Sari Time

The weather here has been quite cool... 30'ish, and cloudy as if preparing me for my return!
I've done all I can today to prepare for today and my flight, including having a massage tonight. Now I have to go back to the hotel and wash off the ayurvedic oils or I'll be coming home yellow and no one will want to sit near me on the plane! I have a wake up call, assuming I've been to sleep that is at 1.30am, my flight is at 5.05am so 3 hour check in time. I get back v. late Tuesday and for a couple of days will only be contactable from around 10am - 9pm as I try to bring my body clock back 4.5 hours, at least I'll be awake in the mornings!
My India mobile is receiving calls and texts, but not sending them, so if I don't respond, please forgive me, thanks Freddie and Joyce! My UK mobile is also receiving texts.
I am flying from Trivandrum airport in Kerala and if you want to see the hotel I am in currently go to www. then rockholm.com (I have not typed the address correctly as if I put it as a link then my viewing figures are all messed up.)
Looking forward to seeing everyone soon, especially Jon as he meets me off the plane tomorrow evening! Goodbye from India. & Namdri! (Thank you in Tamil)for all your support.

Well here I am back at Kovalum for 36 hours before flying home on Tuesday. It's really strange here as the season is finished and ,lots of the shops are closed adn boarded up. The sea is really wild, I had a long soak in it today but now swimming.
Yesterday was horrid! Saying goodbye to lots of people and delivering all the last bits of household furniture and goods to friends and charities. I went outy for a meal with Prem and ida, but we ddin't eat till after 10 which I am never very good at, on the way home we had to go to his hospital as 2 patients needed help so I ended up getting home about 11.30 still with packing to do! aaaargh! I made it to bed at around 12.30 and was up again this morning at 6.45 ready for Raja to pick me up at 7.15 to take me to the early morning English service at Military Lines Church. I was doing the intercessions, it was a nice surprise to see Steven lionel taking the service and to meet up with Manoah, Felicia and of course Reggie too.
Raja took me home again after church, came in for coffee then headed off. I'll miss having my personal auto back in Edinburgh! I headed off with Balagi at around 11.30 getting to the Rockholm about 3.5 hours later... good time, the roads were pretty clear. Down to the beach for a few hours, then back for a hot shower yay! This evening Iam back down to Fusion for my dinner. Gopt your soaps Maggie, but no nice box Colin... sorry. I may go in to Trivandrum tomorrow if the sea is as rough, no room in my cases for any shopping though!

Today really was my last day in school, Santosh and Blessy were both in which was nice and Mariam's father came in to see me as well and pick up some info I had for Mariam's mum. He asked me to pray for them and added that they would pray for me and my work in Edinburgh which was very touching, they are a Muslim family. Mariam has not been in school this week, only the morning crew! I thought a pic of Blessy's family would be nice as they are so nice and so supportive of each other.

I spent the rest of the morning going through my files with Jeyakodi so that he was up to speed with everything. they are so hung up on using scales to measure children's progress on. I have tried to explain I don't know how many times that although they can be useful, in many ways as what we are doing is so individual, a scale can be a hindrance rather than a help. When children here go for registration as disabled, they are given a percentage disability as a figure! For example Ramiya who has Downs and no speech and limited mobility is 65% disabled !!?? Anand is 80% and Santosh 85%, I would love to see how they work that out.
At the end of the morning I said a quick goodbye to the children and their mums and headed straight out to my auto. Raja said I was looking tired... not so much tired as in my usual way emotional! I had booked myself a pedicure... very nice, as a treat so I now have painted toe nails, she then offered me a manicure and to my horror trimmed down all my carefully nurtured finger nails! After that, it was off to Selsil for lunch where Joel, Metti, Ida and Aksha, Metti's daughter came to join me. Heh guess what Ali, Janaksha did a dance for me!

I keep putting off saying goodbye to Metty, I have to go round there tomorrow with my dining/computer table. Raja reckons he can tie it on top of his auto.
Reggie and Joseph are coming soon to take my cases and weigh them on a weighing machine which gives a digital read out and is in one of the shops, fingers crossed that there is no bad news. I think I should just make it and would like to slip one or two other bits and bobs in if there is space. I am having to send a box of books separately so I hope they make it back to the UK ok - Colin's birthday present sent registered post last month hasn't washed ashore yet!
I am off out to dinner this evening, to the Janikaram rooftop restaurant I think unless the current thunderstorm carries on... yes it is raining again, but hopefully just to break the humidity! It was over 40 degrees today.

Well that's one word for it! Today Metti came and took most of my belongings which I am not bringing back to the UK. Everything from kitchen dishes, pots and pans,bedding to table and chairs! We packed everything up into carrier bags and Raja took everything in his auto to their house. I have had to borrow a plate and bowl for breakfast tomorrow from Nancy! This shot of buses behaving badly was taken on the way to school, I'm not sure about the message on the front of the pink bus! The buses are all in competition with each other so race to get to the stop first, putting passengers, pedestrians and other vehicles in risk of their lives!
It was Santosh's birthday today so we had a wee celebration in class, of my 9 regular kids, 4 have had birthdays since February! Joel came in on his Bullet, so here is a pic of him!

Raja took me into town and I bought some brass bells for class, on the way back passed the big Tank (lake) which is low on water in spite of all the rains, the daily average of 39 degrees is drying it up quickly. Apparently the rain we had in April (lots) was the first recorded for 133 years! Normally only traces are recorded. it kept the temp down too, it is now getting very hot. The tank was full of pelicans, I counted around 20! there were also storks as well as the usual cranes, ibis, heron and cormorants.

My social life really took off after I got home! Lunch with Augustina who phoned today said she was off work for hols now and how did I fancy lunch next week! I said very much but it might be tricky as I would be in Edinburgh! Augustina is the lady who lent me a stove. She has a cashew tree in her garden and I saw a cashew fruit with nut attached, really strange looking beast! The fruit is 2-3 inches in length, the nut about an inch and a half as it is in some sort of shell. On my way home I met the guy who comes around the neighbourhood everyday with his sewing machine looking for work to do! One of the wheels is on its last legs I'm afraid.

I got home just in time for a visit from Kiruba, the lady who runs the home for girls around the corner.She dropped in some goodies and came to say goodbye. She left and Metti, Samuel and Aksha arrived to strip the house and bring me a goodbye pressie. I will find it really hard to say goodbye to them, they have been so kind to me.

Metti is wearing the sari I gave her for her birthday. Before they had left, Reggie and Joseph arrived to see if they could help me at all and they were still here when Raja arrived to take me to deliver the stuff to Metti, visit Rajan and go to the tailor! Only time for a quick coffee before home again. On the wall at the foot of the stairs to Nancy's house, was this frog, a different breed to those I normally see and quite photogenic I'm sure you'll agree!

Tomorrow really is my last day in school... Oh dear, bring out the hankies! I am going out for lunch with Metti, Ida, Joel and Aksha which will be a nice finish.

Today I was in school for my 'babies' group from 10-11 as planned. It is great to see such progress in them in a comparatively short time too. Buvena is now holding and releasing objects, her grip was largely non-existent before, she has better head control and is generally taking an interest in what is going on and has a delightful babble. Santosh is just a load of fun, he has the most bewitching smile and tries really hard to do things asked of him. His tone is very high and so any controlled movement takes a huge amount of effort. Baby Blessy is just irresistible, her mood depends really on whether it is time to eat, sleep or be awake as with most 6 month old babies. Today it was her turn to prove to me that her bladder works! What really gladdens my heart though is to see the three mothers for once not focussing on their children but:
a)Trusting us to work with them
b)Chatting amongst themselves, supporting each other and really relaxing.
Having said the three mothers, I definitely do not mean to exclude Blessy's father who is sitting in the background and comes faithfully with his wife and daughter every day. He has a lovely way with her, in fact they both do. It is so good to see them growing in confidence with her though, as they pick up ideas from what they pick up in class and from the other parents. She was hungry the other day and they only had water, so Santosh's mum gave them a biscuit and showed them how to break it down with a little water and feed it to them. It's such a privilege to be part of all this.

