Not so much tweets as cheeps

If you look across at my Twitter updates, you'll see that we've been making valiant efforts this evening to save the lives of several baby chicks.  I'm not at all sure that we will have been successful.  The shells are really hard so they wear out their egg tooth (one each, can't possibly say teeth) trying to crack through, and the mother, though several years old, is inexperienced in motherhood so is not very good at keeping them warm.  We do have two live chicks though, at any rate.

A few more pictures.  I should explain that I don't really like intruding on people by snapping away at them (photographically speaking) at a party.  And most of the places we went, such as museums and temples, one was not allowed to take photos.  Wink and I hired a car and went off to look at the cathedral in Chennai, which looks like this...

and then went to a museum on the same site where, extraordinarily, the late Pope and Father Christmas were in close juxtaposition.

Then we went to see the Law Courts.  A very nice man showed us round, he showed us all the interesting bits that a guide book might not mention, such as this -

He took a lot of time and trouble for us, but in the end I had to ask him to take us back to our car (we were quite lost) because Wink's leg was so painful and she was limping along behind us.  It was very interesting to see the portraits of the judges: for a long time they were all white and British, then the first Indian judge's picture came up and from then on they were all Indian.  Unfortunately, I didn't note the date of the changeover and it was too dark inside to take a photo.  You'll have to go and see for yourselves.  A few photos of the outside of the buildings...

I'm not sure who the conductor chappie was in the third photo - Chris, is it a statue of you?  I find that I have got a photo of the Advocate General of 1897 and that he is Indian, so the changeover had occurred by then.  Here he is.

We didn't stop at the beach this time, which is impressively huge and sandy.  Marina and Maja went there another day, so they might have a better photo if they would like to send it across.  

I know, darlings, no one will ever love me for my photographic skills, nor for my writing ability.  It's sheer Zedness that will carry me through.  Ahem.  

Z is a rubbish photographer

It's so late, I've been out for dinner and then caught up with emails once I arrived home, that I don't think I'll write much now.  Instead a few pictures.

First, Kamala's house on the Friday evening when there was the first of the parties.  It looked spectacular lit up with blue lights.

The next day, the next party, which was when all the women had their hands hennaed.  Mine are fading now, this soon happens once you arrive home and wash in chlorinated water.  This is taken from the verandah.  Most people had had lunch by then so there weren't many in the picture.

This is Laddu, the basset hound.  His father Skipper only died a month or so ago at the age of 15.  Both belonged to Arte, Nandini's sister.  I'm afraid he moved his head so it's out of focus.  I told you the photos weren't up to much.

And this one explains why I didn't take pictures of the wedding ceremony.  One could see round the photographic paraphenalia, but it really got in the way of taking pictures.  Both bride and groom are professional photographers, so one can see why the official photos were a priority.

And that's it for today.  

Z and the elephant packed her trunk...

I'll see what I can do about a few photos - they're mostly a bit random, you can see my heart wasn't in it.  Far more fun to take part in what was going on than to take pictures.  But here I am getting up close to the temple elephant (which I just typed as 'elephone').

And, for the time being, here's a picture of the bride and groom and immediate families after the Christian ceremony (on the steps of the church), and one of the wedding cake, which was made at the Madras Club.

Westernisation and prosperity

I mentioned in my first post (I think) from India that there were various changes that I noticed.  Funnily enough, towards the end of the holiday Geeta asked me (and Wink, separately) about our impressions from just that point of view.  Another friend, Jill, who is English and lives in London, hadn't noticed these differences, but then she visits India frequently - the last time was in December - so they'd have crept up on her.

I suspect it's all connected with India's increased prosperity and success as a nation.  I should start by saying that I'm sure that in many areas, particularly rural villages and slums in the larger and more crowded cities, that deep poverty is as grinding as ever, but what I saw in Chennai in particular was a generally higher standard of living.

I've already mentioned that there are much fewer bicycles and more motorbikes.  Also that cars are modern ones rather than the old Ambassadors.  It's noticeable that cars are in beautiful condition and look new.  They're nearly all imported - and that's notable too, because there was a time only a few years ago when Indians took pride in making what they used and now it's more fashionable to buy imported goods. The roads are incredibly crowded and busy, even more than they used to be.  It all looks chaotic, but actually people drive very well.  They need to be very alert.  As a general rule, the larger vehicle is held to be responsible for an accent* - so if a motorbike hit a pedestrian it'd be the biker's fault and if a car hit a bike it'd be the driver's.  There was an incident where a bus hit a lorry it was overtaking - witnesses said that the lorry swerved into the path of the bus, but it was the bus driver who was arrested.  He was overtaking, therefore the anus of responsibility (sorry, family expression started by Weeza some 20 years ago) was on him, although checks were being done on the lorry's steering.

