http://emma-indiastates.blogspot.com/
Our time in India came to an end. If you'd like to continue with us on our ex-pat journey please follow the link and pop over and see us in North Carolina, USA for a nice cup of tea.
Friday 28 August 2009
Friday 14 August 2009
The Little Boy and The Pink Bike
Before we left India we had a clear out and donated or gave away a few things. One of those things was Ellie's little pink bike, her legs had just got too long for it and it was pink so it wouldn't do for Luke now would it?
Here is an excerpt from an email I received today from a friend back in Chennai and it tells the story of what happened to that little pink bike.
Here is an excerpt from an email I received today from a friend back in Chennai and it tells the story of what happened to that little pink bike.
How is everyone ? Hope the immenent move is going to plan? Forgot to say thankyou properly making a 4 year olds year!
Mary my maid was so pleased with the bike and later in the week her grandson came to see me to show off his new school uniform(very smart). I couldn't wait to show him the bike even if he couldn't take it home that day as he was on his dad's 2 wheeler.
As soon as he saw it his face lit up and he promptly tried to ride it down the front steps of the house! There he pedalled happily as if he had had done so forever,even though this was his first time.
His grandma said he would have to leave it and she would bring it back for him after work. He wasn't having any of it and said he would sit outside all afternoon until she went home! Somehow the adults relented and a very happy lad went off home,with his new bike.
As he returned to his street he was the envy of every little boy. How come you get a bike ?
He answered with "My white madam's white friend gave it to me."
That night he refused to go to bed (school the next day),soon it became clear that he needed his new bike(worried someone may take it) he slept on his mat with his arm around it!
Since he rides constantly and won't visit his grandma because her lane is too bumpy for his bike!
If you ever get to read White Tiger you will see that Joshua, has had his statis raised which as we all know is very important. He is very grateful and Mary has dined out on the story of his 'white madam's white friend' even if it has backfired a little on her.
I managed also to mend the other toys and were distributed to the rest of the grandchildren, Christmas come early.
It is hard to imagine any boy in the Uk being so thrilled with a pink bike. It was an interesting lesson for our children to realise how consumerism and having the latest gear has really taken over back home. We stocked up on esssentials but their needs were very moderate and this is humbling. I think they really appreciate what they have and have returned with far more enthusiasm than we expected. Long may it last!
Wednesday 29 July 2009
I Haven't Gone Away...
...not entirely.
I've just been very busy not Muttering from Madras and basically getting wet and muddy in this so-called English summer of ours and catching up with friends, family, TV, shopping (supermarkets still overwhelm me!), good beef and meat, crunchy yummy salads, English beaches, driving - wherever, whenever and whichever way I want. Oh yes, and how can I forget the BIG BUMP back to earth when I had to do all our cleaning, washing and ironing.
Hmmm...I admit I am seriously missing the (almost) neverending blue skies and warmth of Chennai...and my maids!
The kids are fine...Ian has been back in India wrapping things up work wise the last couple of weeks and apart from taking root in our Wellington boots in the soggy wet ground we're all doing OK - apart from the camera which ended up in a brook in Devon at the weekend and I haven't summed up the courage to check the memory stick to see if I have now lost ALL our summer photographs.
I've also had a bit of a block on writing and whilst there are still are couple of things to be wrapped up on here I will begin anew very shortly as we depart for North Carolina (US) on Tuesday 4th August where a whole new adventure and chapter will begin.
In the meantime...meet the new neighbours! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8171638.stm
I've just been very busy not Muttering from Madras and basically getting wet and muddy in this so-called English summer of ours and catching up with friends, family, TV, shopping (supermarkets still overwhelm me!), good beef and meat, crunchy yummy salads, English beaches, driving - wherever, whenever and whichever way I want. Oh yes, and how can I forget the BIG BUMP back to earth when I had to do all our cleaning, washing and ironing.
Hmmm...I admit I am seriously missing the (almost) neverending blue skies and warmth of Chennai...and my maids!
The kids are fine...Ian has been back in India wrapping things up work wise the last couple of weeks and apart from taking root in our Wellington boots in the soggy wet ground we're all doing OK - apart from the camera which ended up in a brook in Devon at the weekend and I haven't summed up the courage to check the memory stick to see if I have now lost ALL our summer photographs.
I've also had a bit of a block on writing and whilst there are still are couple of things to be wrapped up on here I will begin anew very shortly as we depart for North Carolina (US) on Tuesday 4th August where a whole new adventure and chapter will begin.
In the meantime...meet the new neighbours! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8171638.stm
Friday 5 June 2009
My Final Muttering from Madras
(My Final Muttering From Madras was unfortunately cut short on Friday evening when I went to publish the post and only half of it appeared...and then I ran out of internet time at the hotel so was unable to complete it...and now I've pretty much forgotten what the rest of it said exactly! Anyway...
It has been a busy and tiring emotional roller-coaster of a week.
The packers came, they packed our lives back into boxes,again. They removed the boxes and they moved them to Chennai Port. Strangely we have fewer packages than we arrived with, I obviously haven't done a good job at shopping here as I thought.
Ellie's school broke up for the Summer holiday today and I was doing just fine until I went to collect her...cue the tears, thankfully I wasn't the only one, it's the transient nature of the ex-pat life...people coming then going and the cycle continues...it's tougher on the ones staying behind in the long run I'm sure.
What I can't quite actually believe is that we have only been here for 8 and a half months, and yet we've done so much, but so little of what we had planned, and been through a whole raft of experiences and emotions that could probably sustain us for a lifetime...but it's been great and I wouldn't change our short spell here for anything and I don't think that anywhere else could quite ever meet the challenge or offer the experiences, the sights, the people...and the wonderful friends met and made here. We will miss you all.
After just a few hours sleep Kumar and Murasoli will be picking us all up one last time and delivering us to Chennai airport where we will board our BA flight direct (thank goodness) to Heathrow. For me, Ellie and Luke this will probably be the last we see of India for a long while. Ian however, will be back in just a few weeks and every couple of months thereafter.
It has been a busy and tiring emotional roller-coaster of a week.
The packers came, they packed our lives back into boxes,again. They removed the boxes and they moved them to Chennai Port. Strangely we have fewer packages than we arrived with, I obviously haven't done a good job at shopping here as I thought.
Ellie's school broke up for the Summer holiday today and I was doing just fine until I went to collect her...cue the tears, thankfully I wasn't the only one, it's the transient nature of the ex-pat life...people coming then going and the cycle continues...it's tougher on the ones staying behind in the long run I'm sure.
What I can't quite actually believe is that we have only been here for 8 and a half months, and yet we've done so much, but so little of what we had planned, and been through a whole raft of experiences and emotions that could probably sustain us for a lifetime...but it's been great and I wouldn't change our short spell here for anything and I don't think that anywhere else could quite ever meet the challenge or offer the experiences, the sights, the people...and the wonderful friends met and made here. We will miss you all.
After just a few hours sleep Kumar and Murasoli will be picking us all up one last time and delivering us to Chennai airport where we will board our BA flight direct (thank goodness) to Heathrow. For me, Ellie and Luke this will probably be the last we see of India for a long while. Ian however, will be back in just a few weeks and every couple of months thereafter.
Sunday 31 May 2009
NOT the Type of Pedicure I Had In Mind
Oooops! Had a bit of an accident today. Well I couldn't let Ian take all the sympathy now could I?
