September

 

Back to School

 

The boys are so excited. They are back to physical school for 4 days a week.(not full days though although they still have to be on the bus at 7:10am, but home by 3pm). Max has been back for a week and Milo goes on 14^th September. This is just for the secondary aged children, the primary age group are not allowed back yet.

We had to fill in a medical form and both of them  needed a test before they went back. Usually before they go back to school, we go to get all the uniform but this time that was not possible. They must wear jeans and a collared shirt until they get all of their uniform. Their usual uniform is one formal one with chino trousers, shirt, tie and sturdy brown shoes with green socks. They have a shorts and tee shirt set that they wear with trainers and the green matching socks.

The buses will run with 50% of the students. Max enjoyed his week last week, but preferred eating outside to eating in the canteen. He thought it was too crowded and he didn’t like being inside. Luckily, the classrooms are very airy with a good breeze that comes from the surrounding fields. The grounds of the school are beautiful and green and there are lots of seating areas in the shade.

 Milo can’t wait to go. It will be his first time at secondary school. Exciting !

I wrote this a couple of days ago and now Milo has started. He had a wonderful day.

 

Washing machine and builders from hell!

I am fed up with the washing machine. It is like being a student with something that never works properly. The machine is very old and always breaking down. The washing machine man, Irfan, is good at turning up and fixing it, but it really is on it’s last legs. It is amazing how many new parts the machine has had and each time we think it will be the end. Then a few weeks ago, the spinning cycle didn’t sound right and there followed a terrible burning smell.

 

A new motor was fitted after a few days of waiting. Now this week the drum has completely filled with water and is leaking out of the front part. It cannot drain by itself. I await his next visit with anticipation.

 

This is on top of the week where I have waited patiently each day for the plumber, tiler and shower fixer man to turn up.

We have had a leak in the shower for quite a while and the water has gone through the wall and into the kitchen. It was decided that a new shower was needed and the tiles removed and replaced. Apparently, the shower is causing the leak.

 

The owner has been trying to arrange someone to come and do it. Several plumbers and builders have been to look but then not committed to anything.

 

Then one agreed !  Yay!

 

But not in a way that a normal person would consider a business deal.

 

On Monday, there was great enthusiasm from the group of 3 work men that turned up four including the house owner’s driver who is also his handy man.

“

Three days, only madam. Three days “  

 

 

They proceeded to use a hand - held jack hammer to get the old tiles out and a huge hammer that just thudded against the wall.

Head phones on for Milo for online school and for Andrew.

 

 On this Monday, Andrew said he would supervise the men in the bathroom.

This was a mistake as he was really too busy working online and talking to people to supervise.

After a couple of hours, I came back and noticed the work men had all gone. I asked Andrew and he said they have finished for the day as they can’t do anymore. It was 1pm or there abouts.

 

“ They’ve cleaned up, “ he declared , as he continued his work on his computer without looking up.

 

 Cleaned up  my *********! I don’t think so!  

 

There was a trail of cement dust right from the bathroom, down the stairs and out of the house. I could follow the foot -prints and track them outside to where they had put their shoes back on.

 In the bathroom itself, they had left all the cement and tile pieces, sprayed like a machine gun, all over the floor, toilet, window sill and even on top of the water heater. There was a fine dust haze lingering everywhere. I had to fetch my shoes to get anywhere near. Added to this, they had used the toilet paper that  was there to wipe the walls and this was just a soggy mess thrown on the floor.

 

The “bounce like a ping pong ball around the room “ syndrome came back. I was fuming!

Grace and Swapna had the day off because they had both had their second vaccines and were not well, so it meant that I had to start cleaning up so that we could walk easily without having all the tiny shards of debris stuck to our feet. Also the floor felt slippery.

 

I was muttering so many obscenities under my breath and wondering which ones I could use the next time they were here without being understood as I smiled and said them, slipping them in as if they were a compliment .

 

So,

 “ yes, you are ******** at building, are you a ********** **** ****? “

 

Forward to the next day:

 

“ We will be there at 9am, madam ok, ok, ok  “

 

At 3 (!) they turned up, spent an hour ‘rendering’ (another complete bodge job, I have the nagging feeling that they had never played with playdough and understood how to smooth things over) and putting the pipes in for the shower connections, no sign of using a plumb line to set it straight, just by eye. I think one of them is cross- eyed - It’s not straight …

 

They couldn’t take the rubble away as they had no bags or any implement to lift it (a spade) They couldn’t sweep up because they had no equipment. (They probably had the same screw driver as the electrician thinking that would help….)