Wink and I also felt that there were far fewer people living on the street.  We weren't approached by a single beggar or street seller in Chennai.  There aren't many of the woven huts left where, remarkably, a whole family would emerge dressed in immaculate, freshly laundered and ironed clothes, the man in crisp white shirt, the children in school uniforms and the woman in a sari.  I suppose that a lot of new flats have been built for those people to live in.  Regarding clothes, the sari is still traditional in South India, but less so now.  Young people are far more likely to wear casual Western clothes - my younger friends used to at home but not go out in them, but this is gradually changing.  If they do wear Indian clothes it's likely to be a shalwar kameez or trousers and tunic rather than a sari.  The dhoti has all but disappeared (I didn't see a single one) although a few men still wear a lungi - the difference between them is that a dhoti is wrapped around the waist and passed between the legs, whereas the lungi is worn more as a sarong; that is, it goes around the waist but not between the legs.  It's convenient in that it can be flipped up to waist length to walk in the street and the lower half released to make a long skirt to wear indoors.  A dhoti is nearly always white but a lungi is usually coloured or checked.

Another difference on the streets is that now there are overhead signs giving directions!  This is a real innovation within the past 18 months or so, apparently.  Just of major roads, but it's certainly a start.  One thing about motorcyclists, by the way - the rider often wears a crash helmet, but I've never seen a single passenger wearing one.  Most car drivers and front seat passengers wear a seat belt, a rarity in the past.

I didn't see a single person being given instructions doing a head waggle.  This is a real change - it's sort of the equivalent of a nod of comprehension, although there was often a fair degree of subservience in it.  The few times I saw it were 'equal to equal' - that is, it was simply comprehension - and it seems remarkable that there has been such a change so quickly.  Tips are as readily and gladly received as ever, but there's no indication that anyone feels demeaned by a tip and it's graciously received and quite often a handshake is exchanged afterwards which would never have happened a few years ago.

The water is much more likely to be safe to drink.  Previously, I'd never have drunk water unless it was from a previously sealed mineral water bottle, but now many more places buy in sufficiently pure water that Westerners and non-acclimatised people can drink it safely.  I'm always careful - in four visits I've never had a stomach upset (rather the opposite, if you see what I mean) but I was able to feel a lot more relaxed this time.  Oh, and you can order black tea without fearing that the roof of your mouth will be removed by tannin.  And I'd never previously had anything but disgusting coffee, but now it's far better, usually filtered although modern coffee shops have espresso machines.

*As Sir Bruin wittily put it when correcting my typo - "grave or acute?"  So good that I'm leaving the mistake as it stands.

A passage from India

I'm home, darlings, and so is Wink.  The most notable thing about the journey was the unexpected upgrade - woo hoo! - Wink went through first because she's damaged a tendon in her leg and asked to board early because standing for a long time is very painful, and was surprised and pleased that she was also upgraded.  She spent the next ten minutes wondering how to break the news.  I, meantime, queued as one should, arrived to have my boarding pass checked and was asked to wait as my seat had been changed.  And then "you've been upgraded!" - and I thought woo hoo - oh bugger, I'll have to do the decent thing and give my seat to Wink.  So when we discovered we were both in the same boat as it were, we were jolly pleased, especially when a woman was making a fuss about her teenage daughters having to sit apart "I paid £975* each for those tickets, you know," - mind you, that was return - and we jolly well hadn't.

I'm tired tonight, too tired to write much.  I'll see what pictures I have tomorrow, not huge lots actually and I hope I'll be able to pinch some of the wedding photos.  It really has been brilliant.  Wink and I have got on really well, never a cross word (The Hindu's crosswords are easier than The Times, btw) and it was lovely to see our friends again and meet new people too.  I even gave our new Croatian friends the address of this blog.  I hardly give anyone that, they may not have realised how unusual it is (Wink told them about the Razorblade).