A large crowd of us descended on The Park for our last Sunday Brunch and all was going well, the adults enjoying good food and all the children fed watered and ensconced in the hotel's viewing room watching Shrek.
Luke decided he wanted to climb up on my lap and as I pushed my chair back to let him up, my flat soled sandal skidded on a chip and my toes rammed straight under the metal base plate of the table. Huge pain, blood, stars, nausea, the lot.
My very own Florence 'Juliet' Nightingale quickly and deftly administered first aid and ice while Nurse Sejal made calls to her doctor...and it was straight off to Apollo hospital for me. Xrays to make sure nothing was broken, nothing is. But once my toes were cleaned up it was apparent that my big toe nail was split right down to the base. "We'd better take it off", says the Doc.
After two lots of local anaesthetic a crowd of around 10 Doctors and nurses have gathered around my feet to watch the removal of my big toe nail and I just feel like fainting, but I managed to stay awake with Juliet focusing my mind. Credit due, when it was all over it looked as though the lovely Doctor had done a good job!
It just wasn't the kind of last Indian pedicure I'd been planning - I had intended that once we had moved out of the house and into the hotel for a few days I'd slip down to Salon 2000 for one last complete works...because it ain't half cheap here and as of next week I'll be back to taking out a small mortgage for any pampering of that kind...Ah well, at least my toe's not broken, and, I got to see the inside of yet another Indian hospital before we leave!
PS...A very big thank you also goes to Andrew Purdy who also accompanied us to Apollo and kept reminding me that I do have a sense of humour. Like you said Megan, he doesn't 'do' blood though!
A large crowd of us descended on The Park for our last Sunday Brunch and all was going well, the adults enjoying good food and all the children fed watered and ensconced in the hotel's viewing room watching Shrek.
Luke decided he wanted to climb up on my lap and as I pushed my chair back to let him up, my flat soled sandal skidded on a chip and my toes rammed straight under the metal base plate of the table. Huge pain, blood, stars, nausea, the lot.
My very own Florence 'Juliet' Nightingale quickly and deftly administered first aid and ice while Nurse Sejal made calls to her doctor...and it was straight off to Apollo hospital for me. Xrays to make sure nothing was broken, nothing is. But once my toes were cleaned up it was apparent that my big toe nail was split right down to the base. "We'd better take it off", says the Doc.
After two lots of local anaesthetic a crowd of around 10 Doctors and nurses have gathered around my feet to watch the removal of my big toe nail and I just feel like fainting, but I managed to stay awake with Juliet focusing my mind. Credit due, when it was all over it looked as though the lovely Doctor had done a good job!
It just wasn't the kind of last Indian pedicure I'd been planning - I had intended that once we had moved out of the house and into the hotel for a few days I'd slip down to Salon 2000 for one last complete works...because it ain't half cheap here and as of next week I'll be back to taking out a small mortgage for any pampering of that kind...Ah well, at least my toe's not broken, and, I got to see the inside of yet another Indian hospital before we leave!
PS...A very big thank you also goes to Andrew Purdy who also accompanied us to Apollo and kept reminding me that I do have a sense of humour. Like you said Megan, he doesn't 'do' blood though!
So Long, Farewell
Just take a look at how the Desperate (ex-pat) Housewives of Chennai spend ALL their time!
Last week a very fond group of us did the school run and then de-camped down the coast to Fishermans Cove for my leaving lunch and we had THE BEST time. Expertly arranged we enjoyed a peaceful time relaxing around the pool...the first time I have been able to do this since...well I can't actually remember when! And then enjoyed a lovely lunch in the Bay restaurant overlooking the Bay of Bengal with a nice sea breeze to cool us down.
Fruit Mocktails - it was only 10am after all!
A wonderful group of girls who have all helped me settle in here and made my life in Chennai a little bit easier with regular injections of humour and shared experiences and tales of our lives in India. Thank you all for coming, Thank you for the wonderful gifts which will always remind me of you all...and thank you for being here in Chennai the same time as me! There were a couple of girls that I include in all of that who were missing on this day, you know who you are. Going to miss all you girls xxx
Where's that box of tissues?
Last week a very fond group of us did the school run and then de-camped down the coast to Fishermans Cove for my leaving lunch and we had THE BEST time. Expertly arranged we enjoyed a peaceful time relaxing around the pool...the first time I have been able to do this since...well I can't actually remember when! And then enjoyed a lovely lunch in the Bay restaurant overlooking the Bay of Bengal with a nice sea breeze to cool us down.
Fruit Mocktails - it was only 10am after all!
A wonderful group of girls who have all helped me settle in here and made my life in Chennai a little bit easier with regular injections of humour and shared experiences and tales of our lives in India. Thank you all for coming, Thank you for the wonderful gifts which will always remind me of you all...and thank you for being here in Chennai the same time as me! There were a couple of girls that I include in all of that who were missing on this day, you know who you are. Going to miss all you girls xxx
Where's that box of tissues?
Countdown
1 day until the packers arrive
1 week (yesterday) until departure day
4 days since my lovely leaving do
1 hour before we see the English Patient
1 hour before our last ever Chennai brunch with many lovely friends
1 week (yesterday) until departure day
4 days since my lovely leaving do
1 hour before we see the English Patient
1 hour before our last ever Chennai brunch with many lovely friends
Saturday 30 May 2009
The (Impatient) English Patient
I am sparing no details on this one!
Poor Ian has been suffering with recurring bouts of tonsillitis for the last couple of years. Our doctor in the UK had recommended 'the op' last year but he didn't have the time. Uh Oh. After several rounds of anti-bionics(!) a doctor here also recommended 'the op' but there just wasn't time, there never was.
He got back last weekend from his 2 week trip and unbeknown to me paid another visit to the doc. He had seen a 'little window' of opportunity as only Ian does!
Ian: "I'll think I'll have my tonsils out before we go".
Me: Errr pardon?
Ian: "Have my tonsils out...before we go"
Me: "Right. When exactly?"
Ian: "Saturday"
Me: "The Saturday before we leave? 2 days before the packers arrive? That Saturday? Oh help me! Lots more dialogue followed on the pros, cons, whys and wherefores...the BAD timing, but you get the picture I'm sure!
On Friday evening he went to the hospital for his pre-assessment and at 10pm tells me that he will need to be there by 7am and that someone has to stay and be with him for the entire time, I couldn't understand this?? When I had mine out aged 14 I was in hospital all on my lonesome whilst my Dad was away on business and my Mum was looking after my sister 20 odd miles away. Granted I ran out of 5 pence pieces nervously phoning home every 10 minutes beforehand but in the end the pre-med shut me up and I succumbed.
We all awoke early this morning and Ian went off with Murasoli to the hospital while I got the kids up and ready and waited for Mary, who had been hurriedly drafted in, to arrive. By 8.40am I arrived with Kumar and was whisked up to what I can only describe as the 'Penthouse Suite' of this hospital. Ian is lying there serenly with Murasoli quite literally almost holding his hand and looking very worried and concerned. A nurse arrives and I have to sign consent forms and at 9am he's wheeled off to theatre.
I kicked off my shoes, curled up on the sofa, put BBC World on the massive widescreen, opened a Diet Coke and had a well deserved snooze. Until firstly Kumar arrives to tell me that the entire mobile phone network is down throughout the City so he MUST give me a different number just in case I need him and secondly a woman comes to ask if it is OK if someone comes to take some pictures of THE ROOM - got that? The Room. OK whatever, maybe today isn't the best day...Oh no, but it HAS to be done today.
