Girl Stuff

Couldn't help having a giggle and taking a photo of this product I found in a shop here in Chennai. Man, where was this when we first came to Chennai and I shuddered at the thought of having to use a squatter toilet. Which I must admit thanks to 4 cesareans and a pretty good pelvic floor I have avoided having to use. I can hang on FOREVER. Phew.

My mind boggles at precisely how one would use this especially when I read it was re-usable. (gag) fancy the thought of using it at a rock concert?

What I Won't Miss About India

Just going through the photo's on my i-phone and I came across this one. Definitely one of the things I will not miss seeing here in India. Babies in their Mothers arms on the back of motorbikes. Scares the begeezers out of me.

Thats My Boy

Yesterday Mac and I grabbed an hour by the pool. He was happy swimming around entertaining himself when two Indian guys joined him in the pool. 25 year old Jet Airway Flight attendants who had NO idea how to swim. I think they were surprised at what a good little swimmer he was and started asking him all the usual questions.

Whats your name- Mac

Where are you from- Atalia. Which they thought was Italy

What grade are you studying at school- I don't go to school. (Insert startled faces)

Will you teach us to swim- Yep, then we will have a race and I will beat you.

And that he did. He whooped their butts. I sat on the pool side silently peeing my pants. This kid cracks me up. Then he started to teach them how to float.

(Please note the well pedicured peep-toes in the forefront. Probably the last pedicure for some time. Mmm, Coral, remind anyone of the late 80's)

Moving Day

Moving day came and went in a flurry of boxes, bubble wrap and packing tape. The noise from that continual ripping of packing tape is enough to put any ones nerves on edge. Three days later we waved goodbye to two trucks full of all our worldly possessions. 183 boxes to be exact. The 40ft container was too tall and wouldn't fit down our street so they took both the trucks back to the depot where they would pack our container and send it on its way home on the high seas.

We are now in our temporary accommodation till we leave here on Saturday night on our flight home to Melbourne. Possibly the last time turning LEFT to business class on the plane instead of right to economy class. Andrew will finish up work on Friday and Sam gets to enjoy another week at school. Mac and I have some lunch plans and a few important hours relaxing enjoying the warm weather and the swimming pool.

The bubble wrap kid.

Manners Please People

Ok people of India!

It's time to wake up and smell the Coffee or Chai, whatever, but listen up.

I think I have just been told one too many times that I am FAT.

There is a thing in the Western world called manners. We are taught at a young age to be respectful of others and that you always try to be kind. I am afraid those things must not have been taught to anyone in this country.

Sitting talking to a friend one day on Skype Margaret walks by and I introduce her to my friend. Her response was "Ah, just like my Madame, very fat" another instance was when a friend came to visit, "OH, same same, just like my madame, very FAT"

Victor would often refer to someone as "You know, the FAT lady". He soon stopped saying that after he was told how rude it was.

When I walk into a shop I am often told I am too FAT for their clothes or my feet are too big for their shoes.

Having clothes made here is great if you can put up with the put downs.

While we were attending the luncheon for our deceased landlord the other week one of the lady's said to me, "You were very FAT when you came to India, you have got smaller" in fact I told her "Thank you very much, yes I was very FAT when I came to India and I am still very FAT, if not FATTER!!!!!!!"

It infuriates me when I wander around the shopping mall and groups of girls start to giggle as I walk by, Oh I think to myself. Do I have something stuck in my teeth or is my top on inside out or oh, am I flashing too much skin, NO! There is nothing untoward about what I am wearing it's just that they are flat out rude and immature.

Lucky for me I have thick skin and I have seen the funny side and had a laugh.

But if you are thinking of visiting this incredible country and you have a complex about your size, three words of advise, DO NOT COME.

Wordless Wednesday

You Know It's Time To Go Home When.....