One thing's for sure, I'm never again going to arse about taking the train to a London airport.  It's the coach for me.  The cost is about the same, it's bus station to door, no exhausting trek across London and no broken down East Anglian trains and no information about substitutes.

The Sage tells me he has cooked my dinner.  The rest of the evening will be devoted to him.  It's only fair.  Mind you, an early night is planned.  Nothing on for tomorrow morning (not clothes, silly, no appointments until the afternoon) so I'll probably talk to the plants in the greenhouse and have a cup of tea with Dilly.

*about that, darlings, can't remember the exact sum

Last day

Just had my final Indian breakfast for a while. Idli, sambar and the rest. Wink had an egg. I also had toast, butter and honey and some pineapple and guava. I know darlings, it'll all stop once I'm home and I shall stop eating so much. However, the sensible practice of this hotel in providing every bedroom with a set of bathroom scales means that I could weigh myself at the start and finish of this holiday and that I've put on half a kilo is a considerable relief as I'd prepared myself for three or four.

In his email last night the Sage came out with a real Norfolk expression. Describing his evening activities, he said "and it was 10.30 time I got home." He doesn't talk with a trace of a Norfolk accent but doesn't realise he uses the odd expression.

Receiving daily letters from my husband has been a new experience for me. I've emailed him in the past when away, but this is the first time I've been out of Europe since he learned to email. His letters are very entertaining, badly spelled and a bit randomly typed - there's nothing wrong with his spelling normally but it goes haywire when he types - and very chatty. We have a single black chick, hatched a few days ago. There was a second but it didn't survive, in spite of the Sage's best efforts at revival.

I've finally relaxed enough to sleep well. It took quite long enough, it's just been the last couple of nights. Our flight is 5.30 tomorrow morning so we'll have a sleepless night at the airport which will put me back to normal I expect. Still, no matter.

It's been a wonderful fortnight, we've had such fun. It'll be lovely to be home of course, but I'll miss India and my friends. Jill, who lives in London, left in the early hours today and Maja and Marina leave a few hours before us. The rest of the family has dispersed and we will see Kamala in an hour or so. We spent last evening with J, M, M, the bride and groom Nandini and Joe and friends Sanjeev and Jack, at the cricket club. After an hour or two eating delicious hot and cold snacks which I thought constituted dinner, we were served dinner. We ate dinner anyway.

Hope you're all well, I've looked at a few blogs while I've been away but commenting hasn't been easy so I'll catch up when I get home. Love to you all and if you have been, thanks for listening.

Zoë xx

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Coffee, lentils and oranges

It was a charming and moving service in the small church. Many of the choir are Joe's relations, they sang really well and perhaps with extra feeling on this family occasion. Then there was the reception, which included a three-tier iced cake - sponge cake with butter icing, it was very good. Mel told our Croatian friends that they should make a wish as they ate. She and I did too. It occurs to me now that I should have wished not to have gained whole lots I'd weight while I've been here, but I fear it's too late.

There was yet another get-together at Joe's parents' house last night, but I'm afraid the four of us Europeans didn't stand the pace and we stayed in our hotel. I was going to buy Wink a birthday drink but it turned out that the hotel was dry! No alcohol licence. So we trailed back to our rooms, feeling we'd shown ourselves up rather by asking.

And so we toasted Wink's birthday with instant black coffee and ate fried lentil snacks - I don't know what they're called, yellow like grains of rice, not at all spicy, very tasty - and oranges that we had brought from Chennai.

This morning we had breakfast with Joe's relations (I ate a ridiculous amount again), said goodbye and now are on our way back to Chennai. I'll post this from the hotel.

Later - here we are again, back in sunny Chennai, about to order a chicken sandwich and a glass of beer. Chin chin, dear hearts.

Zoë

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A nod and a Wink

It was a lovely relaxed friendly party last night hosted by Joe's parents. We met his relations, some of whom we'd been introduced to at the wedding in Chennai. This morning we were taken (they are so hospitable) to the Gold Temple which was remarkable. A huge place with lovely gardens and the entire temple really is covered in gold leaf - a tonne and a half of pure gold went into its construction. Getting in was something of a ritual in itself. A wealthy cult whose leader started it 20 years ago when he was only 16.

As I write, we're on our way back to the hotel after lunch, will get changed and then off for the marriage blessing in a church housed in the fort. There is also a temple and a mosque in this fort, there's complete religious tolerance.

