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.
