Updates from India 84

Hello all,
Sorry this is a bit late but we got really busy at the end of the month.

Well it’s been a funny month. The monsoon arrived for a couple of days then, nothing.

Its rained a little but nothing like it should, by now we should be complaining that we are being flooded! Joking aside all we can do is pray for proper monsoon rain. So much and so many lives depend on this once a year replenishment of the aquifers. So far it’s not looking good.

On the subject of water. We had a slow leak of our toilet; water was dribbling into the bowl from a leaking seal in the cistern, not a lot only enough to just notice. How many of us would have looked and thought nothing of it……..I will repair it tomorrow, as I did.

Morning came and we had no water in our tank. That very small leak had drained 500ltrs overnight. It’s now been repaired but it has made me think about the number of taps that must be dripping and the water wastage from that apparently insignificant source. Needless to say none of our taps now leak.

If you live in a dry area and depend on the monsoon please try to stop any wastage you can, it all helps save the water for the end of summer when wells start going dry again.

Stop drips, it may look as though it doesn't matter
but think what a few hundred like this would mean.

Update on Geeta

Geeta has much more movement in her shoulder and now some movement in her elbow which is severely contracted and reduced swelling in her hand and fingers. This is due to Geeta continuing with the exercises and passive movements I have taught her. She is really excited with the improvement but without more prayer she will still need surgery to correct her deformity. But the exercises were started to get her into a positive state of mind that once she has surgery she will have to exercise regularly and yes she is aware she will have pain. She also knows that although she has some movement she will still require surgery.

I am still overwhelmed at the change in her since last September and how she is determined to do all she can to improve her condition. There are many adults who could not endure a tenth of what she has been through. Geeta has an amazing spirit and sense of fun. She brings so much joy into peoples lives.

Friends thought she had been with us for about eighteen months to two years because of the change in her and her understanding and speaking English so clearly and using contractions appropriately, but it was just last September when she came into our lives.

Her appetite and diet continues to be good and she is becoming a connoisseur of some foods, she likes apple and English Cheese, but is too young to have it with red wine at the moment, but she knows what she likes and really is not a picky child and will try anything at least once, maybe she will be a food critic in the future.

 Geeta had accidents not only at night but through the day when she got so involved in what she was doing she would forget to use the toilet, I decided to reward her for being dry day and night using the star system. Amazing results, she has been wet once through the day and once at night in the last month. Her rewards are for having five stars for day (one colour) and five stars at night (in another colour). We do not buy her expensive toys but she has treats such as ice-cream and mango, or she is allowed to go out with me shopping in the market which is top of her like to do list. (Note from Chris.........always costs more when they both go!)

As she had done so well for a month now we bought her a toy elephant which she has named Dumbo and she takes him everywhere. We took her to see the new Dumbo film at  the cinema (a huge treat for her) we had a lot of fun it was in 3D.

 

We had a shoe rack that we used as book shelves and we have given Geeta free reign to paint it without our interfering and controlling things. I did think we may have ended up with either a big muddy mess or a potential Jackson Pollack. She allowed me to do some minor painting with her choice of colour. Have to admit it looks great in her bedroom with her teddies and things on it. So far she is keeping her room tidy with a little bit of encouragement thrown in, long may it last.

Geeta in her painting shirt, its not that clean now covered in paint

She has very good painting skills
especially as she is having to use her
left hand and is naturally right handed

Geeta is checking her work

Master artist at work deciding where
to paint next

Perim, Geeta's cousin during one of his visits

Geeta loves playing in the rain, she is looking for frogs  here, we
have several around the garden and she loves them

Were doing a rain dance, lots of fun

Double trouble Perim and Geeta

Some views of our front garden

Orange tree with its first fruit

Beautiful fragrant roses

Hey guys lets plan our escape when they're not looking it
worked in "Chicken Run"

Geeta looking lovely in the garden. She loves
plants and always wants to help sowing seeds.

Entrance to our front garden I think its lovely, the garden I always
dreamed of thanks Chris

We have begun to grow the hot peppers. This is an ambition of mine
to grow a really hot chilli pepper. I have planted some of the hottest plant seeds
from around the world, including a very hot one from India.

