Challenges, Challenges

OK, so we knew we'd have them, good people warned us we would but hey, not so soon if you please.

All of them at the moment revolve around the house and getting it habitable, and here's the list to be going on with...

You know that address I gave you, well scrap that COMPLETELY, one of the drivers heard me giving out what we were told was our address but errr well apparently not. So, I hope you haven't sent too many gifts and food parcels this last week because we won't be getting them in the near or distant. I'll let you know corerct one as soon as I have outgoing email.

Some good news...Our food shipment arrived beautifully packaged and wrapped - hats off the the guys at Allied Pickfords, it was so beautifully done that Indian customs obviously couldn't bear to break the perfect parcel tape before them, so everything arrived and nothing was broken, apart from a dent in a flour box. I've heard tales of food shipments arriving in a terrible state so we were lucky there. Our Air freight boxes arrived yesterday in pretty much the same way.

The bad news...I'm hoping that it's just been mislaid or put in the wrong room but I have had a worrying feeling tonight that one of the boxes from our air shipment, the one containing all our first, aid, medicine, bite stuff, toiletries, sunscreens etc etc etc etc may not be there, oh I hope it's there or that'll be my £300 Boots shop lost. Fingers X'd.

Our brand spanking new fridge freezer, which looks great doesn't work. Well the freezer works, the fridge isn't cooling. The service engineer arived today and we were expecting him to just change a part but no, not in India...Out came a hacksaw, then a blowlamp and the butchering began. After 4 hours he tried to convince us that he'd repaired it but DH was having none of it, then began a very lengthy discussion about what the normal operating temperature of a fridge compartment should be. Did you know that in India it is apparently above 10-15 degrees C - I don't think so! Luckily the manual clearly states 3 Degrees. Anyway he's returning tomorrow with his thermometer to prove that it's cooling and DH is contemplating placing that thermometer where the sun doesn't shine for the service engineer.

Our brand spanking new cooking range has a gas leak - our driver greeted me in the kitchen with the following "Major Problem Madam Gas Leak", yep I sort of gathered that when I was finding it difficult to breath. We called out another service engineer, he spent 10 minutes looking at it and he told me everything I already new "Major Problem Madam Gas Leak" bless his cotton socks, anyway he is meant to be back to repair or butcher the cooker tomorow, luckily for him DH will be at work all day tomorow I don't think his blood pressure could take the strain.

There's no hot water in the bathrooms. Fantastic insect screens have been placed on all the windows but nobody had thought to do something about the half inch gaps where all the patio doors open and close. The shower rails are so high up that any normal shower curtain will just about cover your modesty, if you're tall.

There was a summit meeting with the landlord yesterday and they tried to convice us that the house was completely ready to be moved into, yeah for sure...no hot water, generator still being installed, open well in the garden, a small army still working on the garden and pool, 10 tonnes each of soil and sand sitting on the driveway, the odd mosquito in most cupboards and countless other things.

I think we're going to have to extend our stay in the apartment.

First Day of School

DD really enjoyed her first day and settled in no problems at all and got stuck straight in as soon as we got there, I'd expected at least a little bit of a clingy episode but, no, she didn't even look back. Being at school seems to have really helped her settle and she's much happier, she's even back to singing her bizarre and wonderful songs, which is a blessed relief after all the whinging we've been listening to since we got here!

She likes her teacher, who I'll add is very nice and there are only 10 children in her class and the adult/child ratio is 5:1

What has been even more earth shattering and amazing is that we've got there for two days on the trot...EARLY! I know, I can hardly believe it myself, and I must add that Mary hasn't been here to help in the mornings yet. So, I'll give myself a pat on the back from you all! I thank you!

Happy Anniversary

It was our wedding anniversary on Saturday and in celebration of that, and our arrival in India we took ourselves off to Fishermans Cove for a well deserved relax. It would have been a whole lot more relaxing if we'd been on our own and there had been no tantrums but, you take the rough with the smooth don't you? DD is definately feeling the effects of Culture Shock and we are bearing the brunt of it. She is missing her friends and cousins aswell and I just wish I could make it all better for her overnight but it'll take time and alot of sympathy, me thinks.

Anyway, take a look http://www.tajhotels.com/Leisure/Fishermans%20Cove,CHENNAI/
It was a gorgeous place, quiet, beautiful deserted beach, good food, lovely pool. We stayed in a beachfront villa complete with family size hammock and the kids finally seemed to overcome their jet lag and were both in bed for 7.30 so we enjoyed dinner on the terrace with the sound of the waves (the sea is pretty rough at the moment probably the approaching monsoon season). The sobering thought was that this coastline was the only part of India that bore the brunt of the Tsunami.

