Day to day in dehli

Dear studious student
Remember it is the journey that is enriching. You will have learnt so much. I look forward to hearing about Islam. Interesting the driver here uninitiated said the Muslim religion is not a good one as they are only interested in jihad.

I too have noted the gang rapes of foreign women in the city. It all sounds rather alarming as they take place in major areas not in the backwaters.

I was surprised how strict the security is going  into shopping malls. Emily does not rule out an incident similar to Nairobi.

I had a trip to the local market today which was fascinating. The huge bags of  different varieties of rice was a sight to see. Three goats were trotting down the street trying to scoop up what they could from the stalls with smallholders shooing them away.

I had an email from Steve the builder to say he had sorted the post and tree and the bay window.

So martino is back in circulation again. That was good to hear.

Well life in some respects is not that different to England.
Looking forward to seeing you
Love marketseeker

Tummies and tummies

Dear uphiller

Dehli greeted us with a ride to the medical centre. Emily has been suffering for the past couple of days and is no better and now Charlie has succumbed. We think it is because he's walled the swimming pool water.  So hey ho both boys are asleep as is Emily, Simon is at work and I am holding the fort.

Our driver overslept this morning. We should have left at 5 but did not turn up until 5.20, so the ride to the airport and the subsequent check in was an anxious one particularly with people not feeling well. Luckily anything goes in India and our agent queue hopped us.

Welcome back to the fog of dehli though it has cleared up now and is sunny.

We had a ride in a small yacht yesterday and the captain let Toby and Charlie steer which delighted them no end.  Health and safety lax, security very tight.

I do not expect to be doing much over the next couple of days as Charlie will not be able to go to nursery so I expect to be looking after him.

I was wondering about the weather and rain etc. have you been to haulcon to check the leak recently. Did you have any joy getting in touch with dan re Steve the builder. I have not had an email from him.

Noise and persuasive talk leaves a gal quite weary.

Have had your assessment mark yet?

Love the weary one

Rats

Dear uphiller
I have just written a reasonable post and it has disappeared
Love the weary one

Uphill, in Uphill

Dear Travelling Lady,

1  On Saturday I travelled easily and comfortably to Weston-super-mare, there to have lunch with Pauline Simonis, there to travel with her to the residential home where the onetime navigator lives.  He was one of some 12 residents in the room.  Like them he spends his days sitting in a chair.  Yet when I came into his view he greeted me by name straightaway.  For a while, we three chatted amiably.

2  However, the visit differed markedly from previous ones.  At Pauline's behest, he was hoisted from his chair into a wheelchair.  My Lourdes skills were then called into play.  At the gate, we turned left up the steady incline.  I was pushing uphill in Uphill, a local district, towards a disused quarry, which is now the location of what turned out to be a warm and welcoming cafe.  So I pushed steadily with Pauline as auxiliary.  Up we went, in the warmth of a sunshine day to the cafe.

2.1  In the cafe, we settled ourselves eventually.  The pot of tea was delivered together with the cup of coffee (for the navigator).  Carrot cake followed.  Shabby sofas, stout tables and chairs, a general sense of 'Take your ease and your time'.  The conversation continued.  Hons seemed at ease, settled.  He enjoyed the cake, he took his coffee.  All was well.  By the time we left, we had spent a companionable time in the companionable place.  The ride back, of course, was easy.  I hung on to the hand-trips whilst Pauline continued to act as look-out.  

2.2  A simple excursion but a notable one.  Hons has been in the home for about two years.  During that time he has not been out of the home.  So it was a pleasure for wife without a doubt and, so far as one could judge, for husband as well.  According to Pauline most of the residents were not visited.  One was being visited at the time we left with Hons in the wheelchair.  The elderly woman's middle-aged daughter was showing her mother some photographs which were installed on her iPad.  One photograph was of the mother was a member of a cycling group.  There they all were, not a lycra garment to be seen.  No helmets.  No cycling shoes as we understand them.  A cycling group from long ago.

