The Not-So Exotic Marigold Hotel

My daughter Pippa is an only child. Add to that situation my being a single mother, and you have a very strong bond, “a twosome” that is unique and a mystery to those around you.

When Pippa left home at the age of twenty-one, she started a life with her then-partner Rob and eventual husband. I cried for 2 months. I was completely blindsided by the feeling of what I perceived as a loss, and the grief was overwhelming.

I felt I hadn’t had enough time with her. There is a saying that whenever your Mother dies, it’s always premature, and that’s also the case for when your child leaves home.

Anyway, I’m over it now, so on with the story.

I decided to spend two weeks away together early in 2011 as one last hurrah - she was getting married in July. I surprised her with a trip to Kerala, India, and we were both super excited!

There were so many laughs, learnings and experiences during that trip, so I’m just going to recall one particular incident.

About a few days into the trip, I started suffering from a heavy head cold. Our lovely driver (I have no idea of his name) took us to the local town, where I had booked a massage to release the toxins; that was a surreal experience in itself!

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped at their version of a Chemist. The young guy behind the counter produced a jar of thick gel with a strong, overpowering smell, probably a bit like Vic on steroids. He then proceeded to show me how to use it, which looked like a whole lot of fun.

He poured some onto a tissue, lit it, and quickly blew it out. The smell was potent, and you had to hold it over your nose and inhale. My chest and head immediately felt clearer.

Later, while we were chilling in the hotel room, Pippa went in the shower, and I decided it was time for another snort. I followed instructions.

However, the flame couldn’t be extinguished, so the tissue was completely set on fire. I let it go as it burned my fingers, screaming as the tissue danced its way around the room (luckily, there were tiles on the floor). The whole thing was on fire and moving directly towards the sweeping curtains.

Pippa ran out of the shower and promptly howled with laughter as I threw water over the tissue, which, in all fairness, would have gone out on its own, hopefully before it set the curtains on fire and burned the hotel down to the ground.

We cleaned up, opened the windows and doors, and let out any smoke smells. I think that’s when a large Gheko snuck in and made itself at home, but that’s another story.

TBC.