Help! I Need An Interpreter

There's been some confusion in my house since we got home. Margaret and I are having some communication issues. I think I have been away too long and I have lost my ear for the Indian language.

It all started when I was unpacking our goodies we brought from home and I came across a sachet of Korma paste, yes I know you are probably wondering why I would bring that back to the land of the Curry,but it was a free-bee and you cant get Korma paste here, you probably are expected to make it yourself. Anyway I asked Margaret if she new what Korma Paste was, and her reply had me thinking......"Coma! Madame when body is there but head is not"!!!! This really had me baffled. We finally figured out what we both were thinking and had a laugh.



Today I asked Margaret to take some clothes to the Tailor on the corner for some repairs. Later in the day she comes to me and says, "Madame, tiler not come today", and I reply to her, "Margaret I didn't know you had called a tiler, what for?" and Margaret's reply. "No Madame, no fixing tiles, fixing clothes" More laughs....

I think I need to start rolling my rrrrrrrrrrrr's.

What The!

The things kids say sometimes leave you wondering "Where did that come from?"

We had one of those moments in the car the other day. Sam who just turned 9 came out with a whopper.

After 12 months Victor has finally found a decent radio station for us to listen to (104.8 for any Chennai expat looking for a semi decent radio station that plays loads of golden oldies). So there we were singing along to, The Frey's "How to save a life" and Sam says,

"It's amazing how they play foreign music in a non-foreign country"!

What the!!!!!

We all got an attack of the giggles and laughed all the way home, even Victor cracked a smile.....

Remember Me?

I'm Back.
Yes back to the land of the living and back to blogging....
It's been a while I know. Why is that I haven't blogged? I have asked myself that numerous times and it's not that I haven't had anything to blog about, there have been many times I have sat down and started composing something in my head, once at a cafe I even got pen to paper and started penning my thoughts .....but as life has it, sometimes you just need a brake from reality, and I think my escape from blogging gave me that time I needed.

Returning to India marks the start of our second year here. And with new starts come new resolutions. Like this year I am going to use my free time here more productively, as when we get home it will back to work and back to not having a lot of free time. So my plans for the year are,

• Take a online photography course,
• dust off the golf clubs have some golf lessons and try to take off from where I left off 13 years ago, before kids..
• get my photos of India all up to date and scrapped, now that's a big ask but I am going to try
• I am going to use that treadmill more and stop it from being our clothes horse.
• And the biggest challenge ......Having many long hours to think, particularly on our trip home, all that time on the plane to toss stuff around in my head about how when I get back to Chennai I am going to try to be more tolerant of alot of things here (mostly the rude males we encounter) but 10 mins into the flight from Bangkok to Chennai and my tolerance was at an all time low... Perhaps the 16 hour lay over in Bangkok, no sleep for 24 hours and 3 tired kids didn't help, but how many rude inconsiderate males can they fit on one plane do you think? MANY...

Going home to Aus took us back to a familiar life and we all enjoyed our 9 weeks there, but all good things must come to an end and here we are back in Chennai, filling in time till school starts on the 10th Aug. Oh, and I can't wait. 15 weeks holidays is way too much for any Mother to have to cope with, especially when 6 weeks of it is in a foreign country with not a great deal to do. The kids are as bored as can be and are arguing heaps. They need to get back to school just as much as I need them to.

It has been lovely to come back to Chennai and see Margaret and Victor and I think they were also glad to see us... "Madame, very boring here with no kids and no Madame" I have been told that many times and my response has been, "I hope you enjoyed the break because now it's back to 2-3 loads of washing a day and cleaning up after my lazy kids." Whom I might add have got very used to being treated like royalty and think Margaret will do everything for them, the problem is, she does, and she says to me,"OH Madame, just children's, I do for them". I try to get them to dry the dishes and take the rubbish downstairs and she thinks I am the worst Mother on earth. Boy have they got a rude awakening coming to them when we get home to reality one day. Mind you, so have I. Wink ;)

The New Abode

Being home has meant that I have had the opportunity to check out our new house. The one we bought over the Internet. LOL. One day we will really enjoy living in this home. It has a lovely outlook and the house has a great feel about it. Love my new kitchen and our outdoor living space. Here's a few pics.

