So much has happened over the last year or so that I thought it would be good idea to catalogue all this . 

The beginning of the year saw a dramatic change in our lifestyle since I had made the decision to go back to work full-time commencing December 2000. As the last month was a festive period with lots of parties and not much else the change was not evident until January. Then it hit us with a vengeance since I was required to work till late and weekends as well due to year-end work pressures and deadlines. Arjun especially was not too impressed and continually kept asking me when I was going to be made redundant. (This was the ulterior motive for going back full-time –Now if/when I get made redundant I will be paid the package on my full-time salary). I was also missing walking home with the kids and taking them to their various activities. 12 months on I’m still working full-time and it looks like the role is unlikely to move to Edinburgh until at least 2003 so I’ve got all of next year to look forward to. Actually it’s not that bad cos it’s relatively cushy apart from reporting periods and the role’s fairly easy. Hitesh has been taking the kids to their activities and so they haven’t really lost out. Bena was absolutely fantastic always bringing lots of food round for the evenings . She can relax now cos Hitesh’s mum is around and has been doing all the cooking etc.

This year was also Nikhil’s last year at primary school. He’d applied for a number of grammar/selective schools and had been busy taking tests in the latter part of 2000 as well as beginning of January. All the hard work and of course his natural intelligence paid off since he got all the schools he applied for. He eventually chose Parmiter’s for it’s outstanding sports facilities. The good thing is Arjun will automatically get in since they take siblings without them having to sit any exams. As Nikhil said this was the best birthday present he could have given him! Nikhil’s settled really well in his new school and plays in the school football team, is in the choir and is learning the trumpet. Academically he’s also doing really well.

It is Arjun’s last year at the junior school. He’s doing well at school and is also in the school football team. He plays the clarinet at school and is learning the recorder.

The boys’ main passion is of course sport and they continually amaze me with their skill maturity and attitude when playing in competitions. Their main sport is squash and they are both currently in the top 5 in the county. Nikhil recently played in the British Junior Closed under 13 championships but the standard was exceptional. However, I am confident that they have the ability and talent to progress further and maybe get national rankings at some point. The problem is at what cost. Currently they haven’t had to make any sacrifices but I can see that they’re going to have to train a lot more frequently and with more dedication if they want to succeed beyond the county.

Apart from squash, the boys took part in cricket and tennis over the summer period. They also played in the Oshwal badminton and table-tennis tournament and Nikhil won both the Singles titles and the doubles table-tennis title with Arjun. They were runners up in the 

Badminton doubles.

The boys also enjoy skiing and are fast becoming pros at the sport. This time we were unable to coordinate holidays with friends and so the four of us went as a family to Italy in March . We had a really wonderful time although Arjun did get lost on the second day and we spent a nerve-racking afternoon trying to find him. He actually was quite sensible and asked someone to help him as he had remembered Hitesh saying where we needed to go.

Hitesh is fairly busy with the boys as I’m now working full-time. Also he is very active with the Oshwal Golf Society and organised yet another successful weekend away. We had a great time there as the hotel had a lot of other sports facilities. He’s been winning lots of tournaments in golf as well –he came second at the May Bank holiday event The house is getting cluttered with all their trophies!

Over the summer we went to India for the first time as a family. Hitesh has been before but it was the first time for the boys and for me (I was there when I was 3 but that doesn’t really count). Initially the culture shock was a bit much and Nikhil falling ill within the first couple of days didn’t help. However he recovered after a few days and we managed to do everything as planned. It certainly was an eye opener to see how the other half lives. There were a lot of paradoxes which kept constantly nagging us-like how advanced India is in terms of technology and mobile phones yet the majority of the people don’t have running water or electricity; how much people spend on religious festivals and rituals whilst their children are dying of hunger. In the end I think you can’t question too much but have to accept that our values and priorities are different and that we may not necessarily be right. Overall it was a wonderful experience and the warmth and hospitality shown by people who really don’t have much was refreshing.

After the summer holidays we came back down to earth with a bang as Nikhil started his new school and had to be out of the house by 7.30am. He was then coming back home at around 5pm. He was so tired in the beginning as it was a real shock to the system-it was like he had a full time job and with homework too! Luckily he’s now got used to it. I’ve started a routine of walking with him to the coach stop and then going for a slightly longer walk. I fell better for it although I don’t think I’ve lost any weight.

At the beginning of September, Hitesh’s brother and wife , Manish and Geetu left to travel in Asia and spend the best part of a year in India. A few days later, Hitesh’s brother Harshad’s father in law suffered a cardiac arrest. Luckily he has recovered well. Following Manish and Geetu’s departure, Hitesh’s mum has now come to stay with us. She is keeping well and is constantly busy making lots of food. It’s been a real help having her around as I know the children are cared for properly.

My sister’s son Raju came to work in England from the States. He was due to come towards the end of September but was delayed due to the  terrorist attacks.

September 11 will be indelibly printed in our minds for ever as the world watched the horror unfold. Personally for me it was harrowing watching the devastation as memories of my time in the NatWest tower when that was bombed came flooding back. Since then the news has been dominated by events in the US and the American response. The constant diet that we’ve been fed has left us all nauseated but also immune to any reactions. The images of children suffering just don’t shock us any more.

On that sobering thought I think I’d better end this letter. 

At the end of the year we’ll have Hitesh’s brother Harshad and family for a few days as well as my sister Niru and her daughter over from the states. It will be great to spend some quality family time together. Events like the above make you realise how precious life us and to appreciate those around us. 

The year has presented us with lots of  changes, but also opportunities , it’s presented lots of challenges  and some difficult decisions. I’m so grateful to have such wonderful kids and loving husband and such a supportive family. 

I hope that 2002 will be a peaceful and happy one for all of us and that all your aspirations and dreams come to fruition.