It Been a long Time

Well I did go to India but somehow lost my steam writing about it . Even know as hear about the problems with the forthcoming Delhi games I can see and smell it all.
We are getting through the winter here I think I really like this season as it gives one an excuse to do more indoor activities. This will end with daylight saving on Saturday.
Have been getting my summer garden underway have planted out some of my lavenders the big busy ones that I love so heres hoping the wind will not blow them out of the ground.

We are preparing for Alex and Brookes' visit and of course our darling Heidi Still wondering if she will fit into the cot!

Lambs are all well and bouncing about we are about to dock them and attend to the boys!
Vege garden has been refenced and a berry house built so we should at least get some berries this summer. I am thinking about smoothies as I write this and that reminds me of the beautiful Mango Lassis'I had in India and I have planted a lime tree so I can make Fresh Lime Soda's if the summer ever comes.

Kolkata

Still very hot 35++ U believe . What beuracracy even my passport is required for Internet cafe All these details swirling about in cyberspace along with warehouses of paper !!
Still Unwell
Tottering off for tea and toast

Dreaming of a Wringer

Managed to get an excercise rythm going while wringing the washing should help with granny flaps and abs. Laying it out on the roof i decided was too unsafe for me
Still very hot Went to Flurry's and had cafe meal for a change I am rather over chick peas. Having an early night tonight bushed !

Kolkata

Meredith and I went to Khalighat Temple to day where we were given a guided tour and shaken dow for a donation Today I have said Hail Mary's and made prayers to Khali and Shiva It is some sort of holy day for them I have forgotten what we threw flower at statues made wishes along with a large number of the faithful. The floors were awash with mud and water and stuff how more people don't fall over I will never know.
Managed to get a fresh lime soda to day but what I would not give for a cold chardy.

I sent some clothes off to the laundry here am reduced to one set and improvisation with a worn out sarong. Now as I walk the streets ans see women washing their clothes in the street I am wondering if my now tattered rags were done there!

Hotel is very nice but a tad quiet will move to Fairlawn on Monday which will be closer for me. There are 3 boys working here I have not seen any other guests and it is handy to the tube
The tube is amazing and cheap i think I have said before easier to get on than off!
It will be an early night for me tonight.

Volunteer day one at Mother Teresa's

Quite an experience the day was supposed to start at 6am with mass with the sisters (not compulsory) then breakfast and be ready to start work at 8am. Unfortunately I could not make it to the mass as I could not get out of the hotel so early hopefullyy when I move Monday I will be able to go.
I have been assigned to Kahlighat the first house that was established by Mother Teresa. As there is a bus and taxi strike today we got taken in the ambulance a biggish mini van with driver 4 sisters and 14 volunteers we stopped and picked up a couple more sisters who said the rosary all the way this however did not help with the traffic which is pretty wild here - we knocked into a motor bike fortunately no damage or harmm then we picked up a chap at the bus stop rolling in agony so now he is lying on one of the bench seats and off we go.

Once we all got out it was aprons and hand washing then off to work.
Wash the breakfast dishes big stone sinks are set into the ground and it works like a chain gang. They are all metal all plastic so there is a lot of water and noise and laughter.
Next the washing all done by hand and feet one sister the size of a 5year old kept telling us wringing was a two man job (what about spin dry)!! This is done in big concrete tubs there is water everywhere
Next the patients I guess that is what they are a few have dressings done in a sort of sterile manner. It is all very interesting for me to note their teqniques . My job was the cleaning teeth round amazing how good some of their teeth are .
We got a break for morning tea and a biscuit then back for serving lunch rice and some sort of curry I guess. Some appeared to have huge appetites for such small people. About 3 had to be fed there were at least 60 women and probably the same on the other side for men. Meal was followed by hand washing and of course the dishes. I learned a new technique for drying the mugs two at a time .
And then we were let out - more of the same tomorrow

