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!