Tomato plants have popped up

 Sweet corn doing well

Jamun tree in our garden, and a kilo of jam made from the fruit. Its very similar to a plum jam.

These are Jamun seedlings grown from the stones of this year’s fruit. Our intention is to grow them on a little in individual pots. As soon as they are big enough just before next year’s monsoon we will donate then to be planted in villages that will benefit from good shade trees that produce great fruit.

Early carrots, an English sweet variety

An Indian version of runner bean. One of the seed packs we will
bring back with us. Wish we could get Thomson and Morgan here.

Must clear the weeds they have sprung up through the bricks during monsoon. The square
in the centre covers the drain so we plan to make a feature of it probably with a table

Hanging baskets coming into flower in our
back patio area

The spice rack is coming along. Chris made them with Kris help so its a joint effort to be able to see

what we have and not have to hunt in odd drawers. 

We both enjoy cooking so this is fabulous

We have been looking at ways to encourage Geeta to want to sleep in her own room and so we decided to divide the space in her room to give Geeta her own space. Later we will put up an actual wall and door for her to have privacy if we have other guests. We will paint the room in the colour she chooses, just lets hope her favourite colour doesn’t change to black, currently its blue.

Geeta's bed and all her teddies on her new bookcase she painted. It has encouraged her
to keep her room tidy

Geeta's relaxing in her new bedroom with her own desk and sofa to chill out, she is wearing
her new t shirt which says "Time to Dance" something she loves doing, she is going to be a
real party girl.

These two single beds will become integral to the guest room with a wall dividing Geeta's room
it is currently separated by the wardrobes on the left and a sofa.

Us, an update

Chris and I are preparing to return to the UK to reapply for our visas as you can only renew in country for five years. We may also be changing jobs, more on this next month. Whilst it will be nice to see family and friends we could do without the hassle or financial commitment it will take, what with airfares, accommodation and food. We will be arriving on 4^th September after a very long direct flight. Our plans of what we will do are not settled fully but we will start out in Kent at my brothers for several days as we have to visit London to update our passports before driving North. I expect we won’t recognise my brother’s children it’s been five years since we last saw them. I am looking forward to doing some art and craft with them. (Kris)

We are hoping to visit the Jazz Club in Edinburgh for big band night. It is one of our fondest memories. We really enjoy the visit, good jazz and beer then a local Chinese for food and back to travel lodge just around the corner. Up and away next morning.

We seem to be developing not only the itinerary but also a list of 'must bring backs'. Among them are varieties of different seeds we cant get here. 

Well guys that's all for now, will probably get to see some of you in September when we come to England. 
Take care and God bless from 
Chris, Kris and Geeta in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

update from India 83

  HI all, no 'comment' this month because we want to give you a look at our monsoon.

I shamelessly copied this by Sharell Cook because she says it all so well and saves me loads of typing......win win.

All You Need to Know About India’s Epic Monsoon Season

BY SHARELL COOK

Updated 06/15/19

Catherine Song / © TripSavvy 2018

The main monsoon season in India runs from June to September and the question on everyone’s lips is always, “What's it really like and is travel still possible?” This is very understandable as the thought of rain and floods is enough to put a dampener on any holiday. However, the good news is that you don’t have to let the monsoon ruin your travel plans, and travel can even be advantageous during this time.

Here's all you need to know about India during the monsoon, as well as where to travel to avoid the rain.

What Causes the Monsoon in India

The monsoon is caused by differing temperature trends over the land and ocean. In India, the southwest summer monsoon is attracted by a low pressure area that's caused by the extreme heat of the Thar Desert and adjoining areas, during summer. During the monsoon, the wind direction reverses. Moisture-laden winds from the Indian Ocean come to fill up the void, but because they can't pass through the Himalaya region, they're forced to rise. The gain in altitude of the clouds results in a drop in temperature, bringing about rain.

When the southwest monsoon reaches India, it splits into two parts around the mountainous region of the Western Ghats in south-central India. One part moves northwards over the Arabian Sea and up the coastal side of the Western Ghats. The other flows over the Bay of Bengal, up through Assam, and hits the Eastern Himalaya range.