Most of the work with the children is on an individual basis, working 1:1 with Joel, Metti or I, as developmentally they are not really ready to work with a group. We start each session all together though with a hallo song and end with a goodbye song.
The older group's mothers have the same sort of relationship developing and I am so glad. One of the aims of my project was that I find a way to support mothers - so I am so happy to see it happening with little involvement of school staff.
This evening was the long awaited 2nd anniversary memorial 'service' for Bishop Jason along with the launch of the English book of tributes and memories that I have been working on for weeks. It was delivered by the press as promised at 12 noon today in time for the 6.00pm service. We gathered in the garden at Lydia's house on plastic chairs at 6.00pm in sweltering heat, it has been around 38 degrees this week! There were various pastors and lay people paying tribute. I sang Be Thou My Vision more or less successfully. I think I may have wobbled at the beginning as I was rather nervous... singing with a microphone to 200 people is not my usual occupation, especially when I realised that the other two songs were being sung by professional singers with CD accompaniment. I had Thomas the guitarist on keyboard. Which is not to belittle him, he played really well, it is just a little difficult to focus on a starting note and point especially when the sound is coming through 4 foot high speakers and you are at the other end of the garden to the keyboard. That meant I could not even 'read' his fingers as he played - which is my usual method! The Bishop was unable to make it at the last minute, so I was asked to 'launch' the book officially too!
Still now it is done, I shall be able to relax a little more, slowly my responsibilities are disappearing along with my time here.

This week is already disappearing at a rate of knots! My cases are more or less packed... in fact more more than less! I'm distributing left overs to all and sundry and nicer things to the friends! People keep giving me edibles too which I really don't have room for, Raja the auto driver struck lucky tonight with a bag of goodies from the savoury snacks shop.
I met up with Shriram and his family last night, he used to live in Tirunelvelli but about 3 years ago moved to Chennai with his wife and daughter, since then son has come onto the scene too. It was nice to catch up with them although his mum was miffed that I hadn't been to see her before now even though Shriram wasn't around. People here are so welcoming and hospitable. We had a lovely meal, although it was late for em, I prefer to eat in early evening whereas here 9-9.30 is quite common. Aparna who is almost 5 did some Bharanatka dancing for me, just look at those finger positions... quite the performer. Kanishk was a little more restrained although in the family shot he looks like he has been practising the hand movements he is not 2 yet though!

I was up on the roof with Nancy this evening... it is much cooler up on the roof! Most of the neighbours were up there - on their own roof - too... very strange! There was a real glow to the trees and bushes.I took this pic of a flower last week up in the mountains and meant to put it up before, it was beautiful, looks almost alpine.

I had an end of visit meeting with the Bishop yesterday, he is really pleased with the way things have gone and is very keen to keep the momentum going.
Tomorrow is Bishop Jason's memorial payer meeting with hopefully the launch of THE BOOK! Lydia has asked me to sing so I offered her a selection and she has chosen Be Thou My Vision. I met up with the keyboard player tonight having heard he did not know the tune, did not read music and would play it by ear as we went along... He's actually a guitarist! I thought a pre-performance meeting might be a good idea. All went well though and hopefully will go OK tomorrow evening too.

Well that's my last Sunday in Turnelvelli gone. I spent it fairly quietly, Nancy had left me some iddiappum in my kitchen for breakfast(the white sort of noodle looking things which you eat with milk sugar and coconut). I did some packing and rearranging of suitcases, I'm going to have to do some culling of things wot I need to take home I think!
Did some washing, something else to look forward to, hot water and a washing machine, on the other hand,as a plus which Tirunelvelli has over Edinburgh, my washing was dry in two hours when I hung it outside, including a thick towel. Took a Chudi das to the laundry to get nicely ironed... I will miss that! Then it was time for church. Raja picked me up on time as usual, he's been off for the last two days since the death of his friends wife, she died aged 26 of TB. I met Rajan on his way into church which was nice, he is one of my Tirunelvelli Cursillo friends. His daughter once travelled for 3 hours in 1998 on a bus sitting on my knee to the mountains where we went to 'Take bath' in a waterfall, Renee is now 18 and choosing her university course - doesn't time fly.
Today's pictures are appropriate for a Sunday and show what a very multi-cultural place I live in, The Christ Stores, is directly opposite Siva cabs, who provide me with my auto driver each morning, Ignatius, who is Roman Catholic!

After church, Raja took me into Tirunelvelli town, I wanted to buy some garland type beads from by the temple but the shop I bought the last lot in was closed so I'll have to go back tomorrow. Stopped for coffee on the way back and met Jason the 'other' physio from school who introduced me to his wife and son. back home again and hopefully and early night unless Nancy's mum comes visiting. She is 87 and doesn't like to take a door key when she goes out in case she loses it, however she usually gets back before Nancy and comes tottering in through my front door to wait for her. Problem is that she is very deaf but doesn't like her hearing aids, her English is good though so we usually end up with me writing my part of the conversation and her speaking hers... which of course is much quicker than I can write! Hard work though!
Monday morning, I had an extra half hour in bed which I needed as I slept badly last night. I went to school via Methi's house to pick her up and found Joel there too or at least just across the canal, he was picking up his new motorbike, a bullet, a 350CC Royal Enfield, 350CC is the largest allowed on Indian roads. Talk about boys toys, they are as bad in India as they are in the UK! Here is a picture from the website, his is red! You can find the pictures and info on the Royal Enfield website which is as usual, www. then royalenfield.com

We were working with our 2 year olds and baby Blessie, the school was very strange with no pupils around. After school I headed off down to Junction to exchange the 2 blank DVDs I had bought, which turned out not to be blank after all but to have copies of someone's wedding video on them. then I went to have some copies of papers made... busy tying off loose ends before I go. Then it was off to Lydia's, she has asked me to sing at the memorial prayer service on Wednesday to see what she would like me to sing... thank you David for the music! To the Aquarium shop to sort out maintenance contract... closed and finally back here for a catch up on some sleep. I have to meet the Bishop at 4.30 so need to be on the ball! Hopefully I'll be able to relax tonight.

I just threw the empty can of cockroach killer at a cockroach... and it worked!

This is a short clip I took at the tea plantation where, to look at the pictures, on the blog of the 17th, all looks idyllic and peaceful. in reality, the sound made by the insects was almost deafening. have a look at the clip, and make sure your speakers are on. It's not white noise, it's thousands of insects in full concerto mode!
I thought I would put this up as much to remind me, as anyone else.
Appearances can be deceptive... enjoy!

For some reason the controls of the media player have covered the bottom of the film and it all looks a bit stretched widthways... never mind takes me right back there immediately!

If Thursday was difficult then Friday was more so! I arrived in school in time for our usual staff/ pupil assembly, but of course as it was the end of the school year it went on rather longer than usual, over an hour. the children cope really well though and are incredibly enthusiastic when a hymn they know comes up and they can do actions. These are interspersed with lots of readings and prayers too. I sat as usual on a mat with Daphny, Ida, Methie, and Thiluga... they gave up putting a chair out for me a few months back when I kept ignoring it and sitting with the staff on the floor. I have had a problem the whole time with the school trying to treat me as a special visitor and me wanting to be one of the staff! I sat in a slight world of my own as the proceedings were in Tamil, when all of a sudden I realised that one of the senior pupils had been asked to pray and was praying for me! A very humbling experience, being prayed for by a boy with learning difficulties. I was already realising that today was not going to be easy for one with emotions as close to the surface as mine can be at times! Next I was called out to the front and the principal spoke to the pupils about me, they call me either Sally Auntie (a term of respect for a female older than oneself) or Sally Madam, a term showing even more respect and slightly more formal. I was then asked to say a few words.. again not easy, what can you say except Goodbye and thank you and that I hoped to be back to see them all again before they were much older. I was then presented with two gifts, by the senior boy and girl, a bag and a candle made in the vocational workshops.