By the way, in case you're surprised at a Christian ceremony, Christianity came to India long before the days of the British Raj, in the 2nd century AD. There are around 30 million Christians in the country, a sizeable minority religion. Mixed religion marriages are relatively uncommon however, I was told.

And today is Wink's birthday

Zoë

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Happy New Year

It's New Year's Day in Tamil Nadu. Wink and l are, as I write, on our way to Vellore. It's a modern dual carriageway with a central reservation planted with flowering shrubs. Where we are now, there is plenty of greenery though we went through quite an arid stretch soon after turning inland from Pondy where there were trees but little other vegetation.

We saw a near-accident in Kanchi. I'm not sure how it happened because I was sitting behind our driver and didn't have a good view, but a motor cyclist had to stop or swerve suddenly and his wife lost her balance and fell off. Luckily, she was able to keep her balance as she landed on the road and didn't quite lose her footing and he stopped quickly enough not to drag her along as she held on. She must have scraped her feet on the road at the very least though and been wrenched as she twisted. They both looked shaken. We were far enough behind to stop easily, luckily.

There don't seem to be as many accidents on the road as you might think. Over four visits, this is my ninth week in India and I've travelled fairly extensively by road, both in town and long-distance. In that time, I've seen the accident I just described, one overturned auto rickshaw where the annoyed but unhurt passenger stood as the driver tried to right his vehicle and one dead dog.

Dogs seem to be treated quite kindly, by the way. You know it's a poor area if the dogs look thin, usually they're quite well nourished.

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of stroking an elephant. I was sorry for it mind you, standing in its place outside a temple in Pondicherry. It was calm and friendly enough, reaching out its trunk to passers by. I wondered how large its living accommodation was. The last temple elephants I touched were in Kerala and Weeza and I were able to ride them and feed them bananas. That was out in the countryside, they looked as if they had a good life.

We have arrived at our very luxurious hotel. I have wifi!

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Fwd: If a lady merely glows, Z is no lady

> The massage and pedicure were very good indeed. Parts of the pedicure were almost unbearably ticklish, true, but I managed, just, not to snatch my foot away. I have to admit, I kept my pants on for the massage (in an underwear sense, darlings, knickers, I wasn't wearing trousers) because when I've had a massage before I've always been provided with a towel for modesty, however scant but wasn't this time.
>
> We were just arriving when we received a text from Nandini, anxiously warning is not to go to the seafront because of the tsunami warning. Concern abated later of course, but apparently people in Chennai did feel tremors so it's not surprising they were worried.
>
> Today we went on an organised tour. I've done that a few times before and they were always very good, but this has been a touch disappointing. There's the usual round of temples and so on, but not much more. Pondicherry museum has some nice bronzes, some French furniture left by a past governor and, most interestingly, some pieces of china and so on that were brought over a couple of thousand years ago by the Romans, who traded at a town (which no longer exists) not too far from Pondicherry. Such artefacts haven't been found anywhere else in India.
>
> The afternoon part of the tour involves a walk of a kilometre to something or other. Probably a temple. Wink and I opted out. With her damaged tendon and this heat, walking two kms is not something that appealed to her and nor did it to me. I'm sweltering on the bus instead. I nearly fell asleep, but a trickle of sweat down by back and into my knickers (a different pair, of course) woke me up.
>
> I had meant to write again last night, but I wasn't able to log on. Marina had the same problem though Maja was okay. Quite odd. I had a couple of replies to emails written and couldn't send them off until this morning after breakfast.
>
> This is our last night in Pondy. Tomorrow morning, we have a car booked and will drop off the girls at their next overnight stop and then continue on to Vellore. I'm afraid, for those of you hoping I'll come back with fabulous textiles, that I won't. It's too hot to want to shop and I haven't enough knowledge of handicrafts to know what to buy anyway. I've a funny feeling that souvenirs for the children will be bought at the airport. We'll have plenty of time to wait for our 5.30 am flight.
>
> And now we are back at the hotel, having been kindly dropped off, rather than been taken back to the bus stop. And we are having a long cold drink. Lemonade, dear friends, lemonade.
>
> Zoë
>
> Sent from my iPhone

Wednesday morning

This morning, we set out in search of somewhere to have a massage, a treat I've promised to Wink for her birthday present. It took rather a long time to find the place ... and then it was closed. Hardly downhearted at all *sigh* we remembered a beauty salon we had passed the previous day. Maybe there?

