Deck The Halls

We spent Saturday morning 'getting festive'!

DS was very intrigued by our 'naff' dancing tree and thought it was hilarious as did Maid #2








DS was napping when DD and I decorated this one thank goodness.





And, when we did this one funnily enough!







And after all that hard work, what better way to chill out than down at the beach with a bucket and spade and an ice-cream to cool off!

Kumar & The Chef

I can't believe that I forgot to mention this, but Kumar and his friend Suresh had a rather nasty motorbike accident a couple of weeks ago and we have been without him for the last 10 days, they're both much better now but I must admit that their injuries really gave me the shivers. Thankfully he is fit and well again and has returned to us today and DS was so pleased to see his best friend again...and so was I, first stop Farm Fresh for some 'good' fruit n veg. The relief driver was never going to find it and I decided it was best to avoid the frustration!

School's Out

Friday was the end of term for both DD & DS, no-more school until 5th January.

They both had Christmas parties at their schools with the obligatory visit from Father Christmas. DS cried when he saw him (see above) and ran to me to hide and DD noticed that he wasn't as fat as when she last saw him!

It is now a week and 1 day until my sister and family arrive and we are all looking forward to their visit. Particularly as nearly all the other families we know excitedly flew out of Chennai to either go home for Christmas or to go on some fantastic adventure, which made me a bit homesick. But is is still too early to come home...I still might (might!) struggle to come back here again!

Another One Bites The Dust

Maid #1 - Left
Maid #2 - Doing Well
Maid #3 - Sacked on Friday

Maid # 3 was a tough one as she was very good with the children, hygienic, English good and always on time, however she was slow, good at looking busy and pushy, after just days she asked if she could do her family's washing in our machine and after 3 weeks started sounding me out for a loan for her son's schooling! The minute she started Kumar warned us that he had asked around and she had a reputation for being dishonest...we thought we'd give her a go as her last employers (of 3 years) reference was very good. Maid #2 had also voiced her concerns to Kumar as she also knew of her before and was worried that any trouble would reflect on her.

Two weeks in and a friend told me that she had heard something about her from another ex-pat and so we dug a little deeper, turns out that there are convictions for petty theft in the family and when you begin to hear things like this it is terribly hard to trust someone.

As time went on Little Miss Pushy became pushier and I was getting really tired of finding her rooting and sifting through our rubbish, we were told she wouldn't comply with the guards on bag searches and a couple of times I found her in places in the house that she didn't need to be in.

The crunch began when we were getting ready to go to the BBSC Ball and DH discovered his dress shirt studs were missing and then one of the kids advent calendars disappeared, after 4 days of searching high and low and me ranting and asking no-one in particular, 'Where on earth can it be?' It turned up, she found it, behind some books but it was strange how nearly all the doors had been opened and re-closed and I swear I'd already looked in that place!

So, on Friday evening we confronted her and she left, much to the relief of all the staff and also to me....today is a much calmer day :-)

Tut Tut! It Feels Like Rain

Tut Tut! it Feels Like Rain (AA Milne, Winnie the Poo, for those not reading or watching his adventures e-v-e-r-y day).

So? What do you think you do when it feels like rain in Chennai? Answer: You adorn the very latest in designer head gear to keep dry - THE plastic carrier bag, and you very delicately and carefully roll the handles up so as not to cover your ears (v important for hearing all the traffic and horns). This year's colour is definitely white, although there are the odd one of two fashion rebels I've seen wearing blue and black.

This chap really could have given his wife on the back of the bike (sorry, photo not good as we were on the move) his rain hat...poor girl, another bad case of Humidity Hair for her today!

The War Against Mosquitos

Do you like my bat? I LOVE this bat!

This is THE BEST invention since sliced bread and the wheel. This bat is my main weapon in my personal 'War on Mosquito's'. There are loads of the little blighters here and there are even more since the monsoon season descended. They are mean, vicious and cunning and will find the one spot of skin that the repellent didn't get to. They are dangerous and carry untold nasty diseases. We have all had our vaccinations but the one disease you can't protect yourself from is Dengue Fever, the first time you have it, you apparently hardly notice...you run a temperature, your limbs ache and your feet and joints swell, could be flu...only it ain't. The mosi's that carry it are the ones that bite in the daytime. The next time you get it, you apparently really know about it as it increases in intensity. I had a grand total of 15 bites the other week and felt really lousy for about a week, slight temperature, swollen limbs and aches and pains...but you keep going, because you have to, not even the beloved Piriton helped. It's only now being a little more informed that I think I know what the problem was.

Anyway back to my bat! We have about 4 of these, one upstairs, one downstairs and one in each car. You plug the bats in to charge them, you spot a mosi, you grab the bat, press the button, take aim and swipe.....the little devil doesn't stand a chance (as long as you've managed to keep track of him that is) There then is a very satisfying electrical crackle and the little mosi falls electrocuted to the floor. Great Sport....like I said, I LOVE my bat!

A Busy Christmassy Weekend

On Saturday evening DH and I attended the BBSC (British Business & Social Club) Christmas Ball complete with Roast Turkey and all the trimmings! A great evening enjoyed by all and as a result there were certainly a few tired and sore-headed individuals (DH being one) who headed out for the next Christmas event of the weekend - the OWC (Overseas Women's Club) annual Santa Brunch.

Father Christmas had also been to the Ball, wonder how his head was?!

Present Time

After all the excitement DS needed a little lie down!

There were lots of craft tables and all the kids had a wonderful time, icing and eating Christmas Cookies, making Pot Pourri, drawing and colouring and playing together. Everyone felt quite Christmassy I think, until we stepped outside again into the warmth and the sunshine.