Leaving Dargeeling

Will depart this afternoon for the train station at NJP tha will take about 4 hours then overnight to kolkata .
The town is closing tomorrow again so there is nothing to buy or eat only the chemist shops can open and they sell a wide range of goods. The soldiers all left yesterday but no doubt they will be back tomorrow all clutching rifles and large flogging sticks
Education is important here all the children dress in uniforms immaculate hair all tidy and accompanied mainly by an adult.
People carry huge loads strapped to their foreheads mostly men but some women too
Have lost my camera so have no photos of the early part of this journey but hopefully Meredith will have a record.
Suitcase is ful of dirty clothing as it is impossible to get anything dry here.
Food has been great though we did have a ghastly meal and after looking at the market I am back on the vego diet.
Meredith has done well putting up with me
We are in internet cafe loud rollicking music

Trip to Dargeeling

Five am start then 4 hours by car to the airport at Delhi The country side in the mornings is always interesting woman in their colourful clothing going about their business washing collecting water for their families etc.
Finally got to airport flew to Bagdogra only to be told that Dargeeling was closed because of political unrest but we foud a new best friend Sam who agreed to take us the 56kms up the mountain we were told to say nothing if we were stopped !! Which we weren't
Beautiful country side flora much like NZ winding road but Sam was a good driver so we survived.
ooked into Classic Guest House where we were able to get food all the shops and cafes are still closed It is all about the Ghurkas and everytime thay get upset the police close everthing down Lucky Sam knew that we would get food here and we could get a bed.
Much colder here had a big duvet on very hard to get anything dry and I don't have much in the way of warm clothing. The staff are helpful and the food tasty. Our room looks over the mountains and I think we can see Everest if the clod clears . It rained all night heavy monsoon rain . Plan is to stay her til Thursday then get the overnight train to Kolkata. Sam assured us he can get us down to the railway. .

station. Looks like I might get a walk in before the rain starts again. Can't quite get the hang of this computer . Mere and I are amusing ourselves watching football and tennis playing last card reading and dreaming about unhealthy food and booze.

Mathura a small spiritual town on the way to Delhi

We left Agra it was mercilessly hot visited the Taj and the Red fort both impressive.
Shouuld have got Air con in Hotel Sheela as the rooms were very hot. Much laying about under wet sarongs. Meredith and I decided to go to Dargeeling from here and John went to Varanessi.
We got a bus to Marthua which is a holy town where Lord Krishna visited or may have even been born there. Small population and all appeared very devout. Hotel was pretty ghastly though we did have noisy air con and they cooked us a very nice Vege Thali. Had a boat trip round the river before dinner all very beautiful farland on one side and town on the other . Needless to say there were more animals in the town than on the grazing land cows and monkeys wandered the narrow streets and of course the usual number of dogs everywhere
Next morning we got up early to be driven to Delhi to get a flite on the spice jet to Bagdogra. While sitting waiting for the car in the early dawn we watched the families going to work and also going down to bathe in the river. The women looked beautiful in their coloured saris and so graceful. Perfect posture I think carrying large loads on your head help this maybe!
It is impossible to capture all this on camera one man had set up his shaving stall on a sheet of paper on the terrace by the river. Our car arrived and we were off

Leaving Jaipur

We have had 2 days in Jaipur it is still very hot but at least there is some coolness in the hotel I have drunk so much water I a reminded of chinese water torture. This is a bustling city full of hawkers and the like.
Yesterday we went on a bit of a ticki tour with a couple of lads on their auto rickshaw very interesting as they seemed to take us through the back streets.
Animals everywhere pigs and cows along with the usual dogs donkeys and a few monkeys.
We ewnt up the top of a dry stony cliff to view the sunset but there was noe it was too hazy I was nervous about the monkeys as I didn't want to get bitten.
Have been on a bike rickshaw but I always think I am to heavy
Spent morning in lovely garden here waiting for my new sunnies to be delivered we have been lying back here like nobility but must press on to the Taj 5 hours by train airconditioned!!
Plan is to go to Varanessi then on to Dargeeling then to Kolkata we seem to have covered a lot of ground

More from Udapur

It was the KIng of Moral's bithday yesterday. Yhe temple was all decorated tea lite candles lit the step Festivities included lots of sword fighting simulations and fire eating by the young men of the town all accompanied by loud drumming which made it all quite frenetic We were able to watch this from the comfort of a roof top resturant. All this was accompanied by loud colorful fireworks probably more gunpowder than we get in NZ
Education is not a right here the poor often can't educate their children so they work today when we had lunch at a street stall two boys prob 4 and 6 were slushing out they dishes. Donkeys cows and yesterday an elephant roam the streets only the cows are not attended by a human.
At the hotel they are doing renovations two woman carry sand for the cement in big shallow dishes on their heads, other women and children rake through rubbish looking for things of value I guess.
Still no rain to speak of but according to the locals not long now. It has reached Jaipur so I guess we will meet it there.
I think our plan is to watch the football tonight.