Wink is really good at remembering places. We went back to the main road and I'd have had no idea whether to turn right or left, but she had her bearings. Above the salon was a coffee shop so we went in for a drink first (air con, bliss) and then I noticed, over the road ... a place that did massages, facials, manicures and so on. That we hadn't noticed yesterday - although, to be fair, its closing day was Tuesday.

So we trotted over the road, were greeted by two young women, then by the proprietress who speaks good English and we've both got a pedicure and a body massage booked for this afternoon.

After that, we went by auto rickshaw in search of shops. Actually, we're not great shoppers, me and Wink. Now we are back at the hotel, have put our feet up for a bit and are heading down to meet Maja and Marina for lunch.

Laters, darlings

Zoë

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Mad dogs and EnglishZ

I hasten to reassure you. I strode out into the heat of the day, I didn't see any hydrophobic dogs: it's a quotation.

One doesn't walk on the pavements in India, because things are put on them and the paving slabs are often broken and uneven anyway. We wished we could because there would have been some shade, at least part of the time. But we kept going manfully, waving aside hopeful offers of rides in auto-rickshaws, until we reached the sea front, and then at least there was a breeze. We - well, Wink, who had the map - led the way to the tourist office. Having checked out what's on offer, we've decided to take a bus tour on Thursday.

This afternoon we investigated the hotel pool, and very nice it is. On the rooftop with views of the city and out to sea, it's secluded and, though small, pleasant.

I took with me a towel (brought from England), a sarong, a wrap-around skirt, sunglasses, a hat and my phone, as well as my swimsuit. Wink took her cozzie. Maybe our degrees of preparedness should meet in the middle? However, although there were plenty of towels there so I didn't need mine, at least I didn't have to change afterwards. I twisted the sarong into a top and wore the skirt. We really will try the roof-top restaurant tonight, having forgotten it yesterday.

Oh, and I went to a bank and changed a thousand rupee note. Quite a relief, it's difficult to get hold of sufficient small change for tips and buying odd items.

Half past six here, darlings. Time for a drink, perhaps? Cheers.

Zoë x

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Z is a tidy traveller

We are settled in our hotel in Pondicherry, an impressively comfortable place with a really nice shower. We had intended to eat in the 5th floor open-air restaurant tonight but, leaving the bar, we absent-mindedly turned towards the next-door ground floor eaterie instead. D'oh, darlings. We didn't actually remember until after we had finished our meal. Wink and I had a sort-out of luggage, leaving behind anything we aren't likely to need for the next few days in my case and taking the rest in hers. Kamala will look after my case until we go back to Chennai next Sunday. Always best to travel light. I also travel tidy. My parents having been hoteliers, my mum was always conscious that the job of chambermaid is one of the least covetable in the business. So, when I stay in a hotel, my room is always tidy. No clothes are left scattered and if anything is out it's neat and there for a reason. Books are in a tidy pile, grubby clothes are put in a bag and back in my case, the washbasin is washed and wiped clean, the bedcovers are tidily laid back to air, the pillows plumped and the sheet smoothed. And I leave a tip. At home, I do my own cleaning so I'll be chaotic if I want to be. But when away, the person who cleans my room won't suffer that moment of heart-sinking or revulsion on opening the bedroom door.

Sari with a fringe on top

The bride and groom looked fabulous of course, and very happy. I'm afraid I didn't take pictures because the photographers were in the way, but I'm sure I'll be able to get hold of some later. In fact, there's too much going on for me to think about my camera most of the time - besides, it seems intrusive.

It got a bit frantic at the last because Wink, Gita and I managed to be left without a driver. We finally arrived at the wedding hall just as the ceremony started, but it's not a faux pas like entering the church after the bride, people mill around all the time.

This afternoon, we went shopping with our new young Croatian friends, Marina and Maja. We turned out not to be half as good as Indian ladies at shopping. Having bought nothing, we wound up at a modern shopping mall. We were open-mouthed. It was huge, filled with Western-named shops, M&S, French Connection, Accessorise, you name it, and lots more besides. On five levels, each of them pretty enormous. There were loads of people, but I have the feeling that more looking than shopping was going on. We wanted to find a grocery store and found a supermarket in the basement where we bought fruit and water for our journey tomorrow. Then we queued. It was supposedly the speedy checkout but nothing is speedy in India and it took an age. We were all hot and bothered by the time we left. There was a guard on the door to check your receipt. We also found a bureau de change, which actually gave a good rate of exchange, so I changed another £100 - not that I've spent much of the first lot, mind you, as yet, but that'll change in the next few days because we have been guests since Friday. Anyway, none of us cared much for the mall.