What can be Expected During the Monsoon in India

The southwest monsoon reaches the coast of the southern state of Kerala around June 1. It usually arrives in Mumbai approximately 10 days later, reaches Delhi by the end of June, and covers the rest of India by mid-July. Every year, the date of the monsoon's arrival is the subject of much speculation. Despite numerous predictions by the meteorological department, it's rare that anyone gets it right though!

·         Want to chase the monsoon in India? Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, on the southernmost tip of India, receives the first rainfall. Stay in a hotel facing the ocean and watch the storm roll in. Nearby Kovalam, in Kerala, is also an excellent place to experience the monsoon's energetic arrival. See these 10 Best Kovalam Hotels for All Budgets.

The monsoon doesn't appear all at once. Rather, it builds up over a couple of days of "pre-monsoon showers". Its actual arrival is announced by an intense period of heavy rain, booming thunder and plenty of lightening. This rain injects an amazing amount of vigor into people, and it's common to see children running about, dancing in the rain, and playing games. Even the adults join in because it's so refreshing.

After the first initial downpour, which can last for days, the monsoon falls into a steady pattern of raining for at least a couple of hours most days. It can be sunny one minute and pouring the next. The rain is very unpredictable. Some days very little rainfall will occur, and during this time the temperature will start heating up again and humidity levels will rise. The amount of rain that's received peaks in most areas during July, and starts tapering off a bit in August. While less rain is usually received overall in September, the rain that does come can often be torrential.

Unfortunately, many cities become flooded at the start of the monsoon and during heavy downpours. This is due to drains being unable to cope with the volume of water, often because of trash that has built up over the summer and hasn't been properly cleared.

Where Receives the Most Rain in India During the Monsoon

It’s important to note that some regions receive more rain than others during the monsoon. Out of India's major cities, Mumbai receives the most rain, followed by Kolkata (Calcutta).

The eastern Himalaya region, around Darjeeling and Shillong (the capital of Meghalaya), is one of the wettest areas in not just India, but the whole world, during the monsoon. This is because the monsoon picks up additional moisture from the Bay of Bengal as it heads towards the Himalayan range. Travel to this region should definitely be avoided during monsoon time, unless you really love the rain! If you do, then Cherrapunji in Meghalaya is the place for you (it has the honor of getting the highest rainfall in the world).

Where Receives the Least Rain in India During the Monsoon

As far as major cities are concerned, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad receive comparatively less rain. Chennai doesn't receive much rain at all during the southwest monsoon, as Tamil Nadu gets most of its rainfall from the northeast monsoon, from October to December. Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh also experience this monsoon, as well as heavy rainfall during the southwest monsoon.

Areas that receive the least rain and are most suited to travel during the monsoon include the desert state of Rajasthan, the Deccan Plateau on the eastern side of the Western Ghats mountain range, and Ladakh in far north India.

Nothing stops school here

We get proper pot holes here!

This is a road, where it crosses a seasonal river. This is why we have the jeep

Festivals and dancing greet the rain after the long hot summer

Bikers here love the rain, great time to tour. Me, i prefer to wait for the dry but cool winter.

Kids love it

The world goes green in a matter of days. Plant growth rate is amazing.

Home, Udaipur

Seasonal waterfalls allover where ever there is a good sized drop

So its raining....so what we are still going out.

The rain makes life hard for some.

Well a flavour of what it is like here in monsoon is that it’s not as cold as you would think. Travelling in the monsoon is very pleasant, no more high temperatures of summer, but still warm enough to go out in t-shirts, when it rains the rain is warmer than the UK, it can be cold but nothing like the shivers you would have if you were caught in a British downpour. People including us go out and dance in the rain when it arrives it is such a welcome relief from the heat. Although there are downsides, you can’t see the pot holes in the roads and they get bigger as monsoon washes away the road surface. It is difficult to remain comfortably dry as the humidity remains high, and washing and drying ones clothes is difficult unless your rich and have a washer dryer or tumble dryer which the majority of us don’t have. Which means hanging wet clothes throughout the house in the hope they will dry soon, but because it creates more humidity it can still feel damp after several days. It can be quite unpleasant getting into a newly made bed and it still feeling damp.  Then there are the ants who run for cover in the monsoon rain, which usually means inside the house, you just have to be vigilant.

