BLOG 10: A Manblog from a Sceptical Scientist

You may be wondering what the heading of Blog 8 was all about – a monkey stole my hat. Brian and I went cycling up to the local temple, about 5km to the north of Kuppam. It is a very beautiful ride through coconut groves and past a couple of schools where the pupils shriek with disbelief when they see a white face and a bald head. The temple is at the top of a flight of many hundred steps, and as one starts the ascent there is suddenly an escort of local monkeys. Stopping to mop my brow, I take off my baseball cap and place it on a ledge, before panting off up the next flight, then realise I have left my hat below. Never mind, there are no other souls about so no danger of losing it – after all only mad Englishmen cycle in the gathering heat of another hot day – and I resolve to pick it up on the way down. View from the top to the north and Andhra Pradesh are stunning and there is even a deep pool at the foot of the temple into which a local lad dives leaving his little sister screaming with terror by the edge – not afraid of the pool but of this big scary Englishman smiling at her. On way down duly look for hat but no sign of it – monkeys are the only candidates so I have asked all locals in vicinity of temple to keep eyes posted for a monkey wearing a baseball cap. Ride to and from temple makes me realise that Indian bikes do not have gel saddles moulded to the contours of the bum – ouch, I’m sore.

After a coffee at Paul’s hotel we cycle through the throngs in downtown Kuppam on our way to another delicious meal chez Selvi before cycling down to see how Sally, Pam and Wendy have got on with their interviewing of the candidates for the teaching posts in the playcentre. Well, what a surprise, the interviews were due to be held between 10 am and lunchtime and the last interview is just underway at 4.30 pm. Where did the rest of the day go – don’t ask, we are on Indian time. On our return home, I go online and google water divining, hoping to find the results of some definitive scientific study to reinforce my scepticism. Alas no, so decide to try my own version balancing lemon on end of my hand (there being no coconuts to hand and I am no longer able to shin up trees) whilst copying the head wobbling and strange to-ing and fro-ing of the water diviner 2 days earlier. My disciple Brian is dutifully walking behind with reserve lemon. We all dissolve into hysterical laughter having utterly failed to feel the force.........Still, if the diviner does find the water I’ll eat my hat – oh dear I remember I’ve lost it.