BLOG 7. Mr W finally makes it to join the team!

January 19th. Through snowstorms from the south of France, via strike-ridden airport and broken down Easyjet flight, after a day and a night on Gulf Air and a tussle with the bustle of Chennai central station (cheap travel for aged persons over 60) and finally a rip-off auto rickshaw from Katpaddi junction, at last he hove into view, husband, kanavan/ veetakar. Vidya who wishes to become his 'second wife' insisted on arranging a pink rose in his hair. Now if you know Andy that will leave you puzzled, especially as Anna had given his hair a No 3 before he left England...Anyway he now has to catch up on sleep as we did a week ago and try to acclimatise to the heat and humidity.

The morning was then spent in some frustration and shouting of obscenities, fighting with Marilyn's new computer. By the end of the day all was right again and she has made good progress with finding on line resources, and with planning for initial assessments of those staff to whom English will be taught. She and Pam had a meeting with interested people yesterday which they feel went well ( interpreted by Selvi) and Marilyn now has a skeleton idea of how the programme with be planned.

In the afternoon I went to school again and it was apparent they had already begun with the free play as suggested yesterday. We had a great time doing clay with one small group and examining some vegetables and then doing printing with them with the other group. All the crossness which Pam and I have been feeling due to frustration re CMC and their stalling and hindering of progress, melted away whilst I watched these lovely children and teachers. Nonetheless we are going to have to try to be very firm to ensure that the elderly persons' centre does get started soon and a whole lot swifter than the school did last year. Dr Rita the new RUHSA director is coming to supper tomorrow and we are going to use the opportunity to hammer home our points.

After the children had gone home- though the last ones did not go until 5 o'clock, one hour late, the teachers showed us the small plants which they have planted in the garden and have kept alive with careful watering. I find it harder and harder to believe that these are teachers who have slacked and not shown enough enthusiasm for their work.