3  Ah, I have the clear sense that I have been repeating and was about to repeat myself.  So I will conclude with a mention of my fourth visit to the detainee.  We continue to to get on.  He has a job so he is now able to telephone his eight-year-young daughter.  We talked about G(od's) W(onderful) R(ailway) and about the merits of having a word with his solicitor.  

4  As I missed swimming earlier today, my thoughts turn to a swim later this evening.  In any case, I will call into Haulcon in order to watch the second programme about the lives of the people who live in Benefits Street, a street in B irmingham where the proportion  of those who live on benefits is high.

5  I hope you continued to enjoy Kerala.  A fine break from the weather in Delhi.  You'll notice the difference.

Even so, continue to enjoy.

Lots of love

The Ancient.

The cycles continue

Dear travelling lady

1  Thanks for the post.  Ah, I remember those 'it'll be ready tomorrow' days.  Be measured.  Be ready for the delivery and fitting of the newly made suit.  At a cheap price too.  Lives to live, livelihoods to make.  It's what make the world go round.  

2 A return shortly to the big book; later a return to Heythrop and a first acquaintance with the person who who talk to us about the impact of modernity on Islam and about some current issues within the religion.  Maybe just one variant.  We'll see.

3  In the meantime, I am about to book two seats for the NT performance of Coriolanus on Thursday 30 January. I will book tomorrow.  Remember, by the way, Peter Mansfield-Clark's retirement celebration will be held on the following day 31 January.  And you will have read my e-mail about Hever bridge.  Put all the dates in your diary.

4  Swimming this morning; then to Haulcon.  Everything there was fine.  No disorder.

5  I'm still keen to develop some sense of the spatial relationships in your part of Farawayland.  (i) Where can I find it on Google Earth?  or (ii) Suppose your quarters were in Trafalgar Square, where are any other features, including the High Commission, the Red Fort, and the centre of New Delhi, Old Delhi, or wherever.  

6  Enjoy your holiday in Kerala.  A few days on the beach - no fog, no dust - will make time pass (which, I know, I know, would have passed anyway: a pervasive production, was it not?  I know little about the state save for its high level of literacy and its onetime communist government.

Thinking of you.

Stayathome

  

Life goes on

1.  I was pleased to hear that you continue to push yourself on that turbo. Life never changes for the chaps.  At least it gave you a beak from the cerebral.  However it will begin again today.

2.  Today is another child morning. The parents leave about 7.30 and either one returns about 1. Toby is getting to grips with the balance bike. Yesterday was a slightly better day so we could go out into the garden.  Confinement is rather claustrophic for me.

3.  The leather man came to the house yesterday with all sorts of beautiful bags at a low price. As you can imagine they can copy an designer one.  Home shopping has a different hue not on line but come to the lounge any time any day. If it's not the right colour we will make it by tomorrow. Labour is not in short supply here.

4.  Emily is briefing a conservative politician reena Patel, I think,  on Indian politics today. I must ask her about it today.  By the time we get the boys in bed everyone is tired and bedtime soon comes round.

5.  We are off to Kerala very early tomorrow so we shall see what's what. Our first stop is the beach and the inland to a maze of canals and lakes.

6.  By the way I take it the bay window is still leaking as there was a puddle.  I did email Steve by had no response. Could you do me a favour and contact dan to ask if Steve is about. Explain the problem and say I did send an email.

7.  Better close snack time for boys.

Traveller

Training

Good morning, good morning

1  To Haulcon yesterday evening.  All was well there.  I settled myself on the settee: shoes off, feet under the heavy cushions, shawl over my length. Watched a programme about sacred places in Britain.  Just up my street. Lost some of the programme (of course).  But I can look at it again.  The following programme was about the war (of course): a programme about an British-led convoy to Archangel.  That programme too was well done.  Back to the Hall.

2  No early-morning swimming.  Instead, there will be a turbo-session.  (More later)  The session began at 1130 and lasted the usual hour.  My trainer, my mentor, stood by my side.  He kept me to the task: no slackening of the cadence.  However, he also supplied the water and the towel.  Having completed 50 minutes of sustained cycling, I then continued with a ten-minute warm-down, as I have done before.  As a result there was no stiffening of the legs.  After a bowl of soup, David and I walked into town.  No ill effects.