• You are down to the last roll of imported toilet paper
• Your 5 year old yells at the beggars tapping on the car window "NO! GO AWAY!"
• You stare longingly in the pantry hoping that a Vanilla Latte will miraculously appear
• The Vegemite jar in nearly empty
• You don't hear the air-con humming all night anymore
• You would rather do your own housework and have the house to yourself
• Its been 1344 hours and 56 mins since you saw your daughter
• The traffic and driving here in DRIVING YOU MAD
• When you don't need the air-con on in the car

So the countdown is 24 days (567 hrs) to lift off.

What! No Cutlery?

Today we were invited to attend the luncheon to celebrate the end of the 11 days of mourning for our landlord and neighbor Mr Sreedharan. Not knowing quite what to expect we were all a bit nervous to attend. The kids got the big 'talking to' about behavior before we walked barefoot across the hall to our neighbors house. We entered the home and there were long thin tables set up for about 30 people. Andrew was ushered off to the mens room (not the toilet) and I stood chatting to the women. Time came to sit at the table and our lunch was served, typical South Indian style on a banana leaf. Andrew and Sam dug right into it, fingers and all while I must have had a look of horror about how the heck I was to eat all this with my fingers and was quickly bought a basket with cutlery and napkins. Mac did his usual and put his head down and sulked.

The food was lovely and it was nice to get together with our neighbors to celebrate the life of their Husband and Father. Once we had all eaten the tables were cleared and everyone left the room to wash their hands the tables were set again for all the staff who work in the apartment building. After the meal we were once again ushered to the separate mens and woman's rooms to sit and chat for a bit.

Another thing done to tick off my 'to do list' a meal on a Banana Leaf.

Packing Up

4 weeks tomorrow and we are on that Singapore airlines flight on our way to the "Land of Plenty" and getting the heck out of dodge. So that means in 2 weeks the packers arrive to pack up our last two years of junk. Well, it's not all junk, we do have some lovely treasures to bring home to remind us of our time in India. Never mind the copious amount of new grey hair (me), high blood pressure (Master) and of course many wonderful memories.

Thank goodness Eliza's bedroom is free because it has become the central packing, dumping, sorting zone. You could lose a small child in there if you are not careful. I am refusing to take home anything we may not want or need so I have been busy culling. It feels good to be able to pass out our unwanted things to people who really need them. You know the saying, 'Someones trash is someone else's treasure" We are heading home to our new house which I hope will be clutter free.

Today I am sorting the playroom, wish me luck I may not get out of there for a few days.

Wordless Wednesday

Furniture Shopping At Aurorachana

Yesterday we made the 2 1/2 hour drive down the coast to Pondicherry with the prime purpose of going to a furniture store with in the township of Auroville. "Aurorachana" is run by a German couple who have ben living there for the last 38 years. They find old furniture from all over India and then restore it to it's natural beauty. Most of this furniture is sitting outside in the elements within the overgrown garden on the property and it is hard to imagine how it could ever be bought back to its original state. More furniture is stored in sheds that have families of bats living there. We had been wanting to get down there to see what all the talk was about, so many of our friends had been there and bought some lovely Rosewood and Teak pieces.

Its such a treasure trove of interesting things. We spent 3 hours wandering around choosing a few special things to take home.

This trunk is one of the treasures we will be bringing home with us once it is restored.

I loved this bed, it was intriguing and looked like something out of a fairytale sitting beneath this huge Banyon tree.

The only thing that had been stopping us going down there was the drive and the kids. It's a long way on these roads and the people driving on them are crazy. Even Victor when he gets on the open roads treats it like it is some kind of race and after a long journey I am always so grateful to arrive home safe and sound. Thanks to our good friends the kids stayed behind in Chennai having a blast playing Baseball, eating McDonald's and swimming.

Alas yesterday the inevitable happened and someone ran up the back of our car. It was certainly a thump but thank goodness there was little damage to our tank of a car. Sir had much tension and was out of the car in a jiffy giving the driver of the other car a good mouthful. Apparently his brakes had failed to work. Mmm.

Andrew pointing some fingers and giving the other driver the "what for".