Moti our friendly street dog comes inside to stay out of the rain and usually camps out in our living room in the corner where he can still keep an eye on things. Often he is drenched by the time he comes in so we towel him down and give him blankets to lie on. Bleu’ quite likes the rain now but Chilly is still reluctant to go out in the pouring rain often checking if its dryer at the back of the house to the front. 

Another problem of monsoon is we get water coming in under the doors and around poorly sealed windows where we have to put cloths down to stop the water running down the stairs.

Our drive does flood as it has got marble covering which does not allow the rain to soak in, this is common in our colony. The road outside does flood but within a short time of it stopping raining it goes. The grass and plants recover in the monsoon and within days of the rain everything starts turning green again. Our chickens have cover for the rain but they still like to be out in it.

Would I swap the monsoon for the rain in England the answer definitely No. But you do have to be aware of the risk of landslides especially when travelling outside the city. For those sleeping rough or in the slum areas monsoon is a really awful time and causes many health problems. If you have a wound even a scratch it takes much longer to heal because of the humidity.

Huge flooding occurs, flash floods are common.

When its really heavy all you can do is wait for it to ease.

Despite everything this is still a beautiful time of the year.
We cannot express the joy of running out into the first rains and dancing like crazy people.

Its not all good news however.

As of 10 June, around 44% of the country was affected by various degrees of drought, due to a heatwave that has seen Delhi record its highest ever June temperature of 48℃. While south of the capital, the Rajasthan city of Churu saw highs of more than 50℃, making it one of the hottest places on Earth.

Around 600 million people are dealing with high-to-extreme water shortages, according to a 2018 report by NITI Aayog, a policy think tank for the Indian government.

This highlights one of our major problems here, rain and storms, floods, raging rivers all lead to the assumption that there is now plenty of water. This is very far from true. The underground aquifers from which water is pumped are falling lower and lower each year as rainfall collection reduces and use increases.

Some cities are now having to tanker in water. Villages have been abandoned as the wells dry up,crops either cannot be planted or die from lack of water.

Millions of litres of water just go to waste as run off from paved areas ends up in rivers, not soaked up by the underground permeable rock.

Famine is coming to India again, it is almost inevitable. The real tragedy is it could be prevented by tighter controls on water use and charging for overuse.

As of now water is free to most of the population, a right like the air I am told. Please we have to charge for water, nothing else will make it worth anything, nobody seems to care. As I write this there is a guy watering his lawn!! Pumping from his well a limited resource because he values his grass more than the water he uses. Maybe its because the attitude here is ' fate determines everything' if the well is fated to go dry it will.

Some well known NGO's such as PEDO (Peoples education and development organisation) have been trying for years to improve the water catchment and retention. They are doing a great job reforesting, building dams and water conservation. But by themselves they cannot save all India. The government must act soon to stop this upcoming disaster.

Is India 'fated' to starve again and again until something radical is done to save the monsoon rains and reduce waste. How many more must die first?

Geeta

Update on Geeta

It has been an exciting month with Geeta, mid-month her mother Dloo returned to her village to sow the corn, and build fences, she will come back for a visit in about a month and rings several times a week to speak to Geeta.

Dloo was concerned it may be too much for Chris and I to look after Geeta but we are up for the challenge. Mind you it does mean no more lying in bed in the mornings. At present we have a small mattress in our room where Geeta sleeps as she has never slept alone before and normally sleeps with the light on. Well problem one solved no light on overnight and Geeta is coping wonderfully, we plan to get her back into her own room but sleeping alone. Dloo thought Geeta would cry when she left and be difficult to manage but we have had no tears and only a little defiance as she pushes the boundaries.

There is nothing wrong with her appetite and she is eating like a horse, she continues to have a varied diet full of protein and nutrition. She still eats bananas but it’s not her favourite fruit anymore she is mad on mangoes and jamun (a plum like fruit about the size and look of black grapes. Well luckily for us we have two jamun trees in our garden producing many kilos of fruit. Our mango tree is also fruiting now. She has discovered Chris’s Mexican chilli which again she loves all except the tomatoes and capsicum which she carefully places on the side of her plate, I couldn’t believe yesterday she had three helpings more than me and Chris. 

