Ray Singh
Posted a lot
More German exotica in my garage now
Posts: 1,984
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Jul 16, 2018 12:40:54 GMT
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I was born in Portsmouth UK, my parents were Indian who migrated to the UK in the early 1970s. Being interested in my families roots, I took my family to India last Christmas. It was the first time for them. I have been around 5 times before. We did the whole tourist thing - The golden triangle - Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. Being a Sikh, i opted to add a leg to Amristsar - the Golden Temple to show my children. Some pictures - Library as my personal photos contain me and my children. Amritsar Delhi Jaipur Agra The whole trip was fantastic - the people were welcoming, no Delhi belly - but we were careful, and loads of stunning history. I found time whilst in Delhi to meet my Uncles (mums brothers), some of whom still live in Delhi. Many of them are now living aboard, (Canada, Dubai, Texas). We spoke in detail about my grand mother who passed away shortly after my wedding 20 years ago. I recall her telling me stories of how she would like the winter in Delhi in the house where my uncles now live and spend the summer in the Punjab (the home of the Sikhs) in a farm house. She had land and as she got older rented this to laborers who would would tend to the crop and leave her commission in the form of crop. I inquired as to what had happened to this old house and was surprised to learn that no one was interested in it. It is quite remote and none of my uncles or cousins are interested in it at all. The sentiment in me thought about my elderly grandmother in the farm house far from anywhere and how she would have lived. My family and I loved India and i started to think about retiring out there. My pension would certainly go long way over there - you can live like a king for around £10/day. Imagine Summer in the UK and once winter sets in, travel to the house in India for their winter - a chilly 15 - 20 degrees max! If there is interest, i can post up some recent pictures of the property......
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sonus
Europe
Posts: 1,386
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Jul 16, 2018 15:52:25 GMT
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Yes please
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Current 1968 TVR VIXEN S1 V8 Prototype 2004 TVR T350C 2017 BMW 340i
Previous BMW 325d E91LCI - sold Alfa Romeo GTV - sold Citroen AX GT - at the breakers Ford Puma 1.7 - sold Volvo V50 2.0d - sold MGB GT - wrecked by fire MG ZT 1.8T - sold VW E-golf Electric - sold Mini Countryman 1.6D -sold Land Rover Discovery TD5 - sold
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Jul 16, 2018 15:57:31 GMT
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+1.
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Jul 16, 2018 15:58:31 GMT
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As a fellow Sikh would love to read more about your insight, been a great read already ! looks more and more appealing to go to Amritsar but that should change soon
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Frankenhealey
Club Retro Rides Member
And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death
Posts: 3,875
Club RR Member Number: 15
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Jul 16, 2018 16:12:48 GMT
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Bookmarked and get on with it
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Tales of the Volcano Lair hereFrankenBug - Vulcan Power hereThe Frankenhealey here
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MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,961
Club RR Member Number: 29
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Jul 16, 2018 17:01:05 GMT
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Yes let's have more. BTW born in Southsea (moved to Swindon when I was 4 when my dad came out of the Navy), still got relatives in and around Portsmouth. I was christened and my parents were married in Porchester castle. So I can mix visiting relatives with visiting MX5 parts, even better I have to visit Port Solent on business pretty much once a month. Have a picture of my MX5 on Southsea front by the Navy WW1 memorial, with a few relatives names on it.
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1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
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Oh yes, this will be good.
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fulvia1436
Club Retro Rides Member
Finally started a thread for my Fulvia life
Posts: 341
Club RR Member Number: 63
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Very interested. Fascinated by the history of India. My father, and his parents, spent the war years in India.
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'59 Austin A40, '59 VW Beetle, '63 Mk1 Cortina, '57 Austin Gypsy, '68 Fiat 850 Coupe, '68 Alfa Duetto Spider, '72 Lancia Fulvia 1.3S, '73 Lancia 2000 Sedan ie., '72 Lancia 2000 Sedan, '67 Lancia Fulvia 1.3, '83 VW Passat GL5 Estate, '81 Volvo 245 Estate, '85 Lancia Thema 8V Turbo Estate, '99 Lancia Kappa 20V Turbo Estate, '00 VW Sharan VR6, '06 Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTD, '10 Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTD, '66 Lancia Fulvia 1.3
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Jul 17, 2018 18:01:46 GMT
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Yes please. I was in Portsmouth last week at the naval base. I would love to hear about your grandmothers house. India looks amazing.
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Jul 17, 2018 20:34:32 GMT
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India is probably the most beautiful country I have ever been to. The most friendly and hospitable and generally an amazing place. Would love to go back again in the next couple of years. Have to take a month to do anything half decent, so much to see and just immerse yourself in the place. And the polar opposites. Old town of Trivandrum to the hills of Munnar.
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Bookmarked and get on with it Short, succinct and to the point. Had 3 or 4 India trips with work; Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Place, people and food (especially the food) are top. Work, not so much, especially the obnoxious guy on Bangalore Metro. I'd love to go back without the work bit and have the time to eat look around properly.