Five minutes later a nurse arrives to tell me that the Doctor needs to see me down on the 2nd floor, I fly down the stairs imagining a problem, but am greeted at the door by said doctor, "Take your shoes off put a gown on and follow me" he says. Before I have even grasped the fact that we are all barefoot and the sleeping people around me are actually 'in the recovery room' he presents me with a small bowl containing Ian's tonsils!! Euewwwww! "Please sign here to say you've seen them". Now I do actually know what Ian's tonsils look like after the number of times he's asked me to look and check if they are swollen or have white spots on them. Had he been having his appendix or something else removed I wouldn't have had a clue...could belong to anybody! After making sure a very grey looking Ian was OK I exited as soon as I could without even looking left or right...I really didn't want to see anything more.
Back upstairs the photographer(ha ha)has arrived and has not just set up a camera but a huge very professional video camera and I'm thinking there's something not quite right. I leave to wait outside, but they insist that I just sit down as I was and they'll work around me. Back on my comfy sofa I pick up my out of date edition of Marie Claire and then I happen to glance up to see this huge bloody camera trained on me! It dawns on me that they think we are medical tourists, people who travel to India to get all sort of Ops done because the NHS lists are too long and private is way too expensive...unless you come to India, and we're actually a convenient marketing tool. Then the guy says, "Mrs Wilson would you like to talk to camera about your Apollo Hopsital experience?" Errr hmmm, in a word NO! They beat a hasty retreat, to just outside the door? A few words in the 'Directors' shell like along the lines of...if you think you're filming my husband when he gets back here, you can think again, they get the hint and eventually leave.
Poor Ian arrives back, looking the worse for wear and then croackily announces that "This must be even worse and as painful as childbirth". At which point I stopped mopping his brow, lost all sympathy and wondered to myself where in Chennai I could get hold of a bag of Walker's Salt and Vinegar crisps...just for him!
Oh just one more thing....did I mention that a couple of hours later he asked for his laptop because there were some emails he needed to see? Good job I had sent it back home. I mean...Arrrgggghhhh...Men!
Monday 25 May 2009
Luke's Party
We threw a little party in honour of Luke's 2nd birthday last weekend and we invited a small group of friends and our staff to join us.
The Cake
Pool Time!
Cake time, except Luke wasn't that impressed with his cake and candles. We'd been practicing 'blowing out' for days but on the day he got a little stage struck!
When I said we'd invited our staff that meant, Kumar and his 2 children, Pushpa and her son Balaji, Murasoli and Mary. As usual I thought I'd overdone it on the catering front but as it was Mary's daughter Angel also arrived (pale pink Salwar) together with Mary's sister, husband and 3 children! The whole spread disappeared before our eyes and so did they! As I went into the kitchen this is the ensemble I came across...with rice and more chicken cooking on the stove! Not a morsel was left! I think they had a good time.
Only in India...rounding off the day with a nice game of cricket! Luke is a pretty mean bowler!
The Cake
Pool Time!
Cake time, except Luke wasn't that impressed with his cake and candles. We'd been practicing 'blowing out' for days but on the day he got a little stage struck!
When I said we'd invited our staff that meant, Kumar and his 2 children, Pushpa and her son Balaji, Murasoli and Mary. As usual I thought I'd overdone it on the catering front but as it was Mary's daughter Angel also arrived (pale pink Salwar) together with Mary's sister, husband and 3 children! The whole spread disappeared before our eyes and so did they! As I went into the kitchen this is the ensemble I came across...with rice and more chicken cooking on the stove! Not a morsel was left! I think they had a good time.
Only in India...rounding off the day with a nice game of cricket! Luke is a pretty mean bowler!
Sunday 24 May 2009
Countdown...
2 weeks (yesterday) until departure day.
3 days until my leaving do.
1 week until the packers arrive.
...and I'm feeling remarkably calm, errr it just doesn't seem real at the moment!
3 days until my leaving do.
1 week until the packers arrive.
...and I'm feeling remarkably calm, errr it just doesn't seem real at the moment!
Friday 22 May 2009
Happy 2nd Birthday Luke!
I can't believe that our little boy is the grand old age of 2 years today. His 2 years have been a whirlwind for his parents in more ways than one but he seems to have come through it all pretty much unscathed!
Daddy has been in the US and UK for the past 2 weeks and arrives home in the early hours of tomorrow (Hallejuleigh!), so today has been low key and busy busy with jobs, school concerts and sorting out. Tomorrow we will celebrate with a little party with some close friends and our staff.
Wonderful people come and wonderful people go...today is a very happy day but also a sad day for me and my sister. Miss you so much Mum xx
Daddy has been in the US and UK for the past 2 weeks and arrives home in the early hours of tomorrow (Hallejuleigh!), so today has been low key and busy busy with jobs, school concerts and sorting out. Tomorrow we will celebrate with a little party with some close friends and our staff.
Wonderful people come and wonderful people go...today is a very happy day but also a sad day for me and my sister. Miss you so much Mum xx
Friday 15 May 2009
MOF MOF...From A Saucy Chef
MOF MOF - "Minimum of Fuss, Maximum of Flavour", the motto of Chef Antonio Carluccio...a man after my own heart.
With exit day looming ever closer you'd think I'd be sorting out, chucking out, selling stuff and getting organised. Well I'm trying to muster the enthusiasm...but on Tuesday I took a bit of time off and headed to The Park Hotel (remember our take-away Christmas lunch and our best party ever...THAT Park)
Chef Antonio OBE, 72, is, I suppose, a consultant of sorts for The Park Hotels throughout India advising and coaching their chefs in all things Italian and whilst he was here in Chennai he gave a fabulous cookery demonstration to a room full of doting women. I think it's probably fair to say that there's not many men his age who can make a room full of women 'Oooh' and 'Aaah' and 'Gasp' in quite the way that he did! Now was it HIM? The food? Or his saucy jokes...you decide!
What treats did he have in store? Mmmmm let me tell you... Pesce in Carpione (Sardines marinated with onions), Peperoni Mandorlati (Peppers with Almonds), Egg Ravioli, Pollo Alla Limone (chicken with parsley and capers) Parmigiana Di Melanzane (Aubergine Timbale)...and...the old faithful...Tiramisu
Telling another joke...this was probably 'The Boobs in Soup' one!
And the best bit? We all got to stay for lunch and sample all his lovely dishes - DE-Lish!
With exit day looming ever closer you'd think I'd be sorting out, chucking out, selling stuff and getting organised. Well I'm trying to muster the enthusiasm...but on Tuesday I took a bit of time off and headed to The Park Hotel (remember our take-away Christmas lunch and our best party ever...THAT Park)
Chef Antonio OBE, 72, is, I suppose, a consultant of sorts for The Park Hotels throughout India advising and coaching their chefs in all things Italian and whilst he was here in Chennai he gave a fabulous cookery demonstration to a room full of doting women. I think it's probably fair to say that there's not many men his age who can make a room full of women 'Oooh' and 'Aaah' and 'Gasp' in quite the way that he did! Now was it HIM? The food? Or his saucy jokes...you decide!
What treats did he have in store? Mmmmm let me tell you... Pesce in Carpione (Sardines marinated with onions), Peperoni Mandorlati (Peppers with Almonds), Egg Ravioli, Pollo Alla Limone (chicken with parsley and capers) Parmigiana Di Melanzane (Aubergine Timbale)...and...the old faithful...Tiramisu
Telling another joke...this was probably 'The Boobs in Soup' one!