News from India

Just a start there is so much to write about and see .
On arrival had trouble with visa at airport after 16hr flight one does not need 2 hours with customs then lost in a taxi for 1 hour!!
Finally we got to Welcome Hotel in Colaba -ok clean and basic . Found a good place to eat nearby. We were all exhausted Meredith and I slept all night
Next day we went to Crawford Market visited the fish market. Managed to pass the gates of Chowpatty Beach briefly Meredith and I had been to Fabindia and got some Indian gear me I am too fat then I should have known that!
Missioned to the train station with bags of food 8hrs in second class 3 to a bench then changed and got a 2nd class sleeper to Udipur
Here we are more to follow temp here yesterday was 44 .
We are staying at a reasonable hotel - it reminds me of those we had stayed in in Turkey
Have had some great food and even managed to get a black coffee!

Three More Sleeps

And I am off on an adventure with Meredith . We are heading for Mumbai then places unknown. I will try and write my blog while I am away as well as keep a pictorial record of our journey.One small bag is packed enough to keep me going for a couple of days then hopefully I will have some nice Indian jamies.

House inside is looking good now and i am enjoying the openness of the living room . It seems to have taken away the claustrophobia of the blue kitchen - of course I have removed some cupboard doors which helps - there are more to come but that can wait til I return. Garden is great now just hope the rain will stop and I can get some garlic in before Friday.
Poor cats are going to miss the heat so hopefully Helen and Don will make it up here one or two weekends.

Thi.ngs are shaping up

The garden is looking lovely Brian and Tam came to stay and Tam gave us the wisdom of her knowledge and labour. It was lovely for them to be with us
Fire is installed so now we can be warm
Off to India in 6 weeks scary.

Well a lot has been happening since I last posted news. We ahve done major landscaping of the grounds all hedges are gone and so have the rose beds . Plan is to grass where possible and have shubberies.Graham has done an enormous amount of the work. We ahve to get fencing done and grass sown.
It is going to look very good once it is all done.
Poor little sparrow got his neck broken while he was at the hen feeder when the hen stepped off it down camethe lid and he was finished

Animals are all fine Roger seems to have done his duties just waiting and seeing for the moment Drama the other morning our ewes and Roger gotin with Peter's sheep a bit of a to do to get them all back finally we suceeded.

Job has started at eh Stroke Foundation am just sorting everyone out at present

Time Passes

Roger has joined us from Palmerston North He has been attending to the ewes hopefully sucessfully they are all much quieter with him around. Initally he was angry and irritable when we got him here but a bit of sex has made him more mellow is even developing a taste for apples and sheep nuts.

Work on the living area progresses is starting to look brighter. We are still awaiting earth movemnets to take out the hedges

New (old) Rav4 arrived today greeny blue in colour so now will be spinning about in the green machine it is better getting a birds eye view.

Have done some night shifts with a palliative patient in Featherston money is good spent most of last night with the biggest dog I have seen in a while as black as coal Jax and I shared the sofa. hought it was going to be all over but he is still with us so I will be back tonight.
Stroke foundation job starts next week that will be good am now wondering if I will have time for the Ambulance onceI get organised I guess I will

Got my tickets for India exciting ned to book a hotel in Mumbai for the first night

Dwarf tomatoes nearly finished I made some fab tomato juice from the Nana book

Work Looms

Finally have got a job 13 hours a week for the Stroke Foundation Grace remembered me and so did Jean in Wellington from my volunteer days. Looks good as I will be based here in South Wairarapa and be working form home and out visiting with some trips to see clients in Hospital at Masterton. Just what I fancy
Days are drawing in and leaves are beginning to turn.Had a bigburn on the front paddock good to get ridof that rubbish.
Starting to work on my winter garden and seed growing.