2.1  And I met a young Humphrey.  A couple passed with the young dog.  I offered a cheerful comment, rubbed the dog's head, and, immediately, I was his friend.  Good old Humphreys.

3  I have also spoken to Ray.  He will join us at Hever.  We talked about a subsequent game or two.  To be held in the morning, a bowl of soup, and then we all get on with the rest of the day.  Liam?  We'll see.

4  Ah, I have remembered what I wanted to say.  First,Coriolanus.  I would like to see the NT production in Uckfield.  I take it you'd like to see it?  Let me know and I'll book the tickets.  (ii) Peter Mansfield-Clark will be retiring at the end of the month.  Please join me at the celebration to mark his retirement on Friday 31 January in the Civic Hall.

Lots of love, good lady, from the Ancient.  I may have another evening off, before I return to the books tomorrow. I gave news of you to David; he may be in touch with you by e-mail.

Thinking of you

The Ancient

Swimming tomorrow.

Assignment free

Dear travelling lady

1  Ah, ha.  I have light about the way of composing in the normal (rather than HTML fashion).  

2  Thanks for the account of the escape.  Well done.  This first escape may lead to others.  Earlier today in Haulcon (see below) I dipped into your guide to India.  I read about the Red Fort in Delhi.  And about Old Delhi.  So there must be a New Delhi, a designation which is familiar.  So take a few sentences in the next missive to tell me about the spatial relationships between quarters, New and Old Delhis.  

3  Otherwise, I visited Haulcon.  There was a puddle on the floor.  There was no sign of water at or near the strip over the window.  Otherwise, all looked well.  You have three personal letters, including the small package which you sent to Cologne.  It had been returned because of an 'insufficient address'. The address looked OK to me.

3  I called into Larry and Jeannie.  Larry and I spoke about ..... Belfast.  Three of the four crewmen mentioned in the Times were shown in the book.  A companionable pair.  A cup of tea and a digestive and a chat.

4  A visit to the detainee.  He's the engaging one.  In a long, uninterrupted account he told me of his predicament.  He has a fear of injury or worse if he returns empty-handed to Ghana.  He borrowed the  money for his flight all those years ago.  He has not repaid any of it.  He has applied for asylum because of fear.  His case has been in the judicial system for ... years.  A removal order was cancelled recently.  And so on.  

5  I can imagine that he doesn't have the opportunity of talking in this uninterrupted way to a listener.  As I listened, I was conscious that the declaration itself may have been doing some good.  No substantive change in the situation.  Perhaps a more settled temperament.  He is still wearing the slight outfit in which he was dressed when we first met, two weeks ago.  I have asked for clothes and have just prompted Anna.

6  I will visit David tomorrow for a turbo-session.  Independent of rain.  An hour on the turbo will help things along.  

7  If you do visit the Red Fort, notice the way what we call the Indian Mutiny are handled.  The victors have the power to designate.  The initial losers, though, can mutate into the eventual victors.  In St Patrick's cathedral in Dublin there is a brass memorial to two (I sense) army officers who were killed in the Rebellion of 1916.  Rebellion is quite different, is it not, from Rising?

8  Returned from Brook House, I returned a book to the library.  A fine of £3 was to be paid.  My having two others similarly overdue books emerged.  Total fine - £9.  

9  I may visit Haulcon later on to watch a hour or more of television.

Lots of love.  

The Ancient

Let out

1.  Today was the day I escaped to dehli hat the craft market and had a pleasant hour wandering around. I did not have a mobile so agreed to meet the driver on the steps one hour later.  As I was waiting I heard the shout of granny

2.  The next plan was to go swimming at the high commission which was so appealing. Sadly it was not to be as the pool had no water and was shut for maintenance for a month so there was nothing for it but it sit in the crazy duck cafe and read my book.

3.  The duvet and table cloth man came to the house a couple of hours ago. Lots of hand embroidery and beautiful designs.