And the best bit? We all got to stay for lunch and sample all his lovely dishes - DE-Lish!
Wednesday 13 May 2009
All the Way to Pondicherry...and Back
We've been spending alot of time apart as a family at the moment so when Ian arrived back from his 3 week US stint we decided to get away for some family time.
The Dune resort near Pondicherry came very highly recommended so we trundled off down South again in the hope of some 'chill out' (Ha ha ha!) time. Unfortunately it was not to be.
The place was lovely, our 'Kerala House' which had been renovated and transported to Dune from Kerala was beautiful and full of character but the A/C was minimal and with temperatures soaring way above 40C and with very little shade to be found unless you were inside we began to melt.
It had a fantastic pool and beach but again, no shade. We arrived lunchtime on the Friday, the kids played and we all had a refreshing dip in the pool around 5ish. Fine so far. Luke was up and down and all over the place and then he discovered the pond in the garden...Well, that was that neither Ian or I were going to be able to sit still and relax ever again and short of tying the little tike up there was no way to contain him. More to the point I was beginning to get concerned at the speed he was going and how little he was drinking and was imagining heat stroke or drowning.
We had dinner, very nice...French (ish!), Luke finally fell asleep and we turned in for the night...only Ellie couldn't sleep, it must have been past midnight by the time she settled and guess which little person it was that has us ALL awake at 6am? I don't think I need to tell you.
We were all in the pool at just gone 7am, we had breakfast, we took the kids on bikes to visit the animals on the Dune Farm and all the while the temperature was rising and rising. At 10am Ian and I looked at each other, looked at a tired and melting Ellie, looked at Luke bombing around the pond with sweat soaked hair...and asked ourselves what exactly are we going to do until 5pm when it's comfortable enough to go back to the pool? Neither of us wanted to be the one to disappoint and suggest the inevitable but then a little voice piped up.
"It's too hot here, I want to go home".
Within minutes we were packed up and ready to go, we called Kumar to meet us in the car park and I think he was as relieved as we were..."Too much hot here Madam". Tell me about it!
We have never enjoyed an A/C car drive home as much as that one and as we had plenty of time we stopped off along the way and took in some of the sights.
By the way, if you are thinking of going Dune it is a lovely place...probably more comfortable in December/January/February!
The Dune resort near Pondicherry came very highly recommended so we trundled off down South again in the hope of some 'chill out' (Ha ha ha!) time. Unfortunately it was not to be.
The place was lovely, our 'Kerala House' which had been renovated and transported to Dune from Kerala was beautiful and full of character but the A/C was minimal and with temperatures soaring way above 40C and with very little shade to be found unless you were inside we began to melt.
It had a fantastic pool and beach but again, no shade. We arrived lunchtime on the Friday, the kids played and we all had a refreshing dip in the pool around 5ish. Fine so far. Luke was up and down and all over the place and then he discovered the pond in the garden...Well, that was that neither Ian or I were going to be able to sit still and relax ever again and short of tying the little tike up there was no way to contain him. More to the point I was beginning to get concerned at the speed he was going and how little he was drinking and was imagining heat stroke or drowning.
We had dinner, very nice...French (ish!), Luke finally fell asleep and we turned in for the night...only Ellie couldn't sleep, it must have been past midnight by the time she settled and guess which little person it was that has us ALL awake at 6am? I don't think I need to tell you.
We were all in the pool at just gone 7am, we had breakfast, we took the kids on bikes to visit the animals on the Dune Farm and all the while the temperature was rising and rising. At 10am Ian and I looked at each other, looked at a tired and melting Ellie, looked at Luke bombing around the pond with sweat soaked hair...and asked ourselves what exactly are we going to do until 5pm when it's comfortable enough to go back to the pool? Neither of us wanted to be the one to disappoint and suggest the inevitable but then a little voice piped up.
"It's too hot here, I want to go home".
Within minutes we were packed up and ready to go, we called Kumar to meet us in the car park and I think he was as relieved as we were..."Too much hot here Madam". Tell me about it!
We have never enjoyed an A/C car drive home as much as that one and as we had plenty of time we stopped off along the way and took in some of the sights.
By the way, if you are thinking of going Dune it is a lovely place...probably more comfortable in December/January/February!
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Sunday 10 May 2009
4 Weeks...
Until we leave India.
When I looked back to see how I was faring 4 weeks before we moved out here, it was a different story altogether! I was disappearing under mountains of cardboard and deliveries and chaos and the packers were due any day to ship our belongings.
This time round it feels far more civilised. The packers will be arriving just one week before we leave and our shipment will go directly to the US ready for our arrival after our summer in the UK.
At this point in time there is just one spanner in the works that may slow things down...apparently once your belongings are packed in the container and at the dock they have to wait there for 3 weeks before setting sail, now I can understand 1 week if you'd just managed to miss the boat, but 3 weeks?? We pressed for further information and in India (only in...??) the powers that be have to obtain confirmation from the airline that you have definitely left the country before allowing your stuff to sail, and of course, as with most things here - the bureaucratic cogs turn slowly and it all takes a long time.
Something has just crossed my mind and it has just dawned on me that we are all going to be living out of suitcases for a long time...might not be such a civilised move after all!
When I looked back to see how I was faring 4 weeks before we moved out here, it was a different story altogether! I was disappearing under mountains of cardboard and deliveries and chaos and the packers were due any day to ship our belongings.
This time round it feels far more civilised. The packers will be arriving just one week before we leave and our shipment will go directly to the US ready for our arrival after our summer in the UK.
At this point in time there is just one spanner in the works that may slow things down...apparently once your belongings are packed in the container and at the dock they have to wait there for 3 weeks before setting sail, now I can understand 1 week if you'd just managed to miss the boat, but 3 weeks?? We pressed for further information and in India (only in...??) the powers that be have to obtain confirmation from the airline that you have definitely left the country before allowing your stuff to sail, and of course, as with most things here - the bureaucratic cogs turn slowly and it all takes a long time.
Something has just crossed my mind and it has just dawned on me that we are all going to be living out of suitcases for a long time...might not be such a civilised move after all!
Wednesday 6 May 2009
The BEST way to have a PARTY...Ever!
Those of you that know us...know that the Wilson's enjoy a good party!
We had always planned to have one (probably more if we were staying) in India but when everything went topsy turvey it seemed that we were never going to be able to fit one in!
Enter the BISC (British International Social Club) who asked me if we'd be willing to host a 'Spring Garden Party' one Friday evening. 'We'll invite everyone, the Park Hotel will cater for everyone and bring the whole shebang with them, the bar will be taken care of' Hmmm...let me think about that for about a nano second...Fine with us, bring it on!
On the Tuesday before the event there were about 20 people confirmed and it looked like it might be pulled. On the Thursday there were 40 or so and it was decided it would go ahead. By Friday afternoon 60 were confirmed, and, on the night a whopping 90 people turned up! 90 people in temperatures of about 90 degrees, boy was it a hot night!
"It's a cocktail party in a sauna" commented Allan. He nailed it right on the head!
Despite the balmy temperatures I think a good time was had by all...the last stragglers departed and Pushpa and I finished up and went to bed.
So where was Ian when all this was going on? Poor chap, he was flying back from the US and arrived home about 5am...
Ian: Hello darling, I'm back.