 This after they had tidied up.

 

I stomped off and gave them our sweeping brush and they proceeded to push the dust around in circles in the bathroom. I presumed that they had swept in the bedroom.

 

Then off they went again, the render needed to dry.

 Later, as I walked across the bedroom floor, I realised that their sweeping skills were not that good, there was dust and tiny pieces of cement again on the walking trail from the bathroom to the door. So, I cleaned it all again.

 Wednesday came, no one turned up. No message.

 Thursday came and the times ranged from “ we will be there at 9, then 11, then 3 , 5 “

I sent a message to question whether they had given up at attempting to come – no reply.

 Of course, they did not come. The house owners were trying their hardest to sort it out, but it was so difficult. We think work men can be awkward in the UK but here they just don’t bother to turn up or even to answer their phone.

 Then Friday came. Three work men and the owner’s driver came to supervise. (He’s a nice chap.) Yay!

 I followed them like a mad woman, nagging them and telling them what they were going to do first. I reminded them that I had been in the house for 4 days waiting for them and I was not best pleased.

 

 the tiles are on - for now.

The rubble needed taking out and they had brought bags (because I had told the driver to bring them). They set about doing this, silently and quickly.

As three of them removed the rubble, the fourth one set about doing “pretend plumbing things” in the bathroom.

Patrick, our friend, came to visit so I went downstairs, he was bringing a gift from France for us (saucisson). It meant I was forced to take my beady eyes off them.

I dashed back upstairs when he had gone to find the fourth guy mixing cement in a bucket on the WHITE MARBLE FLOOR! No sheet, absolutely nothing to protect the lovely floor. The cement was spilling on the floor all around the bucket.

 

Now, I don’t swear, but my language was quite colourful. It’s not my house, but the floor is beautiful, and I had visions of the cement staining it.

The boy just stared at me. He had no sense of understanding or rush about him to sort it out.

This is where the Indian way of responding is strange. He was waiting for his instructions about what to do. Often Indian workers do not decide themselves but will wait to be told by a superior. Fortunately, Husain came back at that moment, and I told him to get the bucket  and the cement bag off the floor quickly. Husain translated and the boy did as he was told but he had no idea that making up the cement there was not a good idea. No idea whatsoever! I suppose I am presuming that everyone lives in a house with a proper flooring and walls but disaster was averted.

 

Once the cement/ plaster was in a safe place, I edged away and decided that maybe it was best not to watch for a while in order to stop myself from exploding.

 

I had a cup of tea and then went back. Three people were watching the one working on the tiles. All seemed well. They called me to show me that the tiles were in place and said that they would come back the next day when the tiles were dry and fixed in place.

 

 

It was then Saturday, Andrew was home so I could tag him to do the watching.

He had a few stern words about his expectations for the morning and the chaps got on diligently.

 

Or so we thought.

 

We returned shortly to the workmen announcing that it was all working as they showed us the wet floor and the shower still fixed to the wall. We did have visions of the shower coming away from the wall

 

They left taking their screw driver with them. We went to examine the new shower and I pulled the lever up to switch on the water for the rain shower head to work and the handle came off in my hand !

 

They had not fixed it in place with the grub screw that was there in the fitting because the screw driver doesn’t work as an allen key is needed!

I was now laughing uncontrollably as it was so comical. Andrew had steam coming out of his ears like a cartoon character.

 

 The handle has come off

He called them back. They were just up the road from Palm Meadows so hadn’t got very far.

Meanwhile, Andrew checked everything else.

They crept back in again and Andrew was ready for them. He showed them how to screw on the shower head so it didn’t lean, how to twist the lower tap into position and he showed them the allen key and how it works. He also asked how on earth they call themselves plumbers when they can’t manage a basic job!! What a bunch of useless cowboys…

Luckily despite the shoddy job, the new shower is working and still positioned on the wall as are the tiles. It’s been a week.

 Everybody, fingers crossed.

 

Social Life

 It has been quite mad and hectic with our evenings and days out. People are  more confident about going out as long as the event is outside to allow distancing and ventilation. Of course, here there are lots of outdoor restaurants and places to have coffee. We have been super busy meeting different people in different places but always outside if we can manage it.

