Christian Brothers in My Life Mount Abu

Yesterday I received a mail from an ex-class mate of mine, the mail is as follows
Dear All,
I don't know whether you knew Hughie O'Neill who was stationed in Abu in the 60's. Later he left and married a lovely girl, Joan, and raised a beautiful family. He passed away on Friday night last and was cremated yesterday here in Dublin. His wishes were that some of his ashes would be spread on Mount Abu ... So he will be coming home at last. May he rest in peace.
Please do pray for the support of his wife and family as well as for his friends both in India and in Ireland

Brother O’Neal was an extraordinary Christian Brother. He was a good teacher loved to play games and loved to be on jungle walks with the boys on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He was a great football fan and a wonderful inspiration to our school football team.
He taught me in my final years in school, he had great mood swings he could be a terror one moment and a jovial person the next. I remember vividly while teaching he had the habit of twirling a pencil between his fingers, another one of his extraordinary traits was that when he was angry he never shouted or raised his voice in fact his voice lowered to a whisper or more like a hiss which always had the desired effect. I loved to be with him on our walk as he would weave some really intriguing stories that would keep us always wanting more.
It was good to hear that he had settled down in life with a life partner after he gave up his vocation of being a Bro. As can be seen from the mail he has made a request that his ashes be spread in the hill and dales of Abu. I guess anyone who has spent a part of his life in this Abode of ours longs to be back with the Gods. God rest his soul. He will once again come home to his final resting place. It’s sad but the ultimate reality is one by one the brothers who taught us will pass away. This year we lost another great brother Br “Larry Kelly” the legendary ambidextrous science master, he passed away on the 17Jan 2007 in Ireland. My heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families of these great men who were our teachers and mentors.

Bosky the Cat Whisperer Mount Abu.

 My Basset Hound’s Unique Bond with Kittens 

Bosky, my beloved Basset Hound, is not your ordinary dog. Her deep affection for cats has made her a local legend in Mount Abu, winning hearts and leaving everyone who meets her in awe. Her story is one of unconditional love and the incredible bonds that can form between animals. 

  A Unique Friendship Begins 

Bosky entered our lives as a gift from a close family friend to my “bitter half.” Along with her, our friend also brought a tiny kitten intended for another family who were

 out of town. We kept that little kitten and named her Mao. What was a short-lived arrangement transformed into a lifelong friendship between Bosky and Mao. 

As Mao grew older, she had her first litter of five kittens. These tiny furballs brought an unexpected twist. Bosky, who had just come off her first season, experienced a false pregnancy—a rare condition in which a dog exhibits maternal behaviour despite not being pregnant. To our surprise, one day, we found the kittens suckling on Bosky while she groomed and nurtured them like her own pups. 

   A Mother’s Instinct 

Concerned yet fascinated, Liz, my “bitter half,” consulted our vet. The vet, amused by this extraordinary situation, assured us there was no cause for worry. Both the kittens and Bosky were thriving, and the kittens had even plumped up, resembling little puffballs. Bosky took immense pride in her role as their surrogate mother, often strutting around with the kittens trailing behind her in a delightful procession. 

Passersby couldn’t resist stopping to witness this extraordinary sight: a Basset Hound protective of her feline “babies.” If any unfamiliar dog dared venture into our yard, Bosky would spring into action, defending her adopted brood with unwavering resolve. 

 Harmony Among Species 

Our home soon became a haven for harmony among species. Regular visitors like Bandoo, the bandy-legged Romeo; Kalu, the long-legged shank; and Sandy, the overgrown mongrel, became accustomed to the kittens. These grown dogs, once wary, played, cuddled, and lived with the mischievous little felines. This heartwarming coexistence charmed friends who visited. 

   A Second Chapter 

Bosky’s maternal journey didn’t end there. With no male Bassets in our neighbourhood, she experienced another phase of false pregnancy. This time, she began nursing kittens from Mao’s second litter. By now, Bosky had embraced her role as a feline foster mother, earning her a reputation as the “cat whisperer” of Mount Abu. 

It often makes me wonder: if Bosky ever has her own puppies, how will she react? Will she love them as deeply as she does her feline family? Or will she continue to believe she’s part cat after nurturing two generations of kittens? 

The Heart of the Community 

Bosky’s charm extends beyond her extraordinary bond with cats. Her gentle and playful personality captivated neighbourhood children, making her their heartthrob. Her tale exemplifies the power of interspecies connection, teaching valuable lessons of love, acceptance, and harmony. 