Me: (V groggy after 3 hours sleep and needing more) We missed you, now go to sleep.
Ian: How did the party go?
Me: Fine
Ian: How many people in the end?
Me: 90
Ian 90!!!! No way! It doesn't even look as though anything or anyone has even been here...where's the mess, the debris, the aftermath??
Like I said - The BEST way to have a PARTY....Ever!
We had always planned to have one (probably more if we were staying) in India but when everything went topsy turvey it seemed that we were never going to be able to fit one in!
Enter the BISC (British International Social Club) who asked me if we'd be willing to host a 'Spring Garden Party' one Friday evening. 'We'll invite everyone, the Park Hotel will cater for everyone and bring the whole shebang with them, the bar will be taken care of' Hmmm...let me think about that for about a nano second...Fine with us, bring it on!
On the Tuesday before the event there were about 20 people confirmed and it looked like it might be pulled. On the Thursday there were 40 or so and it was decided it would go ahead. By Friday afternoon 60 were confirmed, and, on the night a whopping 90 people turned up! 90 people in temperatures of about 90 degrees, boy was it a hot night!
"It's a cocktail party in a sauna" commented Allan. He nailed it right on the head!
Despite the balmy temperatures I think a good time was had by all...the last stragglers departed and Pushpa and I finished up and went to bed.
So where was Ian when all this was going on? Poor chap, he was flying back from the US and arrived home about 5am...
Ian: Hello darling, I'm back.
Me: (V groggy after 3 hours sleep and needing more) We missed you, now go to sleep.
Ian: How did the party go?
Me: Fine
Ian: How many people in the end?
Me: 90
Ian 90!!!! No way! It doesn't even look as though anything or anyone has even been here...where's the mess, the debris, the aftermath??
Like I said - The BEST way to have a PARTY....Ever!
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It's Official
In just 4 weeks and 2 days we will be leaving India and now we know where to. About time...it's been a very long wait with our exit date looming ever nearer.
Firstly we will be returning to the UK for a few weeks and then we will be heading off to North Carolina, USA for Ian to take up his next assignment. We are all very happy and excited at the prospect and the opportunity!
However our move is tinged with sadness as we will of course be leaving behind our wonderful staff. The drivers will be fine, but after I told Kumar the news and saw his reaction I just couldn't bring myself to tell Pushpa and Mary by myself. Ian and I broke it to them yesterday evening and it was truly heartbreaking. These two women have been more than just 'maids' to me and between them they have looked after us so well and made settling into India an awful lot easier than it could have been. I hope to be able to find them new jobs before we leave as they deserve that much after all their hard work and loyalty.
So, it's back to the beginning of this blog in some ways...Ian is off to the US and UK for two more weeks on Saturday, I'll be packing up, sorting out and saying goodbyes but I have made a promise to myself that I am not going to stress and worry as I did before. I'm sure there will be moments but I've done it before so I should be able to do it again. Right? Wish me luck!
Firstly we will be returning to the UK for a few weeks and then we will be heading off to North Carolina, USA for Ian to take up his next assignment. We are all very happy and excited at the prospect and the opportunity!
However our move is tinged with sadness as we will of course be leaving behind our wonderful staff. The drivers will be fine, but after I told Kumar the news and saw his reaction I just couldn't bring myself to tell Pushpa and Mary by myself. Ian and I broke it to them yesterday evening and it was truly heartbreaking. These two women have been more than just 'maids' to me and between them they have looked after us so well and made settling into India an awful lot easier than it could have been. I hope to be able to find them new jobs before we leave as they deserve that much after all their hard work and loyalty.
So, it's back to the beginning of this blog in some ways...Ian is off to the US and UK for two more weeks on Saturday, I'll be packing up, sorting out and saying goodbyes but I have made a promise to myself that I am not going to stress and worry as I did before. I'm sure there will be moments but I've done it before so I should be able to do it again. Right? Wish me luck!
Monday 27 April 2009
An Indian Christening
Last weekend we were quite busy weren't we! Which was a very good thing seeing as though after 3 weeks of Ian being away I was reaching the end of my tolerance threshold and it was therefore good to be busy with the children entertained.
Against all the odds and in a hair raising story a friends driver, Cruz and his wife were safely delivered of a baby girl last November. They named her Cinderella.
Cruz proudly invited us all to attend her Christening and we all made our way to St Thomas Mount Church in the searing heat. The church was packed, no A/C but there were alot of fans to waft the heat around a bit. The whole Mass and service was in Tamil and I think I managed to catch and understand about 3 words...Jesus, Disciple and Monday(?! maybe I didn't quite catch that one after all!) Despite us all rapidly dehydrating and glowing brightly the children were all very well behaved, but maybe that was also because so many of the congregation around us were paying them all SO much attention.
Here is the proud Mother in her beautiful Sari with the adorable Cinderella. We have only really been able to speculate on the choice of name, you don't like to appear rude by asking outright, but my friend and I surmised that after marrying and being disowned by their families (he converted from Muslim to Catholicism) and after 10 years of trying to have a baby and a hell raising pregnancy it all ended like a fairytale for them.
Ellie's take on the name was somewhat more pragmatic...
Ellie: What is the baby's name?
Me: Cinderella
Ellie: CINDERELLA? That's a princesses name. Is she a princess then?
Me: Errr well, not exactly.
Ellie: Look Mummy, Is Cruz a King? No. So he can't give his daughter a princesses name.
Me: Why not?
Ellie: Because he's NOT A KING and so his wife is not a Queen. Alright?
Me: Daddy calls you a princess sometimes.
Ellie: Yes, and I keep telling him...I'm a pirate NOT a princess.
Against all the odds and in a hair raising story a friends driver, Cruz and his wife were safely delivered of a baby girl last November. They named her Cinderella.
Cruz proudly invited us all to attend her Christening and we all made our way to St Thomas Mount Church in the searing heat. The church was packed, no A/C but there were alot of fans to waft the heat around a bit. The whole Mass and service was in Tamil and I think I managed to catch and understand about 3 words...Jesus, Disciple and Monday(?! maybe I didn't quite catch that one after all!) Despite us all rapidly dehydrating and glowing brightly the children were all very well behaved, but maybe that was also because so many of the congregation around us were paying them all SO much attention.
Here is the proud Mother in her beautiful Sari with the adorable Cinderella. We have only really been able to speculate on the choice of name, you don't like to appear rude by asking outright, but my friend and I surmised that after marrying and being disowned by their families (he converted from Muslim to Catholicism) and after 10 years of trying to have a baby and a hell raising pregnancy it all ended like a fairytale for them.
Ellie's take on the name was somewhat more pragmatic...
Ellie: What is the baby's name?
Me: Cinderella
Ellie: CINDERELLA? That's a princesses name. Is she a princess then?
Me: Errr well, not exactly.
Ellie: Look Mummy, Is Cruz a King? No. So he can't give his daughter a princesses name.
Me: Why not?
Ellie: Because he's NOT A KING and so his wife is not a Queen. Alright?
Me: Daddy calls you a princess sometimes.
Ellie: Yes, and I keep telling him...I'm a pirate NOT a princess.
My Best Friend
The Indian schools are having their 2 month summer holiday at the moment and Balaji, Pushpa's 9 year old son has come to the house for a couple of days because he likes to play with Luke and they've both had a ball and have got on like a house on fire. Luke disappears from sight when Balaji is around and when he does reappear he is absolutely shattered. They zoom around all day long doing all kinds of boy things much to Ellie's disgust and Balaji is now a firm fan of Cottage Pie and Spag Bol!