1Kg of plum jam

Chilli, made with lamb but otherwise authentic. It was very yummy!

She is growing tall and growing out of her clothes fast which whilst expensive means she is now flourishing and growing normally which is what we have been praying for. When we think how tiny and frail she was when she came to us, she couldn’t stand and was being carried everywhere I am amazed. It is now hard to keep up with her she is so full of energy and life and is like a little whirlwind.

She is bright and intelligent with a lovely caring nature but she definitely has that mischievous side which I am sure Chris encourages as do I. She will be starting school in a month it has been delayed slightly as her new teacher has just had major surgery and is now recovering.

Geeta’s last visit to the hospital went well, Her dressing was removed again and it showed that the graft had taken although it still looked scabby but there was definite new skin growth. Both the doctor who did the dressings and her consultant were very pleased and said I could remove the dressing in about a week or so. Well she had the dressing removed after a week but it looked a little vulnerable so it was lightly redressed for a further few days. Now she has the dressing removed completely through the day and a light dressing applied overnight to prevent her scratching at it in her sleep. The consultant was happy for me to continue looking after the wound and she is due to return in October when they will decide about further surgery.

The next step, October hopefully her first operation to release the contractures in her arm and wrist. At this point we do not know if she will need just one operation or many more, this will be determined after the first surgery. We are hopeful she will get some movement back although we doubt that the small finger may ever work again. She does have movement in her thumb and other fingers although this is restricted by the swelling in her hand. When she came to us in September she had no movement in any of her digits, she had major shoulder restriction and pain and kept that arm close to her body to protect it.

Now she has full shoulder movements, moving her thumb and fingers and is gaining strength in the arm as she is using it more to help her carry things or play fight with Chris and I using her bad arm to her advantage, and boy does she have strength in that hand and arm, often she traps my arm or hand between her hand, arm and body and I can’t release my hand despite trying very hard. Yes I know I’m a woman but she does the same to Chris.

Some people do not understand that we do not lie to Geeta regarding her arm and treatment, if it will hurt we tell her and she copes better for knowing what is happening. We both believe it is her arm and she has a right to see and know what is happening to her. That is why she trusts me to touch her arm where she won’t let others near it, I have never lied to her I always say if it’s going to hurt but that I will be as gentle as can be. And yes she understands everything I tell her about her arm.

Well we have one little girl living with us now and we are full time carers, guardians etc. It was for us an easy decision as we believe God is in control, but we are under no illusions that there will be difficult times ahead. Having Chris’s sister Amba living nearby and coming most days also gives Geeta security and continuity.

We need to be careful what we say and do as she copies us especially me. Chris and I were talking the other day and he was teasing me making me frustrated so I went into the kitchen and said to Amba “Ughh men and shook my head” within seconds Geeta ran outside to tell Beha (Chris) what I said and did, definitely no secrets. She is also speaking more English in a Durham accent with my intonations and mannerisms so I had better be on my best behaviour. For instance she said Oy when we were out and I wondered where she got it from until I heard myself say it the following day oops. She has got my favourite word “Why” down to a t and says Why to everyone.

Geeta is disappointed at the moment that she can’t ride in the sidecar as Chris is making a few changes to it as we speak. She will get another ride soon.

I won’t take her on my scooter without a helmet, but she thoroughly enjoys going shopping with me either by taxi or rickshaw.

Rain dance by Geeta

Geeta's cousins Lolita and Prem

 Drying can be a problem
Its a case of get it into the Sun and hope the rain holds off.
There is no point in trying indoors as the humidity is too high.

Snake in the woodpile!

Local snake catchers at work, despite a good search no snake was found. Presumably

 it moved on to a quieter place.

Ho hum, lots of wood to re stack

Well that's all for now from Chris and Kris in Udaipur 

hope you enjoy this months blog 

God Bless and hope everyone is well

Chris and Kris, Geeta, the dogs and the chickens