4.   Well that,s it for the moment

Grappler with india

A telephone call

Dear travelling lady 1 Thanks for your post. I had been wondering if there was a break in communications. Perhaps you had already gone to Kerala. Perhaps you had been locked out of the quarters. Or you may have gone on a walkabout. All such speculation has been suppressed. Communications have been re-established. 2 I have just telephoned Kathleen O'Callaghan. I was looking for plaudits for NN (enhanced). (Maybe I should just join the conspiracy of silence.) So I gave the news about Jim. And about you. Then, it was time to pass the parcel to Kathleen. She told me that she had been suffering from two hairline breaks in .... . She had developed a tremor (in her arm, maybe) and had to complete a daily exercise plan. She then spoke about her elder daughter, Catherine. She has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. At that time, it seemed a good idea to close the conversation. But I reminded myself of the merits of News from the Family a couple of times a year. It's in my mind to look for an opportunity of a day-return visit to Beverley. Not now. 3 Ah, the assignment. It occupied me yesterday. When I went to bed, the assignment had not been completed. I took the morning off. I went to the station to say hello to the sturdy cyclists. I then went to Mass in St Peter's, where I enjoyed the feeling of it all. The interlude concluded. Back to the assignment. The end was in sight. Yes, I concluded the assignment, tidied it, let it be for a while. Then I had to relearn the way of submitting an assignment through the electronic system. Yes, I had to relearn. I had to take care because the system allows just the one submission. I did take care, I did key the submission button. I received an acknowledgement. Tomorrow will be an assignment-free day. 4.1 And what about the assignment? It prompted me to read pages in the big fat book. I am more familiar with the book than I was. I have also read and used material about A Catholic Modernity. I'm glad I read that article as it has introduced to a way of thinking about the relationship between state-power and Catholicism. And about the assumed identity in, say, the nineteenth century and Christian missionary endeavours. Yes, there's a lot going on. It's not easy, but it's worthwhile. So I have been at ease during the week. 5 There will be more reading to accomplish during this week. I will read a chapter of Taylor. I also have my copy of Max Hastings' Catastrophe. However, I will begin the day tomorrow with a visit to Haulcon and - perhaps - a visit to CP. 6 Keep sending the news. I have the 200-pupil school in mind. I wondered about the funding and about the number of teachers. The able expatriate was a one-time Naval attache, I gather. He is evidently a good egg. Ah, I wondered who were the pupils. 6.1 And I wonder how the local media handled the stories of rape and incineration. Continue to look about and to record. There'll be much to listen to when, in due course, you return to this village. Lots of love Stayathome

Tickling bottom - a result

1.  Delhi was covered in its usual foggy state, which made the decision to leave much easier. Drive out of Delhi in search of clearer air.

2.  Puzzlement and curiosity was aroused as we strayed further and further in the country along bumpy cart tracks. A promise of a Sunday lunch at a guest house run by an ex naval attaché and his wife.

3.  The air indeed was clear and the sun shone when we arrived out of nowhere at tickling bottom. The house was impressive with emus running about which amused the boys for ages.

4.  A Sunday lunch was served with a poem from Kipling, after I had enquired what drove him to retirement. The poem entitled gods of the copybook ... Epitomised his beliefs about society. He felt England had become silly especially being governed by the Brussels. Find the poem and read it.

5.  He has set up a school in the village which now has over 200 pupils. He strongly believes in educating. A friend of theirs was volunteering and they are always looking for people.