"We Are Geelong"

Being a single Mum at the moment I sometimes have to do the things that I normally wouldn't do. Going to the Football is one of the things that I usually steer clear of having to do, too much testosterone and rough play for my liking. Although don't let it be said that I don't mind looking at a nice pair of legs in short footy nicks.

But today was a different story all together. Andrew's brother had planned a day out for the family to go up to Melbourne and see our beloved team Geelong play Essendon at Etihad Stadium. What an amazing place. It was my first visit to this stadium and it was a great place to watch the football. I had requested to Mark that we wouldn't be sitting in the nose bleed area high up in the stands, I don't do well with heights. Even though we were up on the top level it was still really cool. Great seats and a great view of the ground.

We were joined by 48,000 other mad football supporters and we got to see a good game, good of course, because our team Geelong thrashed Essendon in a rather easy game for them. The kids were all stoked to be going and Mac was keen to be on the playing field. He didn't quite get the idea that we were there to watch, not participate. He was also very excited to see Half Cat the team mascot and called out over and over to try to get Half Cat's attention. Poor kid didn't really understand that it was probably a bit hard to hear from 3 levels below.

Walking to the arena with Uncle Dave

Cousins having a blast

'Half Cat, Half Cat, Half Cat, I'm up here!!!'

"Do you think he saw me Mum?'

GO CATS

Mac, my little Geelong Supporter

Day Trip

Yesterday we had a great day visiting me sister Kerrie in Anglesea, which for my overseas friends, is a lovely little seaside town on the Great Ocean Road. Being a bit cold for a day at the beach we thought the next best thing was a visit to the park. The kids had fun being let loose in the great outdoors, playing on the pirate ship, kicking the footy and throwing the Frisbee. Followed of course, by a walk into town for a coffee and Vanilla slice. It is so nice to be able to be outside without being in a lather of sweat and rug up in a scarf and coat and have some fun. The kids are loving being home.

Home Sweet Home

It's 9am Sunday morning, sitting at the computer drinking a Vanilla Latte and eating Red Tulip mini Easter eggs, thanks to my lovely sister who had extreme self discipline not to eat them. Yum. Its Mothers Day and my 3 little darlings are all still sound asleep. No Breakfast in bed for me today. We have been back in Lara now for 36 hours and it feels like we have never left. We are all slotting back into life here very well. It has been great to see lots of friends and family. Last night we even had Fish and Chips for dinner and you know, when you miss something heaps you long for it and when you have it, sometimes it's a disappointment.

Our flight home was great. Mac fell asleep before we even got on the plane in Chennai and stayed asleep for the flight and the 3 hours lay over in Bangkok. Woke up as I lifted him out of the pram to get on the next flight, so we had a good 6 hours of peace and quiet for him. Eliza and Sam did well, with Sam asking me the time every half an hour. We arrived in Melbourne at 8pm on Friday night and were welcomed home by our welcoming committee. It was great to walk through those doors and see some familiar faces. Mostly white too. Anne-Marie welcomed us with a box of Crispy Cream Donuts, mmmmmmmmm They were good.

Fast forward 2 days, Tuesday morning and I am determined to get this posting finished. Mac is nagging me to come outside and play. Need to shower and get ready for the day but I think the kids have other plans for me. They have spent so much time enjoying the yard.
We are so blessed to have come home to beautiful weather. Cool, crisp, fresh air. The days are sunny and bright and the nights cool. Ah, trackie pants, love the comfort and warmth of cosy casual warm clothes. Even the warm slippers have made an appearance. The kids are in the element. Playing outside on the bikes that Gramps had rounded up for them. Awaiting them all was a football each and a basketball to play with too. As I sit here I can hear the bouncing of the ball outside. How will I ever get these kids back to Chennai after 9 weeks of normal Aussie life. I guess all good things must come to an end.