Last weekend, we were invited to Nalini’s house for an evening with a group of people that we know in the city centre. The boys couldn’t go because the apartment block only allows parties if the people have been vaccinated.

 

We said that the boys could invite their friends over for a movie night and pizza, so they were excited about that. They had 5 friends over.

 

At our party, Nalini had prepared mildly spiced Indian food and it was lovely. But after the main course, to my surprise, a beautiful cake appeared, and everyone sang Happy birthday . ( It was my birthday the next day ) It was so special. I also had a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a bowl that you put outside your door and put flowers and water in from Michael and Ken. I still need to find the real name for it!

We left the party about 12:30am (curfew started at 9pm) but luckily no police roadblocks to stop us.

We got in and remembered that the boys had had their own party. They had “tidied “ up. By this, they meant that they had moved the empty crisp packets, pizza boxes, coke bottles and tissues from the coffee table to the kitchen work top. But at least they had tried. They had had such an exciting time with their friends which is what they really need at the moment.

 

My actual birthday was lovely too.  We went out for breakfast with friends and then in the evening we went into the city to a very nice Greek/ Mediterranean restaurant with some different friends. We went past the curfew time again but as we were in a restaurant, as soon as 8:45 pm arrives, they turn off all the lights and stop serving. We were left in candle light which actually encouraged us to stay longer rather than making us leave.

 

 

Ganesh  Chaturthi

 

On Friday 10^th September it was the festival of Ganesh Chaturi. This is where everyone celebrates Lord Ganesh. Clay idols of the deity are honoured and garlands of bright flowers put around his neck.  His blessings are often invoked at religious ceremonies as he is the one who can remove all obstacles to success, particularly when people are starting a new business or enterprise. Ganesh is known as the giver of fortune and one who can help to avoid natural calamities. Ganesh is also the patron god of travelling. Arjun has a mini one on his dashboard to help guide us (not guidance like a Satnav, but spiritual guidance which sometimes is required in Indian traffic…)

Ganesh is depicted with an elephant's head on a human body and in the Hindu tradition, he is the son of Lord Shiva and the Goddess Parvati.  At the end of the day the idols are submersed into the sea (or any convenient local body of water)

 

 This was the Ganesh at Patrick's house in Palm Meadows

Andy was so happy playing in the water 

 The owner of the farm rescues cows.

We had been invited to the farm where we had visited a few weeks ago to go and plant some tree saplings. Pradeep had arranged for a priest to come to do a Pooja for Lord Ganesh at the farm. We all joined in with the ceremony. After the Pooja we went to plant the trees behind the farm where there are some lakes that look to be old brick pits that are filling with water. The trees are being planted around the edge of the lake. Pradeep has already planted a mini forest in the local area and he is now working on the lake area.  We all planted several trees each. We took Andy with us and he was so happy jumping in and out of the lake and running around with the bigger boys (Finn and Solo) but he smelt so bad afterwards. He‘s had two baths since then to sweeten him up.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Coles in India - August '21 

 

Milo’s birthday

Swapna and Grace

Milo had Neel round for tea and they spent ages playing with the PC box.

It was Milo’s birthday on 15^th July. Swapna and Grace made him a chocolate cake which was lovely. Milo had asked every day for about 8 months, in various modes of persuasion, if he could have a PC for gaming. He was prepared to go without everything to have one, including all future Christmas and birthday presents. He even managed to tidy his bedroom once or twice. He had promised us that he would earn lots of money and give some of it to us if he could have a PC. After much internet research and advice, we managed to find one to buy for him ( there was a shortage here ) He is so pleased, and mealtimes are spent with him chatting in a jargon that Andrew and I do not understand  at all as he discusses his online gaming. It has been three weeks, though, and there is still no sign of any big earnings yet. He says we just need to give him time!

 

Max’s birthday

The cake was rather rather large

Grace and Swapna presenting Max with his flowers

He got a mug that looks like a camera lens

Max was 15 on Thursday. He has achieved so much and is such a kind, considerate young man. He has gone from being nervous and shy to being confident and able to chat to anyone. We are so proud of him. When asked what he wanted for his birthday, he said that he needed a pencil case as he had run out of pens! No big fancy presents for him. He now has plenty of pens (and other gifts too.) He is thinking what he would like with the money he got from everyone.