Bosky My Bas

Sandy, Jerry and Kalu

Bandoo and Kali

Bosky posing

Bosky and Tom

Boskt and her favourite Minnie

Minni is having her fill

Minni posing 

Bosky and her foster babies

Boski and Minni are napping

Bosky nursing second-generation babies

Bosky nursing the kittens

More Snaps Of The Sports Day Abu

Sports day St.Mary's High School more snaps

St.Patrick Runner-up

Back to the Pavilion

The final drill dispaly Prize distribution

Tug of War

Stick Drill

Gearing for the Relay

Mixed Medley

Good run

Juniors finishing

Annual Sports Day Mount Abu Continued

Brother Ward with the '83 batch of boys


The batch of 83 after a lapse of 25 years

An unfortunate snag the flag got stuck at half-mast

The Principal Christanand Vase's closing speech

St.Joseph's with Cock House shield

Gymnastic Team Drill

Cliffy Dragwidge, the school anchor drummer

The mixed bag of Ex-students

Batch of 83

Batch of 83

St.Joseph's Cock House Winners

Prize Distribution

Mohan School's Chief Announcer

Stick Drill

Ivo the Anchor Man of the Show

Umbrella Drill

Tug of War

The batch of 83 at the back

Brother Ward awarding prizes

St Mary's High School Sports Day 

The Main Building

This year I reached the sports venue late as the march past had finished, and no band accompanied the marchers like in previous years. Last year the army Sikh regiment had sent their bagpipers to play for the school march past. I’m glad the school used its own resources and did not spend thousands on pomp and show. Innovations by the school organization this year were commendable. The school recognizes the efforts of students who excel. This year the students were given certificates and also garlanded with either the bronze, silver or gold-plated medals, just like in the Olympics. Drill displays by the various classes received thunderous applause from the parents. The track and field events and the relays had the parents going gaga, snapping their own kids with their latest hi-tech digital cameras. To my surprise, some parents who never go to boarding school sports days found the boy's displays dull. I casually asked some whiners why they were here, to which they replied: “Oh we pick up our son after the meet so we can rush off with him for his holidays”. I felt like punching these guys but refrained, and only retorted, “I’m sure it will disappoint your son with you. After all, he’s been through to prove himself on the field so that you, as a parent, could compliment him.”

This year, there was a big reunion of ex-students from the 1983 batch, marking their 25th anniversary since leaving school. It's expected to be the best event unless the 1984 batch can top it next year.. In my brief conversation with some of them, we talked about various topics, including bygone days. Yep! We were like a bunch of old fogies remembering old teachers and brothers who were our mentors. The boys told me that they, along with some of their wives and kids, had made it to the top of Plummy. Imagine over thirty-odd climbers atop the hill! Whew! It must have been exhilarating for all the thick-set and paunchy guys. It must have been exciting for this reunion of schoolmates to see each other after a lapse of 25 years.

Man of Man imagine former classmates now grown men seizing each other; some pretty bald, others grossly overweight and maybe just a few in pretty good shape. The victory lap put on by them was just a trot as probably Plummy had drained them of all their reserve strength the previous day. My hats off to these guys they were a fabulous bunch; and they had come with positive vibes. There were quite a few other ex-students from different years also present for the sports day.

In tote the meeting went off with a bang, no there were no fireworks like those of the Olympics. The most memorable part was when we sang the school anthem and the National Anthem with wholeheartedness and fervour.

79th Annual Athletic Meet St.Mary’s School Abu

79th Annual Athletic Meet - St. Mary’s School

To catch everyone up to speed, let me start by revisiting what I wrote about last year’s School Sports on the St. Mary’s School site before we jump into this year’s exciting events.

Hello everyone!

As you know, St. Mary’s celebrated its 79th Annual Athletic Meet yesterday. As always, it was an incredible and inspiring event filled with excitement, school spirit, and athletic excellence.

This year, we had the honour of welcoming back some of our “real” old alumni—our “Old Boys.” Among them was the remarkable Father Lesser, a cherished name who graduated before passing away in 1944. Even in spirit, his presence serves as a reminder of the rich legacy of St. Mary’s and the thriving community it has fostered.

The photo shows old boys from Front Row L to R Fr Lesser '44/ Bob Amore '57 /Duncan Collie 53/ Trevor Steverson(a guest)/Dach Aloysns D'souza '57 / Pat Kelly.

Today, I take this opportunity to “salute” these fine young men who have traversed the globe to return to their beloved Alma Mater—no minor achievement! Hats off to Bob and Trevor, two exceptional achievers. On the 6th of October 2007, these two legends scaled the back of Flaggy, making it all the way to Plummy. Their determination and spirit were unmatched, and they’ve set an incredible example for the younger generation to aspire to.

Congratulations once again, Seniors—you’ve laid down a challenge for the next wave to surpass!

Bob, “The Flying Eagle,” has done it again! (See the attached photo.) He finished second in the 200m race—a fantastic accomplishment that earned him a well-deserved standing ovation. What an inspiration! Don’t you think we need more folks like Bob around?

Whoops! Before my dial-up connection gives up on me, let me send this out. I’ll share more photos later if the connection allows. For now, to all of you who couldn’t make it to the Mount this year, I hope you enjoy reminiscing about the good old days.

 Regards,

Ains

Cheers, mates! I’m off for a binge, but I’ll post updates on today’s events as soon as I can. Don’t forget to click on “Newer Post” at the bottom to check out the following updates!