Why this blog is called "Gallimaufry".

gal-uh-MAW-free\, noun.

Originally meaning "a hash of various kinds of meats," "gallimaufry" comes from French galimafrée; in Old French, from the word galer, "to rejoice, to make merry"; in old English: gala + mafrer: "to eat much," and from Medieval Dutch maffelen: "to open one's mouth wide."

It's also a dish made by hashing up odds and ends of food; a heterogeneous mixture; a hodge-podge; a ragout; a confused jumble; a ridiculous medley; a promiscuous (!) assemblage of persons.

Those of you who know me, will, I’m sure, understand how well some of these phrases (barring the "promiscuous" bit!) fit me.

More importantly, this blog is an ode to my love for Shimla. I hope to show you this little town through my eyes. If you don't see too many people in it, forgive me, because I'm a little chary of turning this into a human zoo.

Stop by for a spell, look at my pictures, ask me questions about Shimla, if you wish. I shall try and answer them as best as I can. Let's be friends for a while....

28 April 2006

Gorton Castle from a distance


is as beautiful as from up close. Completed in 1904, this neo-Gothic building was designed by Sir Swinton Jacob. It takes its name from its first owner a Mr. Gorton who was an ICS. Formerly the Civil Secretariat of the Imperial Government of India, today it houses the offices of the Accountant General of Himachal Pradesh.
You might be allowed to explore it if you ask the Accountant General nicely!

1 comment:

Geetali said...

La-te me tell you, Archana, that if wishes were horses, the Derby would reside on my Gautier wall-unit permanently! :D

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