Swapna and Grace went to town on an enormous cake for Max after the success with Milo’s cake. When they were secretly trying to hide the cake from Max, I happened to see what they were doing and how big it was. So, when I said, “ will it fit in the fridge?”, their eyes widened. I could see their desperation.

Grace wailed “ oh no, we hadn’t thought of that!”

We have two fridges, one belonging to the house which is not in such a good working order, but it does work and it has wider shelves. I set about removing all the beer and wine (emergency stocks in case of a sudden lockdown) so that one shelf was completely empty. Luckily, the cake, on its silver board, just managed to fit in so it was safely hidden from Max.

He had to spend the day online at school, but he had a happy day. He was impressed with his cake although the firework candle was rather rubbish and just exploded.  

 School

 Online school has started on the 2nd August. There is a glimmer of hope on the horizon as the local government is toying with the idea of opening schools like the rest of the world. But then in Kerala, which is the state next door to Karnataka, the numbers are beginning to go up. Now, the people are only allowed cross the border if they have a negative test. The school that the boys go to have gone to great lengths to get the school ready to open and reckon that they can open within 24 hours of the government giving the go ahead. Fingers crossed it will not be long, they have been online for 17 months now. In the paper today it says the local government have said that schools can open from August 23 rd. Fingers double crossed .

 

Micro containment

The numbers of covid are stable, we think, but the local government department, the BBMP, (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) has a new strategy to manage any surge in numbers. We all know that things got out of hand in the last wave and that the government is keen to prevent another dreadful wave but what they have done yesterday is a bit bonkers.

We have had no covid cases in Palm Meadows for 75 days. Then, 3 people have been tested positive within one household and have honestly informed the authorities (which you must do). But they have done what they are supposed to do.

The other night, we all got a message on the community app to say that the house had been barricaded & sealed and the surrounding villas, in front, behind and to the side, had been put in to quarantine until everyone, including staff have been tested. But, even if the residents test negative, they must isolate and “must not walk on the road “. Although it states, the staff can come back and work if they test negative. This would mean travelling on buses and mingling with the general public, but the residents are not allowed out for 14 days! 

Meanwhile, the BBMP will do surprise visits to check on those people. That will keep them on their toes!

Unfortunately, not all Indian people have rational thought  and are sympathetic. There is a lot of blame put on people who get Covid and they are shouted at, or shunned. We had one case before where one household in Palm Meadows were demanding that their neighbours keep their windows closed in case the virus managed to leap through the open window! Luckily, the people on the committee here are very good and will help the family out, getting supplies and anything the 'patients' need. Most people here are sympathetic, kind and will do anything to help others, it is unfortunately the minority who can make others feel really uncomfortable.

I went for a bike ride this morning, like I do every day and I went past the 'targeted' house. There was tape all around the trees, the pathway and house. All the neighbours were being tested by the suited medical staff. I peddled away quickly just in case the virus was pouncing on people as they went past!

Andrew has regular tests and he had had a test yesterday, so as we were reading this message the other night, I was shooting daggers at him because if he was positive then the whole street would be put into quarantine!  (he’s negative, thank goodness) so I think the blame game is spreading!

The only problem with all this stigmatising is that it will stop people getting tested because if they are positive if everyone around their villa has to go into quarantine, whether they have had any contact or not. But, on the other hand, some people did blatantly leave their houses when they had been diagnosed with covid in the last wave, so I think the BBMP really can not win. 

 This was in the last wave where the BBMP sealed two flats with 2 children and a mother in one flat and an elderly couple in the other one.  Metal sheeting was used. The manager of the flats put it on twitter to complain, worrying about if there was a fire. The BBMP went back to remove the panels. But the fact that this idea was even considered, is the worrying part. Luckily, the house in Palm Meadows just has the equivalent of police tape around the trees.

Andy (The Dog!)

 Usually when Andy needs to see the vet, the vet comes to the house and all is well. We wanted to get Andy neutered (still referring to the dog!) so that he couldn’t entertain his lady friends so enthusiastically, but that vet’s surgery is an hour away. There is another pet hospital nearby with a good reputation, so we decided to take Andy there. We had booked his appointment for 11 am on a Saturday rather than a week day because I really needed Andrew with me as there is no way I can lift the boy as he is so heavy.

The problem was that the whole of Bangalore was there with their pets.

Andy was wild. He just saw that there were lots of dogs to play with and cats to chase. It was chaos! In the UK, a visit to the vets is a quite an ordered occasion but not in India. Although, why we thought it would be any different, I don’t know.

