tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206608222024-03-07T18:04:47.620+00:00The Hiders Blog......Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-875329524820910332008-08-14T20:32:00.002+01:002008-08-14T20:39:06.519+01:00We are home...!!Yes we are home, arriving at Heathrow at 12.30pm UK time yesterday. We then picked up our car and drove the 4 hours to home arriving home at 7pm ish... <div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcddmJTpDZMR_CE-o-VT9pwo_H_o8kkuePrlMbFcbOcY07EsPOMxKpJ_8N3BGxs-kCZoRwWLCEgvVoz7muuCn47Css7NB7BQgQrZgEu9oVMtuxNZuwgsIWkCsDWCa5uGn4xE4Ycw/s1600-h/4.5.08_BBC_2%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234459948841724402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcddmJTpDZMR_CE-o-VT9pwo_H_o8kkuePrlMbFcbOcY07EsPOMxKpJ_8N3BGxs-kCZoRwWLCEgvVoz7muuCn47Css7NB7BQgQrZgEu9oVMtuxNZuwgsIWkCsDWCa5uGn4xE4Ycw/s200/4.5.08_BBC_2%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a>All (especially Sarah and I) feeling very weird... Kind of feeling as if we have only been away for a weekend but on the other hand all feeling a little shot - mentally, physically, emotionally. Don't expect a lot out of us yet!!</div><br /><div></div><div>I think this will the last blog entry now for some time as this chapter in our lives has ended....</div><div></div><br /><div>Who knows when the next will begin......??</div><div></div><br /><div>What's your next chapter??</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-11219371986512827072008-08-12T23:00:00.002+01:002008-08-12T23:00:04.386+01:00See you (very) soon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX7tNEELMS9pOpc-dt_aPQZSZ255TPepraYaGmMM5OW2R7BMKEieCdITozWeGSIB9dHnkeygV_vpwsuaHolBMylqBwxC88V30-yx4a7P9vUVktdDSz85sppoeahIXXXg16G5fjw/s1600-h/12.8.08+cake+on+last+day.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233530555384435794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX7tNEELMS9pOpc-dt_aPQZSZ255TPepraYaGmMM5OW2R7BMKEieCdITozWeGSIB9dHnkeygV_vpwsuaHolBMylqBwxC88V30-yx4a7P9vUVktdDSz85sppoeahIXXXg16G5fjw/s200/12.8.08+cake+on+last+day.JPG" border="0" /></a>We are off in 5 mins to the airport - It's 3.30am! Last word goes to Raj on the cake her had made for us last night<br /><div></div><br /><div>For those reading this from the UK, we will see you very soon.....<br /></div><br /><div>Thank you for your interest in our little lives in this big, big world. That's it! Over and out...</div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-7868965538669771202008-08-12T01:31:00.004+01:002008-08-12T11:52:03.917+01:00Last day and counting<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJ1t0gRpwMI/AAAAAAAATvo/HwmKG4S1OCI/s1600-h/countdown.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232459090858983618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 122px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 114px" height="150" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJ1t0gRpwMI/AAAAAAAATvo/HwmKG4S1OCI/s320/countdown.gif" width="163" border="0" /></a>Last day and counting in this amazing city and what a stunning time we have had out here......<br /><br />We have spent time laughing, crying, getting massively frustrated, building better friendships, understanding more about 'culture', helping people, encouraging people, supporting people, challenging people, seeing sights we never would have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">dreamt</span> of, experiencing smells and sounds we have never <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">experienced</span> before and seeing all our lives change.<br /><br />We have watched our kids grow and develop in ways we could never have expected, our family has gone through things that would make your eyes water. At the same time we have had more coffee and ice cream than in the last 10 years in the UK (when we have felt a bit 'western sick') and yet, at the same time, survived for a week on bread and rice and water (at Avalanche).<br /><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWFdckyQ_VnYblxeONsZmdya4iiCmdaDD_bIXBxvW93sSTeMd-7MCVNKf8XMsqomA3OvJWA7-R2tXixO0zhZRrZIR7jcIHlS6RG-w8hWaapkkWpPpc_g1RTxwxQJrL_M3CtS1bg/s1600-h/7.8.08+Leela+Palace+(3).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232465065411120786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWFdckyQ_VnYblxeONsZmdya4iiCmdaDD_bIXBxvW93sSTeMd-7MCVNKf8XMsqomA3OvJWA7-R2tXixO0zhZRrZIR7jcIHlS6RG-w8hWaapkkWpPpc_g1RTxwxQJrL_M3CtS1bg/s200/7.8.08+Leela+Palace+(3).JPG" border="0" /></a>What an unreal time! Very little sickness - home or stomach, one minor accident, <span style="color:#ffffff;">buget worked well (we have ended giving too much away but if that is a crime - we are gulty!). </span>Our home has been a sanctuary for us in a way that has made it all (just that bit more) bearable at times.</div><div></div><br /><div>There is much, much, much more we could tell you about. Maybe will if you give us the chance when we get home??</div><br /><div>Thank you all for all your support, love, comments on the blog, e mails and phone calls etc We could not have got through it without them. You are wonderful people and we have felt well loved and supported....<br /><br />Thanks to all those who gave so generously to people out here. We were given a total of £1145 to give away and gave £1230. I can give you the details if you want but some examples are you have built a house, saved a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">family</span> from having their house <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">repossessed</span>, helped to setting a business up, helped to build a sports hall for HIV orphans & bought sports equipment for them, bought a (much needed) laptop for the Fishermen Trust and totally furnished the office they work from now and generally given to dozens (yes dozens) of people out here who have next to nothing. Yep, a little goes a hell of a long way out here... </div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0luiZMnUzGC4xA5KDV70zeZ0GG8V7WPVelUyBZSHZx_Lxp5QRtxD517Y7YZjSWXxeZyH87XAaG0Umq7GMbdVPY0Sv7jPQtYa7OB65TXfAQYGxMZjLhUaNkV-Fg4WW6-ZxTTEM-Q/s1600-h/10.8.08+Raj.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232951640607350498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0luiZMnUzGC4xA5KDV70zeZ0GG8V7WPVelUyBZSHZx_Lxp5QRtxD517Y7YZjSWXxeZyH87XAaG0Umq7GMbdVPY0Sv7jPQtYa7OB65TXfAQYGxMZjLhUaNkV-Fg4WW6-ZxTTEM-Q/s200/10.8.08+Raj.JPG" border="0" /></a>Massive thanks to my 'big brown bear' - that's what the kids call Raj. We made a massive commitment/covenant to each other a number of years back and various things have tested out this friendship to the max but nothing has dented it yet. I have never experienced friendship like it.... </div><br /><div></div><div>Raj has put up with all sorts from me and had me push him, challenege him, encourage him and generally chase his tail to get into the potential that God has for him and the Trust here. </div><div></div><div>Those of you that know me know that I can be a bit of a bully at times so for Raj to have put up with that for 3.5 months deserves a huge tribute. </div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJ8uMz2sueI/AAAAAAAATyw/iz59jfIhpxc/s1600-h/eye_of_god.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232952089640745442" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJ8uMz2sueI/AAAAAAAATyw/iz59jfIhpxc/s200/eye_of_god.jpg" border="0" /></a>And finally, and I know not all of you who read our blog believe in God, but we do (as hard as that is at times!) and we just want to pay a kind of tribute to Him. </div><br /><div></div><div>From the first days, when we had the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">initial</span> dream to come, until now, we can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that God has <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">provided</span> for us in ways we could never have imagined. Many of you will never know some of the miracles (and I don't use that word <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">lightly</span>) we have seen before we came and since we have been out here. Unreal!! So big 'Ta's' to the big 'G'!<br /><br />Doing this blog has been fun <strong>and</strong> hard work. It has been a good discipline and a great <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">permanent</span> reminder of our time here. The comments that I have had back from you guys too has made doing the blog worthwhile.<br /></div><br /><div>I can't work out how I feel. I know I haven't thought of work more than twice in the whole time here. Very weird for me! I feel very numb when I think of home - can't quite process my thoughts to get to the stage of knowing how I feel really. I have no doubt we will enjoy every moment when we return but at the same time, just going to 2/3 slums again yesterday, I still live with the frustration (it feels more like pain at times) of on the one hand living how I live and where I live and yet having the eyes and images of the people I have spent time again with out here (from the streets, slums and villages), haunt me.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnZm27-xwq9UxZCQO932WtrHG-fHhnHDU_tk8_icJykannDdM0zT57SZnOc0zEOv3aAaiATBvpbtRzXPX12aChZuJVudYz-JSXa3-M5tDBm_tx_CWZtNuafJvhgmCsB_sGTU1ZQ/s1600-h/India+Kids+(5).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233432153536998738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnZm27-xwq9UxZCQO932WtrHG-fHhnHDU_tk8_icJykannDdM0zT57SZnOc0zEOv3aAaiATBvpbtRzXPX12aChZuJVudYz-JSXa3-M5tDBm_tx_CWZtNuafJvhgmCsB_sGTU1ZQ/s200/India+Kids+(5).jpg" border="0" /></a>I do not understand why? Just becasue of where I was born, I have ended up a bloke with a lovely family with a good income, house, job and 2 cars and a good lifestyle. So please tell me why that is fair when kids I have been over the last 3 1/2 mon ths with have ended up in the gutter (literally), getting sick by the day due to infected water and bad food, with a Dad that (3/4 of whom) have drinking/violence issues and (many) parents who would rather the kiddie help at home than get an education. Please tell me why that is? And if you or I really don't have an answer (and please don't give me any cheesy ones!), then please let me/us continue to serve these beautiful people as long as the gap between the 'have's' and 'have nots' just gets a little shorter??</div><div><br />Must go now. Plane in a few hours!! I really don't think I will keep this blogging lark up when I go home as I won't have time or the amazing array of things to tell you. In many (most?) ways, life is just not as interesting at home I guess BUT it is home, and it's where we belong. Of that we know.....<br /><br />Love Dave, Sarah, Es and Josh xx</div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-26031518177281725852008-08-11T14:21:00.001+01:002008-08-11T14:23:09.887+01:001 day to go....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lbVEYx73Z1CzuFAosvm48ncNS7ROsSzkH8yfPwlAqBu4AL2ohhsBpVDpZuSbWdaKE22qgvWhJmtfmV1FpzGVkSjQkEOvhtOhu3ZJxDeeMjZsIoI1IN1zqg4OLXpggKxCqyeGOw/s1600-h/keyboard%2520with%2520hands.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232466560660577266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lbVEYx73Z1CzuFAosvm48ncNS7ROsSzkH8yfPwlAqBu4AL2ohhsBpVDpZuSbWdaKE22qgvWhJmtfmV1FpzGVkSjQkEOvhtOhu3ZJxDeeMjZsIoI1IN1zqg4OLXpggKxCqyeGOw/s200/keyboard%2520with%2520hands.jpg" border="0" /></a>Just today and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">tomorrow</span> to go and there's still no let up in the pace of final people to see/things to do before we go!!<br /><br /><div><div></div><div>Spent this morning doing something I had been promising Raj all the time - some IT training - some time learning about the web and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">PowerPoint</span> and stuff. Then lunchtime I met with a friend called Benson who I had wanted to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">spend</span> some time with since I had been out here but had never got round to.</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJ11A6rUj9I/AAAAAAAATwI/112A2wurnLE/s1600-h/New+Picture+(1).bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232467000685793234" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJ11A6rUj9I/AAAAAAAATwI/112A2wurnLE/s200/New+Picture+(1).bmp" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Benson works on his own 3 days a week and 2 days with <a href="http://www.bcmintl.org/">Bible Centred Ministries </a>in Bangalore. He spends 90% of his time in the slums and in slum schools and has such a massive heart for people (mainly kids) who have nothing - I just love spending time with him!!!