Assembly finally over, we raced to my classroom passing the ducks on the way! They were a gift from one of the fathers who has a duck smallholding near nazareth and have come to terms very well with being chased around the playground at playtime!
I got to my class where the little ones had already arrived and were being taken care of by Joel. I will be seeing them again next week so no problem there. Next to arrive were my 3 year olds, Anand, Ramiyah and Sanjay! It was wonderful to see Anand walking the length of the verandah holding his mum's hand and grinning ear to ear. We had a final song session and some play and lots of chat! There is never a quiet moment when Ramiyah is around. Her father had come too today and he gave me a large carrier bag full of Indian snacks, unfortunately I may have to eat them all as my cases are full to weight limit! Both Mums were quite tearful as they said goodbye and I was not much better. Throughout the morning, residential pupils had been going home from the hostel as they were picked up by their parents and I was touched by how many of them brought their parents to say hallo (or goodbye)! Many live a good distance away, 4 or 5 hours on a hot bus, so the parents had set out very early.
After class, it was time for lunch, today I joined the staff on the mats on the floor, I have always eaten at the table with the male staff up until now as I am not good at sitting cross legged for long periods. Today though I wanted to be with those I felt closest to. At least eating with your fingers is a little easier than trying to use a knife and fork when sitting on the floor. You should try it sometimes even sitting at a table, eating rice and runny gravy with your fingers... you soon learn to bend close over your plate and sook, preferably quietly!
All too soon lunch was over though and it was time to say goodbye to the staff. I had arranged with Raja for him to come and meet me and to be prepared to just scoop me into his auto and drive me home! However at 12.30, just as lunch started, I looked at my phone and found two missed calls and a text message from him. The wife of the man who drove his other auto had died during the morning so he was unable to come and pick me up as he had to be involved in the proceedings. Funerals etc all take place every quickly here, due to the hot weather, usually within 24 hours and involve long prayer meetings which may go on for 2 or 3 days. I think that is to compensate for the fact that as the funeral is held quickly, people arrive too late to take part and so a large gathering takes place instead. I called to let him know that I had picked up his message and asked about the wife. Apparently she had been only 26, so understandably everyone was very upset.
Of course I couldn't blame him at all for not picking me up, but it meant that once I did manage to leave, I had to walk the long walk up the drive to the main road instead of being whisked away out of sight quickly. Methi, Ida, Jasmine, Anoushya, Nirosha and Anandi all hugged me and then stood at the gate and waved me off till I was out of sight. A long and lonely walk in the full mid day sunshine. I will see Methi every morning next week and we hope to meet up with some of the others for lunch one day, but some live far away from Tirunelvelli.
I decided that walking was perhaps the best way of calming myself down and set off in the sunshine, I walked about half way home then stopped for tea at Arryas - once I could be sure my face looked more or less respectable again. I then wandered on a bit further and caught an auto the rest of the way.
I visited one of the neighbours in the afternoon for tea and cake and then in the evening had a wander around town. There was an evangelical meeting on one of the sports grounds the bright lights and the loud music blaring through the speakers were amazing. I took some night time photos too of all the lights which give the whole place a magical feel in the evenings. I was on my way back when Prem passed me in his car and picked me up and gave me a lift home which was a nice end to the day.

Today, Saturday, I spent quietly, some packing, some paperwork, lunch with Lydia and Enoch and then dinner out at the Selsil restaurant. I'm off for an early night now.

I've had a wonderful but really difficult couple of days, Thursday and Friday as my work in the school has come to an end.When I set my dates to come here, I was not aware of the school year in Tirunelvelli, however school closes mid-April for the summer break. That was yesterday. I have one week left here in which to tie up lose ends and say my goodbyes, without the need to be in school full time. I will be in from 10-11 every day next week along with Joel (physio) and Methilda to work with my babies - Santhosh, Buvaneshwari and little 6 month old baby Blessie. Joel and I had planned this a while ago and when Methi held, she said she would come too, even though she is on holiday at which I am delighted, but I would never have asked her. Joel has different holidays and is paid to work at the hospital when not in school.
The pictures are firstly of Buvana and then of Mariam in class.

On Thursday, I said goodbye to Mariam and her Mum who has grown in her confidence in us so much since coming to class. It turns out (emerged gradually a little at a time) that Mariam's mum is a paediatrician. She told us she worked in an office when she started. She has been asking all sorts of questions and has asked for some info on our communication system. I've also been helping her with ideas for objects of reference (a way for a child to communicate a need or desire by offering an object: eg bringing a cup to ask for a drink). All fairly straight forward but need to be tailored to the needs of the child.
She is also bringing a friend of hers to talk to me, on Wednesday. This lady is also a doctor whose daughter, like Mariam, suffered birth asphyxiation. This lady lives in Madurai about 3 hours drive away and her daughter is 3. She is blind with additional disabilities and her mother has been unable to find help anywhere. I am going to try to put her in touch with Sense India, who have a base nearby in Trichy, who work with deaf blind people.
Mariam's mum brought me a handbag as a goodbye present and gave me a huge hug when leaving, it's hard to believe she is the same woman I met in February who was so defensive.
At 3.30 we had our usual end of day group with the two classes 1 and 1A together as tomorrow there are no main school classes and the children will be going home throughout the day after a parents meeting. I said goodbye to Subbayah and Guruvaiah as well as the other two day scholars in the group as they will not be coming in tomorrow. The Collector ( a bit like a provost) today declared tomorrow a public holiday for school children. That doesn't help our children who are largely residential and just means that instead of going to classes, they stay in the hostel. However even that won't happen as it is end of term.
The picture is of our cook with one of the pineapples I picked! We cut it up and shared it among staff at break time, yummy!

At the end of the day, Methi, Anoushya, and Ida the three teachers I have worked most closely with, along with Jasmine and Nirosha, two of the assistants hung about in my room and then gave me a gift from the five of them, I was really touched as they have little or no money and apart from Methi, little or no time to call their own. As the other 4 are unmarried they live in the school hostel which means they work from waking to sleeping everyday with the children.
I headed off with tears in my eyes to go home.
In the evening I went with Raja in his auto down to Junction to pick up some photos for the staff and then for dinner. On our return I helped him set up an email account for himself on the laptop.
Bed quite late, but not before I arranged with Raja before he left, to pick me up from school at 1.30 on Friday, straight after lunch. I explained that as I am a fairly sentimental person he was going to have to just drive me home as soon as I got into the auto and that I would probably not be fit for conversation as I would have just said goodbye to everyone! He said he understood and that he would be there.

Having left the rubber and tea plantation, we drove back down the hill a little to rejoin the main interstate road (it doesn't look like a main interstate road though, nor feel like it! We went first for lunch and had a 'chicken meal' these are the bargain of the day here in south India a little like a Thali which we can sometimes get in the UK. They consist of a main curry, veg, fish, mutton (goat) or chicken, in sauce, rice, veg side dishes usually at least two, pickle, sambar (a veg thin curry/gravy), rasam (a pepper thin sauce), curd or buttermilk with more rice and sometimes a poppadum, sometimes paysam too which is pudding. They come and top you up throughout the meal with everything except the main dish. The meals vary in cost from around 30 rupees (under 50p) to around 70 rupees, just under a pound, but they are the most popular dish in restaurants or cafes.
On leaving the cafe, we went back along the road to a magnificent damn complete with viewpoint. It was a stunning location with water then tumbling over rocks and down into Kerala. We carried on along the road to the Venture estate, which we turned into and there was something I have wanted to see for years, a pineapple plantation, pineapples stretching into the distance as far as the eye could see. The plants grow about knee high with one fruit at a time per plant.

We met up with the workers who immediately carved us up a fruit using a machete! First he slashed the leaves off from the top leaving the central core and making it into a handle shaped piece, a bit like a pineapple lollipop, then he took the peel off, then using the point ran a series of vertical cuts down from top to bottom a bit like the segments of an orange, leaving the harder core behind. He then held it out to us to take a slice. It was delicious, warm from the sun and juice like nectar. heavenly, the best I have ever tasted. I bought 5 to bring home to Tirunelvelli, which cost 50 rupees, about 75p. After that it was back into the car and to Tirunelvelli, we finally got home around 8.30pm and it was straight to bed for me absolutely exhausted after a great day!

Wednesday was amazing, I was up at 7am ready and waiting to be picked up at 7.00, at 8.05, I phoned the Bishop's Chaplain to see where they were, (as always just drawing up outside) Jeyakodi had told them not to come for me before 8.00am while he had told me they needed to pick me up at 7 and somewhere things had got very confused when he failed to pass on to me that they could come later or to them that we would be ready at 7.00am. Never mind we set off in the Diocesan 4x4 and apart from a puncture as we drew near to Shencottai all went well. At Shencottai we picked up the local pastor who was to be our introduction and guide for the day. the road went in a zig zag fashion across the Tamil Nadu border and into Kerala, then up the side of a hill/mountain one of the Ambanaad hills, part of the western Ghats, till we reached the tea plantation at 4,500. It was in fact part way back down the other side of the mountain so the road must have cleared 5,000 feet. Not up to Ken's standards in the Andes and Himalayas I know and in a car not on foot, but there you go, we all do things in our own way! The road was green and lush all the way with flowers and trees and bushes lining the road. there were waterfalls and lakes as well as streams and rivers running through mountain gorges. they kept telling em how cool it was ... Yeah right! Must have been only about 28 degrees rather than the 36 we having in the town just now!
Here are some pictures taken en route.

When we got to the top, we entered an area called the Ambanaad Hills, entry fee! No charge though as we had the pastor with us. Over the top and suddenly, we came across a huge factory (well huge-ish!) made of silver painted corrugated iron apparently dating from the 1840's this is the Arundel estates. They were delighted to hear that Arundel was an English town. They had no idea of the name's origin. Many of the estates here are named after their owners or their places of birth, there is one nearby named Merchiston... a district of Edinburgh, owned by the Richardson and Forbes families. There is also a Forbes Road in Bruntsfield another district in Edinburgh.

