This month we have have touched on lockdown, Kris's birthday our anniversary. a challenge we received, the rebuilding of the waterfall, the garden and Geeta. Lots of photo's hope you enjoy it and are keeping safe during this difficult time worldwide.
We were
challenged by our friend Mel to do something creative we wanted to do during
this last lockdown.
Challenge
accepted
Chris is
back to writing his book and has made significant progress reviewing and
rewriting a couple of his SCI FI books, I’m really enjoying reading them again
and also proof reading at same time.
He also made a superb chilli probably his best ever.
And after
ten years the Saxophone and Clarinet came out of their boxes, our plan is to
start from scratch learn the basics using videos from the internet and the
books we have. The reason it’s been so long is that when we first came to India
we thought we would have plenty of spare time to learn our instruments, how
wrong we were, we never seemed to have enough spare time to do it always
something more important would take up our time. So this lockdown we are
starting.
And yes he could still play the notes. It’s going to take some time to get this done but we are excited to play together at long last. Mind you this may not be as smooth going as we think, but it will certainly be fun.
We had considered getting bongos for Geeta so she could play one handed but she expressed a desire to play the piano so we got an electronic keyboard instead
It will also be a great learning tool for her. Plus we need a rhythm section!
Chris is
teaching Geeta and I scales on the keyboard, Geeta will be playing along with
us when we improve.
I’m (Kris)
starting to learn to play my clarinet and I am in the process of researching
the best beginners clarinet lessons on line and in a couple of days I am going
to make sound. We are all learning the keyboard but think that Geeta hopefully
will pick it up quick and accompany us when we start playing. think it might be wise to inform the
neighbours in case they think were torturing a cat.
I am quite
desperate to get back to painting and doing sculpture again. I’ve rearranged my
studio which doubles as Geeta’s classroom in readiness. I have yet to put paint
to paper/canvas but I have started a sculpture.
I’m making
a crane to go next to the pond to scare the real things off. I still have work
to do but have included photo’s to show progress so far.
Geeta
Well her
cast is off her arm, Kris made the decision to remove it as unable to get to
hospital due to lockdown and all the risks it would entail to all our health.
Normal clinics are not running just emergencies during lockdown. It is also
next to the site where they are doing vaccinations so very busy as you can
imagine.
Geeta has a
little movement in her elbow and is doing daily exercises and continues to make
progress in bending and straightening her arm. As her consultant said the
movement she will get depends on her own hard work.
Geeta has
her own saying “Never Give up”. And she certainly lives up to it and proudly
states it when faced with difficulties of which she still has many.
She continues with schooling but as its now summer vacation we are continuing with home schooling to give her a chance to catch up. Her reading is improving and she has a great appreciation for learning, and continues to ask many questions until she understands.
Chris continues to teach her science which they both
love and at the moment she has a fascination about the world and planets. She
has a globe and looks in her encyclopaedia and online at the planets in our
solar system, very basic but her interest is keen.
Chris and I
are constantly amazed at her affinity with nature and animals. Just today she
was cooing to a cuckoo who always coos back, they have many conversations. She
remains fit and healthy and full of fun and life, laughing and singing from the
moment she wakes till she goes to bed. Neither Chris or I are morning people
and Chris definitely not till he’s had at least one coffee.
She
continues to like to cook and learn and this month she made fish fingers with
minimal supervision, I did the cooking though. Clearly an expert now in
crumbing fish to fry see for yourself below.
Garden
Well it
needs weeding badly and we can’t get help to do it due to the lockdown and
risks associated with Covid. However we have some real positives to share.
We have
grapes on our vine just a few but it’s a start.
Our first
custard apples have appeared on our tree, see pics below
Chris has
grown these very hot peppers and they are doing very well, but must wear gloves
before touching as so hot and they’re round which is different.
We are
preserving them.
We have had
shortages of water already this year so having to be careful how we use it as
well running dry. Fortunately we had three days of unseasonable heavy constant rain and storms last week which
has helped. The problem of drought has increased as more and more houses are
being built and taking from the limited water table so people are having to
ship in water in tankers just to drink. Were fortunate that we are not on the
edge of the water table so we have water most days, we do try to be considerate
and not waste water by washing the paths and drive down or watering our lawn as
the grass will grow again once monsoon hits as it does every year.
Our fruit trees and vines above lemon below mango
This is a cross breed citrus fruit grows to size of football
To the right is our lemon bush,
 |
The fish in
the pond have reproduced and had babies so we have more now but they are so
fast it’s hard to photograph them all at once.
We have
plans for the chicken enclosure as during the last rainfall we had a quagmire
in there, so we are going to lay bricks to walk on , it works as we already
have an area bricked and its much easier to clean. However it’s a really
physical job and Chris would prefer to get labourers to do it, so after the
lockdown which has just been extended ends we will go ahead.
Chris and I
demolished the waterfall due to a leak and have now rebuilt it and I must say
its much better aesthetically and it doesn’t leak so win win.
Excellent company, food and great gifts thank you Guys
It’s hard to explain how we feel so I took several photos of
our local area to give a flavour. We realise all around the world there are
millions experiencing the same just thought you might like to see ours for a
change. It feels like were in a B disaster movie where the world has stopped.
On a
positive note there is less pollution and noise and I’ve always liked a quiet
life.
This month we also celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary, it just seems like yesterday we got married, here's to many more happy years together.
Chickens
We gained five new chickens to our family when Amba asked if we would take her chickens as they were being killed by dogs. Of course we couldn't say no, they were in an unhappy state, thin and half the size of ours even though they were the same age and had been losing lots of feathers, so five chickens now safe and happy. We separated them from ours for a few days till they got used to each other and now they are living happily and gaining weight. Geeta loves going in and caring for them, they even let her pick them up.
Well that’s all for us in Udaipur
Take care
stay safe and God Bless
Kris, Chris
and Geeta