</div><br /><div>Benson took me to a school him and another guy had set up for about 30 slum kids - amazing place...Then we went to a bookshop (run by <a href="http://www.cefonline.com/">Child Evangelism Felowship</a>) to buy him some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">kids work</span> resources (despite the posh website Benson doesn't get an salary or resources from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">BCM</span></span>??) and then off to a slum school run by the Methodist Church where I had to speak to 170 kids!! Great time. </div><div><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ899ZzyjbCzwaDeDlZo9z1AzJjOWIq-a7EeVxitnXM_4JHXdWE11BdmKPLZPHig1SHbjEvVhBTK7F9DeV3dceRUf_qcwGRiPxQt1NLoPs9FsXCWe8lfXXR7sX1FAdkMcGsSAGg/s1600-h/India%2520Children%2520slum%2520school.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233248791299699634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQ899ZzyjbCzwaDeDlZo9z1AzJjOWIq-a7EeVxitnXM_4JHXdWE11BdmKPLZPHig1SHbjEvVhBTK7F9DeV3dceRUf_qcwGRiPxQt1NLoPs9FsXCWe8lfXXR7sX1FAdkMcGsSAGg/s200/India%2520Children%2520slum%2520school.jpg" border="0" /></a>After</span> this Benson took me to me a number of the families he supports in the slums. Yet again I am found desperately confused as to how I can live how I do - with all I that I will be going back to on Wednesday - and how these communities live. It just kills me to live with this tension at times....</div><br /><div>Benson is an amazing guy that lives on next to nothing financially and yet gives his life to those that have less. So impressed.</div><div></div><br /><div>Off to a Fishermen Trustees meeting tonight - 1st since I have been here. Lots to tell them about all the work we have done since we have been here....</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-44988815205292935502008-08-10T17:41:00.013+01:002008-08-10T19:17:34.253+01:002 days to go..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkthCimS9ApDeOM_qo_XbGP2qScv8uLjGEubPiP8sC-Seu8Vh3s-PLS7WPnFIoHunhPj1bgAlAhneEUj_hwVkhIPLUUQu4kVblF-jDp6aiWFQ6-2TSKbpwffjv3AQYsgyl3zkf0Q/s1600-h/2_POSTER_SML.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232950268818996546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkthCimS9ApDeOM_qo_XbGP2qScv8uLjGEubPiP8sC-Seu8Vh3s-PLS7WPnFIoHunhPj1bgAlAhneEUj_hwVkhIPLUUQu4kVblF-jDp6aiWFQ6-2TSKbpwffjv3AQYsgyl3zkf0Q/s200/2_POSTER_SML.jpg" border="0" /></a>It's Sunday and there's nearly 2 days to go!<br /><br />Please forgive us with this over <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">indulgence</span> of the last few days but it's been a long time coming and we are all rather looking forward to getting home. That's no reflection on how much we have enjoyed our time here. It really has been 'the time of our lives' for sure.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div></div><div>Today was the last Sunday at Church. Many of the friends we have got to know out here are from the Church. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Had</span> to say a few words up the front. </div><br /><div>I shot over to the Bits club with Raj this afternoon. We took out a 3 years membership deal with them as it costs less than it would have been to go swimming a dozen times in the UK! I have managed to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bargain</span> the boss down to transferring the membership over to a family who are good friends here.<br /></div><div></div><br /><div>Rosalind and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Renu</span></span> (2 of Raj's cousin's) came over this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">afternoon</span> and did some more henna on Esme and Josh:<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0KpCvTDiCCczrdNLs0svl2n0YhidSv3QWnKSRcF_v9Rs5zxA6VWw570ApA7IFOvSSth15IW2oRiWAsYfZIe3TzDFLRIR5SZdodTiOTaV8BZJUT5tCTfkFaEHY7Z5N8gQX3TDcg/s1600-h/10.8.08+Henna.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232884463754649762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0KpCvTDiCCczrdNLs0svl2n0YhidSv3QWnKSRcF_v9Rs5zxA6VWw570ApA7IFOvSSth15IW2oRiWAsYfZIe3TzDFLRIR5SZdodTiOTaV8BZJUT5tCTfkFaEHY7Z5N8gQX3TDcg/s200/10.8.08+Henna.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_v7shbjAYwQD_0nscgxTYq06I5Xpm7GbN3Bm0b7xCUm8WFUbeXNaSpkMPYHuTbQw4QTdKBirx5YorVePM4XiaQ6q9Qz7QmhqsR9-CdrSMHsM_h_R2bgpYYkGHrBC5POTnsPnpA/s1600-h/10.8.08+Henna+(4).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232884529831756466" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_v7shbjAYwQD_0nscgxTYq06I5Xpm7GbN3Bm0b7xCUm8WFUbeXNaSpkMPYHuTbQw4QTdKBirx5YorVePM4XiaQ6q9Qz7QmhqsR9-CdrSMHsM_h_R2bgpYYkGHrBC5POTnsPnpA/s200/10.8.08+Henna+(4).JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_v7shbjAYwQD_0nscgxTYq06I5Xpm7GbN3Bm0b7xCUm8WFUbeXNaSpkMPYHuTbQw4QTdKBirx5YorVePM4XiaQ6q9Qz7QmhqsR9-CdrSMHsM_h_R2bgpYYkGHrBC5POTnsPnpA/s1600-h/10.8.08+Henna+(4).JPG"></a> </div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_v7shbjAYwQD_0nscgxTYq06I5Xpm7GbN3Bm0b7xCUm8WFUbeXNaSpkMPYHuTbQw4QTdKBirx5YorVePM4XiaQ6q9Qz7QmhqsR9-CdrSMHsM_h_R2bgpYYkGHrBC5POTnsPnpA/s1600-h/10.8.08+Henna+(4).JPG"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_v7shbjAYwQD_0nscgxTYq06I5Xpm7GbN3Bm0b7xCUm8WFUbeXNaSpkMPYHuTbQw4QTdKBirx5YorVePM4XiaQ6q9Qz7QmhqsR9-CdrSMHsM_h_R2bgpYYkGHrBC5POTnsPnpA/s1600-h/10.8.08+Henna+(4).JPG"></a></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232884603444585506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqy41E0bpSWB_THR3tuCsmPS4ZsgVMFB_Z7IcE-n98kMdW5q53-Dzo64Pp_3IiMYfsf_jN6Gm5xwB6bp2RZ8EBjVYdUdB9bE2HQPGWzoFz41-h2a-hqyPPvg45H6cqPT63pdEqg/s200/10.8.08+Henna+(3).JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>In the evening we invited all our (closer) friends (about 18 of them!) round for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biryani"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Biryani</span></a> meal (and kebabs and Indian sweets) cooked by a lady who runs a catering business from her house just down the road to where we live. We had a great evening. This will be the last time we see many of these friends although we hear on the grapevine that quite a few are coming to the airport with us (on bikes) - even though we leave at 3.30am.</div></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aCqSnmMZxO77NhTyM53hVw2YWwBflSnzVlXG1X7FVk4r_yXwt1Pd4slz8qAxMh-EG-POrHRxLfaweHh5UgE7cAXTDDemjcU6oh9WFXLMB_u-V1YyxGaCGMep8_kr06QvS9HNEQ/s1600-h/IMG_5509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232948793654500098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aCqSnmMZxO77NhTyM53hVw2YWwBflSnzVlXG1X7FVk4r_yXwt1Pd4slz8qAxMh-EG-POrHRxLfaweHh5UgE7cAXTDDemjcU6oh9WFXLMB_u-V1YyxGaCGMep8_kr06QvS9HNEQ/s200/IMG_5509.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW22yAfIGznuV6oWs3IUXxRG6jC_0P7_P1iYpoyYILtytyo2VIl5ZadGqt5FqbmxaGfTjIBq0vo842EjV6dyayVQLOStYIqHZ-3irxZWAZ_j6A7IUjwCrQkPZGq3iiRQGYFnS9Nw/s1600-h/IMG_5510.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232948862291668210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" height="160" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW22yAfIGznuV6oWs3IUXxRG6jC_0P7_P1iYpoyYILtytyo2VIl5ZadGqt5FqbmxaGfTjIBq0vo842EjV6dyayVQLOStYIqHZ-3irxZWAZ_j6A7IUjwCrQkPZGq3iiRQGYFnS9Nw/s200/IMG_5510.JPG" width="200" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232954401080905602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 171px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 148px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="143" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJ8wTWo-j4I/AAAAAAAATy4/3DSepumWI8Q/s200/biryani.jpg" width="171" border="0" /> <div><div> </div><div>A lovely evening. 2 to go.....!!</div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-79203043639668252692008-08-09T14:39:00.000+01:002008-08-10T14:42:43.118+01:00Me and my girl....<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJ7wO2qdNJI/AAAAAAAATxw/OujC9jINCTc/s1600-h/14.6.08+Botanical+Park+(42).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232883955033519250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJ7wO2qdNJI/AAAAAAAATxw/OujC9jINCTc/s200/14.6.08+Botanical+Park+(42).jpg" border="0" /></a>Sarah and I have had a great couple of days....<br /><div></div><br /><div>As I mentioned some good friends of ours (who have 2 kids) said they would have Es and josh for 2 nights so we have been kiddie free!!!</div><br /><div></div><div>We have had a great time chilling out and looking to going back to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">UK</span> - plans etc</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-2336276861748666032008-08-09T12:12:00.002+01:002008-08-12T02:50:54.500+01:00Why we are here....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVwQ1aZeEoOtlG9CCZwshIcfQ9s462YSTMcRY2OSHyWduN0V6YelSuN9gTWNWZbN8frQRly6B0nSjk3G2tkTo1NmDCOSNfrDUEW5_uPCvn56U7SC8vGDLHwNns_rDqyQxkSey3g/s1600-h/002+-+Copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233442716054165122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVwQ1aZeEoOtlG9CCZwshIcfQ9s462YSTMcRY2OSHyWduN0V6YelSuN9gTWNWZbN8frQRly6B0nSjk3G2tkTo1NmDCOSNfrDUEW5_uPCvn56U7SC8vGDLHwNns_rDqyQxkSey3g/s200/002+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" /></a>I was spending some time today finishing off the refresh of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">TFT</span> business plan and Raj had given me some updated stats on Bangalore to insert. I thought I would let you see them as they blew my mind!!<br /><br /><div><div><ul><li>The <strong>Indian population</strong> is now over 1.2 billion out of which 54 percent of Indians are below 25 years of age. Indians below 15 years of age are 336 million and 121 million are between the ages of 15 and 19. The age group of 20-34 are 271 million, adding up 728 million under 34 years of age making almost 70 present of the population. Thus making ‘India world’s youngest nation' having 555 million young people.<br /><strong></strong></li></ul><p><strong>Bangalore </strong>(now called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bengaluru</span>) has an estimated population of 7.2 million (2008). It is a City of great wealth and yet great poverty:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vUO_Mt_rvwwda3hS67I1KNSBem7nU8-mY6kD033faLcYQ9NHqHJgAuV2hh3f1rspnoWU8TNXEvcQGaXHWormjkg34nNU7Jsic7yEZiZTzv89S7_t_UuhAWU4U9LBUMOdvoXJyw/s1600-h/013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233440984418606434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vUO_Mt_rvwwda3hS67I1KNSBem7nU8-mY6kD033faLcYQ9NHqHJgAuV2hh3f1rspnoWU8TNXEvcQGaXHWormjkg34nNU7Jsic7yEZiZTzv89S7_t_UuhAWU4U9LBUMOdvoXJyw/s200/013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />- It has the highest rate of <strong>suicide</strong>; as many as 1800 people commit suicide each year in the city, a majority of attempted suicides are between the age group of 20 to 24.<br /><br />- A survey conducted by <strong>abortion</strong> centres across the city of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mumbai</span> states that a minimum of 120 teenagers undergo abortions every month.<br /><br />-According to WHO (World Health Organization) 10 percent of all <strong>abortions </strong>in India every year, are about five million a year among girls between 15 and 19.’<br /><br />- There are 5.1 million <strong>HIV positive</strong> patients and 1,11,608 people with Aids in India , it is estimated that by 2010 there will be 20-25 million HIV positive people in India<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTExr0qq8gfxDOHRMEsgOQPJbHBQ0x0VS7eU0lWZ_6LRa6yjQVi39NbbDtzD5sd80D6AbKPaZXxOir2diYf33titV7afhp-0JiJxB2NHn3AU9pLF5_w2nWO8_WC6fZrZQD1M6hWg/s1600-h/India+Kids+(5).jpg"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SKDsH5p2nvI/AAAAAAAATzo/7FSzcUWmaWY/s1600-h/India+Kids.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233442387484122866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SKDsH5p2nvI/AAAAAAAATzo/7FSzcUWmaWY/s200/India+Kids.jpg" border="0" /></a>-India also has the largest population of <strong>street children</strong>, ‘it is estimated that in urban areas there are 11 million children on the streets. Of them 420,000 street children live in six metropolitan cities of India, in Delhi alone there are at least 100,000 street children’<br /><br />-The government estimates ‘that there are 400,000 <strong>child prostitutes</strong> in India. Unofficial estimates say India has as many as two million prostitutes, of which 20 percent are below 15 years of age. