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.