These Woman were all lined up waiting to get the new TV's that the government had so kindly distributed as part of their election promise.

The government of Tamil Nadu has promised over 4 million free TV sets at a cost of $240 million. I can't believe there are people starving and homeless but they have a free Tv from the government. What about power and the cost involved in running a TV? And of coarse there's the Satellite dish you often see on the roof of alot of the slum houses? Go figure....

It was men lined up down one side of the road and the woman were around the corner lined up. We asked Victor why this was the case and his reply was, "Men don't respect woman" And then there were the 10 or so police officers standing around keeping things in order. (Indian style of order that is)

So when do you think Kevin 07 will start offering free TV's to us poor Aussie battlers?

A Lesson In Love

Chennai is gripped in Valentines Day's fever.

Everywhere you look there's a red heart balloon hanging in a shop window or floating from the pineapple vendors cart. It seems like such an unlikely place to find all these symbols of love. But why not. I have probably never been hung up on the Valentines Day thing, it always seemed to be just another day and why is it that you can't show your loved ones how much you love them everyday of the year.

But last night I had a date with my husband and we attended a Valentines Day dinner at the church we have started to go to here in Chennai. The guest of Honour was the most inspiring 81 year old woman I have ever met. Mrs Katherine Hoover was on her 31st trip to Chennai. She first came here from Canada over 40 years ago with her husband as missionary's and now 3 generations later, she (now widowed) and her family continue to make a big difference to the people of India, bringing God into their lives. Part of their mission work was to establish a boys orphanage and also a widows home which continue to help the needy. Her love for the Indian people is unmeasurable and it has been our pleasure to meet and become friends with her Gran-daughter, Sheralyn and her family who are here in Chennai living and doing Gods work.

We had the pleasure of hearing the 7 things she believes are the way way to have a successful marriage.

1. Never too old to hold hands


2. Say "I Love You" at least once a day


3. Don't take one another for granted


4. Forgive and forget


5. Do things for the 'Joy of doing' them and the 'Joy you get' for doing them.


6. Don't expect perfection


7. Never go to bed angry.

Another thing she said that I loved, was "Happiness doesn't just happen".

It's like I once heard someone say "The grass is only green if you water it". So marriage isn't meant to be easy and we all have to work hard at it, but it's worth it. I guess I am pretty blessed to have such great role models like my Mum and Dad, who this year, will celebrate 45 years of marriage and when I look at their marriage, compromise was always present and selfishness never was. Quite often these examples of love are right in front of us, you just need to open your eyes and look for them and have an open heart to be accepting of them.

So that's my Dr Phil session for this week.

Note: My Oprah and Dr Phil viewing days are over for the time being- TV in India has its limitations.

Hanging By The Pool.

Some new photo's of the kids hanging out at the pool last week. We still enjoy our time out going for a swim and at least the kids get to burn some energy. They are really growing up so fast..

Andrew's Belated Birthday

Andrew arrived home from Indore yesterday after being away for 18 days. He spent his birthday alone up there so we thought it would be a good idea to hit out favourite restaurant and celebrate his belated birthday. We were joined by Noelene and Graeme and our new Chennai friends Shawn, Sheralyn, Macartney and Leroy.

And of coarse it wouldn't be a Indian Birthday party without a cake, most restaurants supply a cake free of charge when you tell them it's one of your party's birthdays.

Check out the writing on the cake, it nearly came out saying Mr Andrew, but I said that wasn't necessary. Instead it said, "To Sweetheart", at least the spelling was correct, as Shawn pointed out it could have come out saying, "To Sweat heart" (wink)

Most cakes usually end up being smeared into the guests faces which is a custom here. Well I don't know if it is a custom or just a typically Indian "Fun' thing to do.

The kids enjoyed helping to blow out the candle and Mac did his usual thing to do at this restaurant and fell asleep. We think he has only stayed awake once when we have gone to the Raintree. The staff all know his sleeping habits and usually supply us with a pillow and blanket. The hotel guards on the door give us the "Oh, he is asleep again" look as we head out the door and get in the car. Which I am sure they are glad about as Mac loves the revolving door and they probably cringe when they see him coming.

Indian Plumbing At Its Best

I thought I would share with you my Godsend in the kitchen. Apart from Margaret that is!

Having hot water in the kitchen is rather unheard of in India. And when we moved into the apartment there wasn't a hot water service in the kitchen and after the kettle blew up from over use, I thought it was time to get onto a plumber and get get one installed. HA. I should of known there was to be a "Drama", after all this is India. The landlord was not too happy about us putting one in as it would spoil the look of the kitchen and there would have to be holes drilled in the wall.... But I wasn't going to let that put a stop to having clean, germ free dishes. Margaret knew of a plumber/ electrician ( is that possible?) and we got him in to install it. We also thought that while he was here we would get a exhaust fan installed in the laundry as it gets VERY hot in there. So after many phone calls we got him to the house and we agreed on a price and I left him to it.............

and this is what I came home to.....

A somewhat very unattractive installation, now I see what the landlord meant, but running hot water, ahhhhh, it certainly doesn't take much to please me anymore.

And the exhaust fan?????

Yet to be installed!!!!!!!!

Yes it's true never pay a tradesman in India until he has completed the job that he "said' he would do.

What The Part 3

This is a fruit called "Jack Fruit" It is commonly grown in Southern India. It is the largest tree born fruit and the fruit can grow to weight 80 pounds. The skin looks to be quite prickly and can have a very bad smell when ripe, like the smell of rotting onions, nice. The flesh consists of large edible bulbs that has a taste similar to banana. Are you impressed with my knowledge???? I Googled it. Don't you love Google?
So anyway we had stopped at a shop so Margaret could buy a washing brush and I could help getting out of the car to check this fruit out. I had seen it around and I kept asking Victor what it was but he couldn't tell me in English what it was. So here I am asking the man what it was and could I take a photo, which he wanted to charge me 10 rupee for and another man came up to me and said "Excuse me, but you really shouldn't eat that fruit." Like I had planned to when it is sitting in the open on the side of the road with flies all over it. He continued to tell me how it was very unclean and Yadda Yadda Yadda. "Thanks for your help but I am not that stupid." Was the reply in my head, oh sometimes I think people here must think us white folk are really dumb. The man selling the fruit was disappointed that I wouldn't buy his fruit or give him money for taking the photo so I made a quick get away back into the safety of the car.

How Many Indian's Does It Take?????

As usual it never ceases to amaze me at the amount of people it takes to do one person's work. In this case my friend Sher and I called into a florist to buy some flowers and this is how it went....

One person to hold the bouquet

Another to pass the stems of flowers

Another to stand and watch

And the man sitting at the desk to take the money.

Now Sher and I have decided that this is one of the good things about living in India, cheap flowers.

This bunch cost about $15.

3 stems of Lily's, 5 Gladi's, 5 long stem Roses and 5 pieces of greenery.