Firstly, an apology to all our readers who have wondered
where we were. This blog is late, why? Because the month became very short with
lots happening in the last week! We hope you enjoy it now.
Rider Mania.
Kris and I
attended a three day major bike rally last weekend. It is an annual event
promoted by BOBMC and a different club each year. This year it was the turn of
IBRMC and was held just outside Udaipur.
Huge
numbers came, well over 1500 bikers all there to meet up with old friends,
party and take part in one or two of the many events being held. For the club
it was a huge honour to be asked to host the meeting and an awful lot of work
by IBR went into making this a massive success.
The site
was way out of town in the middle of nowhere so noise wasn’t a problem (good
job really!) Surrounded by mountains in the heart of Rajasthan it was perfect.
Very dry and dusty at this time of year but it is after all a desert state.
Day one we
spent wandering around just looking, meeting old friends and getting a feel of
where we were. Sleep was in tents. IBRMC in two huge ones. We went well equipped
for the cold mountain nights with two sleeping bags and a super thick duvet.
And cold it certainly was at 4degC.
The next
morning Kris could hardly move. With all the walking and nowhere to rest other
than sit in the dust her joints had swollen up badly. After an hour it was
obvious she wasn’t going to be walking anywhere that day so sadly we came home.
I remember
many such meetings in Europe and the UK and there is always seating available,
why there wasn’t here I just don’t know. I hope a lesson in there.
Its been a hard day!
Its been a hard day!
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| Very clean and comfortable beds, complete with duvet, we added another duvet and two sleeping bags to dive out the bitter cold. |
My wonderful Christmas present.
Kris has known for ages that i have been trying to grow the 'ghost' peppers, one of the hottest in the world but with no success.
They require a lot of root heat about 25degC and a minimum air temperature of 18/20 degC and constant high humidity.
With a heat mat and thermostatic control, all with a cover to conserve moisture it should be perfect.
Air temperature
Compost temperature
I am trying it first with some Hungarian F1 peppers that require the same sort of conditions but are easier to buy. My ghost seeds packet contained 5 seeds and had to come from a specialist grower.
Wish me luck. Thanks again Kris for such a thoughtful present. I love it.
A wander around the garden.
At this time of year everything is starting into full growth. Veggies grow, flowers bloom its a lovely time. Warm days and cool nights. Perfect BBQ weather. This first bit is the developing raised beds at the rear.
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| Our seedlings popping up to say hello, the tomatoes are doing great too |
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| Leeks, chinese cabbage and lettuce replanted |
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| More veggies popping up to say hello were here! |
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| Our back garden transformed with raised beds to make gardening less painful |
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| This is going to be our covered patio area with table and chairs to sit in the shade in the heat of summer and watch our veggies grow |
The front garden.
Since we started this project as a Christmas present for Kris it has certainly expanded.
Cheap local mud bricks feature now. We will see how they fare in the monsoon!
Our first successful crop of cauliflower.
This is not only good to look at and warms the whole house but it has also more than halved our winter fuel bill. We were all electric with heaters in every room, now we dont use any.
Update on
Geeta
We have had
further blood and swab tests taken and discussed her medical condition with the
Plastic Surgeon. Although we have some skin growth it is very fragile with a
fair amount of scar tissue forming but progress has been good at reducing the
actual burn and keeping on top of the infection. I was a little disappointed that the skin
growth has not been more successful but at least it has laid the right
foundations prior to surgery. The blood tests show we are heading in the right
direction, and we still have some infection in the wound, but that is also
improving. Geeta’s haemoglobin levels have increased and hopefully soon it will
be at a safe level to operate. She still requires a high protein diet and
vitamin supplements. Saying that she is so much stronger now and much more
active, whereas before she walked slowly now she runs everywhere.
After long
discussion with Dallu (Geeta’s mother and Amba her aunt), we have decided to
continue home schooling for the time being, we hope to get her into school
after surgery.
Geeta has
now started to exert her personality more and her favourite word of the month
is Nay (No) which she says in Hindi and English. On the whole she is a well
rounded child, very inquisitive and keen to learn. She giggles, sings and
dances among many other things, and she remains as independent as she can be.
It has been
a tough month with long discussions about Geeta’s schooling and medical
treatment with her mother and aunt. Her mother does not want her to go to
school for at least two more years but by then it will be much harder for her.
Initially with a heavy heart we agreed she could live at Amba’s and go to
school with her children and I would visit daily to do her dressings. After a
sleepless night we spoke to her mother again and we agreed to carry on as we
are Geeta and her mother living here which pleased both Dallu and Amba. The same day Geeta’s father
came for an overnight visit which is always tough on both Geeta and her mother.
My typical
day (sitting watching Chris work) Very funny Chris I’ll get you later.
I was just
thinking how different my life is now I’m living in India so I’ll give you a
glimpse of today.
First thing
check handouts for next class at college and print lesson plan and all
information relating to Landscape and Mughal Gardens. Have a small breakfast. Head
into work early as there was a mix up about start time, great for us the
earlier we start the sooner we finish. Home for a quick drink then lessons on
the alphabet and a sing song with Geeta. Immediately after do her dressing
whilst she watches Motu Patlu on television to distract her.
A small
spot of lunch cheese salad sandwich, our own lettuce and tomatoes, yummy.
Next off
out into the garden to put up the shading for our tomato plants. Sold 10 eggs to a neighbour all proceeds go
to buying blankets for Warm Aid. That takes us to 5pm, just got to get stuff
out of the freezer for tea and finish writing this bit of the blog. The
electricity bill arrived today and we had a parcel of seeds so all in all non
stop.
Ah yes its
now 18:41 and still writing as I get frequent requests from Geeta to either
play, go with her to see something or someone and requests for cheese, Cheddar
is her favourite cheese. Later I will relax with Chris, eat our evening meal
and either listen to music or watch a movie. Yes I am having a tipple tonight
mines Bacardi and Coke not sure about Chris.
Geeta's father came for a visit a few days ago.
The family of teddies is growing.
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| Rupesh and Chris having a beer |
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| Family time to relax around the fire |
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| Amba and her youngest son Perim who is 4yrs old |
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| Chris and Amba's husband Naryan sharing a beer |
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| Geeta's swing we don't need to bungee her in anymore she gets in and out herself
Well thats all for this month, God Bless from Chris and Kris with our
extended family Dallu and Geeta.
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