Snakes and lizards
I think that we are being too casual about snakes. Mala is constantly telling me to close the doors, ( they haven't got nets on them yet- they're next on the list ) in case snakes get in to the house. Then , on Wednesday, when I was in the garden, I noticed a rounded hole in the grass. Mala got a plant pot and covered it, waved her hands in the air and wailed about snakes.
Apparently, as it is getting hotter , the snakes seek cooler places to go . The gardener filled in the hole but couldn't see any signs of a snake but there are some in Palm Meadows and there is a local snake catcher that we can call.
After this, I was reading the local news where a man from Bangalore was getting a taxi. While waiting , the doors had been left open in the car and, as they set off, a cobra slithered out from under a seat. The taxi driver stopped rather quickly and they abandoned the car.
I am now paranoid about leaving the doors open!
Mala further proved that the doors needed closing when we were sorting out the new bed downstairs. As we decided where to put things, she moved a curtain and a huge lizard with flappy toes ran out. We have seen them walking across the ceiling upside down on the outside terrace and so presume they have some sort of "suction pads".
Mala started to scream loudly which set me off and that caused Arjun to come running. We managed to usher it outside with two brooms while Arjun shook his head at the performance that we were making. Mala says that the lizards are fine outside but they can run over food that is uncovered and spread disease . So she has a point about closing the doors.
We have measured up for some nets!
Paintings and the Dyson
I had a man to come round and look at putting up our paintings. Arjun was not there at the time. I was feeling brave and thought that I could deal with things on my own. When the man starting saying rather large prices for things, Mala starting poking me, gently in the back, in warning . She sloped off to the kitchen to phone Arjun who then rang the man to tell him to come back another day when he was there.
Arjun then decided that he would put up the pictures and so we spent all of Thursday afternoon being his assistants , holding ladders and passing pictures. He did a really good job but there was lots of plaster dust on the floor afterwards.
I introduced Mala to the Dyson (again!). I think she thinks it is the work of the devil and was gingerly pushing the machine around like it might attack her. Mala always dusts with a few twigs like willow and, of course, the dust goes up in the air and up your nose. So, I showed her the Dyson to point out that it stops the dust going up in the air. She likes the hand held Dyson that is battery operate and rechargeable but I still haven't managed to win her over as she was back with the trusty twigs again this morning.
Holi
It is the festival of spring called Holi. This involves lots of coloured powder that people throw at each other and coloured water (in water pistols - the boys will be so pleased) There are also lots of coloured lights everywhere. In Palm Meadows we are going to go and throw the colours on Saturday morning. Needless to say, we will be wearing old clothes and Andrew may need to wear his bathing cap as white hair and coloured powder don't mix ! He has already been painted at work but just on his face. He even attended a meeting with the powder on him afterwards. I hope it wasn't too important.
Parties
We are hosting our first pizza party after the powder session. I have actually lost count of how many people that we have invited but it is at least 50! Mala is coming in to work on Saturday to help me Just as well, as she is better at chopping things than I am.
Then on Sunday we are at another party in the afternoon.
Max and Milo will never get all their homework done!
Our two shopping trollies for the party with Arjun and Mala.
Icecreams
On getting off the bus one day, it was really hot - about 35- we decided to go into the shop .We had an ice-cream and a drink and it was lovely.
We have been watching the news about all the snow and thinking of you all but we know where we would rather be !
I think that we are being too casual about snakes. Mala is constantly telling me to close the doors, ( they haven't got nets on them yet- they're next on the list ) in case snakes get in to the house. Then , on Wednesday, when I was in the garden, I noticed a rounded hole in the grass. Mala got a plant pot and covered it, waved her hands in the air and wailed about snakes.
Apparently, as it is getting hotter , the snakes seek cooler places to go . The gardener filled in the hole but couldn't see any signs of a snake but there are some in Palm Meadows and there is a local snake catcher that we can call.
After this, I was reading the local news where a man from Bangalore was getting a taxi. While waiting , the doors had been left open in the car and, as they set off, a cobra slithered out from under a seat. The taxi driver stopped rather quickly and they abandoned the car.
I am now paranoid about leaving the doors open!
Mala further proved that the doors needed closing when we were sorting out the new bed downstairs. As we decided where to put things, she moved a curtain and a huge lizard with flappy toes ran out. We have seen them walking across the ceiling upside down on the outside terrace and so presume they have some sort of "suction pads".
Mala started to scream loudly which set me off and that caused Arjun to come running. We managed to usher it outside with two brooms while Arjun shook his head at the performance that we were making. Mala says that the lizards are fine outside but they can run over food that is uncovered and spread disease . So she has a point about closing the doors.
We have measured up for some nets!
Paintings and the Dyson
I had a man to come round and look at putting up our paintings. Arjun was not there at the time. I was feeling brave and thought that I could deal with things on my own. When the man starting saying rather large prices for things, Mala starting poking me, gently in the back, in warning . She sloped off to the kitchen to phone Arjun who then rang the man to tell him to come back another day when he was there.
Arjun then decided that he would put up the pictures and so we spent all of Thursday afternoon being his assistants , holding ladders and passing pictures. He did a really good job but there was lots of plaster dust on the floor afterwards.
I introduced Mala to the Dyson (again!). I think she thinks it is the work of the devil and was gingerly pushing the machine around like it might attack her. Mala always dusts with a few twigs like willow and, of course, the dust goes up in the air and up your nose. So, I showed her the Dyson to point out that it stops the dust going up in the air. She likes the hand held Dyson that is battery operate and rechargeable but I still haven't managed to win her over as she was back with the trusty twigs again this morning.
Holi
It is the festival of spring called Holi. This involves lots of coloured powder that people throw at each other and coloured water (in water pistols - the boys will be so pleased) There are also lots of coloured lights everywhere. In Palm Meadows we are going to go and throw the colours on Saturday morning. Needless to say, we will be wearing old clothes and Andrew may need to wear his bathing cap as white hair and coloured powder don't mix ! He has already been painted at work but just on his face. He even attended a meeting with the powder on him afterwards. I hope it wasn't too important.
Parties
We are hosting our first pizza party after the powder session. I have actually lost count of how many people that we have invited but it is at least 50! Mala is coming in to work on Saturday to help me Just as well, as she is better at chopping things than I am.
Then on Sunday we are at another party in the afternoon.
Max and Milo will never get all their homework done!
Our two shopping trollies for the party with Arjun and Mala.
Icecreams
On getting off the bus one day, it was really hot - about 35- we decided to go into the shop .We had an ice-cream and a drink and it was lovely.
We have been watching the news about all the snow and thinking of you all but we know where we would rather be !
