Indian Wedding Transport

As we were walking out of the Meridian last week this wedding car pulled up.

I just love the way they sticky tape flowers on to the car.

In this heat I don't think the flowers would last for long at all.

India's Advantages

Living in India sometimes has its advantages.

I have fallen in love with the vast array of amazing fabric, silks, cottons, and block printed fabrics.

And to make things even better, I have finally found a great tailor in Chennai. She is awesome and the sweetest lady. She is willing to think out of the square and sow some more western type of clothing. She has about 6 people working for her, a Master tailor, two mother men sewing, two girls doing bits and pieces, hems and sewing on bling, and this other guy who does embroidery. I love to watch what he does as he sits cross-legged on the floor.

I have had some lovely things made already and she even made our costumes for the school balls this year. I am making the most of have such a cheap, affordable service at my fingertips.

I can't believe the clothes they can churn out of this tiny little hot room with 6 people

working in it.

This is a piece of fabric being embroidered for a top that my friend Anne-Maree had made while she was her on her holiday.

Mothers Day

Spending Mothers Day away from our family was not quite the same. Not being able to share this special day with my Mum, Mother in law and my Granny made the day a bit sad for me. Giving them the usual bunch of Chrysanthemums and other treats to show them how much we care and appreciate them for all they do for our family and sharing a family meal together is what it is all about. I know I am a Mum too now, but, that doesn't mean this day is all about me and my kids. If it wasn't for our Mums we wouldn't be the people we are now.

Mothers Day this year also was my Mums 70th Birthday, we missed celebrating this day with her also.

How lucky we are to have 3 very special, inspirational woman, to help guide us with their wisdom and love though our lives.

So, Happy Mothers Day and Happy Birthday Mum, I hope when I grow up I will be just like you.

And Jen, Happy Mothers Day to you and we will be there with you next year to share your day with you.

To my Granny, we hope you had a lovely day with your Daughter and granddaughter and enjoyed a piece of Kerrie's sponge.

My Mothers Day in India was spent having breaky in bed, Vegemite toast and juice, the boys spending the morning glued to the TV watching the Cats have a win, then it was out for lunch and a swim to cool off. Eliza made dinner for the boys and left the mess for me to clean up.

Sam made me the best card and this is what he wrote,

Mum

I like your cooking because it is good, you are good at cooking.

I like your food because you learn to cook different food.

I like your Lasagna best because you don't put celery in it.

I like the meat you cook because you don't let the meat dry out like Margaret, your cooking is the best.

I like it when you clean up for us.

I like it when you make my bed for me because then I don't have to make it.

It is good that I don't have to clean my clothes because I would never have any clean clothes to wear.

Thank you for getting us the maid, Margaret, because I would have to do everything and my room would be a mess.

I like it when you give me gifts because you give us good gifts. It's funny when I ask for something and you say, "Ok, but it's for your Birthday"

I like it when you cut my hair because we don't have to pay.

Thank you for everything.

Sam and I had a treat on Saturday and went out for lunch just the two of us. I love that one on one time with the kids. We had the best chat and a great lunch.

Happy Birthday Mac

On Tuesday we celebrated Mac's 5th Birthday. I can't quite believe that my baby is 5 already. He had a great day and got to have a little party on Friday with his two buddies Abe and Ryan.

"Toy Story" was the hit this year and he has had heaps of fun playing with his new Buz and Woddy. Andrew also enjoyed going out to buy him a Mac sized cricket bat.

It only seems like yesterday that we welcomed him into our family. He is our constant source of joy. Often coming up to cuddle me and wish me Happy Birthday or Happy Mothers Day on any day of the year.

Such a sweet boy.

Murphy's Law

Guess What?

It rained last night!!!

I blogged about it and it rained, almost like washing your car then it raining.

We woke this morning to lovely fresh rain and no power. Yes, it rains and the power goes off and it doesn't rain and the power still goes off. It was so much cooler, I even sat out on the front veranda and had my morning coffee.

Bliss.

No Rain Today

Well today marks 112 days since it last rained in Chennai.

The 8th January was the last time it rained. And boy, do we need a good shower of rain to clean everything up. The trees are even looking sad and dusty. I know when it does rain the smell will be enough to knock my socks off (wee wee's and poo poo's) but it will be worth it to clean the place up a bit.

The lack of rain also means more power disruptions during the long hot summer. Wouldn't you know it, the power just went off while I was typing this.

The temperature is climbing up there too. 8am this morning it was 32c, with an overnight low of 30c. Today we are looking at a top of 36c and give it two weeks and we will have tops in the

high 40's.

Oh, how I love my Air-conditioning.

The joys of Incredible India.

63 Days And Counting

Here I am back in Chennai after our whirlwind visit back to Geelong. My head is still spinning. Eliza, Darlene my friend and I set off home for 4 days for Eliza to have an interview for her new High School. This seemed to a lot of people, to be a quite extreme measure, but Eliza will be returning home earlier than the rest of the family to start 3 term in Australia. The school required an enrollment interview to ensure her a place, and we felt that it was necessary to go home now for the interview and to sort out all of the things that needed to be done for her return, rather than leaving all this to be done by her Grandparents whom she will be living with till we arrive home mid September.

It was a very rushed trip, we flew in on Tuesday night and her interview was 9am Wednesday morning. Thank the lord she was accepted on the spot, so we could then move on to getting uniforms, school books and school shoes. By 1pm we had all of this completed. Darlene and I stood there in disbelief, trying to accomplish all this in India would have taken days...and we had done it all in 4 hours. Wow. I love Australia and competent people.

The next 3 days were spent stocking up on supplies to bring home to India and tying up loose ends. Catching up with our lovely family and friends was also a huge plus. Needless to say we had fun introducing Darlene to our favorite Australian foods and it was just so nice to get behind the wheel of the car and drive myself around.

So the countdown begins. Eliza tells me it is 63 days to go till she heads home. Mum and Dad and Eliza's very special friend Lucy are flying over to take her back home. We will miss her, but I hope and pray she will use this time to grow and learn to be more responsible. Her brothers will miss fighting with her and but I certainly wont miss being the referee.

I never thought I would be apart from one of my children for this long but it is the right thing to do for Eliza. She needs to get back to her Australian education and staying here through the summer break is waisting valuable time. She can't wait to get back and spend time with her friends and get back to doing the things she loves at home.

Eliza in her new School Uniform.