The equipment in the factory looks like the sort of stuff I used to play in on farms as a child, wooden conveyor belts, like hay bail lifters in barns, shaking trays and (not that I played in these) big turbines.

While we waited for the factory workers to return from their lunch break, ee had a wander around the estate, there were tea workers... naturally, working both in the factory and the fields. The ladies seem to do most of the picking with an intriguing combination of shears and collecting box, they then unload the collecting box into the amazing and presumably original 'tea-bag' hanging from their heads. The leaves are then taken to the factory, dried over warming trays and fans till they turn brown, they are then squeezed and pressed and filtered at various stages through sieve type things into the final selection of 10 grades, ranging from Orange pekoe (best) through floury pekoe, broken pekoe and tips, to broken orange pekoe fannings... basically dust!

I thought you might like to see the executive desk! The nice man was kind enough to sell me some top grade which is only for export. It was picked the day before I bought it... wow that is fresh! I've put in a fab pic of a water purifier.... no thanks, I think I'll stick to mineral water! and a mission statement.

I saw men working the rubber plantation, they really do 'tap' the trees. There is a pic of latex as it comes from the tree... extraordinary, it looks just like PVA glue as it leaves the tree! I caught this lizard on one of the factory garden walls, the flesh coloured part of its head looks as if it has a face made in relief on it. Fancy a bit of detective work on this one for me Mike?

More about my trip tomorrow!

Had a great day in school today. Ramiya who has been absent so her mum told me for 20 days... I think she had been counting!!! bounced back into class like the wee ball of fire she is. What was really nice to see too though, was how much Anand had come on in her absence and to see him grabbing toys back from her and handing her objects during the game. I have had these two for 4 months and it's so nice to see real progress. The two mums were glad to see each other too.

I got the copies back of the school pics today which are great! My versions are below.

these three are those I have been closest too in school I think, Jasmine, Ida and Methi (who is the gorgeous slim mother of Janaksha, Mike!) We have had such a lot of fun.
At the end of the day, three of the staff kids came in, it was the birthday of one of the boy's, so they had provided paysam pudding as an afternoon treat for the Bishop Sargent kids. Here he is with his brother and sister looking incredibly proud in his birthday new clothes.

The evening was spent as many seem to be just now, playing catch up! I had to pick up more sand bags for physio, have some pics printed, oh and eat! I keep forgetting but that doesn't seem to make much impression on my waistline!
Tomorrow I won't be in school as I am going with Nancy and the Bishop's Chaplain up into the Ghats to a tea and rubber plantation. I asked the Bishop ages ago if it would be possible as I have never seen a tea plantation and he arranged things for me. I'm really looking forward to that, 4,500 feet up!

This is the only kind of cockroach I can handle, it is particularly nice to find that the stuff which says lasts for up to 4 weeks obviously does! I found this chap when I came in tonight. They are beginning to reappear, up until the day before yesterday I had only seen one since Colin left at the end of January, I saw two the other night so went round and sprayed, there was one dead in the bathroom this morning and this chap tonight. Sorry to those who are insect lovers, but I don't love these! Something else I won't miss when I leave India.

It's New Year again today, I could start to get used to this, New Year every week and a Monday holiday! It's also Raja (landlord's) birthday today so I am invited for dinner. This picture is of my dinner yesterday which was the official New Years Day, today is the public holiday which follows it as it fell on a Sunday. Lunch was Pongal (a dall/lentil/rice and vegetable concoction, much tastier than it looks, fish, papaya and banana. All served on a banana leaf which can later be fed to the passing cows so no washing up!

The sun is shining and I am off to Metilda's in half an hour, it is also her birthday. I've bought her a pink sari which if she doesn't like we can go and change.
Well actually Lydia is picking me up in half an hour and we are going to the diocesan Press to see the final, final, final version!
Bala is doing the job which I hate most... and Yes, I have done it several times... which is cleaning out the water tank in my tank room... the one which looks like a big bath but isn't. She is singing 'Alleluia, Alleluia', softly to herself as she does it and sounds really happy. The tank builds up silt and needs to be cleaned once a week, but during this rainfall more is building up than usual and smells a bit... Not Nice, take my word for it. I will be so glad to see our nice clean water again at home!
Home again this afternoon and some more paperwork to do, my washing is up to date - another thing I'll be glad to see is a washing machine, and hot water come to that! When I was in Chennai I found a Marks and Spencer and, sad lady that I am, I bought me some undies and binned the ones I had been hand washing for 5 months. I felt like ceremoniously burning them to be honest. They were quite clean but I was just fed up of the sight of them and with the dirty water, they needed a regular bleaching to bring back any semblance of white. Mind you it broke my heart seeing the price of clothes in Marks and the fact that it was pretty well the same range as in the UK. I don't see how they can possibly afford to keep that shop. Guess it is being well subsidised by the UK branches. There are not that many ex-pats here and the shop was empty apart from Maggie and I. The clothes are not really suitable any way culturally and undies etc are about a fifth of the price they were in Marks even in other quality stores.!
School tomorrow then I am going to Joshua's family in place of Saturday's visit. Wednesday morning I am being picked up at 8.15 to go to a tea plantation, I have never seen one in all my time in India so the Diocesan vehicle is coming for me. Chandramohan offered me a 6am pick up but could hear my voice when I queried this and said 'Ha, I want to punish you!' and laughed and said would an 8.15 pick up at my house be better! Charming, I just love folks with a cruel sense of humour.
Thursday is the last proper day of school as many children start going home that evening from the residential section.
Well talk about the best laid plans and all that. Went to press, met up with and had lunch with Methi and Janaksha as planned, then went to the tailors and finally home again. The picture is of Janaksha (5 years) pretending to drive Raja's auto while he looks patiently on. the other is of us saying goodbye after lunch.

I had hardly got in when the doorbell rang and it was Joshua's dad come to pick me up, I said but that's tomorrow and he said "No today, I have everything ready for you", so off I went. the whole family was there, 4 daughters, 2 son in laws, 4 grandchildren and the 5th arrived soon after.

They gave me a lovely mutton biryani for dinner followed by fruit and tea so I now feel absolutely full and have had to call off from having dinner with Nancy and Raja upstairs, fortunately Nancy was understanding and they have others coming to eat, so I will pop up later when they have finished. Still it means I shall have tomorrow evening free at least. I cannot believe how although I had never heard of Perumalpuram let alone been able to spell it until I moved here, everyone I know lives in walking distance or at least not far off: Prem and Ida, Jasmine and Mathialagan, Frederick and Suzie, Joshua's parents, Maharajanagar where Shriram's family, Carrie and Reggie and Lydia and Enoch live is 5 minutes by auto. The house is really in a perfect position.