Surveying the damage

R.I.P Mr Sreedharan

Another day in India came with it yet another challenge in my life here.

I'm not good with death, but hey, who is? So last night at 9pm when our door bell rang and our security guard stood there close to tears, informing us of the passing of our elderly landlord, I knew that today would be full of challenges.

The day dawned and so did the constant stream of visitors coming to pay their respects. Margaret arrived at work and I asked her what I should be doing in this situation. She told me just what my ears and my heart did not want to hear, even though in my mind I knew what I should do. She told me I should buy a flower garland and go and pay my respects. Fabby. On the way to buy the flowers Victor told me that he had already been to see the family and the "BODY". Oh s**t. Talk about in your face. Death in India is so public.

With the flowers in hand, a condolence card and a big deep breath it was my turn to do what I have always dreaded. Margaret came with me to pay her respects too. We entered the open front door and there was the body lying on the floor draped in a white cloth with only his head exposed, sleeping so peacefully in his afterlife. I approached his daughter who was standing at the foot of the body quietly keeping watch over her father and paid my respects. I felt every eye in the room on me just watching and wondering what I would do next. I tried to hand her the flowers but she directed me to place them on the body. Oh no it's getting hot in here now and my hands are shaking, thank heavens for my Margaret who took over and helped me place them. I then stood, said a silent prayer and was out of there as quick as my shaking legs and sweaty feet could take me.

Once back in our apartment tears sprang into my eyes and the magnitude of what I had just witnessed hit me full in the stomach. Then, so did the water that Margaret started splashing all over my head as she was telling me to wash my face.... What the? Apparently you should pour a bucket of water over your head after leaving the house of the deceased to wash away any bacteria from the body.

Our landlord was a very humble, kind hearted man. A true gentleman who's family, I am sure will miss him dearly. We used to see him in the afternoon, along with his Physiotherapist taking a wander downstairs to get some exercise. He was always quick to say hello and enquire after our wellbeing and never failed to ask after our family back home. He would tell me with a hint of a smile that he loved to hear Tarzan (Mac) yelling in our apartment.

R.I.P Mr Sreedharan.

Wordless Wednesday

It's a wordless Wednesday because words can not describe this delightful sandwich that was packed for us for our early morning train ride from Delhi-Jaipur.

Mmm, soggy black lettuce.......

Only In India

We found this poster hanging in the window of a store in the new shopping mall in Chennai. Not only do you have to smart and savvy but you need to be beautiful as well.

This wouldn't last two minutes in any other country.

Do you think this is appropriate Nokia???

Fish Market

Margaret is cooking up a storm for our dinner tonight. On the menu, Prawns, Chickpea Curry and Lemon Rice. So I took our latest visitor Lisa to the Fish market to get the Prawns, now that is always a bit of a eye opener. Lovely fresh prawns and fish covered in flies. But so cheap. King Prawns for $6 a kilo and they even shell them for you. Mmm we sure are going to have a feast tonight.

Victor and Margaret supervising shelling the prawns.

Where has that 2 years gone?

Well today marks our 2 year Anniversary of living here in Chennai.

And what an amazing 2 years it has been. Full of the highs, lows and the challenges that can only be felt when living in this developing country India.

Would we change any of it? Not on your life. Sure, it hasn't all been rosy, but who ever said life was meant to be easy. We have all learnt that we have the strength to make it through the challenges that life has thrown at us.

Andrew's work is nearly done, although he says there is years of work ahead of them at the plant with constant requests for new work and upgrades.

This video was made by the Wall Street Journal. Andrew was behind the scenes with the camera guys showing them through the plant while they were filming. It is a really good look at the Chennai that we have come to Love and Hate. And a good look at what Andrews 2 years here has been all about.

Wordless Wednesday

Where Have All The Smiles Gone

I used to love getting in the car and seeing the amazing sights that India has to offer.

Now all I see is sadness, filth, congestion, danger, poverty, traffic and utter despair.

Is it India that has changed? Or is it me?

