WELL-KNOWN Jimera de Libar resident Carol P Nichols has recently been invited to appear on Poetic Justice in Gibraltar.

Presenter Sonia Golt interviewed Carol and a group of lady poets for the television programme which will be broadcast in February.

Carol was asked about Jimera de Libar - the little mountain village where she lives - and told how it is the ideal place for inspiration for all kinds of artists. She recalled how she started writing poetry and how, many times, she 'lost' a good poem because she didn't write it down straight away!

Her recent trip to India was also discussed and she was asked if she had written any poetry about her travels. Fortunately Carol had hurriedly put something together in time for the programme. Actress Monica Ritchie will read the poem when the interview is broadcast in February. A selection of Carol's photographs from her travels will also be shown on air.

On the same day Carol was kept busy because she was invited to be a guest speaker at Gibraltar's Rotary Club. She gave a talk about her India trip, presented a 35-minute show of her photographs and answered questions from an attentive audience.

Carol then stayed for the Rotary meeting where members discussed raising funds for Shelter boxes to be sent to Haiti. The boxes are £499 each and contain a tent to house ten people plus a stove, thermal covers and also tools so they can build more shelters or help recovering their lost items. Members have already sent four boxes to Haiti and are busy fundraising to send out more.

The Rotary Club then presented Carol with a certificate of appreciation. She also received some perfume from the Star of India - the sponsors of her television interview.

INDIA

By Carol P. Nichols

Hooters honking traffic everywhere.
Cows meandering through traffic without care.
Horsecarts,  camelcarts, Tuc-tucs, Rickshaws and buses.
Overladen bicycles, powered by thin men some wearing trusses.
Colourful temples with flowers of every hue.
Gaily dressed people standing in a queue
Havelis, Mansions, with frescoes adorning the walls.
Stepwells, galleries and magnificent halls.
Camel caravans spices and silk.
Cheeses and ice-cream made from camels milk.
Widespread sand dunes and thorny shrubs growing around
Camel breeding and buffalo in these places abound.
Meharangarh Fort topping a sheer rocky ridge.
Mumbai with its new wide long modern bridge.
Kutch villages with handicraft products of silver and clothes.
Bangles and beads, silver anklets and rings for toes.
Jeep safaris in the tiger reserve of Ranthambore.
With tigers and leopard, sambar chittel and wild boar.
Birds of all kinds, reptiles and plants.
A wide variety of trees, spiders and ants.
The living Fort with Ramparts and cobweb narrow lanes.
The palaces and beautiful sculptured  temples by the Jains.
The red painted hand marks left by Past Maharannis on stone.
The leather, and painted leaves and beads made of bone.
The hill station of Mount Abu, and Nakki lake
Where I watched the sunset at my leisure till late.
The Dhobi men with their washing drying outside piled high.
Sheets and pants competing against the sky.
The early morning sounds of Moslems called to prayer.
The mounds of slippers, of the Mosque visitors there.
The overnight train to Goa with chai wallers calling out “TEA”
Then after copious amounts the decision to try “ the 2 step” for a pee.
Riding an elephant up to the fort feeling like a Queen.
Then as I entered, the fanfare- all part of “my dream.”
The kindnesses of people to me a complete stranger.
Not even as a solo lady traveler did I feel in danger.
The Gujaratti family that invited me to tea.
Later invited me to dinner I feel it was all meant to be.
The little beggar children without any shoes.
Would give me their great BIG SMILES they had nothing to lose.
The countryside people working in the fields.
Were  colourful in their saris and turbans as they brought in their yields.
I felt love surround me with all the people I met.
I must go back again I’m not finished yet.