How come that this is summer? Last years stats show that the average temp in April was 38 and average rainfall was less than .005mm this year the temp is around 28-30 and rainfall this month so far has been 407mm and is usually 46!
I think I must have missed summer when we went to Chennai that weekend! Actually if it wasn't for the fact that the rain is wet - the ground bounces it off so that puddles of up to 6 inches form in no time - it would be quite pleasant if you know what I mean! I saw a dog swimming along the roadside verge this afternoon... I kid you not. I didn't have time to get my camera out but it would have been a fab shot! The roads are all breaking up again and I shall be very careful when walking as my last fall took a full 8 weeks to repair and now just to add insult to injury, my 1 inch diameter bright red scar has a mozzie bite in the middle of it! The rain is bringing them out in their swarms too, not fair. Having said that, this house still has fewer mozzies than any other I know, everyone who comes in comments on how cool it is, so I am really extremely lucky... I just like moaning! Remind me in three weeks that I said that my house at 29 degrees C. was cool won't you!
I slept late today, I had a really bad night last night, Balagi left for Trivandrum at 2.30am and as the Ambassador is Diesel, it makes a heck of a racket starting up, right outside my window. He was as quick as he could be, in getting it going, but it still woke me! I got up, mucked around on the computer, did a couple of sudokus, read my book, caught up on the Daylight readings I had missed and had a drink of hot milk. Then went back to bed, but was still awake at 4.30am when Raja (landlord not auto driver) turned on the water to fill the tank, doesn't disturb me but I just noticed it and thought good grief, I'm still awake and he is getting up!. I finally got to sleep around 5.
Joshua's dad came at 10 and spoke to Nancy to apologise and say he had to cancel my visit today but would call back to re-arrange so that took the pressure off for a while... no need to be sociable! Have rearranged for Tuesday.
I finally got up around 10.30 and had a shower to try to wake up! I went out around 2.00pm to do a couple of bits and pieces and got Ignesh to drive me as he is getting cross that I am not using him during the day apart from to go to school. He actually takes his mobile out and shakes it at me and growls (unfair, but he has a really gruff voice!) and says 'You call... junction, town, shopping, everything, you call!' He gets very upset that there are actually other autos that I use. I have been calling Raja (auto driver not landlord)as it is just so nice to be able to chat in English.
Ended up at Lydia's to wish her a Happy Birthday and do another final edit. only took me 3 hours this time I must be getting good! Simon arrived to see her while I was there and I had bought a couple of small cups for his boys so he took them with him. Lydia has now got to the stage where she is really relaxed with me and at one point went off for a doze... Next I heard the thunder so shot out into their garden to bring in the washing. She laughed when she saw me coming back in and said I looked like a dhobi (washing) woman!!
The heavens opened again about 5 minutes later, then the power went off... what fun! Joseph her driver drove me home after prayers at around 7.00pm, he's only 19 and a bit of a hairy driver, makes Lydia very nervous so she sends her son Enoch with me. I reckon I can control Joseph better than Enoch can though! Shouting 'STOP' in a loud voice works well I find! My power was on, hurray, when I got in so I made some eggy toast with fried tomatoes and settled down to watch one of my Prime Suspect DVDs which I got for Christmas.
No real pics for today, so some form my files. The sign about children was in Chennai, I think the bit about being plastic refers to our ability to mould and shape them! Also in Chennai is the detective agency, obviously private detective's do well for themselves and have plenty of business here! I didn't spot any shifty looking men in raincoats and turned down hat brims hanging around though. The sign about harassing women is from the train. Just look at that list of No! Nos! Nice to know you can't sing songs about women either! I see the imprisonment for lighting a stove though is longer than for staring or gesturing etc at a woman. I'm quite pleased it is high though, and not surprised that they have to forbid it, you'd be amazed where you see folks making up a meal with primus type pressure stoves. The parking area for men really amused me, it didn't have a sign, you could just see the relief on their faces as they found the chairs and look, they all sit in cute little groups to help them feel secure! Being India, the chairs are not even facing the clothes dummies so they don't get distracted. the men turning to look behind them are trying to see what I am taking a picture of... Bless! That last one was here in Tirunelvelli. You could almost have a caption competition as to what the red dressed dummy is saying to the male dummy beside her!

Look who came to my class today! She's just 6 months old and has cerebral palsy. She came to Joel's clinic at the hospital last night and he invited them to come to school to see him for physio and for a chat with me today. She's called Blessie! He asked me where I thought she was intellectually and I'm afraid I replied that really at her age I could only really comment on her developmental level which actually seems not bad, she's smiling, turning to both sound and light stimulation, appears to be visually tracking objects and is able to fix visually too. She's gorgeous and came with a nurse from the hospital who wanted to see what we were doing too from a professional point of view. All in all, our name seems to be becoming known along with the service we are providing, and people are taking the chance to come along. I enrolled one pupil last week, one two weeks before and have assessed two others recently.

Today we had a photographer come in at my request to take a whole school photo and a staff picture so I could have them to take home, I've attached my copies of these which I got the photographer to take on my camera. He's also made me up an album of all the pics and functions I've been at in the past six months and put all his pics on cd for me too. most obliging. he was due to turn up at noon, and all the staff  (women) had worn their best saris for the pic. The weather was gorgeous at noon and it was before the female staff help the children with their school lunches, finger feeding while sitting on the floor remember! He didn't make it till 2.30 at which point the heavens opened. However we managed eventually and here is the result, you can see one chap with his hankie on his head still! I'm also putting up a pic of one of the teachers who has a cold and was trying to keep her head dry!

It's been a day for photos, This is Jasmine , Nirosha and Ida. Nirosha has been desperate for weeks for me to take a picture of her in her Chudi Das. All female staff have to wear saris when on duty with the kids which is 6.00am - 9.00pm, so she only gets to wear her chudi when on her weekends off. She hates wearing saris, but it is uniform and regulation for women, likewise their hair must be in a bun and not down in a plait. Men on the other hand seem to have to wear shirt and trousers! Any type of shirt, long or short sleeved, open necked, trousers - any colour and design will do.

After school I went with Lydia to the Press to Edit..........! Guess what, it wasn't ready and they needed a pic of Lydia, it just so happened I had 6 prints in my bag I was going to give her anyway, so she got them early and trimmed one to fit. It's her birthday tomorrow and part of her present was the pictures and a photo frame. She then ran me home and came in for a coffee only to find my power had gone completely in the front of the house! That not only meant no lights, but more to the  point no fan  in the bedroom. I had to go out, with Raja, (auto driver not landlord) but Raja (landlord not auto driver) has a key and said he would contact an electrician. When I got back tonight, not only my house but the entire neighbourhood was in darkness. When the power came on eventually, mine did too to my relief...  It turns out that the fault was in the main power supply in the street and they were unable to work on it in the dark so have done an emergency repair to my mains supply... see pic...the yellow wire is the repair. They have taken out two of my main fuses, so I hope nothing overloads!

I can only describe it and I'm sure he will understand having  been slated for a similar comment himself!... as having been done by a bunch of Prince Phillips. May I say I have every sympathy with him for his original comment which caused all the controversy about racist remarks when he commented on the apparent nationality of a group of electricians. Having said that I'm very grateful to them, they got a special team out from the electricity board HQ, it is now the weekend and there is a public holiday Sunday and Monday which means that otherwise nothing would have been done till Tuesday and I would have  been a very hot cross bunny! I think I must be preparing to come home by the way, I dreamt about polar bears... and swimming pools last night, don't ask what the link is!
I'm going to lunch with Joshua's parents tomorrow and then to Lydia's in the afternoon where the final version/draft should have been delivered as well as to wish her a Happy Birthday..

Today I had double breakfast, first my cornflakes, then Nancy brought me down Appam, a kind of pancake like bread made with fermented dough. I tend to view fermented dough with caution as
it is what Idli and Dosai are made of. Having said that I have now got used to idli which is a step in the right direction. She also brought me down kesari which is a sweet flavoured confection made with semolina, I've made it and taken it with me as a contribution on several occasions in Scotland. it's usually yellow when I make it and has cashews and sultanas in it... yummy!

In school today, Buvana and Santosh had fun lying out together and having an opportunity for some uninterrupted interaction which was good to watch, Santosh was by far the most enthusiastic but had to be deterred from landing large punches on her! (he has a fairly high muscle tone affected by his cerebral palsy so both accurate and delicate touches are very hard for him!) He was only trying to make friends we think!
Anand and Sanjay were in after break Anand is just progressing so well it's a joy to watch. his mum is finding it hard though as his dad has gone to work in Chennai for 4 months so she has to carry this not insubstantial child around on her own... its about 300 yards to school from the bus stop for example. Anand then had water play and had a ball both with and without bubbles. Sanjay had bubbles of another sort as he is susceptible to colds and his mum is not happy about water play even with warm water.

Joel and I had a look at some standing frames and other physio equipment to try to check what would be most useful to have in class. Their equipment is largely locally made, by a joiner and not very adjustable or portable. They are only just beginning to use velcro which we use a lot in school at home. there is a link to an Indian physio equpt site if you are interested in having a look.
indiamedico.com/occupational_therapy_equipments/positioning_equipments.php
I've not put a page link as it upset all my page viewing statistics so you will need to cut and paste I'm afraid...don't forget to put www. in front.
This is all equipment to help those who are unable to weight bear independently to do so and so develop their muscles, and strength and also access activities and the world around them from a more upright position. We have them in the UK, you can see some of our more up to date ones on this site.
smirthwaite.co.uk
The last picture is of Viknesh and his mum. I was passing when he pulled my arm and said 'Amma' and pointed to the lady with him, Amma means Mother, then he mimed camera and taking a pic, so how could I resist those melting eyes and big grin. That's the kind of communication which is clear to anyone isn't it. Viki is a residential pupil and his mum had popped in to see him so he was very happy. He's the wee boy who has begin to sing heads, shoulders, knees and toes (in Tamil of course) to me.