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">UINICEF</span> claims that almost 15 percent of them enter the profession before the age of 15, and 25 percent enter between 15 and 18<br /></p><br />Does that give you some idea of why we are here??</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-42536053209421002382008-08-08T19:39:00.010+01:002008-08-09T06:20:56.767+01:00Oggling the Olympics<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNuqAzXyw1NqxWLehqqngXgLjndQIaJIAl-h_SSwWftVHwY-l_3lUqT1oGprKfD3pKxeNsU2KKVXDqxpnTzZLDwc2q-YG8a1-Y10-ShoO8vO287wZPHXwnxX3hOQj9M_rbjL7pg/s1600-h/Img214517782.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232220021902527010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNuqAzXyw1NqxWLehqqngXgLjndQIaJIAl-h_SSwWftVHwY-l_3lUqT1oGprKfD3pKxeNsU2KKVXDqxpnTzZLDwc2q-YG8a1-Y10-ShoO8vO287wZPHXwnxX3hOQj9M_rbjL7pg/s200/Img214517782.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our family seem to be well up for the Olympics this year - especially Esme... Thought it was a stunning <a href="http://en.beijing2008.cn/">opening ceremony </a>I have to say. Especially impressed with the guy that round round the top (towards lighting the torch) of the stadium and the photo's lit up as he went - see pic below.<br /><div><div></div><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Looking</span> forward to watching it when we have time at home. There was a big <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">furore out here with the India team (ladies) as they weren't wearing saris etc!! Dominated the news. </span><br /></div><div>My best opening ceremony pic is:</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232382952075852930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0UexQhyNmbptBAZ2MPHo59E6lDBlKkNjj2JpjLsO9euKK8KIKpgu5yaV6LTQ5hTBCSjN6fMKcqGQXRmxetBUlLawUkeDYQaJvhc2fS3k52DSwiPFqQbM1gDZvngLXXYzgTvW1g/s320/15073988.jpg" border="0" />As for me/us, our marathon is coming to an end. I spent a chunk of today with Raj reviewing different aspects of the 3 1/2 months and celebrating the good and discussing the not so good. All in all we both agreed the time had gone far far better that any of us ever <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">dreamt</span> of.. A time that will change us all forever of that we are all convinced. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwDwy5AyoqXs131p3dOHwRLsunzi9_dGM1EqGQWW8x6nXLTl9CTq40VKMfy0yTqcKupSAA9eNS_yEDOh06UJzUPOnn0zGcMKENZYPbLUgupfkkSVz9PHLkkAW6pXx-1pMWheqdw/s1600-h/Img214518619.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232222306702758050" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwDwy5AyoqXs131p3dOHwRLsunzi9_dGM1EqGQWW8x6nXLTl9CTq40VKMfy0yTqcKupSAA9eNS_yEDOh06UJzUPOnn0zGcMKENZYPbLUgupfkkSVz9PHLkkAW6pXx-1pMWheqdw/s200/Img214518619.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />2 meetings <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tomorrow</span> (Saturday) a full day Sunday, a totally full day and evening Monday, busy Tuesday am and then that is it!!!! Chill Tuesday pm and leave the house 3.30am Wednesday and fly at 6.45am!!!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Whoopee</span>!!!Ready for home now! And just as we are about to hit 3000 page hits to the blog since coming out!! (see left side bar).</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-41498555627902936752008-08-08T05:57:00.007+01:002008-08-08T06:11:13.195+01:00"He's gone"<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJvT5VhkOkI/AAAAAAAATuI/joj_aqpBZ_g/s1600-h/rbisgoinghome1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232008374104898114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJvT5VhkOkI/AAAAAAAATuI/joj_aqpBZ_g/s200/rbisgoinghome1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Those of us that have known <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Paul</span> (my bro) for a while will be used to saying this phrase about him as 'he's gone' is often used to describe our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">disappointment</span> at the fact that Paul is now 99% mad and needing to be admitting to the local <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">psychiatric</span> unit....!!<br /><br />However, on this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">occasion</span> this phrase describes that fact that at 11pm we dropped Paul off at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Bengaluru</span> Airport on his 4 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hour</span> flight to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bangkok</span> and then back to Kunming, China where he lives.<br /><br />He e mailed us later on tonight to say:<br /><br /><em>"Arrived safely in Bangkok (4.30am your time) despite <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">one</span> of the bumpiest <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">journeys</span> I've ever had (and he has travelled to 86 countries!!) . Non-stop turbulence for 4 hours! No chance of sleep, and many <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">passengers</span> couldn't get any food/drink served as the air hostesses spent most of the time in their seats! I was on the last row - most bumpy place but at least they got food to me!"<br /></em><br />Paul continues to blog <a href="http://360.yahoo.com/profile-27kxji8herNSSAc5pYV3qxIp.g--?cq=1">here</a> so do have a peak every now and again at the amazing things that happen to him in China.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-34564836854817982132008-08-07T11:17:00.009+01:002008-08-07T15:14:44.628+01:00Paul's final perusal....<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJrN98s7EYI/AAAAAAAATts/V8vRsG7dWYY/s1600-h/S8001356.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231720381294514562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJrN98s7EYI/AAAAAAAATts/V8vRsG7dWYY/s200/S8001356.JPG" border="0" /></a>It's Paul's last day today so we have taken it a little easy. We went off to show him the other side of Bangalore <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">by</span> going, once again, to the <a href="http://www.theleela.com/hotel-bangalore.html">Leela Palace</a>. Remember we went for a meal there for our anniversary, courtesy of Raj??<br /><br />The picture is of us in their back garden!!<br /><br /><div><div>When we got there we had a look round but I don't think any of us could stomach the thought of buying a coffee especially as we had just walked past a large slum and beggars outside. Bonkers place but worth seeing...</div><div><br />Paul flies at 12.30am tonight/<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tomorrow</span> morning. Our last trip to the airport before we go next Wednesday! </div><br /><div></div><div>We have had a great time with Paul: chilling out together and catching up how we are doing. Great for the kids to spend time with him too.. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-10419462447033521702008-08-06T17:36:00.013+01:002008-08-07T06:31:57.841+01:00Breakthrough and dance<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMq74BvI2mVO_De6r5KjCY54oo4QuBGMbXz7Pnr0tdqc0RH_KbQ0YASwFgeNYjjaT5_GG5xgCsMLdiKupGaEbIVgdh-4kviW3X724y-vDY1wnJbSz34fzWYw8dCiuDAkrOD3FyQ/s1600-h/New+Picture.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231451710528843250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMq74BvI2mVO_De6r5KjCY54oo4QuBGMbXz7Pnr0tdqc0RH_KbQ0YASwFgeNYjjaT5_GG5xgCsMLdiKupGaEbIVgdh-4kviW3X724y-vDY1wnJbSz34fzWYw8dCiuDAkrOD3FyQ/s200/New+Picture.bmp" border="0" /></a>No, this not some kind of new dance routine that Sarah and I have learnt in Bangalore......!!<br /><br />This <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">afternoon</span> Raj and I took a (very painful) hour and a bit long bike ride through the rush hour to go to visit the <a href="http://www.breakthrough-india.com/">Breakthrough Centre</a> in Bangalore. This is probably the best adventure centre around - certainly in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bangalore</span> and is used mainly by corporate clients these days. It's well designed and used although it does not have a huge plot of land.<br /><br />It was a great opportunity to meet with Robin Paul (the CEO and founder) who is a bit of a big wig in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bangalore</span> in adventure stuff. It was good to see what Breakthrough <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">offered</span> in terms of facilities and how that compared with other places I showed Raj in the UK (such as <a href="http://www.bods.info/">BODS</a> and <a href="http://www.tasteforadventure.co.uk/page.php?page_id=3">Taste for Adventure</a> in Hereford) and what kind of centre Raj has in mind.</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231451992870485154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJcutmB1SIoyohA81Oj4X17me0WcbiRsDG6_alEOpzMaMQ_uGY91JxOKpdwbpoU1nLCFSfGU4D2jT6LR8l3yeh6zp635a8I92P1XxAevhZx9JaD1_s98z0cUu6vax0LYJb2XrMw/s400/New+Picture+(1).bmp" border="0" />At the centre of 'Breakthrough', and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">reason</span> it is called what it is called, is a massive rock - I guess 60foot high and as wide which has a tree that has broken right through the rock, splitting it into all sorts of shapes. The bottom pic is the tree coming up <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">through</span> this huge <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">rock</span> a<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nd</span> splitting it wide open! Can't really convey how amazing a site it is but here's the pics to try.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZfGmEgG9lgjhC6AaCOTRwSBQ68l81DVx5I1l5i2MRqleTjq_wGHMWRQFVdmsi-YLSzC9sTTu1vTETA88rzBsiD15oktNyd14G0LV1T5FTtHJPI8AUX9L3fxUdLjPTaGDL117Lw/s1600-h/6.8.08+Breakthrough7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231453335951270754" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZfGmEgG9lgjhC6AaCOTRwSBQ68l81DVx5I1l5i2MRqleTjq_wGHMWRQFVdmsi-YLSzC9sTTu1vTETA88rzBsiD15oktNyd14G0LV1T5FTtHJPI8AUX9L3fxUdLjPTaGDL117Lw/s200/6.8.08+Breakthrough7.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixchG9hz7Xna41nKcdof8lDnp-HM42nraOCgwkHQhCze5z23LW_VhaiYdOt36QdXMZ7FtDWfeNstW9EPhyRtzOVlgpVcd6X339caNAVenIgDRH3SbDa88YZdLEbb-yyaAS38YfDw/s1600-h/6.8.08+Breakthrough1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231452978859881010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixchG9hz7Xna41nKcdof8lDnp-HM42nraOCgwkHQhCze5z23LW_VhaiYdOt36QdXMZ7FtDWfeNstW9EPhyRtzOVlgpVcd6X339caNAVenIgDRH3SbDa88YZdLEbb-yyaAS38YfDw/s200/6.8.08+Breakthrough1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJnaxUkbSWI/AAAAAAAATnI/_XxJHg6hkXY/s1600-h/6.8.08+Breakthrough2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231452983037479266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJnaxUkbSWI/AAAAAAAATnI/_XxJHg6hkXY/s200/6.8.08+Breakthrough2.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJvy4S8_juP199kpBUp18YYjxEcIJT0Pt13IPkcWmNdLtFluXaQ5ovPHN7B6YTwJANiYFXQPE5ji_gYsJTOrdv8Z8oH1nwE5ybDedkZi4qQXusnyrliG7MfGWtRwaOUVUBUgHtA/s1600-h/6.8.08+Breakthrough4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231453332416266994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJvy4S8_juP199kpBUp18YYjxEcIJT0Pt13IPkcWmNdLtFluXaQ5ovPHN7B6YTwJANiYFXQPE5ji_gYsJTOrdv8Z8oH1nwE5ybDedkZi4qQXusnyrliG7MfGWtRwaOUVUBUgHtA/s200/6.8.08+Breakthrough4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Raj and I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">climbed</span> up the rock and spent some time talking more of the detail of what Raj has in his vision/heart/mind on the adventure centre type thing. All very exciting and good to be doing all this standing on a rock that has been broken open by 'just' some roots...A picture of what we need to happen for Raj getting his land. What appears like a brick wall/humanly impossible situation humanly being broken down with ease by something simple....<br /><br />Then, this evening we went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">NBCLC</span> (see May 26<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> post) just up the road from us as they had an Indian Cultural dance evening on with some of the India dancers that they have at this catholic retreat centre. Went to my 1st Indian mass 1st (very different to normal as their focus is to do everything in Indian style) and then onto the dance which was highly professional and really quite entertaining. Really good night. