I've been busy the last couple of days editing the memorial book in tribute of Bishop Jason. I've actually been trying to make sense of the very flowery Indian English so that it is understandable to the rest of the world! For example... "He had a great burden for souls" means he was passionate about evangelism.
I spent two evenings and then another 3 hours tonight on it, tonight was with Mrs Lydia, explaining my explanations!
Nancy has had to go to Chennai where her cousin's husband is critically ill and I think unlikely to be with us much longer. One lung has given up and the other operating At 11%... not a smoker either he's in his 30s.
Selene, Carrie's sister in law, also in Chennai and also believe it or not a cousin of Nancy, has managed to get me the two bird books I have been trying for 6 weeks to get here in Tirunelvelli, the bookshop has kept promising and failing to deliver, I wish I'd asked Selene and Augustine weeks ago!
No news yet on doctor jobs, hopefully by this time next week she should here something. A has a part time job in St Andrews helping to paint rooms for a small scale property developer. She can do whatever hours suit her, so that is good and he could be a useful contact if she wants a flat in a couple of years. She is hoping to be back in halls next year.
Ruth's car story reminded me of K. the previous day. J her husband had been driving back from being energetic in the Lake District and the car, which had been ailing for a few weeks died about Abington. After 3 hours he was towed to our garage in Edinburgh but they thought that the green N registered golf (used to be mum-in-laws this time Mike!) had bitten the dust and had agreed not to shell out more than £500 to repair it. Depression had set in, how would they get the cat - mine and elderly, to the vet, K had hired a car to get her to her interview in Falkirk for Scottish jobs.
They went for the verdict to Bill only to find they had burned out the clutch completely... they've had the car 5 years so that's not bad as it was already fairly elderly. Just over 200 to repair and it is now good as new. She cancelled the hire car!
I bought two Tibetan Singing bowls in Kovalum in December, one for me and one for school here. The tone is fantastic, but they were made of very elderly distressed brass. I had a go at polishing them but to no avail so I asked Nancy if she knew of anyone who could do it without damaging the metal. Her husband contacted a friend in the Police offices and they gave him the contact details for the person who does police brasswork, the upshot is I have 1, and am waiting for the other, incredibly shiny brass bowl back, tone perfect, and have had to shell out £1.50 for the privilege. it took less than a day too.
Roadside Trolley
There is a bit of an iron wars going on here! The man who brings his ironing trolley... a bit like the one in the pic but with an iron not scales!... and sets up opposite the house every day, last week went to return clothes to one of the local houses and discovered when he came back that his iron and his charcoal had been stolen. The poor guy is devastated as he has family to support. I suggested we had a whip-round to buy him a new iron which met with mixed approval. One person said what if the new one is stolen too... which is hardly the guys fault I thought I suggested maybe we could buy him a padlock and chain too. That way if he has to leave his trolley he can first make it secure. The whole area is buzzing, things like this do not happen in Perumalpuram!!I can't help wondering if it is one of the other travelling ironing men who wants some more trade... watch this space!
I have discovered that I am known to all and sundry as 'The foreign lady' still I suppose I am at least described as a lady! A friend came to Perumalpuram and didn't know where I lived so went to one of the shops and asked for me giving that description and ended up very quickly at the right house!