After school I went back to the diocesan press to see the final draft! It wasn't quite ready so I'll be going back again tomorrow. I then started to walk home and the heavens opened yet again! I gave up on exercise and went for a couple of cups of coffee in Arryas until the rain stopped then caught an auto home. After dinner I went out to the beauty parlour and had my eyebrows done by threading, it's amazing, they sort of twist a length of thread and put it over the hairs, tweak and its done... not as painful as tweezers or waxing, and very quick, I also got her to trim my hair a little as it is very wild. I've arranged for a photographer to come in tomorrow to school to take a whole staff and pupil photos, so all the staff are coming to school in their best saris and I need to attempt to match their level of beauty! School closes next Friday, and there is a holiday this Monday. I then have one week before I leave for home. Joel and I are going to go into school for 1 hour that week and work with my two youngest for an hour each day. Who says I'm not dedicated. I can't believe how quickly time is flying. I am longing to see everyone (well nearly everyone!) at home, but will also find it very hard to leave so many friends, both new and old, here.
After the beauty parlour, I took Raja's auto and went to see Rajan at his restaurant/cafe (restaurants are often called hotels here, no beds so don't know why. Rajan's is called, Ratna Restaurant after his wife. A picture of Ratna on her scooter follows.
Finally if anyone at Kinnoull is reading this, Cursillo 55 is on my prayer list this weekend, also there is Durham Cursillo 9 at Shepherd's Dene.

Today's pics all seem to have involved transport in one way or another. It was a glorious sunny morning this morning, and Ignesh was late which he never is! We set off for work stopping en route to buy a chilled bottle of water. It's really nice, I walk into the cafe where I usually buy my water, and one of the staff immediately goes to the fridge and there is a bottle ready for me practically before I reach the counter! Presented with a smile and a 'carry bag'! It's then back to the auto and another grin from Ignesh and we set off again for school. I have been very lucky in the timing of my stay here. There is a railway line on my way,to Tirunelvelli from my home and no way of avoiding a level crossing it whichever route I take. If a train comes across it, you wait almost 20 minutes before being able to get across. The line has been being widened to broad gauge for the entire time I have been here which means that no trains have been using it, it is due to open at the end of this month beginning of next.
When I got to school, I met up with an auto heading out to the post-school provision at Tuckerammalpuram. The auto had 10 kids and a teacher in it, all grinning like Cheshire cats.

I went out from school today to pick up the order of Montessori equipment I had bought for school Poor Raja the auto driver, the package was 35kg, he could barely lift it into the auto, then there was barely room for me to fit in beside it. I offered to drive while he ran alongside but he managed to fit me into the back seat next to the package! Joel was like a kid at Santa's party, unpacking it all and kindly keeping me the bubble wrap to pack things in my suitcase, that's all very well but bubble wrap takes up space and I'm really short of that. At the end of the day, Enoch, Bishop Jason's eldest son bought me a bit more of the book to check for them, this book seems to be as long as a piece of string! I had been going to go shopping on my way home, but the heavens opened again so I called Ignesh who picked me up at the end of school. He was wearing a most becoming rain hat... note teh green rubber band holding it on round the crown of his head. Autos are open on two sides, so they have canvas flaps which roll down to keep out SOME of the rain and spray from the passengers, but the driver's cab is still open and they have to hop out to let people in and out so need weather protection!
I came home then went out again to Lydia's once the rain had stopped and caught this pic of their dog, Timmy, (a female in spite of her name), having 40 winks on Enoch's scooter. I suppose it is up out of the puddles, but made me smile. And for those of you with eagle eyes, Yes, that is Enoch's scooter parked in front of Ignesh's auto at school when he brought me the articles to edit!

Well it was back to work today after a very welcome long weekend. My new child Sanjay started this morning, but as he had been at the hospital his mum brought him at 10, rather than at 11.30. This meant that we had Bhuna, Santosh and Sanjay all at once, Metilda, Joel and I did a circuit each working with a child for 20 mins then passing on, it went really well and was a good taste of what life would be like next term for Metilda. Tomorrow Sanjay will come at 11.30 and be with Anand which should be good. You've heard a lot about Joel, so here he is working with Mariam this afternoon.

We're back to heavy rain and thunderstorms again here, last night the thunder knocked the power out for about an hour, tonight we just had long peals lasting around 2 mins. each. It all seems to have been a bit much for my frog who seems to think being in my house is a good idea. He comes in under the sink in my room which has a hand washing sink and dishes storage. I've put him out around 3 times recently. Ads you can see he has grown into a big boy! he is now 3.5 inches long whereas he was only around an inch when he first moved in. The fruit on the palm leaf is of the inside of palmyra fruits, palmyra is a round brown nut which grows on a palm tree, around 4-5 inches in diameter. The edible inside of the nut is a little like Lychee in texture and not dissimilar in taste either although each piece is about 3 times the size of a lychee.

Tonight I visited an orphanage for girls run nearby. The owner's parents started the orphanage in the 60's and it is now run by a son and his wife who are around my age. There are 60 girls aged 5 - 18 and I was made most welcome, the girls did a dance and sang some songs for me and I taught some songs in return. I then talked to the girls about what I did and why I was in Tirunelvelli. 5 of the oldest girls are doing a 1 year training course for nursing assistants and recognised me from my visits to Bell Pins Hospital. The were very excited about that. My visit seems to have caused general interest and amusement! The pictures are of the girls in the orphanage and of two of the dancers. I had a great time and the evening finished with a delicious meal, to which I never say no!

After church last night I went with one of my auto drivers, Raja, the English speaking one, to visit his home and his mum. I have never met anyone so motivated as he is. He is saving to pay to put both of his brothers who are well into their 20,s through college this year, then saving to get married. He is 30 and appears to have carried the family since he left school when he was 18. His father died when he was only about 10. They have a really nice house with at least 4 bedrooms, which his mum insisted he show me round, she has no English at all. It is also one of the cleanest and tidiest houses I have seen here, with beautiful hand painted terracotta tiles on the living room floor. Many houses here have only one living and one bedroom which all share. He showed me his bible and his study bible. as a new Christian, he seems to do well, it is hard to imagine not having been brought up with all the bible stories from childhood. I said that to him and commented that he must get more and more surprises the more he reads. What was even more amazing was that she is tiny, Raja is just taller than I am but his mum is a good 6 inches shorter. I thought you might like a pic, so here they are grinning for the camera! I felt really honoured to have been invited to their home, it's something I won't forget.

Today was a public holiday - it's new year in Andrha Pradesh don't ye know! Next Monday it is new Year in Tamil Nadu (apparently, not sure what that service I went to on January 1st was all about then... or why it should have lasted 3 hours if it wasn't even New Year!) so we have a holiday then too! I got stuck into the paper work again this morning then went by auto to pick up glasses, collect something from the tailors, then home to get ready to go to a wedding in teh church round the corner. Today I met almost all the neighbours, which was nice! The bride and groom looked as stunned as brides and grooms always do and stunning - she in a beautiful ivory silk sari with a veil studded with sparkling stones which shimmered in the lights, he in a suit.
After the service, all in Tamil except for odd words in the sermon, like 'Formula for a successful marriage' and 'equal partnership' for which there was obviously no Tamil equivalent, we headed off for the reception. 30 minutes of speeches, good wishes and felicitations, then presentation of gifts, I handed over the last of 3 small wedgewood clocks which I had bought from St Columba's Hospice shop, well wrapped so don';t know whether they liked it or not. He is a doctor and she either doctor or dentist, I didn't quite catch it. I've attached a wedding car shot too, the poster on the windscreen invites all to join them in celebration. I met up with a young man at the wedding from John's College (the one we sang with Maggie), he was part of a group that came to school the week before easter to provide entertainment for the pupils. He is in the choir at the local church who were out in force for the wedding. I roped him into taking the photo at the reception.

Tomorrow evening, I am off to a nearby orphanage to talk to the children and inspire them!!!!!
Forgot to mention in the flurry of last week that I assessed another new pupil on Friday. He is starting tomorrow, a 3 year old who seems relatively able so is coming to my 11.30 group. That makes 2 at 10.00, up to 5 at 11.30 and 1 at 2.30 so that is up to 8 pre-fives coming every day with their mums and then 3 individuals from the school as well as two whole class groups. Busy time.

Thought you might like to read about these eggs I bought today. Usually I buy them from a street stall and they come wrapped in newspaper and string, today I bought these from a supermarket. Please click on the picture to get a large version.

Please note the advice to keep in the fridge but not below 12 degrees C.
Note on the back says (exact quote and spelling):
White shelled table chicken egg is an ideal, wholesome, easily digestible and unadulterated food for all, especially for infants and convalescents. It is a lifeless secretion of ovary and oviduct, having no life or embryo.

I think that means its OK for vegetarians which a high proportion of Indian citizens are.
And we thought they were just eggs!