Tonight, we're back to our friend's house for dinner again - the wedding eve caterer, who is a friend of the bride's, owns a couple of restaurants, one of which serves Thai food and that is what we will have this evening. Wink has taken off her sari (she's wearing a dress, darlings, do get a grip), I know the guests will have changed but I only brought the one sari and have few chances to wear it, so I'm keeping it on. I received a lot of compliments, some from charming unknown women in shops, saying that I look very natural and wear it well, and I do enjoy wearing it.

I'm pretty confident of free wifi in hotels, so you'll probably hear from me again. I can't sleep much, five hours a night would be the most, but I'm having such a good time. And it's lovely to have Wink here too, we're having fun together.

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Zed's sari

Z puts her left hand in ...

Make do and mehendi

Indeed, that's what is on the cards for today. Mehendi - that is, having one's hands painted with henna in celebration of a forthcoming wedding.

Wink and I have just finished our breakfast of masala omelette (with onion and chilli) and toast and jam, with tea. We forgot to ask for black tea so it arrived mixed, that is, the milk already in it. It turned out to be coffee anyway, so no matter.

Our friends' relations all arrived yesterday and there was a party in the evening. Huge fun. I started with a beer and then asked for a glass of water, thinking to pace myself. I said yes please to ice (made with pure water, don't worry). Half a tumblerful arrived, which seemed a modest quantity. I sipped. Neat vodka. Me and my accent. I went and asked for it to be topped up with water. The waiters looked confounded - surely some mistake, I didn't have enough vodka? Finally, one indicated a bottle of 7-Up. I accepted it.

It was warm and humid, I think the laughter and dancing sweated out the alcohol. I stuck to soft drinks after that, admittedly, however.

Returning after midnight, the driver took us to the Madras Club (where tonight's reception will be held). "No, the Madras CRICKET Club" we chorused. "Where is that?" asked the driver. We four Europeans were dismayed. Marina and Maja had only flown in that morning and were exhausted already. Luckily, the mention of a socking great cricket stadium gave him the clue and he found his way here.

I've been catching up on some blogs - sadly, trying to type in Macy's wv introduced a glitch and thereafter I haven't been able to type in any comments other than the couple I had already left. So, sorry darlings, I may have to lurk. And there won't be much time even for that in the next couple of days - it'll be party all the way!

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Zi-fi

I had relied on jet lag and heat exhaustion suppressing my appetite, at least for the first couple of days. *Unfortunately* is hardly the word except insofar as it relates specifically to that, but one way or another, I am rather resigned to gaining quite a few pounds while I am here, growing out of all my clothes and having to return home in my sari as it will be the only garment that expands to fit.

In short, I'm fine, enjoying myself and the food is delicious. We spent much of yesterday with our friend K, her daughter (who is getting married) ate with us although coming and going: on one of her comings she brought her fiancé so we have now met him too.

Today we hired a car and driver and sightsaw our way around parts of the city. I hadn't realised it was as long as seven years since we were last here - its understandable that there have been some changes. Free wifi at the hotel for example - I didn't bring my iPad in the end but it would have been a good idea to. The roads are incredibly busy, more than ever - but thinking about it, it's the type of traffic that has changed. And I suspect that it indicates increased prosperity - very few bicycles nowadays and a huge number of motorbikes. Still the auto rickshaws of course but even they, though much the same in design, are more modern - newer, anyway - than they used to be. And I've only seen a single old Ambassador, the Indian Morris Oxford, the cars are all new.

Tomorrow we move from this hotel to the Madras Cricket Club, where we will be the guests of K (I kept my previous MCC temporary membership card for a long time but it was eventually used as a bookmark in, presumably, an unfinished book) and I don't know if the wifi will be available. It'll be great, K's sisters will be there too so we can catch up on their news.

Zoë

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From the departure lounge

It's simpler to blog than to add a comment on the phone - thanks for your comments, the Sage is going to reply to the wedding invites and I've mentioned it to Dilly too so she can remind him/check. Belt and braces Z to the end, you see, even when I forget something.

