awful lot of nothing, with nothing of note happening at all.

Tomorrow I think we’re going back into town for the afternoon or something; I don’t really know

I’ll use this “lot of nothing” day as an excuse to put up several pictures of the Biltoo family down south.

Anil, enjoying doing an awful lot of nothing
An awful lot of cards – Manjula, Anil and (guessing) the hand of Janee
Manjula and Vanisha
Janee and Garçon
I bet Janee really appreciated me taking this photo