ABOUT US
Asha was born in Kenya, we think probably at the coast, although she came from the Kipsigis
tribe. She worked for our family for nearly forty years.
She saw the birth of my brother David and me (a long
time ago!), and the death of both Kathleen and Owen
Cosgrove (our parents) in the 1960s. Asha was a simple woman, illiterate but very
wise - she was like our second mother. She was always there to look after us, coach and correct us when we made mistakes and teach us the rights and wrongs of this world.
Asha was a family member and had a tremendous amount of
moral authority. We think she must have died in the late
1960’s since sadly we lost contact with her when I left
Kenya to travel the world in 1969. This picture was
taken just before I left to travel by car from Nairobi
to Cape Town with my long time friend Andrew Barrett.
Asha Cottage is named after her as a tribute to the
love, wisdom and guidance she offered to both David and
myself. She was a strong, determined character and was a
pillar of strength in the Cosgrove family. We wish we
could find another Asha to assist in the upbringing of
young Anthony Owen. He would be well looked after.
John |
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John |
Dominique |
Anthony Owen |
ABOUT US
John was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, but spent many years living in the United States (New York) and then in many countries around the world as part of his career with John Wiley Publishing, Avis, The Hunger Project, and the United Nations. He has lived and worked in Canada, France, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Uganda, United Kingdom, Pakistan and Afghanistan (where he also met Dominique). In 2005 John opted for early retirement from the United Nations and after getting married to Dominique in Rome in October of that year, decided to settle back in Kenya. It had been his dream for years to create something special in Diani Beach. That dream come true is Asha Cottage, a little family-run boutique hotel that offers top quality accommodation for the discerning traveller. John speaks English, French and Swahili. |
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Dominique |
Anthony Owen |
Asha bin Sharif |
ABOUT US
Dominique was born and raised in Rome, Italy. Educated in Italy, the US and the UK, she studied business, psychology and sociology. She joined the United Nations as a consultant in 1992 and has been working with various UN agencies since. Work has taken her around the world, with missions to Ethiopia, Sudan, Angola, Bangladesh, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Iran and Afghanistan, where she spent almost two years working in the field (and met John for the very first time in 2003). Dominique speaks English, Italian, French and Spanish (and is slowly learning Swahili). |
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John |
Anthony Owen |
Asha bin Sharif |
ABOUT US
Anthony Owen “Pichoun” was born on the 2nd of January 2007. He is a happy, playful and very sociable little boy. He loves to be with both adults and children and he is often the star of the show with his smiles and sweet sense of humour. Anthony Owen speaks English and Pichounese, but he will also learn Italian and Swahili as part of his family heritage.
“Pichoun” means sweet little one in French, and was first used by John and our very good friend Max (now Uncle Max) when Pichoun came home from the hospital. The name stuck and Pichoun finds a little place in the heart of every visitor to Asha Cottage. |
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John |
Dominique|
Asha bin Sharif |
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