Today being Sunday is a quiet day-ish. the dog which appears to have got itself into an empty house across the road continues to howl for the third day and no-one can find anyone with a key. India can be very hard at times. The birds continue to variously chirp, sing and caw loudly. The dogs bark at anything they see and the cars, buses, autos, motorbikes and lorries toot their horns constantly to make sure that they are still working... I presume. Most of the cars buses and lorries have reversing beepers except they don't beep, they play tunes, make loud sounds and sometimes even play birdsong!!!? You don't come to India for peace and quiet. The one blessing is that the airhorns which many will remember form 1997 have largely been outlawed.
I spent yesterday morning catching up with the paperwork which had built up while Maggie was here, over 50% caught up now which I am pleased about. My pupil records are nearly finished, monthly report up to half way and accounts done. I only have 3 weeks left here as I leave Tirunelvelli on Sunday 27th. My flight back to the UK (travelling internally Heathrow to Edinburgh via terminal 5 HELP!)is on the 29th. Before I go I have so much to do and social events will also begin. I'm meant to be visiting a Tea plantation this week as somehow I have never done that when in India. It's all good practice for Metilda though to run things while I am still around. I'm going to a wedding on Monday evening in a house across the road. here they have multiple celebrations, engagement party, wedding, after wedding reception ... sometimes two if bride and groom are from different places.
Yesterday afternoon, I went shopping with Raja , my English speaking auto driver. I was playing catch up again and booked him for 2 hours and by the time we had completed all on my list, it had been 4 hours. he was quite happy, got a good tip and to practise his English. I went to buy a new suitcase as I came out with one less than I am entitled to. I also went to pick up my glasses which had been repaired, picked up glasses cleaner for Colin and Maggie, dropped in thank you letters at a college where Maggie and I had spoken at morning prayers and at Bell School where I was the main speaker at Christmas and who had sent me a copy of their year book. I then went to a tailor who was recommended by Caroline Basker to have some blouses made up based on two I had brought out with me. We then stopped for a much needed cup of coffee before going to pick up the laundry Maggie had dropped in for me on Wednesday before leaving. One thing I am really looking forward to when I come home is my washing machine. I have washed almost everything by hand since coming here 6 months ago from undies to sheets and towels. as I had 2 lots of sheets to wash after Maggie left, I sent them to the laundry as there was nowhere to dry so much stuff. I prefer washing things myself though, I've never been able to adjust to the idea of someone else hand washing my smalls. Mostly washing dries quickly though.

I thought you might like to see the three drivers I am driven around by most often. Balagi is the driver of Nancy's tourist car and takes me for long distance trips. He and his wife have two boys in their late teens and his wife hitched a ride with me one day to go to Kovalum as she had never seen the sea before. We live less than 40 miles from the east coast of India here, although Kovalum, on the west coast, is 4 hours drive away.
Ignesh, has an amazing growly voice and has taken on board the duty of getting me to school every morning. He turns up punctually 5 minutes before I have to leave and is really helpful and obliging. He laughs at me a lot and shakes his finger at me if he thinks I have been disloyal and used other autos. Once he actually pulled in to the side of the road and lectured me then gave me a missed call on my mobile to check (again) that I had his number! He has about 2 words of English and I spend ages making sure he understands when I have a day off or need to go to somewhere different. He has twice gone to my destination to pick me up as I have not been clear about pick up point. That just makes me feel guilty so I have learned not to say where I am going to but only where I am until I can see him face to face to explain. He has 2 children 14 and 10, I think. That was fun getting that information right in pigeon Tamil and no English! He charmingly said his daughter was a lady child.
Raja, speaks great English which is really unusual in an auto-driver and very helpful as he helps me out if I am having difficulty making myself understood in shops. He is unmarried and currently looking for a wife. He was hoping to get married in May but has put it back to January as he wants to get both of his brothers settled into college before taking on more responsibility. I have no doubt he will achieve that as he is so efficient and responsible. He was born in Bombay, his father died when he was in College and they moved South to Chennai to his married older brother who lived there. The family then came back to his mum's native town which is here,Tirunelvelli. Here he gave up college and took on the family responsibility and worked as an auto driver for someone else for 4 years. He saved till he could buy his own auto which he has been driving for 3 years and has been supporting his mother and family all along. He is now 30 and one of the most organised people I have met here. He and Ignesh amaze all those who are with me when I phone for an auto... 'How did you find someone who comes on time Sally?' they ask me. Raja yesterday told me the secret. He said he 'liked very much' that when I said a certain time I would be there and ready. Raja is picking me up to take me to Church this evening and then I have been invited to visit his mother and family which is a real compliment. People tend to keep their private lives to themselves here, I am looking forward to meeting them.
I spent last night trying to sort out what is coming back to the UK and what is staying here when I leave. Two suitcases are full already and the house doesn't look any emptier... oops! Maybe I'll just have to leave all the pressies folks! Mind you if I trust them to terminal 5 they may never turn up anyway!

Did I mention that last Sunday we went to St Thome in Chennai? It was at the end of our day at Mahaballapuram and we were very hot and tired. Last time we were in Chennai in 2003, we visited the church of St thomas, but failed to find this place. St Thomas the apostle came to India in 52AD and established Christianity here. He was killed by a spear on a hillside in 72 AD and this is a shrine at that spot. It is a beautiful quiet space over looking the whole enormous town of Chennai, population 43 lakh (43,00,000 in Indian numbering, 4.3 million in western numbering. There is a very peaceful shrine with the reserved sacrament. There is also a church built in 1523 by the Portugese, which has various articles of interest including medieval pictures of all the apostles,  and a picture of the Madonna and child painted by St Luke and brought to India by St Thomas. The cross over the altar is reputed to have been carved by St Thomas and is very venerable. There is a relic of St Thomas too. The whole place is a real oasis of calm and faith and I am so glad that I went there. It was particularly moving to be there in the still of the evening, with a beautiful sunset . It was special to be there the week after Easter and to see pictures of Thomas' meeting with Jesus, which took place after the resurrection. I've always felt great affinity with Thomas and am sure I would probably have needed as much convincing if not more.

The picture of the cross is from Wikipedia as I did not want to take pics in  the church. Here is the link if you want to have a look in more detail. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Mount

Post script,added at 2pm. the owner of the house has been and released the dog, it appeared to have a snare around its neck tied to a long stick. Poor thing must have been miserable.
The house owner was very nice and asked if I wanted to buy his house or knew of anyone else who did! I explained I would be leaving soon.

It's been a good week in school, on Wednesday, Lydia came in to visit, I've been trying to help her gather her courage to come in for ages and was really glad she made it. She and the Bishop were very involved and supportive of the school, but she hasn't been since his death. She came into my class and thoroughly enjoyed playing with the kids, who also enjoyed her company in spite of B's expression here. B. is a young Brahmin lady always beautifully turned out as is her mum who absolutely adores her. I finished off (again) the final final set of corrections to the Bishop Jason memorial book tonight when Enoch brought them around to me.
The next pic is of S., he used to be a curled up wee boy who didn't interact with people or objects and as you can see he is having a great time here exploring some of my hanging objects while Joel the physio is giving him a good workout.
Joel is my next piece of good news! He has just had his half day post extended to full time, specifically to allow him to work with me in the early intervention class... and at his request... which is a great compliment! He has cancelled one of his hospital clinics each day to stay in school. It could of course be the idea of working with Meti once I am gone,  which is the attraction, mind you she is 10 years older and I am 30 so perhaps the kids are the draw really.  He had the cheek to comment a couple of weeks ago that when he was old (like me!) he too might need a sleep in the afternoon. He barely escaped with his life I can tell you. There is a lot of laughter (as well as hard work) going on in my class these days. Children as well as staff! Not least when I had Joel help me to clean out the fish tank this afternoon as he was complaining he had nothing to do. Sorted! I did say thank you though.  We all got a bit wet, one of the older kids had come in at lunch time, managed to knock the pump into the tank, fed the fish with about 200g of fish food (half a large bag), and got caught in the act by me, trying to hang up the pump again... the same little treasure who brought me the sun-bird nest for those of you with long memories. He's not likely to live to a grand old age either unless I leave India soon. I marched him to Agnes to get a mouthful, it's no fun telling kids off or explaining the error of their ways when they can't make out a word you are saying and smile at you throughout. Mind you he knew I wasn't best chuffed with him! Sarah Jane hope you'll be on your best behaviour when I come back!
It amazes me how impractical people here are at times, it's the story of everyone having someone else to ask to do things right down the chain until you reach the bottom, where presumably they are practical. Working out how to clean out the tank without putting a complete new fill of water in was a challenge until I pointed out the water play fine sieves and large bowls and got stuck in. Mind you Joel and Meti got their revenge later in the afternoon when Joel pointed out with a giggle that my trousers were wet again having just dried out from the fish episode... M. had had a very large Pee on our newly arrived second mat (waterproof cover, well done Sally) and I was in the line of her puddle. Still one advantage of a hot climate is you can stick your whole leg, fully clothed under the tap and it is dry within 30 minutes and not all wet and clammy for the rest of  the day as in the UK. Hazards of the job!