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJgIev_v_3LHzMIVaUuHRjeP0JtytMU3y4YBytoPv7TDUZcpA21mFjssxKcUAkLYpUuo2R6VPkiZ4nQtslpbvZLb5lfu_lwPZ6T57_4l-ZGdfQwIReb7oZcfz6a220vnspEZ-6Q/s1600-h/6.8.08+Dance+(3).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231643624418669682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJgIev_v_3LHzMIVaUuHRjeP0JtytMU3y4YBytoPv7TDUZcpA21mFjssxKcUAkLYpUuo2R6VPkiZ4nQtslpbvZLb5lfu_lwPZ6T57_4l-ZGdfQwIReb7oZcfz6a220vnspEZ-6Q/s200/6.8.08+Dance+(3).JPG" border="0" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-l-4jUUG2oaMIoNezOKI4BaP87E4cdIIDtxWiTHl-l_J5l2R8VDPSuDv2JNq-x77sASjsZa_YyNXn20X96tMOeSK_TGIWB3n9gCk0pJY5ReKwPhqirKS-OdiDDeXOEfZCFIp_Q/s1600-h/6.8.08+Dance+(6).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231643705941515746" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-l-4jUUG2oaMIoNezOKI4BaP87E4cdIIDtxWiTHl-l_J5l2R8VDPSuDv2JNq-x77sASjsZa_YyNXn20X96tMOeSK_TGIWB3n9gCk0pJY5ReKwPhqirKS-OdiDDeXOEfZCFIp_Q/s200/6.8.08+Dance+(6).JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231643792613330498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJqIT5oYTkI/AAAAAAAATs8/2EDxPCCup-0/s200/6.8.08+Dance+(5).JPG" border="0" /> <div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231644046634102450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJqIir7prrI/AAAAAAAATtE/MreMYXyVlv8/s320/6.8.08+Dance+(7).JPG" border="0" />Back home at 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ish</span> to have a curry (cooked by our home help lady Sheila) in pitch black as lights were out again. Almost every night at the moment as Bangalore is on hydro electricity apparently.</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-90407828543101268802008-08-05T12:47:00.014+01:002008-08-05T13:20:48.795+01:00Vegging out with the veg!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOziGXXzxYiLUrafGZnToZ50C0_AlPhFrJ8iRoYrIKVDWa2BbT9H5DSQk3rqkH7OZmKXYp8mWkvoOMbWlWoD8DDQutQGujjUvwlBqv9iJGdq7fFxGaFe0V0D9aZlHnlNefSMkAw/s1600-h/5.8.08+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230999695950862114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOziGXXzxYiLUrafGZnToZ50C0_AlPhFrJ8iRoYrIKVDWa2BbT9H5DSQk3rqkH7OZmKXYp8mWkvoOMbWlWoD8DDQutQGujjUvwlBqv9iJGdq7fFxGaFe0V0D9aZlHnlNefSMkAw/s200/5.8.08+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a>Went out early with just Paul this morning to see the City Market where I have been a number of times. It's the place where there are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">huge</span> amounts of flowers, veg, spices etc for sale as well as chillies and the like.<br /><br /><div></div><div>Very quiet this morning but I enjoyed showing my bro around - feeling like I was a local!!</div><br /><div></div><div>Then, off to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Koshi's</span> Indian restaurant for as near to an English <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">brekkie</span> as we could get and some time to debrief on our time here (from a work perspective) - something I had asked Paul to do. Then onto a few shops. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg-uOfFJcI/AAAAAAAATls/1xQXWu2wMws/s1600-h/5.8.08+(7).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230999931074192834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg-uOfFJcI/AAAAAAAATls/1xQXWu2wMws/s200/5.8.08+(7).JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> Nice time with just my bro and I. We spent some time talking about his experiences in China and ours in India - pretty similar but obviously he has been doing it far longer, and in a more permenant way.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-36246647447470697792008-08-05T02:56:00.014+01:002008-08-05T18:59:08.121+01:00A very poor Mysore<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg4_fndL6I/AAAAAAAATj8/3qhFBpfo1tU/s1600-h/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(69).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230993630660734882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg4_fndL6I/AAAAAAAATj8/3qhFBpfo1tU/s200/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(69).JPG" border="0" /></a>We all went to Mysore (again) today - mainly to show Paul things there. It was a good day and I think Paul enjoyed it but there was a string of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">catastrophe's</span> that happened:<br /><br /><em><strong>Bird sanctuary:</strong></em> You <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">remember</span> the one with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">crocs</span></span> and all? Well it was closed <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">because</span> of '<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">monsoon</span> rain' - one of the main reasons we went to Mysore!<br /><br /><em><strong>Dinner:</strong> </em>Decided to go for a mid range hotel for dinner. Arrived at about 3.30pm (!) and were tole the dining room closed for restaurant but snacks etc still open. Went upstairs and....<br /><br /><strong>First blow:</strong> (for Raj and John the driver) was 'no rice'. No rice I India I cried!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuzkO5l1Kv6qzvcO_3iIS1GN9ZWgV_l9yRh_LVcWJjI13Fg-FbTZ2rfTl7Ga_4x9wEB_SHx3qt4JDLPNKBoLqsORgDA4kMxgw1EUBWG2XG8F-acEPQeQEI3OsbsbDEwpt-7rqdQ/s1600-h/fly.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230997405935611810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCuzkO5l1Kv6qzvcO_3iIS1GN9ZWgV_l9yRh_LVcWJjI13Fg-FbTZ2rfTl7Ga_4x9wEB_SHx3qt4JDLPNKBoLqsORgDA4kMxgw1EUBWG2XG8F-acEPQeQEI3OsbsbDEwpt-7rqdQ/s200/fly.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>Second blow:</strong> Ordering french fries and when they said they had none they said they had a replacement of 'round deep fried chips' and, surprise, surprise, when they came out, they were 'crisps'!! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Arghh</span>!! <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg6dsh1bMI/AAAAAAAATlM/aM5daU2Ez7c/s1600-h/fly.jpg"></a><br /><br /><strong>Third blow:</strong> Es opened her cheese sandwich to find a fly in it!<br /><br /><strong>Fourth blow:</strong> Loads of paper in the milkshakes (from the ice cream)!<br /><br /><strong>Fifth blow:</strong> Sarah Egg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pakora</span>. All the egg was black!<br /><br />Needless to say we complained at leaving time!<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdLJ_mTmVQqFuJTCWIRyx6sNZYZAprL6a8e5L1X_UauitRNTbjoyOkZhFbdtyGCezKeSHRVbg90A2F1NPTsDMkbdSzQAWPkCGbSZYJUDx996XHRO0YhU8ucI6Wz5KWopPqfx4uQ/s1600-h/van_crash-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231093755163357858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdLJ_mTmVQqFuJTCWIRyx6sNZYZAprL6a8e5L1X_UauitRNTbjoyOkZhFbdtyGCezKeSHRVbg90A2F1NPTsDMkbdSzQAWPkCGbSZYJUDx996XHRO0YhU8ucI6Wz5KWopPqfx4uQ/s200/van_crash-1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Brindevan</span> Gardens:</strong> Remember the lovely place to finish our day with pretty coloured lights and dancing water fountains?? Well we arrived, 5 minutes in and, there was a power cut and the generator didn't work. We walked round in pitch black!!<br /><br /><strong>Crash:</strong> Putting diesel in the car and Jon (driver) reversed into a car in the garage<br /><br />A good day all round eh?? Still, we have all learnt to expect these kind of days - us in India and Paul in China, so we all thought the day was a reasonable success!!<br /><br />How low our expectations are eh??<br /><br />Having said all of this we had a few highlights. Es and Josh had an exceptional Elephant ride at Mysore Palace where the mahout let Es sit on the elephants head and ride!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxu4wp3cEQJL8ckqp2zYTxrLpXWRRw44ZNenditQGejPyTTpgDywjaARJ0XT1EdOKkrptQGrWsVdrjSZaWCuWzaRTRImeTlN1-0I3gBl_D8-hfhrRKGCKCYUov9eQwvp_ocBQmg/s1600-h/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(41).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230993877647075586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxu4wp3cEQJL8ckqp2zYTxrLpXWRRw44ZNenditQGejPyTTpgDywjaARJ0XT1EdOKkrptQGrWsVdrjSZaWCuWzaRTRImeTlN1-0I3gBl_D8-hfhrRKGCKCYUov9eQwvp_ocBQmg/s200/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(41).JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg5IVThDwI/AAAAAAAATkE/6_eilTg9ZmM/s1600-h/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(27).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230993782511570690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg5IVThDwI/AAAAAAAATkE/6_eilTg9ZmM/s200/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(27).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxu4wp3cEQJL8ckqp2zYTxrLpXWRRw44ZNenditQGejPyTTpgDywjaARJ0XT1EdOKkrptQGrWsVdrjSZaWCuWzaRTRImeTlN1-0I3gBl_D8-hfhrRKGCKCYUov9eQwvp_ocBQmg/s1600-h/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(41).JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230994051686020402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg5YADtNTI/AAAAAAAATkU/T-z58J0urWg/s200/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(38).JPG" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLTEIrivbHE3SZv1WI51dZKH7TTuHX2v3ELVH0rhDrrAddpWaH6vYFTq50W11WDF9_gRHuEg6ScrgTRCbn9cSZQKR6-_eQ3H1O458WWZ14q3aEmTa7KbdT8IvdFzfrcYtloGUGw/s1600-h/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(65).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230994755546739810" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLTEIrivbHE3SZv1WI51dZKH7TTuHX2v3ELVH0rhDrrAddpWaH6vYFTq50W11WDF9_gRHuEg6ScrgTRCbn9cSZQKR6-_eQ3H1O458WWZ14q3aEmTa7KbdT8IvdFzfrcYtloGUGw/s200/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(65).JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eUFWDnF4LytFec51cSJev6Lg9q-RXpW-zUyzVEIQ1gJLxYYDmCWgPYlAg4LKspSjbITvLUWobpdShZSacEWHch1EKgV1lpyAk2Ci8Zl7DOtH0EtbEL4s8mlBwOibou1LzLtysQ/s1600-h/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(68).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230996665562167010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eUFWDnF4LytFec51cSJev6Lg9q-RXpW-zUyzVEIQ1gJLxYYDmCWgPYlAg4LKspSjbITvLUWobpdShZSacEWHch1EKgV1lpyAk2Ci8Zl7DOtH0EtbEL4s8mlBwOibou1LzLtysQ/s200/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(68).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw1vA1344kn1OK6plUyyD1bw2u5VtCJt7mATvroru1zwdQxIEdWL49gdcftV8961BBKfSJS8bQpPTG08kDCdeErNqlhx3ZDvfuU3n7l_EZ1GSQNK0UtKlNHoFdwUrt2FWul9jaw/s1600-h/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(63).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230994377184615170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw1vA1344kn1OK6plUyyD1bw2u5VtCJt7mATvroru1zwdQxIEdWL49gdcftV8961BBKfSJS8bQpPTG08kDCdeErNqlhx3ZDvfuU3n7l_EZ1GSQNK0UtKlNHoFdwUrt2FWul9jaw/s200/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(63).JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg6HfrplhI/AAAAAAAATlE/omdpwmFRfN0/s1600-h/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(62).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230994867628906002" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg6HfrplhI/AAAAAAAATlE/omdpwmFRfN0/s200/4.8.08+Mysore+with+Paul+(62).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />See the video too:<br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwixXAHKB5ua0nx8GrNZwSD_cQ3gSIFRnU-K9wRpUVeXDX2v4i4jMKVl9Skg-gCv12rAb14eGKOkg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><div align="left">Cool eh??</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-31231498812432537292008-08-04T02:15:00.001+01:002008-08-05T03:18:30.014+01:00A little better....?Feel a little (fair bit?) better today following starting the anti <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">biotics</span> - just to let you know....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-41914205265729723722008-08-04T01:34:00.014+01:002008-08-07T15:26:47.098+01:00What we did in India..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpahxLcf8wzUVpVnOGE6hSsm2H51x-11-S0FXSKryqtXTfZNmh00u9NW-ONx6P55bV6aMvPjv2pUCoSSZQZsxKHC1XeCmjvweabUr7A7k3iRA5ZM5dJcoFMbiV9mdMuuewna9T9g/s1600-h/1+success.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230989078764279410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpahxLcf8wzUVpVnOGE6hSsm2H51x-11-S0FXSKryqtXTfZNmh00u9NW-ONx6P55bV6aMvPjv2pUCoSSZQZsxKHC1XeCmjvweabUr7A7k3iRA5ZM5dJcoFMbiV9mdMuuewna9T9g/s200/1+success.jpg" border="0" /></a>I know many of you will have had the following by e mail and if you have, please ignore this post, but a couple of you have not had it (i.e have seen a copy that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">others</span> had got) so I thought I would stick it on the blog.