It's time to go.

Time to go back to the country we are so fortunate to have lived in. Time to be on open roads without the constant fear of being in an accident, getting hurt or hurting someone else.

The Mothers on the back of a motorbike with their babies tottering in their arms. What if we hit them? How to live with the consequences?

My lack of control always being the passenger. Where to go? What time? Relying on someone to get anywhere. Please drive slower, be careful.

The people carrying their helmets on the front of their bikes and not on their heads. Don't they understand the risks. Are they too vein to wear it?

Can't people walk on the footpath and not on the roads. No, because there are people living and sleeping on them. Urinating or defecating on them.

The homeless woman living on the footpath, rocking back and forth. Rain or intense heat, day or night she is there. One arm amputated and seemingly so helpless. Makes my heart so sad.

Children begging on the corner. When will their next meal be?

Dodging people, bikes, cows, dogs, autos, buses and trucks. It's a jungle out there.

The police on every corner, pocketing money, lining their own pockets.

The potholes, speed humps are never ending. Today India seems like one BIG pothole. A hole that is endlessly deep in the culture and corruption that keeps this country so repressed. It needs to change. But how?

Maybe the smiles on the faces are still there, but it is me who is not forthcoming to encourage them.

Boredom Fillers

Another day's activity to fill in the BOREDOM.

Making a cake.

But the BEST thing about making a cake is licking the beaters, or as Mac calls them, Cotton buds.

Imagination + Kitchen Utensils = Fun

Sam has been filling in his time today by making a Scooter ramp.

Some shoes, towels, my chopping board, a mat and he was all set.

A few spills, but lots of fun.

Wordless Wednesday

Eliza's First Day At High School

Officially today was Eliza's first day of High School. When she went to school in Chennai, Grade 7 was classed as Middle School. So it must be nice for her to finally get to High School in Grade 8. Grandma did the honors today and drove her to school and took the obligatory first day photo. They picked up Lucy on the way too. Nothing like a bit of moral support from your BFF.

Don't they look lovely all rugged up in their winter uniform. Eliza has really been feeling the cold since she got home and has been wearing layers of clothing to try to keep warm. So today it was tights and socks under her kilt.

I spoke to her after school (3 times actually, which was wearing thin for her) and she sounded happy. 2 periods of Maths today and she still enjoyed her day.

Hopefully tomorrow she will catch the bus home from school, then on Thursday the bus to and from school. I think Grandma is spoiling her girl.

I wish I could have been there to send her off but I am sure there would have been proud Mum tears and that would have been SO EMBARRASSING for her.

Lights, Camera, Action.

Yesterday our street was converted into a movie set. We got home to find the street filled with men and movie equipment. The movies industry in India is huge with Tamil Nadu's film industry called Kollywood. It's not uncommon to drive around and see a movie being shot on the side of the road somewhere. And of course it always draws a crowd. We suddenly became the center of attention, that's not unusual. We had a chat to the Director and he said the movie would be released in a couple of months. He told us they would be back to shoot some more on Monday.

Our little quiet street turned into a movie set.

The green car chasing the auto down the street was the scene they were shooting.

The producer (in the sunglasses) sitting down checking our the shoot on the monitor.

Then as quick as it starts it's over.

They pack up and off they wander down the street.

Fun City

We are into the 4th week of the school holidays and boredom has really set in. But alas, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, in the form of a new indoor game center 'Fun City" at the very nice new Express Mall in Chennai. It is amazing and very clean and the kids LOVED it. Same concept as Time Zone at home, but with a few rides and dodgem cars. Even a clown welcoming you at the front door, which freaked Mac out completely. And yes, the kids earn those tokens to spend at the shop when they have finished, total crap for a huge amount of tokens. It certainly filled in an hour or two and I am sure we will be frequent visitors. When the kids are happy, Mum is happy. To add to my happiness there is even a Gloria Jeans in the Shopping center.

Can life get any better????