After a lazy late breakfast we took a walk along the beach, albeit not very far as DS soon got tired out from walking on the sand and we caught the attention of some hawkers! After check-out we took a drive along the coast and then visited some fellow company ex-pats for some top-tips and chocolate cake.

We'll definately be heading back to Fisherman's Cove for a bit of R&R away from the City. It's only an hour away and is a little oasis.

Phew It's Hot...

Firstly, thanks to those of you who have sent me emails, you will get a reply as soon as possible but we have no out-going email at the moment.

It's been a very hot and humid first few days, no sooner than you step outside you want to step straight back into the air-con again but I think we're beginning to climatise. Not without the help of our caretaker/housekeeper/maid though, he seems hell-bent on chilling us out... we turn the air-con up to warm us up, and he turns it right back down again, it's certainly not for his benefit because when we arrived back the other evening he had his coat on and was all zipped up!

Things at the house trundle on, good progress was made on the pool and the garden last week with the help of a small army of 30-40 people. Our food shipment was delivered to the house Saturday morning and our air shipment (fingers and toes crossed) will arrive on Monday. All the appliances were delivered and installed. So, it looks like I've got a fair amount of unpacking and arranging to do over the next few days.

DD starts school tomorrow, DS has a preliminery visit to his nursery Tuesday morning, DH starts work Tuesday afternoon and it's a national holiday on Thursday so everyone is off again.

Happy Birthday

Today it is DD's 4th birthday, she awoke early, more jet lag than excitement I think, and we did presents and cards. There were a couple missing because the packers managed to hoover them up before I could rescue them for our luggage. I really cannot believe she is 4 already, I wish she'd stop growing. I wish they'd both stop growing, or at least slow down.

First thing we visited the house again and met our maid, her name is Jantee (sp?) but also likes to be called Mary, so that's easier for the kids. First impressions were good, she was helpful, flexible, adored the children and also comes very highly recommended. I think we'll get on fine. She began by setting off to buy all the cleaning stuff we'll need and then started cleaning through the house top to bottom. Actually I Love Her!

We then took DD to visit her new school, teacher and classmates who all sang Happy Birthday to her when we arrived. I cried. After just a moment of hesitation she got straight in there and joined in the cutting, pasting and colouring activity, albeit quietly and watchfully. She loved it and was so pleased with herself she wanted to stay for lunch and when I collected her she was walking around holding hands with two other girls who were obviously caring for her - such empathy at just 4! We're going back tomorrow morning so she can join in the music session and then she'll start properly on Monday and everyday at 8.30 sharp. That's going to kill me. At home she started at 9am, we lived 30 yards away from school and we were always last there, except perhaps for 2 days a term when a minor miracle would happen. Here, we have an early start, a 30 minute drive, hellish and I mean hellish traffic to contend with. I'm going to need alot more miracles...I think their name may be Mary!

Finally, a birthday dinner with chocolate cake at the hotel 20 yards across the road, round the corner and over the pothole(s) rounded off our day. DS is fast asleep and DD is bouncing off the walls...it's midnight and I'm jet-lagged too. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Now I AM Muttering from Madras

We made it without mis-hap. The children were great all the way and we touched down just after midnight. We recovered all our 15 items of luggage successfully, met the drivers who brought us straight to the 'serviced' apartment (very nice, very clean, very spacious - especially after our accommodation of the last few weeks) and all had a good nights kip.

Breakfast was served to us at 10am, the Wilson's new motto of We're Not Ready was again very apt, we couldn't find some stuff we wanted in those 15 bags and neither of us could remember where we'd packed it. So we were late.

After that we went and visit our house (via our local shop for some essential supplies, diet coke, tonic water, loo roll) which we hope to move into on 3rd October. The house looked great and DD was very excited and is already planning where she's going to hide when we play hide n seek. The pool which was supposed to be ready a week ago is at least another week off and the lanscaping of the garden will be another 3 weeks at least...apparently rain has hampered work and, if it's been as bad as the storm and torrential rain of this afternoon I can beleive that.

Then, we went and paid for all the household appliances we've ordered, DH treated himself to a flat screen TV while we waited in the car, apparently ours is very out of date, but really he's been looking for a good excuse for a long time.

Then, his other new toy was delivered...THE car. So how many men does it take to deliver a car in India? Answer: 4! All identically dressed right down to their shoes, ties and belts and they also gave 'Sir' a bouquet of flowers...FOR HIM, while I hovered obviously invisible in the backgroud. Hmmm.