<br /><br />It's a summary of all that we have done whilst in India. These are only the tangible things. On top of this, it is crucial to recognise, as I say at the bottom of this summary:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><em>"All of these things are the tangible things that we can clearly evidence we did. On top of all this there are hundreds of other conversations, meetings with people, blog comments which have impacted people, phone calls, e mails, chats in the streets, time spent with people in slums and on the streets that will have made an impact on our or others lives. We will probably never be able to show you tangibly what impact these things have had on ours and other people’s lives. For us a lot of what has changed our lives about India 2008 is not tangible. They are simply the quietly held thoughts, challenges, encouragements, images and stories that will stay with us forever….</em> "</span><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">Some of the entries are just one line but represent a huge amount of work. The summary i<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">s</span> s<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">plit</span> into sections: The Fishermen Trust, Personal, Raj and I and Others</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;">THE FISHERMEN TRUST/WORK:</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg2Jbr7NyI/AAAAAAAATjE/VriBRBCeiYY/s1600-h/New+Picture.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230990502869546786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg2Jbr7NyI/AAAAAAAATjE/VriBRBCeiYY/s320/New+Picture.bmp" border="0" /></a>* Proposals written and all relevant paperwork in place for outdoor pursuits, advice centre, hostel/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">nightstop</span>.</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">General proposals for each of these areas written to give clarity to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">funders</span> and supporters as to what these elements of the vision are.</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Written so that the Trust to get a document from the Government called ‘prior permission which allows them to receive funding from outside India. Crucial for future funding.</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Furnish <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">TFT</span> office<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">£250 raised from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Uk</span> to turn this empty ground floor of a large house into a fully functioning office. Now equipped with desks, chairs, 2 laptops, bookshelves full of resources, cabinets, climbing gear, tents etc etc</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">* TFT</span> laptop & associated items purchased</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">One laptop purchased with gifts from UK the Hiders brought over. One other laptop given free too!</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Completely refresh <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">TFT</span> Business Plan and mail out again</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">The Business Plan was 2 years old and needed to be refreshed. This is now done with a new SWOT analysis and other areas updated</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DyEZ2ZDqzgzD8bpK8qZ3a5pwCo7c2u1_Fqs81OjtxoiqrkbQu1oVH-UWttsAeYNP6jzKm9vxFRggIM7_7rvYMKivPVGuBOD0QvOzt7ClCS4OFgB0F_zaZwZ5xHD69YkQK3exLw/s1600-h/2+tftf+ogo.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230989281863504354" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 161px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 91px" height="100" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DyEZ2ZDqzgzD8bpK8qZ3a5pwCo7c2u1_Fqs81OjtxoiqrkbQu1oVH-UWttsAeYNP6jzKm9vxFRggIM7_7rvYMKivPVGuBOD0QvOzt7ClCS4OFgB0F_zaZwZ5xHD69YkQK3exLw/s200/2+tftf+ogo.png" width="166" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Set new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">KPI</span>’s/targets for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">TFT</span> Business Plan for coming year</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">We reviewed how the Trust is doing against the previous plans set and then set new milestones (for the next few years) and specific targets for this year which were agreed by the Trustees</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Trustees in new way of working (if possible) and reporting</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Through the training on 5.7 (see below).Real sense that people see the need to move to a new way of working. Model Trustees meeting agenda developed<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Establish new system of reporting from Raj to trustees </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Nandu</span> has started to do a report from every camp the Trust run. He also does a weekly log of all that he is doing. Raj now doing monthly reports which will go to trustees. Staff meetings now in place. Stock inventory now in place. Stock (tents loan sheet in place).</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Clarify finance issues to split <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">TFT</span> and Raj’s finances<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Now happening. Trust budget being developed and template budget established. 1st year accounts approved by Chartered accountants</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Money in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">CLC</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">TFT</span>) account use</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Agreed to use this as a safety net for the Trust if funding suddenly stops and also for a resources for when Raj needs to come to the UK for PR etc</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Establish a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">TFT</span> Trust budget and write a ‘finance proposals’ paper to Board<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Paper written. To be submitted to next Board meeting</span> <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg2rAXGBsI/AAAAAAAATjU/UZMEacXIhNY/s1600-h/6+money.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230991079649969858" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJg2rAXGBsI/AAAAAAAATjU/UZMEacXIhNY/s200/6+money.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Paper to Board on proposals during my time here and what has been achieved in my time here<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done. Proposals developed during my time here going to Trustees at their meeting early August and the doc on what has been done during our time here is this doc!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Speak at 3 camps</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Took sessions at Church camp at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kodai</span>, Avalanche camp & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Efficor</span> conference</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Speak at minimum 3 Church’s</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Spoke at Revival Church twice and Church camp</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Establish 3 day residential leadership training weekend for Christian leaders including PR and programmes</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">This happened on the 11<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">th</span> – 13<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">th</span> July at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">FMC</span> in Bangalore. Very successful with 22 people there. Many more opportunities for the future Great handouts and resources CD (of all Rob’s resources) given to each participant</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Establish 1 day corporates training event with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Mindview</span> including PR and programmes</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Cancelled.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4JtMYRibyXtZ1in1Y3FjYgh9rfU_xVvCrT6E2c_2U4yUT4CJ81jXTT33TYKzYQ6RVrg9E8f8sIvzbC25kAvpDh_VCJL4UkULbIiGqbtxbm_eqB7OuYW88AKkHc-zF8Z0uWIAwQ/s1600-h/5+trustees.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230991364582823762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4JtMYRibyXtZ1in1Y3FjYgh9rfU_xVvCrT6E2c_2U4yUT4CJ81jXTT33TYKzYQ6RVrg9E8f8sIvzbC25kAvpDh_VCJL4UkULbIiGqbtxbm_eqB7OuYW88AKkHc-zF8Z0uWIAwQ/s200/5+trustees.JPG" border="0" /></a>* Establish a day retreat with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">TFT</span> trustees including programmes</span> <span style="color:#66ff99;">Trustees training day happened on 5.7 with Rob and I. Very positive. A number of actions followed from this day to be discussed at the next Trustees meeting.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Update <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">TFT</span> blog weekly</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Some updating of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">TFT</span> blog has happened whilst in India but I also have loads of content to do more on this when I return to the UK. My blog has been the focus.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Agree a design for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">TFT</span> website and commission</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Website content and design developed and currently with a designer to improve</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Produce 100 club leaflet<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Established to try and get a base of Indian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">funders</span> to secure the ongoing revenue costs of the Trust. Trustees ready to promote this. Leaflet developed</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Design and publish <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">TFT</span> PR leaflet</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Website content and design developed and currently with a designer to improve</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Dis</span><span style="color:#ffffff;">cuss partnership agreement with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">CLC</span> and Space2think and e mail out/discuss with Trus<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm-gD3R0XH1yz0GtoX_KKQnmrNKt6MbRSUPlVf-UMtezxYDUwVAC0qG3WipVag9mQlZA_Rc400QT5Py7hR1PTgtKgUcaM0fQgu1FoOjI_s1hi08Efj1J06jnAXBRvXcCLpMnuzA/s1600-h/4+opning+of+tft+office.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230991867973425266" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm-gD3R0XH1yz0GtoX_KKQnmrNKt6MbRSUPlVf-UMtezxYDUwVAC0qG3WipVag9mQlZA_Rc400QT5Py7hR1PTgtKgUcaM0fQgu1FoOjI_s1hi08Efj1J06jnAXBRvXcCLpMnuzA/s200/4+opning+of+tft+office.jpg" border="0" /></a>tees<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Discussion with Tim from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">CLC</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">ansd</span> Rob from Space2think whilst in India. Draft Partnership agreements developed to be agreed by both <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">CLC</span>/Space2think and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">TFT</span> trustees</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Climbing kit from the UK</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Ruck sack full of requested climbing and abseiling materials sent with Tim</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* New <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">TFT</span> video</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">To do at home</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Induction pack for when visitors come to India<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">To do at home</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Development of resources website idea<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">To do at home</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Induction pack for when visitors come to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">India</span><br /></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" style="color:#66ff99;">To do at home</span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error"></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error">* Development</span> of resources website idea<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">To do at home</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>PERSONAL</strong>:</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Keep journal on a daily basis</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done! Completed every day!