My sister Pat and I have just returned from a very enjoyable 19 day tour of India. For the past 25 years through the charity Action Aid, I have been sponsoring children in India and more recently, village projects and campaigns to benefit whole families and communities, not just in India but Africa, South America and other parts of Asia too. It has long been my wish to visit India to see for myself the country I have learned so much about through my sponsorship. India is a truly amazing "experience" and an emotional rollercoaster. It is difficult to put into words my feelings as I walked in rural villages, communicating through gesture with families and children, living their lives with the very barest of necessities. Happiness shone through in their smiles as we took photos and they saw themselves on our digital cameras. Having travelled the world for the past twenty years, I have visited many memorable countries, but India is a country of great contrasts, from the magnificent Taj Mahal to the squalid slums of Mumbai and other cities. India and its people have left a lasting impression and will always hold a special place in my heart. I thought of Paul many times during my holiday. He loved to travel and as I stood in a field of glorious sunflowers (the theme for Paul's tribute), I wished so much that he could have been there with me. I was so fortunate to meet such lovely people on the tour, with great new friends helping to make my holiday happy during this most difficult time of my life.