I still can't editthe photos to get them up the right way so stand on your head
Here are the sunflowers!

See the sunflowers my mother used to grow them I remember hers as being taller.

Some photos of the alterations Weather cool in the morning 9 degrees and rising to
26+ in the afternoon.
Roger Ramjet is due Sturday so hope the girls are attending to their beauty aids!!
Have been busy processing tomatoes dwarf bed is nearly finished they have been prolific to say the least Other tomatoes are starting to ripen but I do think the big bed is the sunniest.

 
 
 

At Last a Photo the right one

Here I am on the first trip out in Eloise. Work is progressing on the house Monty sits on the top layer of my desk and watches me at my computer.
Yesterday we dusted the chooks for mites they were alive to say the least Ted was a challlenge!
Bottled tomatoes haven't done anything like that for ages but it will save freezer space as we have the beef coming in a month.

Feb 14th

Sun is shining weeds are growing . Dwarf tomato crop has been amazing corn is ready beans and courgettes keeping us going.
Meredith came to visit last night that was nice for us but a bit boring for her
Isla and Sarah came over for dinner last night we had cooked some of Don's pork which was very nice.Working on a new home for Nelson
Meredith went home laden with meat and veg and flowers.

Re Alice Steinbach

What a woman I love when she looked back at her life as a wife and mother and amazed to think of the decisions she had made in regard to what her family had eaten and the numbers of meals she had prepared over the years.
I wonder why families don't have more say as to what goes in their mouths!

The Maiden Voyage and other Stuff

!0th Feb 2010
Monday we set off with Eloise to the South Coast Camped at Palliser just below the lighthouse looking straight at the ocean. The smell of the sea and teh pounding of the waves was great though I think the noise kept me awake Neither of us slept very well we will make some modifications re the bedding.
The milky Way was clear and beautiful - we sat and watched the sun sink sipping a vino Once the light went the Lighthouse started scanning the sea and surrounding countryside with its rays . Altogether very romantic to say the least
Saw the seals with their babies did not want to venture into the water as it was too cold and rough.
Back to home matters one of the White sisters ws found dead in the chook house no sign of attack it had been very hot perhaps she was dehydrated. Have got the big prickly roses out of the kitchen garden might even have a home for them!
Opening day at golf did not play well I am not much of a club person I think there was plenty of home baked food - this is the country

February Looms

Am going to try to be doing this more often if possible Have set myself upan office which truly delights me I look out to the glasshouse and get wafts of perfume from the flower garden
Has been very hot last two days Martinborough Fair was unbearable lasted 1 hour got some nice pieces of Paua at a bargain.
Have paid for the India tickets all very exciting Had our first dose of Fly strike Graham andI must have looked a sight dealing to it with a pair of dressmakers scissors cleaning out the yuk All have been shorn and sprayed hope that is the end of that!
Planning our first trip away overnight tomorrow I wonder how that will be? Might take my laptop so I can write in my blog
Russel and Sarah Garlick called in nice to see them
Don and Helen came in with a german couple Sabine and Frank it wasnice to meet them they were from Bremmerhaven
Big prickly roses have been removed from back door garden so will lick that into shape when it gets cooler

Inspiration from Julia and Julia

Some time has passed since I have written in this blog life seems to have been so busy and exhausting .
Went to see Julia and JUlia yesterday and got all keen on keeping a journal and French cooking . My main energy seem to be in the vegetable garden area at the moment. The big garden has not been so good so am going to channel my energies around the kitchen garden area expand it and get rid of the roses which are so prickly and mean.
I think my parsnip seeds have germinated in the big garden lets hope I will try some of the seeds that have been left from last years crop. Planted leeks and broccoli in the kitchen garden in preparation for the winter.

Seems I have an interview for the job at Wairarapa College one day a week would be great - still trying to get hold of them

Caravan is almost ready for maiden voyage she is all equipped we are just waiting for the electrical warrant Lets hope we can give her a run next week

Alterations are going on one day it will be finished !! Meanwhile I will have to be patient.

Will rearrange my office to make it more friendly and atttracive for me!

Have discoverd a Rose Cottage in Bidwells Crossing makes me think of Hamilton and the cottage by the lake