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIzxDMf_6WfHeHvSzeA_E6oQ0RM9uRDDO3PrSr35hFMuAm7oP0y3B2BVm4F7lcqLClaPYcI8OT01eKCMGtgqLIUwQwVQxO10ZQKKHliat5zzdr7LYZmm5WxAXzmTuK0XS23y_LQ/s1600-h/coffee_journal_mills1983-flickr_attrib_noderivs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230992603903973314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIzxDMf_6WfHeHvSzeA_E6oQ0RM9uRDDO3PrSr35hFMuAm7oP0y3B2BVm4F7lcqLClaPYcI8OT01eKCMGtgqLIUwQwVQxO10ZQKKHliat5zzdr7LYZmm5WxAXzmTuK0XS23y_LQ/s200/coffee_journal_mills1983-flickr_attrib_noderivs.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Speak when asked to – massive thing!</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Yes. Very, very hard at times but I did it!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Keep blog up to date daily</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done! Completed every day!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Communicate regularly through e mail and calls<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Yes. Sarah did great on this too</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Live within budget</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Yes</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Establish <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">itinerary</span> for Tim, Rob, Husbands & Paul, have visitors stay and ensure they are happy!</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done and all the trips seemed to go really well with a balance of work, time with people and tourist stuff</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Ensure Sarah feels Dave is balancing ‘work’ and ‘home’</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Lost the</span><span style="color:#66ff99;"> balance at the start but been good from there. Dave spent at least 3 days clear each week with family. Went to Bits every week and Accept together each week too.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* School</span><span style="color:#ffffff;"> work for kids 4 times a week for 2 hours until Husbands come<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done. Brilliant job by Sarah.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Josh’s reading to improve</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Josh has developed so much in his reading etc and Es in so many other ways</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Stay healthy – especially Sarah</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Josh had problems for a month which never was really a big problem for him and Es and I have had icky guts for 2 half days in the whole 3.5 months! Amazing!</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;">RAJ AND I:</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Feedback given to Raj and Trust on my perspective on what I see in the way he/the trust works or not<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done on virtually a daily basis. Not been easy to do that as it’s hard to say and hear at times. Lots I have learnt about how I need to change too!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Provide external supervision for Raj</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done – almost on a daily basis</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Support for Raj’s personal development<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done – almost on a daily basis</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Give to Raj where necessary<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done – confidential</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Video and thank you letter from Trust to Eve for the £500 they have raised<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done. The school had raised £500 for the Trust.</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;"></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">'OTHERS':</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Support (name is confidential) house build</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done with a gift of £500 from friends at home. House build underway</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR1VdBog7QVOP3oKu-p-vQZOv_QIA6CsxcfigLU89cyHPsU4sH_1BEFw8UYB4GTsCxqsUk_ZZ4Q936MgsvQnp2lzuBPf8NLCiaKdqM4SG7QU5HANWCjhM6bWhJwor1s3J7SEuAQ/s1600-h/gifts_w.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230992954713083730" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR1VdBog7QVOP3oKu-p-vQZOv_QIA6CsxcfigLU89cyHPsU4sH_1BEFw8UYB4GTsCxqsUk_ZZ4Q936MgsvQnp2lzuBPf8NLCiaKdqM4SG7QU5HANWCjhM6bWhJwor1s3J7SEuAQ/s200/gifts_w.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Support (name is confidential</span><span style="color:#ffffff;">) family – money, toys and baby carriers<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done. Given to him and others. Money given to him to get him through on his house rent for 2 months as business went bust (pretty much) and he is newly married with a child. Job is on way so this gift was to tide them over.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Support <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Sreeni</span> in development of his Church<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done. Met most Tuesdays and had good <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">focused</span> chats.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Buy climbing shoes for (name is confidential)<br /></span><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done. Great new pair of quality shoes for him</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Distribute the £1000 we have been given wisely</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">In the end we were given a total of £1145 including money given to us that we gave away as we wanted to live simply. Money given as follows. Names have been removed for confidentiality but happy to give more detail to people who gave.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFth5KnjKSbdL6i_4eUi8wJOQH-k9U9UX_rmuAs1Y9ImLgqMwbgBKlL6iQSvOzvZeqZ9WX8JT-c6ORbKM70LEF_E0Zgy_Z-jBrb9FJh-z9cNwIJt9IcV78vc0DTZv7Py_l5z8BHw/s1600-h/42-18155403%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231084269628730418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFth5KnjKSbdL6i_4eUi8wJOQH-k9U9UX_rmuAs1Y9ImLgqMwbgBKlL6iQSvOzvZeqZ9WX8JT-c6ORbKM70LEF_E0Zgy_Z-jBrb9FJh-z9cNwIJt9IcV78vc0DTZv7Py_l5z8BHw/s200/42-18155403%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a>£50 given to S – money given specifically for this person from someone at home<br />£50.00 to the wonderful cooks at Avalanche. Paid next to nothing and given to help their families<br />£40.00 G who lives in a local slum and ended up critically ill in hospital and she <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">didn</span>’t have the money to pay for her treatment<br />£500.00 given to D for the house he needs to see built for his family back in his village – see blog story<br />£200 for S – see why above<br />£60 for printer at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">TFT</span> office<br />£60.00 for climbing shoes for N who has nothing and is instructing in abseiling with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">TFT</span><br />£100.00 Given to Accept orphanage for new sports room for kids with HIV that need to keep muscles going<br />£50 of small gifts given to various people as we have seen need<br />£60.00 given to A, a wonderful friend of ours who simply has nothing. Worked with him on what he will use it on</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">TOTAL GIVEN AWAY £1170. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Distribute toys/baby stuff given from Tim</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Done. Given to Benson who works in the slums daily. All other toys were given to:<br />Kids at Accept<br />Kids in 2 slums</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">Kids on streets</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">* Purchase and distribute the £100 from St James via skipping ropes etc</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;">£50 spent on skipping ropes given to kids at Accept (see blog story) and £50 given to kick start their sports room (see blog story)</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">And then just to say again:</span><br /><span style="color:#66ff99;"><em>"All the above are the things that we can clearly evidence we did. They are tangible. On top of all this there are hundreds of other conversations, meetings with people, blog comments which have impacted people, phone calls, e mails, chats in the streets, time spent with people in slums and on the streets that will have made an impact on our or others lives. We will probably never be able to show you tangibly what impact these things have had on ours and other people’s lives. For us a lot of what has changed our lives about India 2008 is not tangible. They are simply the quietly held thoughts, challenges, encouragements, images and stories that will stay with us forever…."</em></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-86502646232368474002008-08-03T07:48:00.008+01:002008-08-03T16:48:43.055+01:00A groggy bloggy.....<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJVVgqFHHvI/AAAAAAAATNI/qWJseyBykkk/s1600-h/flu3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230180561800601330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJVVgqFHHvI/AAAAAAAATNI/qWJseyBykkk/s200/flu3.jpg" border="0" /></a>I have had to stay at home this morning as I feel dead rough. I've had a cold (along with a number of others out here) for the last 4/5 days and it seems like there is a pattern where for some, it just goes away, and for others it develops into a flu type virus. Guess what I've got? No it's not just the blokes who it develops into flu for!!!! Really feel washed out and sick etc...<br /><div></div><br /><div>Off to Mysore <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">tomorrow</span> so will need to try and get myself sorted by then. Can't blog any more - I'm back to bed!!</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div><strong>Update at 4pm today:</strong> Just been to docs and been told I have a 'viral infection'. Not sure what that means but I have anti biotics etc.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-60511773806308812242008-08-02T16:02:00.005+01:002008-08-02T16:10:08.415+01:00Some pics I nicked....As you know, Paul (my brother) is here at the moment so I am enjoying not lugging our camera around and letting him take some pics. <div></div><br /><div>Here's some he took today when we went out to a place called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubbon_Park"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cubbon</span> Park </a>(and surrounding areas):<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJR4JmtkwYI/AAAAAAAATM4/7nsFh4aeA_M/s1600-h/2.8.08+(3).JPG"></a></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJR3_IIf8HI/AAAAAAAATMg/YBG7N2KvdTI/s1600-h/2.8.08.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229936993682583666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJR3_IIf8HI/AAAAAAAATMg/YBG7N2KvdTI/s200/2.8.08.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJR4JpFPA3I/AAAAAAAATMw/owkKA2Cpo-s/s1600-h/2.8.08+(11).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229937174325953394" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJR4JpFPA3I/AAAAAAAATMw/owkKA2Cpo-s/s200/2.8.08+(11).JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJR4JpFPA3I/AAAAAAAATMw/owkKA2Cpo-s/s1600-h/2.8.08+(11).JPG"></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJR4fD8ipEI/AAAAAAAATNA/vKZNS7UD4Rs/s1600-h/2.8.08+(3).