In a hurry 20180804

Went to Udavi school but wasn’t able to stay long.  We are still struggling to get the irrigation system finished although it is coming along very well.  The grade 10 students that we have on Saturday are very good at getting the work done so they are a help.

As soon as I could it was back to video editing.

Basil flowers 20180803

I managed to do some work for the video I am doing about flowers.  This despite the fact that Rajan wasn’t here this morning as he had to attend yet another ear piercing.  It took much longer than the last one at the temple because it was very crowded.  Apparently this is the time of year when a lot of families do it.

Feel I am having to work very hard to get everything done before I leave.

Bristol kolams 20180802

This is a picture of kolams that my grandchildren made when they got back to Bristol.

Apparently Mary is going to be fined because she took the children out of school three days early! Ridiculous given the experiences they had here are surely more than they would have at the end of term in school.

A change of perspective 20180801

Now that Mary and co have left and are on their way – probably between Oman and London as I write this – my own trip to the UK feels a lot closer.  I feel my perspective has completely shifted.

One thing I want to do is focus more on the videos I am creating and scheduling for while I am away.  The above picture is part of that as I am going to do a video about growing our own seeds.

I also want the irrigation system at Udavi vegetable garden to be finished before I go.  Ravikrishna, Rajan and I are working hard at doing that but I think it is going to be a close run thing.  We sat together putting drippers in pipes this afternoon while the students got on with working on their beds and digging holes for papaya trees.

Last day 20180731

Everyone rushing around sorting things out and getting ready to go.  Unfortunately it rained this afternoon but there was enough time for the family to have a last scoot around Auroville.  Then we all met together for a last dosa at the Neem Tree. 

Asking the children about what they will remember about India and Auroville the Neem Tree restaurant and evening with Sivakala are the top memories. I will miss them.

They are going soon 20180731

This is a picture I took of the bark of the tree which has been chopped down in the Udavi school vegetable garden.  I went there this afternoon with Rajan as we are trying to sort the irrigation system so we finish it at the end of this week.

In the evening a penultimate meal at the Neem Tree with the family.  I walked there and Justin brought me back.  The whole family love the electric scooters. 

Another shopping trip 20180729

Went for another shopping trip to Pondy this afternoon where I got this lovely picture of the children on the Promenade.  We bought yet more tiffins spending a lot of money and time in Singapore metal shop.  Then once again we went to the Promenade hotel for a meal.

They have only been here a week and already they are building up rituals and habits about what they want to do!