January 10th, Dr Rita is back and we are given a royal feast.
We had arranged with Sekar that he would do us a tour of the campus, to see all the newer initiatives, such as stall-fed goats. However we encountered Dr Rita, back from her leave, and she then welcomed us warmly into her office. We talked with her for a couple of hours in the end and so were too late for the tour. Dr Rita was particularly chipper because her daughter and family have been staying with her and she had just arranged a huge (65 guest) first birthday party for her grandson Ryan. She is undoubtedly a very proud partee- grandma!
We heard briefly about several of the initiatives that are now up and running, all of them very exciting, and about the plans for development of the hospital on site. She hopes that the new Out patients dept will be completed for next January so that the American (part) funders (FOV/ US) who will be in Vellore at that time can attend the grand opening. She expects that Daleep will also be there. So- Pam Morris! - another very good reason for us to plan for another visit next year!
Andy and I then set off, as ever in the midday heat ( some visiting English people never learn!) to Balaji's home for lunch. When we arrived we were immediately enthroned upon chairs and garlanded. Rajah and Rani for the day!
The meal then presented was, as I knew it would be, just delicious. It had been prepared by Balaji's mum and his wife Pria and his sister in law Santi. Balaji was concerned that Selvi- former BTC employee and long-standing friend of visiting Bishopston visitors- was trying to get hold of me, so I asked her to come to his house. She brought with her a tiffin box full of the sweet vermicelli milk dessert called payasam, which she remembers me once having declared to be a favourite. Since this day we have always been rather inundated with payasam offerings! We had a bit of a chat about her family, our families, Pam's family etc and then arranged for us to go to eat at her place in Tuthitangel on Tuesday evening. She will want to off-load her woes then, concerning what has happened for her since the closure of BTC..
We had arranged with Sekar that he would do us a tour of the campus, to see all the newer initiatives, such as stall-fed goats. However we encountered Dr Rita, back from her leave, and she then welcomed us warmly into her office. We talked with her for a couple of hours in the end and so were too late for the tour. Dr Rita was particularly chipper because her daughter and family have been staying with her and she had just arranged a huge (65 guest) first birthday party for her grandson Ryan. She is undoubtedly a very proud partee- grandma!
We heard briefly about several of the initiatives that are now up and running, all of them very exciting, and about the plans for development of the hospital on site. She hopes that the new Out patients dept will be completed for next January so that the American (part) funders (FOV/ US) who will be in Vellore at that time can attend the grand opening. She expects that Daleep will also be there. So- Pam Morris! - another very good reason for us to plan for another visit next year!
Andy and I then set off, as ever in the midday heat ( some visiting English people never learn!) to Balaji's home for lunch. When we arrived we were immediately enthroned upon chairs and garlanded. Rajah and Rani for the day!
The meal then presented was, as I knew it would be, just delicious. It had been prepared by Balaji's mum and his wife Pria and his sister in law Santi. Balaji was concerned that Selvi- former BTC employee and long-standing friend of visiting Bishopston visitors- was trying to get hold of me, so I asked her to come to his house. She brought with her a tiffin box full of the sweet vermicelli milk dessert called payasam, which she remembers me once having declared to be a favourite. Since this day we have always been rather inundated with payasam offerings! We had a bit of a chat about her family, our families, Pam's family etc and then arranged for us to go to eat at her place in Tuthitangel on Tuesday evening. She will want to off-load her woes then, concerning what has happened for her since the closure of BTC..
Just try to keep us away! How well I remember the payasam! Love to Selvi and big hug for Sorja Amma.
ReplyDeleteJust try to keep us away! How well I remember the payasam! Love to Selvi and big hug for Sorja Amma.
ReplyDelete