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229937542314501186" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJR4fD8ipEI/AAAAAAAATNA/vKZNS7UD4Rs/s200/2.8.08+(3).JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJR3_eegBzI/AAAAAAAATMo/0sCl-nioBE0/s1600-h/2.8.08+(14).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229936999680444210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJR3_eegBzI/AAAAAAAATMo/0sCl-nioBE0/s200/2.8.08+(14).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-23399675083751781782008-08-01T16:50:00.017+01:002008-08-01T17:18:10.828+01:00Wandering in Wonderla<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJMw80sGgZI/AAAAAAAATK4/0aAOnF5cTNw/s1600-h/1.8.08+Wonderla+(6).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229577413801181586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJMw80sGgZI/AAAAAAAATK4/0aAOnF5cTNw/s200/1.8.08+Wonderla+(6).JPG" border="0" /></a>Went to <a href="http://www.wonderla.com/">Wonderla</a> today with the kids and Paul. Got there in time for lunch. Apparently some schools were on holidays today but no sign of any kids!! The place was like a ghost town. very odd. The biggest problem we had all day was not the queues - they were non existent - but the fact that many of the rides needed 5 or more popele on them for stability etc and there was only 4 of us!<br /><br />We have a great time though. It's a great park. I have been twice and we went as a family 2 years ago when it had been opened 2 weeks. I said to Sarah at that stage 'I bet they don't keep it this nice', but to my shame, they have and the place is as good as ever.<br /><br />2 of our highlights were:<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJM2CTuVw8I/AAAAAAAATMY/6WBa-rxFLEA/s1600-h/1.8.08+Wonderla+(12).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229583005589554114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJM2CTuVw8I/AAAAAAAATMY/6WBa-rxFLEA/s200/1.8.08+Wonderla+(12).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>"Friendly fish" (see pic below left):</strong> Koi Carp that come right up and gobble the food off you hand (see pic below)<br /><br /><strong>Feris wheel (see pic below right):</strong> Which stands on top of a concrete tower about 300 feet off the ground. You get some stunning views from the park. See below.<br /><br />Had a great time - weather - cool, staff - friendly, food - good, kids - happy. Job done! Good day..<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJMx0aHh28I/AAAAAAAATLQ/eMVzvkCPOAI/s1600-h/1.8.08+Wonderla+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229578368741137346" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJMx0aHh28I/AAAAAAAATLQ/eMVzvkCPOAI/s200/1.8.08+Wonderla+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJMzPpvsMcI/AAAAAAAATLo/S8BpukdQ5zI/s1600-h/1.8.08+Wonderla+(5).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229579936304214466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJMzPpvsMcI/AAAAAAAATLo/S8BpukdQ5zI/s200/1.8.08+Wonderla+(5).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJMx0xjZ3NI/AAAAAAAATLY/M1xkhecHHo0/s1600-h/1.8.08+Wonderla+(2).JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJMxSlbw_VI/AAAAAAAATLI/zPB9cSuOKbc/s1600-h/1.8.08+Wonderla+(3).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229577787663252818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJMxSlbw_VI/AAAAAAAATLI/zPB9cSuOKbc/s200/1.8.08+Wonderla+(3).JPG" border="0" /></a></p><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJMx1CNNZlI/AAAAAAAATLg/Ong5AeQuTgg/s1600-h/1.8.08+Wonderla+(25).JPG"></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJM0-v4-jVI/AAAAAAAATMQ/JbEFhRT4u-k/s1600-h/1.8.08+Wonderla+(4).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229581844919258450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJM0-v4-jVI/AAAAAAAATMQ/JbEFhRT4u-k/s200/1.8.08+Wonderla+(4).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229581065931607794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJM0RZ72TvI/AAAAAAAATMI/27DpSk5nFD0/s200/1.8.08+Wonderla+(1).JPG" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-6150420653560622272008-07-31T17:12:00.008+01:002008-08-01T05:47:48.760+01:00What can I say??<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJHk5oblMWI/AAAAAAAATKo/5yJcx2XxyHc/s1600-h/31.7.08.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229212321110634850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJHk5oblMWI/AAAAAAAATKo/5yJcx2XxyHc/s200/31.7.08.JPG" border="0" /></a>I think for the first time in India I am a bit lost for what to blog. Hurrah" they cry!!<br /><br />3 reasons as far as I can work out:<br /><br />1. Paul is here and the first few days with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">him</span> have been quite chilled out. Things get a little busier <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tomorrow</span> with a days visit to <a href="http://www.wonderla.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Wonderla</span></a> with me and Paul and the kids. Sarah is having a day off!<br /><br />We went to 'Bits' and 'Accept' for the last times today with Paul and had a good time and then out for a meal tonight. The kids (and us) are loving being with 'Uncle Paul'.<br /><br />2. Our minds are most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">definitely</span> starting to get <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">focused</span> on coming home and less on India and what is going on here. Part of that is because people have been e mailing a lot to say 'how are you feeling about coming home' and that starts to get you thinking about things that (for me at least) I have not thought about <strong>at all </strong>for 3 months - home, work, money situation at home etc etc<br /><br />Both Sarah and I (and the kids I think although they don't express it the way we do) are feeling quite weird right now. Kind of wanting to be home now but still needing to be revved up for Paul being here.<br /><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJHnHOrdU6I/AAAAAAAATKw/wNnbVocAb6M/s1600-h/31.7.08+(1).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229214753739330466" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SJHnHOrdU6I/AAAAAAAATKw/wNnbVocAb6M/s200/31.7.08+(1).JPG" border="0" /></a><br />3. I kind of feel I have now done all that I came to do. This morning I finished my last piece of work for the trust which was a very weird feeling. I do still have a few (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ty</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error">ing</span> up the loose ends type) meetings to have with before we come home I kind of feel all is done that I need to do. A great feeling but I now feel a bit of the twiddling thumbs coming on. I am OK with that for now though...<br /><br />So that's as much as I have to tell you I'm afraid!! I guess there will be more <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">tomorrow</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Wonderla</span>) <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">and</span> then we go back again to Mysore on Monday.<br /><br />Sorry to be boring! Do hang in there with us as we spend the last few days out here now.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-1617513507789569462008-07-30T04:37:00.007+01:002008-08-01T05:47:02.140+01:00Hold on to your hats. We're coming!!Yes, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">batton</span> down the hatches, shut your curtains, grab your kids, check you life insurance....the Hiders come home in 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">weeks</span> today!!!! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Arghhhh</span>!!! " 2 weeks today and we will be back doing the old 'pope <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">kiss</span> on the ground' thing at the airport and back to annoy you all as we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">always</span> do.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI_ifbXgn7I/AAAAAAAATKM/rqMxTveLDzQ/s1600-h/gapred2weeks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228646721950621618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI_ifbXgn7I/AAAAAAAATKM/rqMxTveLDzQ/s200/gapred2weeks.jpg" border="0" /></a>Your break from us will soon be over!!<br /><br />Not much to blog other than that really. We had a great day with Paul yesterday - not d<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">oing</span> much really. It's seems like it's just 5 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">minutes</span> (not 3 years) <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">since</span> we have seen him. He is such a nutter the kids just love him. Josh just listens to the things he says and is lost in a world of confusion, laughter, trying to work him out and fondness - it's so funny to see it!<br /><br />Oh by the way, all the pics of me on the blog so far have been old/false ones. Actually the pic above is...the new me!! I have carefully crafted this new look whilst I have been out here and am ready for the UK once more. Watch out people....here I come!!!<br /><br />The other way of looking at it is: why would a bloke like this wear a t shirt with '2 weeks' on it????? Good looking blokes are so weird....!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-47189834797236469062008-07-29T03:41:00.010+01:002008-07-29T03:56:37.580+01:00The eagle has landed!!<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6EarNV7NI/AAAAAAAATJE/a1CXnkEZbAc/s1600-h/IMG_5407.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228261811233877202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6EarNV7NI/AAAAAAAATJE/a1CXnkEZbAc/s200/IMG_5407.JPG" border="0" /></a> Paul finally arrived at 12.15am our time after a flight from China to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bangkok</span> and the a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">stop</span> for a few hours and then to us. It is so good to see him and 'welcome him to our Country' (??!) He's so much fun - the kids have been really excited and, within 2 minutes of getting out of the airport Josh was relaying story after story to him!! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ahh</span>.... Es hobbled there on her smashed toes!<br /><br />Got home about 1am and Paul sleeping now. I have taken the risk (well it is a risk if you are a Hider!) of not doing an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">itinerary</span> and seeing how we go as the week unfolds. Very different strategy to normal but then Paul is a seasoned traveller and knows what he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">wants</span> to see/do so I want him to hold the reigns.<br /><br /><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6Fx1m-loI/AAAAAAAATJ0/A6Yb2KOO_gY/s1600-h/IMG_5409.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228263308674373250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6Fx1m-loI/AAAAAAAATJ0/A6Yb2KOO_gY/s200/IMG_5409.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6GBsNf_6I/AAAAAAAATKE/Y8J1EAzf2bY/s1600-h/IMG_5408.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228263581029498786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6GBsNf_6I/AAAAAAAATKE/Y8J1EAzf2bY/s200/IMG_5408.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6FSO8_-XI/AAAAAAAATJs/xLQw7B3nD1M/s1600-h/IMG_5409.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6FE1fahiI/AAAAAAAATJc/zTVeReGPITA/s1600-h/IMG_5408.JPG"></a></div><br /><br />The kids had designed and made a banner saying 'welcome to India crazy Uncle Paul' and Raj had given him a massive plastic garland type thing! Paul looked light some sort of ganster rapper ready with his 'bling' It was hilarious watching the line of Indian drivers <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">queuing</span> up to get <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">their</span> business people at the arrivals gate watching us loony westerners doing all this mad stuff!<br /><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6EkXr-vkI/AAAAAAAATJM/hZUIE-vt8oI/s1600-h/IMG_5406.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228261977792364098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6EkXr-vkI/AAAAAAAATJM/hZUIE-vt8oI/s200/IMG_5406.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6FOUdfhYI/AAAAAAAATJk/LgDk-Lhg_FU/s1600-h/IMG_5405.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228262698480797058" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI6FOUdfhYI/AAAAAAAATJk/LgDk-Lhg_FU/s200/IMG_5405.