After our 2 days in Kovalum, where it didn't rain and we made agood start to our tans, it was off to Tirunelvelli and old friends. We are staying in a flat belonging to Prem's cousin, in the same compound as Prem's opthalmic practice and also his parents and brother. Very luxurious but no AC so very hot. We borrowed a tower fan from Carrie to make life a little more bearable for Ali. Visited school briefly and had a wonderful welcome from  the kids, especially Viki, Hepzibah, Muutuselvis, Tamil Selvan and Subbaiyah, who watched me from a distance until I went over to him. The wee ones have not been coming regularly, but they are trying to keep things going as a drop in. I knida feared that might happen, however I can see the fruits of the work I did with the older pupils and the treachers who are definitely more child centred in their approach. The school is also looking fresher having been painted and is definitely less cluttered and dusty. We visited friends, shopped and explored the town in Tirunelvelli and saw Raja, my auto driver who is getting married (today actually).
Amazingly as we turned into the school compound, having been in TIrunelvelli for 2 hours, there was a shout and there, sitting in his auto eating his lunch in the peace of the school grounds was Ignesh, my morning auto driver. He was very surprised to see me and immediately checked I still had his phone number!
We visited the Bishop and discovered taht not only can pacocks fly, but they can fly to the top of tall palm trees!
We had 3 nights in Tirunelvelli, then flew via Chennai to Delhi, temp here is in the 40's! Two nights in the YMCA Tourist hostel, not to be highly recommended but cleanish and safe, then car to Agra today. We are going to the Taj tomorrow, Ali can't wait. We booked this hotel, The Howard Park Plaza from home and it is fab, we went straight for a swim on arrival and then a very fine buffet. To Ali's delight we have internet access too!