Then, the kids got a new toy each....so what do you think I got? Diddlysquat that's what...just a bad case of frizz hair was my treat today, oh yes and before DH says it...a new cooker, washing machine, fridge and freezer - what a lucky girl I am!

After a very late lunch, we headed back to the apartment where DS ran riot and terrorised the caretaker/housekeeper/maid, whatever he actually is, (his English minimal, my Tamil non-existent) and DD discovered the cartoon channel and Tom & Jerry. She's feeling a little better now and managed a bowl of pasta this afternoon so I'm feeling happier she's now had something to eat.

So, we cracked open the tonic water this evening and treated ourselves to a well deserved duty free G&T, only one problem...the apartment 'House Rules' information sheet states strictly no alcohol...I wonder what'll happen if we're caught?!!

Last Day & Night in Blighty

Firstly, thanks to all those who left me messages today which weren't returned, it's been a busy day. Sorry!

My vision of sitting serenley in Starbucks enjoying Frappucinos with friends all day was blown out of the water. From here on in the Wilson family motto is going to be 'We're Not Ready'.

Lots of last minute washing, packing, clearing out of house...how can that be? We've been doing it for months now, how much C * A * can one family accumulate?

And, we couldn't leave the UK without one last dash to A&E. DD who is hardly ever ill was very under the weather today and when her temperature hit 41C this evening I couldn't ignore it and thought it best to get her checked over before we fly. So we were given a 10pm appointment at the hospital but had no transport, thankfully her knight in shining armour, Dave, dashed us down there. She'll be fine, very sore throat, swollen glands - the flight will be fun tomorrow! I'll be buying a vat of Medised once through security at the airport.

OK, it's late, we have to be up extremely early...middle of the night early.

So long, farewell XXX....next post from India

Equilibrium Restored

There's nothing like a good evening spent with your best friend to restore your sense of humour, sanity and regain perspective on everything.

I dashed down the M5 yesterday to visit her in Devon and dashed back again today. The English countryside looked green, lush and gorgeous bathing in early autumnal sunlight and even the traffic was kind...the kids slept most of the way there and most of the way back and I listened to Radio 2

Blood pressure feeling normal :-)

So, iin the end there was only one more sleep in Pokey Cottage and tonight we're into the hotel...I've now just got to somehow cage the kids and de-clutter Pokey Cottage of all our rubbish and lost toys.

Life In Limbo

Once upon a time there was a little girl who wished and dreamt of living in a little olde worlde 'character' cottage, roses around the door preferred, picket fence optional...

insert sound of needle scratching across record

Not anymore! That was in my life BC. Those lovely little character cottages are fine for 1 or 2 people but not for a family. No, no, no!

For the last 10 days we have been staying in an old cottage in our town which is a holiday let. It’s VERY small…and quite chintzy and there are more ornaments than you can shake a stick at. No room to swing a cat let alone a child and DS is literally like a bull in a china shop with nowhere to run, and, seeing as that’s what he is mostly enjoying doing at the moment he is a tad frustrated. So am I.

There is no phone, hardly any mobile signal and no internet connection. It is very very close to the Park and Castle but the wet weather was even worse last week so it’s been a bit errrr claustrophobic and dark shall we say. On the bright side...Only two more sleeps until we move into our next accommodation.

Meanwhile, I return almost daily to stand in our house to use phone, internet and let DS run his socks off. Dinner out at my sisters tonight, thank you, thank you, thank you.

292 Items of Sea Freight Later...

Our belongings have begun their journey to Chennai. After 4 days of packing and box filling our 40 cubic foot of air shipment and an awful lot of sea freight are on their way. Air will take 4+ weeks and sea 6-8 weeks. It left our house on Friday, so not sure when we'll see any of it again. Fingers crossed it'll be there in time for Christmas!

There was not alot of blood, but alot of sweat and many tears. The movers were great and extremely efficient at hoovering up all they could find...a few things that were meant to be staying behind disappeared into boxes before I could rescue them but nothing was left behind.

I just wish the removal guys were going to be at the other end to unpack all those boxes because I don't think I'll know where to start!

Cardboard Take 2...

It got worse, much worse...but hopefully we're getting there on the packing and shipping. Better had, because as of 3pm tomorrow rain or shine, boxes or no boxes, husband here or not... I'm OUT OF HERE and on my way to a girly weekend in the Cotswolds, because I think I deserve it and because all my friends are just THE BEST to have arranged this for me...see you tomorrow girls xx