January 9th 2015. A wonderful welcome back to Seetaramanpet!

January 9th 2015

Today's first key missions were police; bikes; internet connection and so Vinoth, the Administrator, was our first port of call. The usual Dickensian foolscap ledgers have to be completed, for RUHSA purposes, and then ditto at the police station, this time with (ghastly) passport photos attached. All offices in India seem to have piles of these dusty ledgers, even when there is a computer system also operating. 'That would scupper Ofsted' muttered Jude, at the thought of the obscure and mysterious paper trail a visiting inspector would find himself mired in, if transposed to India. We have discovered that there are two Ambaragans now operating as gophers in the main offices, and the younger one accompanied us to the station and then sorted three bikes for us. He appeared outside our flat saying 'Bikes, bikes ready, helicopter' - a joke I think, but I couldn't see how else he had managed to get all three to us so quickly, by himself! So finally to the internet connection, the latest miraculous development. We have previously only been connected via wi fi when in the RUHSA main building, but now, thanks to a smart young computer chap, we can connect via a cable into a small box on the wall and into a USB port in our laptop. Ooh, I've just realised I shall be able to keep abreast of the Archers whilst in my bedroom! The wonders of technology.

We had already had serious amounts of queries from the direction of our friends in Seetaramanpet about ' When you come my house?' so, bikes now being ready ( if a little long in the leg for me and short in the leg for Andy and hard on the bum for all of us) off we set at last - in the heat of the midday sun, of course.  As the last time I was on a bike was three years ago, in KVK, and in that time I have not become more adroit, agile or slim, I felt myself very much wibble wobble, fat lady on a bicycle, but gradually gained some confidence having got all the way to school without falling off. The natives as ever do call 'hello' as we breeze by, answering them with ' vanicum' and there is much mirth, probably at the extraordinary sight of aged white folk unsteady on bikes. 

At last however, arrived at school, and what a welcome!!! Rani and Padmini the two teachers were outside waiting for us and both flung their arms round me and we hugged and kissed, with great emotion. They then introduced us to the new ayah, a replacement for Sarida, whose name is something like ' Boovani' but she appeared to say Boona would do. I must clarify this. Then they introduced us to Rani ( always handy when they double up on names, one less to remember!) who is the woman who looks after the elderly and does activities with them. Inside the building, where the children were sleeping and the elderly were finishing lunch, I met Vimula, who is the SHG woman who takes it in turns with Indra to make the food for the  elderly. 

We were - inevitably and very touchingly- then presented with flowers from the garden, made to sit down and then we did our masala Tamlish conversation, using the English they have, the Tamil we have, and native wit and mime. We were then served with a delicious meal, cooked by Vimula, but with extra dishes specially brought in by Boona, Rani and Padmini. I had tried to explain to  Jude about how they will constantly want you to eat more and will load up your plate whilst you are distracted, if you are not very firm. Their hospitality and generosity is so amazing. Sekar arrived with Joseph, the other RCO who helps supervise the centre and we had more chat, cups of coffee, and then the first tentative attempts to get a date for coming to everyone's house to eat. Fitting it all in is a bit of a work of art, but again, what a problem to have, to receive  too  much kindness!

After we had watched the children doing dance and songs and movement, we left to go to Balaji's house, for the second Great Welcome!!! Since we were last here Balaji has married so this was our first meeting with his lovely young wife, Pria. She seems young but apparently quite happy and settled in Balaji's home and she has some English. We also saw his lovely mum and dad, and his sister in law Shanti and her daughter, who is now four years old. Then Raghu's elder brother, Parti arrived, full of smiles, and Raghu's tiny smiling mum and his dad. We took coffee and said no to any food, but did have to accept apple and pomegranate offerings. We got away without further food by arranging lunch with Balaji's family tomorrow, Saturday, and lunch with Raghu's family on Monday. As Jude and Andy ( who had both had a second night of not sleeping too well) were flagging, in fact nearly nodding off as we all chatted and caught up with news, they then went home and I promised to be no more than five more minutes, just to pop into Raghu's house to meet Parti's new wife. Andy had muttered darkly about not being late- cycling in the sudden dropping dark is no fun- but he need not have worried as Balaji insisted on taking me home on his motorbike whilst Parti cycled. As we roared out of the village Balaji's cricket playing chums all turned to laugh and wave. Cannot imagine what was funny about the sight of me precariously balanced and clinging on for dear life to Balaji! 

For the benefit of Pam and Brian who are not with us on this trip, alas, I must record that everywhere we go we are asked about them, how they are, if they are well, when they will come etc etc.It is not just we who miss having them, it is their dear Seetaramanpet family too. I have shown them photos of the Morrises in Argentina and they are very impressed by you on horseback, Pam! 

Another perfect day, tiring but rejuvenating in so many ways.

Mr W said ' If that photo goes on Facebook there'll be a divorce!'. Can you see from the bottom photo why I might find life out here rejuvenating?!