Sunday 26 April 2009
Double Deckers
Last weekend I took the kids to the British Deputy High Commission for a meeting of the Double Deckers Club. A once monthly meeting for British children living in Chennai to enable them to keep in touch with some of our national traditions, customs and events. This months topics were HRH The Queen & William Shakespeare's birthdays and St Georges Day. The kids had a great time and Ellie's highlight was making a birthday card for The Queen. The afternoon was rounded off with a 'Street Party' (inside with A/C and a good job too!) with all sorts of yummy British delights which the adults got to polish off!
Thursday 23 April 2009
Two More Sleeps...
...and a party for 40+ in our garden tomorrow evening until Daddy finally gets home!
Yay! We've missed you!
Yay! We've missed you!
Mango Mania
In the UK we are so used to having the pick and choose of all fruits no matter what the season and I honestly thought that living somewhere tropical would mean an abundance of tropical fruit year round. Not so, whilst Pineapple, Papaya and Bananas are consistently available there are definite seasons for the likes of Strawberries Mangoes and Melons.
Right now we are entering Mango and Melon season, thank goodness because we were beginning to get bored with pineapple and if Ian sees another piece of Papaya I think it could be grounds for divorce (he doesn't like it very much!) The shops are full of Mangoes and the streets are full of Watermelons.
We have 2 large Mango Trees in our garden, so large it's hard to get a perspective! One is here in the background and has an abundance of green mangoes. The other has none...the Male tree apparently. We've made Mango chutney twice (the first lot was left out and went mouldy - oops!)
There are an amazing number of different varieties of Mango which came as a surprise, sweet, sour, large, small, green and yellow is my level of understanding so I won't try to kid you that I know what they all are because I haven't even begun to try and ask!
The Roads are currently lined with piles and piles of Watermelons for sale. On the left is a pile of Tender Coconuts for drinking.
Shopping at our favourite fruit and vegetable shop.
With all this beautiful fresh fruit available to us, what do you think Ellie & Luke are eating the most of...well for Ellie, as usual just strawberries and grapes (imported!)...Luke? Bananas ONLY! I GIVE UP!
Right now we are entering Mango and Melon season, thank goodness because we were beginning to get bored with pineapple and if Ian sees another piece of Papaya I think it could be grounds for divorce (he doesn't like it very much!) The shops are full of Mangoes and the streets are full of Watermelons.
We have 2 large Mango Trees in our garden, so large it's hard to get a perspective! One is here in the background and has an abundance of green mangoes. The other has none...the Male tree apparently. We've made Mango chutney twice (the first lot was left out and went mouldy - oops!)
There are an amazing number of different varieties of Mango which came as a surprise, sweet, sour, large, small, green and yellow is my level of understanding so I won't try to kid you that I know what they all are because I haven't even begun to try and ask!
The Roads are currently lined with piles and piles of Watermelons for sale. On the left is a pile of Tender Coconuts for drinking.
Shopping at our favourite fruit and vegetable shop.
With all this beautiful fresh fruit available to us, what do you think Ellie & Luke are eating the most of...well for Ellie, as usual just strawberries and grapes (imported!)...Luke? Bananas ONLY! I GIVE UP!
On The Roads of Chennai
When there isn't a general strike the roads and traffic in Chennai are congested with every conceivable mode of transport to say the least. You don't half see some sights and as there doesn't seem to be many laws enforcing safety, half, no actually make that MOST of the time you see things that leave your heart in your mouth. Like the family of 6 on a motorbike, or the small baby sleeping across the petrol tank of a motorbike, while the father who is wearing a crash helmet zooms down the Toll Road. The buses so overloaded that there are people hanging onto the windows on the outside, or, even lying on the roofs! Here are some photos of some of the sights I've seen. The quality isn't always good because they've been taken from inside the car whilst on the move but I think you'll get the picture!
Overloaded Lorry from the Front!
And, from the back!
A Rush Hour Lorry Load of Coconuts
On the way to Work Perhaps?
On the Way to School - I didn't manage to snap this one from the back but there were in fact at least 20 children on this truck all in their school uniforms!
Banana Anyone?
Overloaded Lorry from the Front!
And, from the back!
A Rush Hour Lorry Load of Coconuts
On the way to Work Perhaps?
On the Way to School - I didn't manage to snap this one from the back but there were in fact at least 20 children on this truck all in their school uniforms!
Banana Anyone?
An Unexpected Holiday
School is closed today.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi has called a Bandh (a sort of general strike) to protest peacefully against the killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka. Most of the offices, businesses and shops are closed, there are no buses, no auto rickshaws. (Click on title for BBC link) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandh
We have been warned that episodes of civil unrest may occur, so the advice is that it's best not to go too far. Of course, the 'World's Largest Democracy' is currently in the throes of a general election and here in this State voting doesn't start for a few weeks but there is alot of campaigning and canvassing going on and the 'common man' is an eager pawn for both the current regime and the opposition.
School is also closed again all day tomorrow! For parent teacher conferences! What's wrong with Parent Evenings?
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi has called a Bandh (a sort of general strike) to protest peacefully against the killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka. Most of the offices, businesses and shops are closed, there are no buses, no auto rickshaws. (Click on title for BBC link) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandh
We have been warned that episodes of civil unrest may occur, so the advice is that it's best not to go too far. Of course, the 'World's Largest Democracy' is currently in the throes of a general election and here in this State voting doesn't start for a few weeks but there is alot of campaigning and canvassing going on and the 'common man' is an eager pawn for both the current regime and the opposition.
School is also closed again all day tomorrow! For parent teacher conferences! What's wrong with Parent Evenings?
Saturday 18 April 2009
In 7 Weeks
I was looking at the calendar this evening and it just sunk in...
7 Weeks today we will be leaving Chennai and India.
We just need to know what/where next and then we can perhaps get on with our lives.
7 Weeks today we will be leaving Chennai and India.
We just need to know what/where next and then we can perhaps get on with our lives.
Wednesday 15 April 2009
Home Alone Sunday Brunch
So what does a frazzled Home Alone Work Widow Mum do with her children in Chennai when a very long HOT Sunday lies ahead and her husband is 'out of town' for 3 weeks?
She heads to the Marriot for Brunch, that's what she does. And while she's there her children eat smoked salmon, pasta and pizza, bounce on a bouncy castle, draw, paint, get painted on and are entertained by the resident Magician. Meanwhile Mum orders a well deserved glass of fizz, has some salad, noodles and nibbles on some Chats and sits back...and relaxes for a while!
We must have seen this magicians tricks 10 times or more and Ellie is still fascinated, and we still haven't worked out how he does it!
This was our first weekend without Ian, last weekend we went back to the Marriot with some good friends for Easter Brunch which was much much busier compared to the previous week. We followed Brunch with an Easter Egg hunt in the garden.
She heads to the Marriot for Brunch, that's what she does. And while she's there her children eat smoked salmon, pasta and pizza, bounce on a bouncy castle, draw, paint, get painted on and are entertained by the resident Magician. Meanwhile Mum orders a well deserved glass of fizz, has some salad, noodles and nibbles on some Chats and sits back...and relaxes for a while!
We must have seen this magicians tricks 10 times or more and Ellie is still fascinated, and we still haven't worked out how he does it!