The next two shots were taken in Chennai. the first is a street fruit stall. The green things are oranges if that is not a contradiction of terms. The next item is a brand spanking new auto. I've never seen anything like it, the lettering across the front says DVD coach which was what caught our eye. We had a look inside and there, sure enough, was a big round speaker behind the rear seats, just visible. In the front of the cab was a slot for the removable DVD player and screen! The wipers are heavy chrome and had 4 blades (here in Tirunelvelli, autos barely even have half a well used blade), the hub caps... hub caps on an auto..? were heavy polished chrome, and look at those brakes on the front wheel, most don't have any only rear brakes! The whole thing was spotless and absolutely gleaming inside and out. I wonder if you got to choose the in-traffic movie. having see Chennai traffic, you have time to watch a whole movie on the way home! You regularly see coaches here, for inter town travel with 'DVD coach' across the front, but an auto?

These two shots are just general scenes, the lady was in her kitchen in the Leprosy Colony, she is cooking on a gas pump stove, a bit like a modern primus. She has leprosy, you can see that her hand has only finger stumps. One of the problems with leprosy is that areas of the body and skin become numb as the nerves are damaged. This means that if you cut yourself or burn etc, you don't feel anything so either ignore it or don't notice the damage which then becomes infected and develops an ulcer which is very difficult to heal. these  were what Prem was dressing at the clinic on Tuesday.
The next is a sign which I see all over the place in all of the towns I have visited and gives a lovely image of an area of road jumping up and falling down a hole, or tripping up an auto or something! It makes me smile whenever I see it... several times a day!
Talking of smiling, I was in a restaurant today reading and having dinner when a lady opposite asked if she could have a look at my book please? !!!!! I handed it over and explained it was light fiction and not anything educational. She said she enjoyed reading fiction herself. It was an Elizabeth George, but not an Inspector Lynley if anyone is interested. I quite enjoy her books but occasionally, as with many American writers writing about the UK, the terminology is sometimes not quite correct and can grate as your brain does a quick translation. This one is better than some of her earlier ones though, for that. Anyway at the end of our literary conversation, the lady said I had a very nice smile! Shucks!

This last picture, of George the lounge gecko shows him scurrying off guiltily having emerged from inside the packet of biscuits which has been lying there since Wednesday evening! I came in the front door and he shot out of the pack like a bullet, then froze in the faint hope that I would not notice him... unsuccessfully I might add... I had time to grab the camera and take a quick pic before he realised his mistake and (literally) fell off the table, I laughed out loud! I also have Tiny the tailless gecko who lives in the bedroom, he must have had a close encounter with something bigger than himself but hopefully he will be back up to Tiny the re-tailed giant (if you'll pardon the pun) soon!

I have thrown out the biscuits! They were nice ones too, where did you buy them Maggie? The yellow butter crunch pack.

I don't think I'll ever manage to catch up fully on the last few days, so here is the abbreviated (a bit) version! While in Chennai,we stayed with Carrie's brother Augustine and his wife Seline (who also and without any prior planning when I moved here,happens to be my landlady's cousin)! Friday was Mahaballapuram and early bed after our overnight train journey, Saturday we went shopping in the morning till around 4.00pm, had a subway melt sandwich for lunch... delicious! Hardly believe we were in India. In the evening we went to a performance of the Madras Music Society Choir which Augustine has recently become conductor of, good music and a pleasant evening. Sunday we went to St George's Cathedral, but as Augustine was giving another concert in the local Malayam Church, we had to leave before communion which was a shame... the notices which were beautifully printed out on the pew sheet were also read in great detail and then a man who was publicising one of the items gave a 20 minute speech on the subject, so the service just went on and on sadly!The second concert by the Emmanuel choir was superb modern music, with beautiful singing and clear narration, telling the Easter Story.
In the afternoon, we managed to contact Caroline and Basker from Cursillo 1 and met up with them, a lovely happy visit there's a pic for those who remember them. Back to Augustine's for a quick dinner and then on to the train. This time we had upper berths booked, but hoped for a swap... common practise. Sadly our lower berths had two elderly gents in them and one already had his bed made up which made it difficult for us to sit down any where. We checked the list outside the train and I spotted another two spaces, uppers again, we went and sat there and spoke to the TC (Ticket Collector, everyone is initialled here), he said we could stay there and try for at least one swap. To our great delight though no-one turned up for the other two berths and so we had a set of 4 to ourselves.. including both the lower berths. All very civilised. The train was an hour and a half late arriving in Tirunelvelli, (9.30 instead of 8.00am) so we got a good sleep.
When we got back here, after our 10 minute walk from the far end of the train to the station, we were in time to see the Temple elephant out on its morning rounds blessing all the autos at the start of a new week... some got more than a blessing when it decided it was time for a pee... what is it about us and elephants? Into school then home for a quick change before we went out to the Cathedral for a social (we thought) evening of fellowship and music to say bye to Maggie, it turned out to be a series of long boring talks! all very nice, about us which were in English and as we had invited the school staff who don't speak much English we felt very bad. We managed to fit in two songs.

On Tuesday morning, I woke up and went into the kitchen and there in the middle of the floor was a large dark lump (not wearing my glasses) I peered closer in trepidation and found it was a badam nut (similar to almond but with a fleshy soft outer shell). I was a little puzzled but relieved it wasn't a large cockroach. When I went to the cooker, I found a lot of dust and mess had fallen down from the air vent above (which I have studiously avoided looking at for fear of starting a landslide) On looking closer, there at the back of the stove, behind my fortunately, and unusually, empty and inverted water pot... were two tiny kittens, fully furred but with their eyes still closed, curled up together and definitely alive. I called Nancy and she had a look on the roof and found a very upset mum-cat. I think they had begun to explore, and fallen down the chimney vent , 2 stories, from the nesting place they had been using on the roof! We carried them upstairs in a dish. By the end of the day she had moved them on. it was so lucky we had been late the night before and I had not refilled the pot after our trip to Chennai or it would have been a different story. I think they have used at least 6 of their 9 lives!

A nice morning in school where Maggie made her farewells, then off to a clinic in a Leprosy Colony run by the Rhenius project and Dr Premkumar Joseph (Prem). Lovely, intelligent people who unfortunately have a family member with leprosy. Although not officially exclude, they find it difficult to get other houses and to keep down jobs. Even healthy family members when they give their address suddenly find the jobs are closed to them. Prem spent 4 hours dressing sores and ulcers and dealing with other health issues. Beautiful children and very friendly people all of whom wanted us to meet the relatives and visit their homes. Most now have stone houses although there are still a few thatched and mud brick homes which suffered badly in the recent storms and floods. There was a wonderful community spirit though and everyone seems to be remarkably happy even the man who is praying for his ulcers to heal so he can have his leg amputated and be relieved of the pain. His foot is simply a club and his fingers stumps. He used to be an electrical engineer. Now he has 400rupees a month from the government and his family get another 400 rupees... £10 in total.

In the evening we went out for a meal with Chandramohan and Agnes, Prem and Ida to MH restaurant, opposite to The Arryas for those who remember. On the way home, we drove past a Hindu Temple and last night was obviously a festival of some sort. There was music from Drummers, dancing and a good time being had by all! Put me in mind of:-
"There were peasants singin' and drummers drumming
And the archer split the tree
There was a fanfare blowin' to the sun
That floated on the breeze"
(Neil Young After the Goldrush, 1970)
Not ones to miss out on an opportunity like that, Maggie and I were out of the car and immediately whisked into the Temple right to the sanctuary area where we were blessed and given Ladu sweets. On our way back out more instruments appeared and total chaos - but fun - ensued. I might add that we never take pictures without asking or being invited and the following are all included in that category.

Back home at 11.30 pm last night so Maggie thought maybe she should start packing! We made it to bed by 2.00am!

Sorry for the lack of input over the last few days but things have been hectic and no computer in Chennai! Train journey up went well, and arrived 20 mins early, unheard of! here's a pic of our sleeping accommodation which was shared with, luckily 2 nice Indian ladies. Beds fold down during the night and up during the day and we are in a curtained of compartment with fan and A/C.
Maggie kindly volunteered to take the upstairs bunk!
Briefly, Friday was spent travelling to Mahabalapuram where the stone carvings in limestone and granite are phenomenal, we visited, had our fortunes told by a parrot who obviously has a high opinion of me... can you get bird flu form kissing a parrot?
More tomorrow after Maggie has left... Bye bye Maggie it was great having you here to support me and work with! How am I going to explain your absence to my children at school?