Andy had had no food or water for a long time and was so excited about all the new friends that keeping him calm for the two hours that we had to wait was quite an ordeal. Eventually, we were put in a room after he had had his blood test, and he was given his first sedative. He started to get wobbly and sleepy. The trolley he was on only just managed to squeeze him on, we held on to him so he didn’t fall. Then we noticed that the trolley didn’t have wheels. If I was a vet, I would have wheels on a trolley with a heavy unconscious dog on and then wheel them into the operating theatre.

Oh no! When it was time, four men appeared, and they unceremoniously lifted Andy between them and took him away.

Honestly, wheels have been invented and it would be a good addition in this circumstance. Just push the trolley and then there would be no chance of twisting or dropping an enormous dog.

They told us to come back in two hours.

We had a spot of lunch and returned.

All around us dogs were barking, whining, and trying to play with each other. Also, the floor was slippery as it had been raining and people were trying to hold on to their dogs. They ended up being pulled along as they could not get a grip on the floor. A lady with a mop was trying in vain to keep the floor dry by darting out each time someone came in.

After a short while, the vet appeared to say that Andy was ready. The four men appeared with him held upside down semi consciously by the legs and put him on another trolley to recover. (If they had had one with wheels it would have so much easier)

 I dodged the mopping lady and I went to pay the bill. I turned around and found that Andrew and Andy had disappeared. Somehow, they had managed to get Andy out of the building without slipping, down some steps and into the back of the car.

We got him into our house after padding the front room floor with his basket and lots of towels. Andrew managed to carry him on his own He was super sleepy for a couple of hours and then seemed to perk up wanting to go outside. He had a cone 'of shame' around his neck to stop him reaching his stitches, but he couldn’t judge the distance he needed to get through the door or past the table. He spent quite a lot of time bumping into things including trees for the next week. It was very entertaining for us. He was soon dashing about and wanting to go for a walk. I also had to come up with some inventive ways to get him to take his 4 tablets a day. Hiding the tablets in cheese seemed to work the best until he realised what was happening and then he would spit out the tablet after eating the cheese. I then made a mini toast sandwich and put the tablets in there.  This was my back up plan and worked long enough for him to finish them all. He is back to normal now and if any of his lady friends come round to play, we know we can leave them without supervision.

 

The Palm Trees

In Palm Meadows, every avenue is lined with beautiful palm trees. They are very tall. As the tree grows it sheds the older leaves at the bottom. They  will fall onto the roadway or paths.  The gardening team try to go around cutting them all down using a cherry picker, but it is a constant never ending job. But they do miss some and there have been a few occasions where the falling leaves have nearly hit people. They fall with an almighty whoosh too...

They have come up with a simple but clever idea. They have tied a special fabric 'belt' around the top base of each tree. As each bottom leaf turns brown it is held in place by the strap and cannot fall. Now, the gardening team do not have to worry and rush so much. People can walk without having to keep one eye on the palm trees. We can instead focus on our feet and keeping a look out for the snakes that like to come out to hunt all the frogs that are around because it is monsoon.

 

You can just about see the tie underneath the palm leaves .

 

 Other activities

This is a guava from a tree at the factory, it was very juicy.

Andy loves his crate. He doesn't sleep in it yet, but likes to take all his treats in there. 

One of the many football matches that they had to stay up until 3 in the morning for. 

Both Milo and Max have bank accounts with their own debit cards. Max was embarrassed one day when he went for  a coffee. He had cash but the shop only accepted cards,he had to ring me and ask me to pay with with the online bank. Milo took Andrew out for a drink at the club so he could use his card.

Micronclean India wins two contracts with Covid Vaccine Mfrs. 

There was some very exciting news at Micronclean as the sales team managed to sign up two very important contracts with Indian companies producing Covaxin and Sputnik vaccines. They have had some fantastic feedback from auditors and industry experts that have praised the facility for its excent design and quality. Andrew has even had suggestions that it exceeds some of the manufacturing facilities, so you never know if laundry is scarce then Micron-Vax vaccine production could be a side line! 

As part of the regular dialogue with the British Deputy High Commission Team, they have been very helpful in further amplifying the good news across their media platforms, which has a little more circulation than our blogs! Proud to have this backing from the Department for International Trade for our UK based business.