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Ray Singh
Posted a lot
More German exotica in my garage now
Posts: 1,984
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Jul 20, 2018 10:21:41 GMT
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Thank you all for the vote of confidence. The farm house in a village called Hussainpur Guru Ka in Punjab. This is the northern state of india. www.google.co.uk/maps/search/hussainpur+guru+ka/@31.597312,75.8131473,15.96z I will upload recent pictures over the weekend. I am due back out there in October for a site survey and award contracts for restoration. Amritsar is 2 hours drive away - which is a bit further than i had hoped. But has a direct flight from Birmingham. No Screwfix store though Shimla is 6 hours away - a lovely hill station. Manali/Kulu is 8 hours drive. Hosharpur is the main big city approx 30 mins away. I am 42 years old and am thinking that i could retire early out there to live like a king on a few rupees per day.
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Last Edit: Jul 20, 2018 10:28:00 GMT by Ray Singh
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Jul 20, 2018 11:08:58 GMT
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Please tell us more, after seeing Amristsar , the Taj Mahal and the golden triangle on Michael Portillo's great train journeys They are now on my 'must go to' places .
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Ray Singh
Posted a lot
More German exotica in my garage now
Posts: 1,984
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Dec 11, 2018 12:25:47 GMT
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Sorry for the late update.......
I have been waiting for my uncle who is currently in Canada to travel back to India. He is a builder and can offer me some guidance and support on what needs to be done. I am a fake indian as I was born in Portsmouth. Bargaining and contracting over there is a different world.
Uncle is still in Canada and will be making the hop back in Jan/Feb 2019.
I will upload pictures of the property itself later, but to be honest - i am toying with buying something off plan over there with pool, gym etc for about £50k. This will be my retirement home for 6 months of the year....
Summers in the UK, Winters in India - what more could you want?
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Last Edit: Dec 11, 2018 12:28:48 GMT by Ray Singh
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Dec 11, 2018 12:32:49 GMT
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Looking forward to this. Love india! Spent 5 months there when i was 20, always said id go back but the thought had never interested any of my following girlfriends.
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Dec 11, 2018 19:03:45 GMT
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Sounds absolutely fascinating! Will be keeping an eye on this thread. It's amazing to hear tales from family members, esp those we fondly remember.
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Ray Singh
Posted a lot
More German exotica in my garage now
Posts: 1,984
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Jun 17, 2020 14:58:02 GMT
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Stalled in afraid - I will upload pictures this evening. Thanks for the reminder georgeb
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Ray Singh
Posted a lot
More German exotica in my garage now
Posts: 1,984
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Jun 18, 2020 10:49:31 GMT
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Ok, so an update - I visited India in 2017 with my family and loved it. I have been before, but my children 17 and 15 and wife have never been. We had a great time. Whilst there i was made aware that my late maternal grandmother had left her house in New Delhi to her children, who have demolished it and built a block of flats on the site. They have rented out several of the floors and now have no reason to work and they enjoy thier retirement. It was also mentioned that she used to own a farm in rural north india, in the Punjab. I enquired about this and no one was interested in the property or land at all. I slowly pushed more and more until i point blank asked - can i have it? The answer was yes!! Here are some pictures of the property in mid 2017. Front entrance: It was in a pretty terrible state at that time as you can see, but some of the beutiful architecture can be seen. The solid wood hand carved doors, the stone arches, the fire places.....Lovely. I get emotional thinking of my elderly grand mother who couldnt see very well walking around these rooms alone. She was a brave girl, harvesting the land (some 30 acres) herself and she even travelled alone to my wedding in 1999 from New Delhi via Tashkent to London. I am still negotiating official ownership of the property with my uncles, but this has gone silent. They emigrated to Canada and enjoying the good life there. Whilst time has been ticking, some tinker has stolen all the wiring from the house and someone else has started helping themselves to the bricks. I had planned to return this summer to India to start to tidy the property and board it up, but COVID has ruined those chances. I had asked my cousing to help and suggested that we start with the branches someone has dumped in the house. "We could sort that area out in an hour" i said. He replied, "It is easy, if there are no snakes in there". WTF?
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fulvia1436
Club Retro Rides Member
Finally started a thread for my Fulvia life
Posts: 341
Club RR Member Number: 63
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Jun 18, 2020 10:59:49 GMT
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Please don't let the virus and a few King Cobras detract! It looks like a perfect retirement spot, like the Real Marigold Hotel. Good luck
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'59 Austin A40, '59 VW Beetle, '63 Mk1 Cortina, '57 Austin Gypsy, '68 Fiat 850 Coupe, '68 Alfa Duetto Spider, '72 Lancia Fulvia 1.3S, '73 Lancia 2000 Sedan ie., '72 Lancia 2000 Sedan, '67 Lancia Fulvia 1.3, '83 VW Passat GL5 Estate, '81 Volvo 245 Estate, '85 Lancia Thema 8V Turbo Estate, '99 Lancia Kappa 20V Turbo Estate, '00 VW Sharan VR6, '06 Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTD, '10 Fiat Multipla 1.9 JTD, '66 Lancia Fulvia 1.3
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