This was our first weekend without Ian, last weekend we went back to the Marriot with some good friends for Easter Brunch which was much much busier compared to the previous week. We followed Brunch with an Easter Egg hunt in the garden.
Some Recent Photos
Escaping the Heat
Keeping Cool at School
Helping in the Kitchen
Flying A Kite on Marina Beach
Tuesday 14 April 2009
Happy New Year
Tamil New Year that is! Today is a National Holiday in the State of Tamil Nadu and there is, once again...no school. Ellie only went back yesterday after Spring Break!
The month of Chitthirai from mid-April to mid-May is the first month of the Tamil calendar. The month usually starts from 14th April, the day known as Tamil New Year. This is an auspicious occasion for Tamilians (people of Tamil origin) living all over the world. People exchange greetings by wishing “Puthandu Vazthukal” – Happy New Year, with great passion. According to Hindu Mythology, this is the day on which Lord Brahma (the creator of the universe) started the creation of the world.
People rise early in the morning and go for 'kanni' – the auspicious sight. The belief is that this brings good fortune throughout the year. The auspicious things may include gold and silver jewellery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits and vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts etc. The auspicious sight is then followed by a ritual bath and visiting temple to pray for a prosperous and happy New Year. After which, the Panchangam (almanac) is read.
The women decorate the entrances of their houses with ‘Kolam’ (design made with rice flour) and the doorway with mango leaves. Another highlight of this festival is the preparation of ‘Maanga Pachadi'. It is a dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers, tasting sweet, sour and bitter one at the same time. This signifies all aspects of our life and tells us to face happiness and sorrow with equal ease.
The month of Chitthirai from mid-April to mid-May is the first month of the Tamil calendar. The month usually starts from 14th April, the day known as Tamil New Year. This is an auspicious occasion for Tamilians (people of Tamil origin) living all over the world. People exchange greetings by wishing “Puthandu Vazthukal” – Happy New Year, with great passion. According to Hindu Mythology, this is the day on which Lord Brahma (the creator of the universe) started the creation of the world.
People rise early in the morning and go for 'kanni' – the auspicious sight. The belief is that this brings good fortune throughout the year. The auspicious things may include gold and silver jewellery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits and vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts etc. The auspicious sight is then followed by a ritual bath and visiting temple to pray for a prosperous and happy New Year. After which, the Panchangam (almanac) is read.
The women decorate the entrances of their houses with ‘Kolam’ (design made with rice flour) and the doorway with mango leaves. Another highlight of this festival is the preparation of ‘Maanga Pachadi'. It is a dish made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers, tasting sweet, sour and bitter one at the same time. This signifies all aspects of our life and tells us to face happiness and sorrow with equal ease.
Tuesday 7 April 2009
A 'bit of a day'
Those of you on FB will know I've been having a bad day!
Ian left for the US for 3 weeks on Saturday evening and after just Day 3 I'm having a bit of a meltdown...it's not serious...I'm still laughing, but I'm just a tad frustrated and I now need to get the events of the last few minutes off my chest!
In a nutshell Ellie is being a little mare.
We have no hot water and no water pressure which makes having a shower or a bath a problem unless you've got 2 hours to spare. (By the way, not as much as the problem we had two weeks ago when raw sewage water started pouring from our taps and into our toilets and we had to shut off the mains supply, then empty and acid clean the tanks TWICE.)
The power to JUST our house went off at 2pm this afternoon and the generator has been whirring away all afternoon guzzling the diesel and I'm wondering if it's going to last the night, which I'm told it is...but hey, I've heard THAT ONE before!
At 9pm I'm thinking that all this isn't quite right so I call Kumar. A plumber is coming tomorrow and he will sort out the water and pressure. But do you know what? This plumber must come to our house EVERY week to 'fix' a raft of similar problems on a rotation basis and I'm beginning to smell a rat. The 'Government Electricity company' who WERE coming tomorrow are now coming this evening ,and, please give them a tip for coming. Woo hoo! If they can fix the problem I won't have a sleepless night worrying about the freezer etc and of course I'll give them a tip.
At 9.15pm THREE 'Government Electricity' men arrive, I show ONE of them the cupboards that they need to look into. The second of them watches and the third stands outside and talks into his mobile phone and hey presto! In just 2 minutes normal power is restored and the generator goes quiet. I take it that the guy on the phone must be 'the supervisor' and as advised I hand over a more than generous tip. He looks at it, counts it, looks me sraight in the eye with utter contempt and declares that he's not satisfied. Well, blow me down! Right there and then I felt I should run back into the house and empty the contents of my purse and give it to him but instead I hesitated a few moments (feeling very clammy in 32 degrees with the mosquitos biting) and then I laughed at him. OK, I thought, so I may be here Home Alone but no sweaty Government electricity worker is going to get the better of me just because he can flick a switch. "You have a good job...a salary and a more than generous tip just for 2 minutes work" I told him. Our head guard on night shift at this point is beginning to get concerned I think because he calls Kumar on the phone, who in turn talks to the supervisor and then the three walk off grumbling into the night.
Part of me is grateful to Kumar and the Guard for their intervention, but part of me just wanted to be left alone to stand up to these chauvanistic officious men and tell them to GET LOST (read any expletive you like there but I thought I'd keep it clean!)
...breath AND relax!
Ian left for the US for 3 weeks on Saturday evening and after just Day 3 I'm having a bit of a meltdown...it's not serious...I'm still laughing, but I'm just a tad frustrated and I now need to get the events of the last few minutes off my chest!
In a nutshell Ellie is being a little mare.
We have no hot water and no water pressure which makes having a shower or a bath a problem unless you've got 2 hours to spare. (By the way, not as much as the problem we had two weeks ago when raw sewage water started pouring from our taps and into our toilets and we had to shut off the mains supply, then empty and acid clean the tanks TWICE.)
The power to JUST our house went off at 2pm this afternoon and the generator has been whirring away all afternoon guzzling the diesel and I'm wondering if it's going to last the night, which I'm told it is...but hey, I've heard THAT ONE before!
At 9pm I'm thinking that all this isn't quite right so I call Kumar. A plumber is coming tomorrow and he will sort out the water and pressure. But do you know what? This plumber must come to our house EVERY week to 'fix' a raft of similar problems on a rotation basis and I'm beginning to smell a rat. The 'Government Electricity company' who WERE coming tomorrow are now coming this evening ,and, please give them a tip for coming. Woo hoo! If they can fix the problem I won't have a sleepless night worrying about the freezer etc and of course I'll give them a tip.
At 9.15pm THREE 'Government Electricity' men arrive, I show ONE of them the cupboards that they need to look into. The second of them watches and the third stands outside and talks into his mobile phone and hey presto! In just 2 minutes normal power is restored and the generator goes quiet. I take it that the guy on the phone must be 'the supervisor' and as advised I hand over a more than generous tip. He looks at it, counts it, looks me sraight in the eye with utter contempt and declares that he's not satisfied. Well, blow me down! Right there and then I felt I should run back into the house and empty the contents of my purse and give it to him but instead I hesitated a few moments (feeling very clammy in 32 degrees with the mosquitos biting) and then I laughed at him. OK, I thought, so I may be here Home Alone but no sweaty Government electricity worker is going to get the better of me just because he can flick a switch. "You have a good job...a salary and a more than generous tip just for 2 minutes work" I told him. Our head guard on night shift at this point is beginning to get concerned I think because he calls Kumar on the phone, who in turn talks to the supervisor and then the three walk off grumbling into the night.