6.   I really felt it was like the life if the raj when I had a gin and tonic.

7.   I hope the assignment has gone well.
The traveller

Postings, intrusions

Dear faraway lady 1 Lets start with the intrusions, as they are everwhere, so it seems, on my screen. The time has come to call upon Simon Clarke for a clear-out of my system. I also want to be able to use the normal function. Otherwise, the day is under way. I've read something of The Times, electronic version. I've said hello to the stream. Shaved, showered, hair brushed. I am ready to go to St S for the calm duty as WSCC collector. I hope I remember. 2 A couple of points. Yesterday, I recall, I was naive enough to wonder if public affairs were part of the adults' conversation. In the family, the adults talk about what they usually talk about. If they talk about David Cameron, of the first leader in The Times at home, that's what they talk about on positing. If they talk about other things, then it's to be expected that the talk, on posting, will be about other things. 2.1 There's a connected point. In The Times, in The Economist, I have been reading about Hollande, about le Front National. In an e-mail to my chums, the Windys, an-email which accompanied my Nightingale News, I mentioned these two phenomena. In his reply, my chum added nothing to what I already knew. Even if he had reported what some people in the village had said, those reports would (in all probability) have added little to what I had read. 2.2 There's a second connected point. (Just read on. It's not infectious.) The second leader in today's Times is about the condition of women in India. There were references to recent cases of rape in Delhi and to the inadequate following investigation. There were references to the burning of women because of disputes over dowries. And to the destruction of female foetuses and to female infanticide. And to the gender of the prime minister and to the Leader of Congress. As I read, I knew it all. I had read about it all before. 3 So back to the matters of moment. After my stint in the parish hall, I will make my way to the library. I'd like to complete the assignment today. If I do, then I can read it tomorrow - I don't think I will be cycling - make any final amendments and - wait for it - submit it. Once it has been submitted, as you know, I can get on with the rest of my life. 4 I met Liam again in Waitrose. I told him the bridge results. Ah, he said, if only we (like Nic and Rod, had made the thirteenth trick in one of the small-slam contracts, then ... . We talked. I wonder what you would have said. Waiting for news. The Ancient

Postings, intrusions

Postings

Dear faraway lady, 1 A busy day already. I have read The Times, the electronic version, that is, in bed. I have said hello to the stream, of course. Max Hastings' Castastroph

Dear faraway lady 1 Good morning. I've been to say hello to the stream. It didn't take much notice, indeed any notice, of me: it was too busy streaming. The forecast is rain, rain, followed by further rain. So that's it. I will have breakfast and then walk with my laptop and books to the library. There, I will work for the day. 1.1 The assignment? I continue to work on it. The more I work on it the more I get my head around the material. There is no substitute (that I have found) for hard slogging. Just keep at it. Whatever the condition of the (eventually) submitted piece, my thinking will have developed over the period of the slogging. I have also registered that I must allow plenty of time for the compilation. 2 Bridge. Four and a half tables. Amiable, as always. Liam and I bid and made two small slams. So did others. 3 I am expecting Ashley this evening. 4 Ah, even as I key, the sky has cleared. It may be a day of clear skies followed by rain followed by clear skies ... 5 Otherwise, I sense that you have had an indoor time, save for the excursion to the small Sainsbury's. What has the talk been about, apart from the family doings. Anything about public affairs? The Ancient

Dedar Gated lady

After bruidge

the PC is enchanted

Dear AtHome lady 1

Ins and outs

Dear stayathome
1.  Shopping
I was promised a trip to a large western supermarket.  A similar size to sainsbury's I supposed.  How wrong can one be. It was a large corner shop crammed with all sorts, including asda anti pasta meat selection. I wonder which suitcase that came in. Any western goods are extremely expensive.

2.  Tourist attraction
Charlie is the main tourist attraction here. Random people including men in their 20s  come and ask if they can take a picture of Charlie. This occurs frequently. They all want to pinch his cheeks. We visited a moguls tomb . I believe there would have been more pictures taken of Charlie than the tomb.

3. Children
One thing that amazes me is when I see little children on their own weave through the heavy traffic to cross the road. Another instance of a mother working in a large hole with baby sitting on the edge. No health and safety here. Emily told me of a mother in the high commission who takes her two children 8 and 10 to one of the slums every Sunday to read to the children there.  And of course the children here keep me very busy. Both want grandma. Toby is having one of his bad phases but that might be owing to the excitement of Christmas.

4.  Mary
Mary the Cook and General help is catholic and we drove past the church yesterday. Emily says some convert to Christianity to get out of the caste system but even then they get a bit of a raw deal.