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-55749996277878584482008-07-28T20:53:00.005+01:002008-08-01T05:44:56.731+01:00Seen this??Saw this on the BBC news website and followed the link to the you tube page. It's worth the wait to load and then take a look. Remember, best way I find is to hit pause, let it load and then play.<br /><br /><p align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/adYbFQFXG0U&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/adYbFQFXG0U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-46409361608718398612008-07-28T13:21:00.009+01:002008-07-28T13:37:04.788+01:00Relax! It looks worse than it is....<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI27z9hgWwI/AAAAAAAATIk/kF2FEyModBY/s1600-h/100_0777.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228041243809831682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI27z9hgWwI/AAAAAAAATIk/kF2FEyModBY/s320/100_0777.JPG" border="0" /></a>Oh dear!! Just after Dad was blogging/joking (below) about the changing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">of</span> Esme's earrings, she goes and knocks a solid teak dining room chair over onto her foot with the corner of the chair crashing on 2 of her toes. Ouch!!! Real bad pain and tears and all. Don't often get them from Es.<br /><br /><div></div><div>We feared she had broken the toes as they went numb etc and the pain was so bad so we took her to a local hospital and got her seen to. Paid a few rupees to see a doctor <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">immediately</span> (not like the UK!) who checked her out. No breaks and thbey bandaged the toes up and sent us home. </div><div></div><br /><div>The picture makes it look more grand than it was!! That's India for you - if they can serve you in some way- they will!!</div><br /><div>Going to and from the hospital in ricks with a daughter in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">excruciating</span> agony was fun I can tell you (!) but she's a brave old thing and is now chilling on the sofa ready to go to the airport to get Paul (my brother) who is now here at 11.30pm tonight.</div><div> </div><div></div><div>1st accident in 3 months though - not bad eh??!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-14431311024199724512008-07-28T04:38:00.005+01:002008-07-28T04:47:42.008+01:00More bombs..<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI1BLhuW6sI/AAAAAAAATIE/76JlG2M-h2w/s1600-h/15057336.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227906408734190274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI1BLhuW6sI/AAAAAAAATIE/76JlG2M-h2w/s400/15057336.jpg" border="0" /></a>It's getting a bit scary out here!! Although we are well away from the latest bomb blasts, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">atmoshpere</span> in the Country is fairly hyped at the moment.<br /><div><div><div><div></div><br /><div>The latest news this morning is that Indian authorities have arrested around 30 people as the death-toll from a spate of bombings in the city <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ahmedabad</span> has risen to 45.</div><br /><div>Vehicles burned where an device went off in Ahmadabad, leaving over 100 injured. At least 16 small bombs exploded in the Indian city of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ahmedabad</span> yesterday, killing at least 39 people and wounding 110.</div><br /><div>On Friday, as we mentioned on our blog, another set of blasts in Bangalore killed a woman.</div><br /><div>A little known group called the "Indian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mujahideen</span>" says it carried out the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ahmedabad</span> attack.<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI1AkqHUlOI/AAAAAAAATH0/bd92cUE_A_U/s1600-h/1425505.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227905740971480290" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SI1AkqHUlOI/AAAAAAAATH0/bd92cUE_A_U/s200/1425505.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The same group said it carried out bombs attacks that killed 63 people in the western city of Jaipur in May. It is unusual for any group to claim responsibility, but Police say it suspects militant groups from Pakistan and Bangladesh are behind a wave of bombings in recent years.<br /><br />"The entire nation, including major metro cities in India have been put on high alert and they have been asked to step up security in vital installations," a home ministry spokesman said.<br />In New Delhi, police have been using loudspeakers and distributing leaflets in crowded market places, warning people to watch out for unclaimed baggage and suspicious objects.</div><div></div><br /><div>Nothing major for us in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">terms</span> of impact other that every shop, restaurant or other major place you go to you have to open your bag and have it checked. Bit frustrating really but nothing else. </div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20660822.post-38620105575721203902008-07-27T15:58:00.011+01:002008-07-27T16:41:10.484+01:00And our final visitor is on his way....I have spent a load of time over the last 2/3 days (since the Husband family have gone) summing up what we have done and getting ready for the last few <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyUdxYoA8I/AAAAAAAATGk/Odnav9r5B70/s1600-h/man%2520and%2520computer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227716506664043458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyUdxYoA8I/AAAAAAAATGk/Odnav9r5B70/s200/man%2520and%2520computer.jpg" border="0" /></a>sessions with Raj. Some of the things that I have been working on have been:<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><strong>A 4 page summary of what we have done and how we have done it</strong>: I have mailed this out to most people on our e mail list. This has been useful for me (if no one else) to see and 'capture' what we (mainly I I guess) have done in the 3 months we have been out here. If I am honest I have no idea of the amount of stuff that was getting done as I went along. Hey, get me...I'm talking in past tense already!!!!</div><br /><p><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyWsnZ4E3I/AAAAAAAATHE/SbkGSdty8j4/s1600-h/ist2_3033569_questionnaire.jpg"></a>Questionnaire</span> to help Raj and I capture how things have gone in our time here: </strong>One of the ways that I am hoping will help Raj and I capture how we feel <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyW1hQz_xI/AAAAAAAATHM/GimK4UCntWs/s1600-h/ist2_3033569_questionnaire.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227719113676422930" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyW1hQz_xI/AAAAAAAATHM/GimK4UCntWs/s200/ist2_3033569_questionnaire.jpg" border="0" /></a>things have gone during our time here is by doing a simple <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">questionnaire</span>. I know it sounds all a bit grand and formal but I have come to the conclusion giving Raj (and me I guess) a bit of a structure to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">explain</span> and voice how he has felt about a whole host of different things will help in structuring the feedback we discuss.</p><p><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Partnership</span> agreements:</strong> One of the things I have tried to do with Tim (from our Church) and Rob (from Space2think) is capture what they/the church have said they <em>may</em> be prepared to help with when they get home. I have done the unashamedly to get more support for the trust for the coming year. My <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">experience</span> is that people can often commit to stuff whilst out here and then life 'back there' grabs them when the plane hits the runway and it all goes. My aim is to ensure this does not happen therefore!!</p><p>I have turned the chats we have had into 'potential areas of partnership' docs to suggest where both relationships might go over coming years. This will give me, Raj and the Trustees areas for discussion and development in the future. </p><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyT9WICOvI/AAAAAAAATGc/wNbzM3lRM5o/s1600-h/heirloom-tools-x.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227715949590887154" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyT9WICOvI/AAAAAAAATGc/wNbzM3lRM5o/s200/heirloom-tools-x.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p><strong>'Tools I have given' doc: </strong>I have tried to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">minimise</span> the amount of tools/paperwork that I have suggested that Raj and co use in the trust. I do feel strongly that they need a small, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">focused</span> base of structure to the paperwork/reporting systems they need to use. </p><p>I have suggested over the 3 months about 6 bits of paperwork that I think are essential (reports etc) and we have agreed that it is essential that these get used from now. To try and 'seal' this I have written a short document that makes clear what documents to use for what and, if they use them well, the impact that using these docs will have.</p><div><strong><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyTs8CKCrI/AAAAAAAATGU/1Eb7-A6tk0w/s1600-h/New+Picture+(1).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227715667709004466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyTs8CKCrI/AAAAAAAATGU/1Eb7-A6tk0w/s200/New+Picture+(1).jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">TFT</span> leaflet:</strong> I designed a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">TFT</span> leaflet and website (just the design) for the trust and we gave then to a designer to make them pretty. We have now had the first draft of the leaflet back and I have spent time tweaking this so it should be printed by the time we go home - I hope to bring some back with me..!</div><br /><div><strong>A 'prior permission' document to get western funding for the Trust</strong>: Out here you have to prove that you are good enough to handle funds from other countries so you apply for a thing called 'prior permission' from the government for a specific project. You have to describe it and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">benefit</span> it will bring to India and then say how much you think you will need over what period of time. </div><br /><div>We are submitting an application for permission to raise large sums of cash for the outdoor centre that is looming large for Raj and the trust.<br /></div><br /><div>This document has taken quite some time to do as I am starting from scratch doing this in a Country that is not mine. That said there is no format or structure to what you are meant to do so I decided, at Raj's request to just 'go for it'!!</div><br /><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyTPL7ZHzI/AAAAAAAATGM/RUFmKnoB23g/s1600-h/New+Picture.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227715156579524402" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyTPL7ZHzI/AAAAAAAATGM/RUFmKnoB23g/s200/New+Picture.jpg" border="0" /></a>So, as you can see, I've been a busy boy!! A huge part of this flurry of activity is because I have had 3 days in between when the Husbands go home and when my big brother comes to see us <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">tomorrow</span> night at 9.30pm. He will be flying in from China where he lives and works. If you have not seen his blog, please have a look <a href="http://360.yahoo.com/profile-27kxji8herNSSAc5pYV3qxIp.g--?cq=1">here</a>. He's a pro at it! Especially as we got a mention tonight <a href="http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-27kxji8herNSSAc5pYV3qxIp.g--?cq=1">here</a>....!!!!<br /><div></div><br /><div>We've not seen Paul for 3 years plus now so we are all really excited about seeing him again. He's great with our kids especially so they are so looking forward to seeing him.</div><br /><div></div><div>Here he is teaching a lesson in China:</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227717782638273378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Lq5fFS4D9QE/SIyVoCwlo2I/AAAAAAAATG0/HqhDswcNtpY/s400/model+lesson.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>Once Paul leaves we have about 5 more days here and then...home!!!</p></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com