Part of me is grateful to Kumar and the Guard for their intervention, but part of me just wanted to be left alone to stand up to these chauvanistic officious men and tell them to GET LOST (read any expletive you like there but I thought I'd keep it clean!)
...breath AND relax!
Sunday 5 April 2009
Seasonally Confused
We all are...
Ellie's school is on its 'Spring Break' for 2 weeks, whilst Luke's school began it's 2 month 'Summer Holiday' on Friday.
Ellie has been learning about all things Spring like and Luke has been splashing about in paddling pools.
As for me? I'm just HOT.
Ellie's school is on its 'Spring Break' for 2 weeks, whilst Luke's school began it's 2 month 'Summer Holiday' on Friday.
Ellie has been learning about all things Spring like and Luke has been splashing about in paddling pools.
As for me? I'm just HOT.
April FooI Indian PC Plod Style
Maybe this post title should read 'Pinch Punch First of the Month', either way I think you'll get the gist!
If there is anything in India that is always consistent...it's pay day, always the first day of the month and you can always tell what time of the month it is by a few regular indicators:-
1) Our staff remind me!
2) The large number of people lying/sleeping on the streets
and,
3) The large number of PC Plod roadblocks.
Yes for PC Plod it is not only their salary time but it's their BONUS time as well. Unsuspecting motorists and motorcyclists are 'pulled over' and given a fine, for what, they are apparently not ever really sure, but pay up they must. It works like this... Every unfortunate motorist that is pulled over is given a fine and if they want a receipt it'll cost them 500rps but if they don't, it'll cost them 200rps! Pinch Punch First of the Month, right where it hurts in the wallet!! I wonder where the unreceipted fines go?
The other indicator are the number of mainly men you see sleeping, or should I say 'sleeping it off' on the streets. Pay day here also means Drink Week and we had a conversation in our car the other day and it went something like this...
Ellie: Kumar, why is that man sleeping on the pavement?
Kumar: (chuckling) He has drunk his salary.
Luke: Cow! Cow!
Ellie: What's a salary Mummy?
Me: When a person has a job they get paid some money for doing their work and it's called a salary and it pays for their food, clothes and houses.
Luke: Cow?
Ellie: Does Daddy get a salary?
Me: Yes. Every month.
Ellie: And does HE drink it all?
Me & Kumar: Much laughter.
Priceless!
If there is anything in India that is always consistent...it's pay day, always the first day of the month and you can always tell what time of the month it is by a few regular indicators:-
1) Our staff remind me!
2) The large number of people lying/sleeping on the streets
and,
3) The large number of PC Plod roadblocks.
Yes for PC Plod it is not only their salary time but it's their BONUS time as well. Unsuspecting motorists and motorcyclists are 'pulled over' and given a fine, for what, they are apparently not ever really sure, but pay up they must. It works like this... Every unfortunate motorist that is pulled over is given a fine and if they want a receipt it'll cost them 500rps but if they don't, it'll cost them 200rps! Pinch Punch First of the Month, right where it hurts in the wallet!! I wonder where the unreceipted fines go?
The other indicator are the number of mainly men you see sleeping, or should I say 'sleeping it off' on the streets. Pay day here also means Drink Week and we had a conversation in our car the other day and it went something like this...
Ellie: Kumar, why is that man sleeping on the pavement?
Kumar: (chuckling) He has drunk his salary.
Luke: Cow! Cow!
Ellie: What's a salary Mummy?
Me: When a person has a job they get paid some money for doing their work and it's called a salary and it pays for their food, clothes and houses.
Luke: Cow?
Ellie: Does Daddy get a salary?
Me: Yes. Every month.
Ellie: And does HE drink it all?
Me & Kumar: Much laughter.
Priceless!
Monday 30 March 2009
Snake Update
Hmmmm...the large Rat Snake is still on the loose but is being kept at bay by the guards who I have put on an hourly 'Snake Patrol'. They seem happy they have something other to do than fall asleep and open and close the gate but, as yet, they still haven't caught the culprit.
However, they have competition in the snake catching stakes and I'll hedge my bets on who will win this battle and it'll be the latest visitor to our garden.
A couple of days ago I was horrified to see what I thought at first was the most enormous rat I had ever seen sniffing around on one of our window ledges and then I saw its long bushy tail and thought...that ain't NO rat. Straight onto the computer, Google and Wikipedia and I deduced with my powerful sleuth like determination that it was indeed a Mongoose. Where there is a snake you will eventually find a Mongoose, and Mongooses fight snakes for sport. Even deadly Cobras. But we haven't had one of those...yet.
However, they have competition in the snake catching stakes and I'll hedge my bets on who will win this battle and it'll be the latest visitor to our garden.
A couple of days ago I was horrified to see what I thought at first was the most enormous rat I had ever seen sniffing around on one of our window ledges and then I saw its long bushy tail and thought...that ain't NO rat. Straight onto the computer, Google and Wikipedia and I deduced with my powerful sleuth like determination that it was indeed a Mongoose. Where there is a snake you will eventually find a Mongoose, and Mongooses fight snakes for sport. Even deadly Cobras. But we haven't had one of those...yet.
Turtle Soup
Last week we got a last minute tip-off that some day old baby turtles were being released...we dropped everything, jumped in the car and bombed down the East Coast Road.
Here's the David Attenborough bit...The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle commonly lays it's eggs on the shores of the Bay of Bengal but the eggs are endangered by predators such as rats, dogs, seagulls and crabs.
Volunteers patrol the beaches between January and March and once a turtle is found laying her eggs and she returns to the sea the eggs are carfully dug up and moved to a protected hatchery and buried one foot deep in the sand. Approximately 40-45 days later the turtles begin to hatch and they are gathered and released into the ocean when they are just one day old.
The batch we released was small, about 30 or so turtles but I have heard of as many as 100 being released at one time. The little black cuties were about 1 1/2 -2 inches in diameter and were quite active. At high tide we took them down to the sea and gently set them upon the sand to begin their life journey, they must make their own entry into the water. Those that survive their journey will return to this very same beach in about 15 years time to lay their eggs...I hope they make it back!
A wonderful and humbling experience. I cried when they disappeared into the waves and Ellie has hardly stopped talking about it. If I now ask Luke about Turtles he holds out his hand and points to his palm while chattering away about something that begins with 'T'.
Here's the David Attenborough bit...The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle commonly lays it's eggs on the shores of the Bay of Bengal but the eggs are endangered by predators such as rats, dogs, seagulls and crabs.
Volunteers patrol the beaches between January and March and once a turtle is found laying her eggs and she returns to the sea the eggs are carfully dug up and moved to a protected hatchery and buried one foot deep in the sand. Approximately 40-45 days later the turtles begin to hatch and they are gathered and released into the ocean when they are just one day old.
The batch we released was small, about 30 or so turtles but I have heard of as many as 100 being released at one time. The little black cuties were about 1 1/2 -2 inches in diameter and were quite active. At high tide we took them down to the sea and gently set them upon the sand to begin their life journey, they must make their own entry into the water. Those that survive their journey will return to this very same beach in about 15 years time to lay their eggs...I hope they make it back!
A wonderful and humbling experience. I cried when they disappeared into the waves and Ellie has hardly stopped talking about it. If I now ask Luke about Turtles he holds out his hand and points to his palm while chattering away about something that begins with 'T'.
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