(yes, I could be on a tropical island somewhere)

Snakes and Magic

While my friends Anne-Maree and Renee were here in March we had the opportunity to see a snake charmer/magician down at Mahabalipuram. His magic show was intriguing and when he started regurgitating stones I was nearly gagging right along with him. But the highlight of the show was when he produced his little cane basket and out shot his cobra. I think I jumper back a mile and was happy to watch the snake from a safe distance. The snake was constantly hissing at him and he would tell it to Shut-up.

The kids all got to help out with his magic tricks which they all enjoyed. Sam was a bit worried when he started to put his hand up Sam's pants to find his missing egg.

We were not the only audience he had. Along with us came the goats and beggars.

You can see Victor off to the side keeping his eye on things.

Wordless Wednesday

Empty Nest

Four days have now passed since Eliza left Chennai to head home to Australia. The house seems strange...quiet, tidy, empty. Not that she made a lot of noise, but having one less around to argue over the TV does make a difference. I never imagined that our 13 year old daughter would be living 8779 kms away from our family. It's only for 11 weeks and we will be reunited again. All living back together as a family, a new start in our new home.

My heart also feels empty. A month ago I would have said, and probably did, that it would be nice to have a break from our teenager. Be careful what you wish for. It doesn't feel right. We can speak on Skype a couple of times a day, but it's not the same. Prying information out of her over the wonders of the internet doesn't work.

I am so proud of her for having the courage to make this big step in her life. Repatriating is hard, doing it alone without her family around who have been through the same life changes in 2 years is tricky. But I am sure with the love and support of our family at home she will be ok. We are so lucky to have the best parents who have taken on the challenge of being her primary caregivers till we get home. I know I have trained Mum and Dad well. They raised me and we all survived, so Eliza should be a piece of cake.

So, to my beautiful girl, we have given you wings to fly. Soar like an Eagle my love, you have the world at you feet. Don't waste a second of the amazing opportunities that lay ahead of you. Embrace your new school and the friendships, old and new.

We love you

Turn Left HERE!!!!!

Lucy and Eliza managed a ride in an Auto. Getting into an auto certainly gets you up close and personal with India. The smells, sights and the bone crunching ride is something you don't forget in a hurry. Especially interesting is when you take all sorts of detours on the way, like dropping something off to the auto drivers boss, getting fuel and then having to direct the driver who has no idea where to go to take you home and doesn't speak great English. It's all good fun.

Sam Hits Double Figures

No, that title doesn't have anything to do with cricket, but Sam did celebrate his 10th Birthday this week. He had a great day with lots of sporty presents and a trip to the movies. He was so happy to have Grandma, Gramps and Lucy here to celebrate with him. He had been planning the day for weeks, what he wanted to do, from breakfast right through to dinner. You know when you are 10 those birthdays seemed to take forever to come around? So you have to make them special.

Happy Birthday Sam.

Dressed Up Indian Style

This is the finished product. The girls got all dressed up in the Sari's and we hit the town for lunch. They looked so beautiful and received many admiring looks and comments. I am sure they felt very grown up and elegant and I still can't believe they travelled home on the plane wearing their Sari's.

An Indian Experience For The Girls

To get that truly India look while wearing their Saris I took the girls for a treat to the salon to have some Mehndi done. This is a temporary Henna tattoo which is done in India for occasions like weddings and special ceremonies. They also had their eyebrows Threaded, which is a hair removal technique also used in India using a piece of cotton thread twisted and then pulled tight to remove the hair. It is a great technique and hurts a lot less then waxing.

Nothing like a true Indian experience. It's ok though there were no nose piercings or anything permanent.

Shopping Shopping Shopping

Shopping wasn't the only thing we did with Lucy, we did show her some culture. But she did take home lots of treasures. This is a couple of pics from our shopping trip to Spencer Plaza.

Pashmina Store, too many to choose from.

Getting the giggles while Grandma and I shopped in the Silver shop.

Holding the ceiling up in the shoe shop. Yes it was very low......