All went well in Kovalum and amazingly, it didn't rain... it's the monsoon so I had expected to get very wet. I travelled by a Tata Indica which is a small Tata car, it has AC available but it was ok without and just the windows open. Last I mentioned, I had had an ayurvedic massage which was so good that I went back on Sunday and had another, the only problem is the oil which they use which enhances one's sun tan or colour anyway! You need a good shower afterwards to stop it getting all over your clothes. I had grilled tiger prawns for dinner, yummy and huge, I had a portion of 4 which filled me nicely!
On Sunday as I said I had a massage and a relaxing morning in the German Bakery before heading back to Tirunelvelli at around 1.30, I got back around 4.45 and unpacked and had a shower before heading to evensong at 6.00pm. I had forgotten that they have a communion service on the first Sunday of the month so that was nice. Saw people I knew too who stopped for a chat. Went out for dinner with Carrie, Reggie and Cyrus to Selsil restaurant, one of my old haunts, sadly though most of the waiters that I knew have moved on leaving only the cashier from the
old staff, but who was very friendly when we arrived.
I started the week with a visit tot eh dentist, Christine you said I was sanguine about it... definitely not, my blood runs cold every time the word dentist is mentioned, like most pre-fluoride and post war kids my teeth were messed up badly as a child and so I have an absolute horror of the profession! However my tooth broke two weeks ago, my dentist fixed it at great expense... twice and each time the repair broke again so I felt I might just as well go for it while here, the dentist and medical facilities in Tirunelvelli are really good. Today it was grind down the tooth the bridge is to be fixed to and remove the temporary filling to expose the post again then take moulds... I can tell I'm in India, the mould material was mango flavoured... I believe in the UK it is usually strawberry. The dentist was late arriving, I then discovered they had been at Bishop Sargent, for the monthly flag hoisting ceremony! I could have gone to school and come back with them and saved a long wait.
I think the principal has been waiting for me to come back as things have galloped along since I arrived, we have planned the room layout. and today we went and chose ceramic floor tiles for the room, pale blue if you are interested! The fish tank is all up and running again although awaiting new occupants a shelf has been commissioned from a joiner who is also going to fit a room length mirror below the window to allow us to observe children while working with them! Apparently it will all be done this week... watch this space!
I thought you'd like to see some pics of children after all that is why I'm here so....
here are Blessie, now 9 months, Subbaiah and Class 1A with Methilda, doing songs and rhymes which was not the style of education they used to follow.
Methilda and BlessieSubbaiaih Day 1 1Class 1A Day 1 2

By the way I guess I'm part of the team here as today I got my uniform sari! I'll get the blouse made up and wear it to school next Monday... uniform day is Monday.
The next pics are Tintin in Kerala 1 From Hindu newspaperTintin in Kerala 2 From Hindu newspaperfrom the newspaper for Colin and other TinTin fans.