Wink managed to fit in a job interview on her way to the airport - I'm not the only multi-tasker in the family as you see - and she will receive the result by email in the next couple of days, so we will be online. I've promised the Sage emails, anyway.

By the way, a note for anyone getting a new hip and having to decide what it's made of, take into the equation that you will be stopped at security every time if there is any metal in it. My china/polymer/titanium jobbie is fine in every other regard. I take the view that it gives me patience and enables me to have a pleasant chat with the security woman.

Be seeing you, darlings.

Zoë xxx

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Z remembers what she had forgotten

There is indeed always something. Ironically, given that I am on my way to a wedding, I have just remembered that I didn't get round to replying to either of the two wedding invitations sitting on my desk. I shall have a word with the Sage and ask him to see to it...yes, I say that doubtfully. I'm not sure that replying to wedding invitations is quite his bag.

I can't remember ever going to three weddings in as little as four months before. Well, four and a half months. Fortunate that I bought a new dress for the first one and that none of the guests will be the same for either of the others. My wedding outfit is secured already.

Otherwise, I finally managed to get the work done, I think. I emailed the Nadfas minutes out with a couple of hours to spare before I left. After that, I went and bought Al wine for his birthday (happy day, Al), wrote a letter of condolence to a friend whose husband has just died, unpacked and repacked my suitcase - it is absurdly heavy. I succeeded in removing a pair of sandals, a pot of body cream, a jar of deodorant because I'd managed to pack two. The case is quite full because I'm taking presents, but they're mostly not heavy. Maybe the case itself is. Anyway, I'll be returning with it half empty, unless I am persuaded to do a lot of shopping. I can't think of anything much that I want though, except a particularly gorgeous cardamon flavoured halva that I buy every time I go through the departure gate at Chennai airport. I know of no other place to buy it. Just as well, perhaps. If I had a steady supply I should eat it every day.

Z thinks about packing

I've got to iron some clothes, but I think I've got more than enough draped all over the spare bed.  And I've bought the final bits and pieces, including an unscheduled purchase of a swim suit because I can't find mine.  It's rarely used, I'm lamentably afraid of water.  I don't mind getting in, being splashed, putting my head under water - I just can't be out of my depth and, frankly, prefer to hold on to the side just in case.  Like Dumbo and the feather.  I rarely go more than knee-deep in the sea because there's nothing to hold on to.

Oh dear.  I didn't intend to mention my stupidest fear.  I'll deal with it one day, I promise.  Half a century is already too long to be afraid for, now I've written it down I'm halfway to pulling myself together.

Everyone in the family will be here for lunch tomorrow, Ro phoned to confirm this evening.  Brilliant!  I've made lasagne, they can phone when they are leaving and it'll give me half an hour to put it in the oven.

I still have typing to do, darlings, please excuse a short and uninteresting post.  I'll try to make up with it with PICTURES! when I get home again.  I've got my camera charging right now, so that I can thrill you all.  But there will be at least one more post before I go, probably two.  Because I'll miss you most awfully.

It'll be fun

I've had my hair cut unusually short.  This is to make it easier to achieve some sort of style in high heat but with no use of Product.  Because, let's face it, some waterproof mascara and a shedload of sunscreen is about all I'll manage in the next few weeks.

I'm so tired tonight that, with my glasses off the screen is blurred, but with them on I'm seeing double.  In short, I'm losing focus.  However, I'm pretty well there for my holiday - and many thanks to Blue Witch for recommending Staysure - for an extra fifteen quid they have covered my hip for a year's worth of holidays whilst the other quote I had excluded it and charged more to boot.

The family is coming to lunch on Sunday - not Ro and Dora that is, and Weeza is hoping to have a chance at target shooting this time.  That means that I'll be looking after Zerlina and Gus.  This would be fine, except that I'm playing the organ on Sunday morning - oh darlings, I'll make it work.  It'll be fun.

Sums up life really, doesn't it.  If not, what's it all for?

Departure day approaches

It was lovely to spend the night with Weeza and the children.  Phil is due back on Saturday morning and is intending to take the children out in the afternoon, both because they've all missed each other and to give Weeza a break.

I can't believe the time to leave is so near, I'm leaving for Heathrow on Monday!  I must finish my preparations.  Still haven't booked my bus to get there, it's on the list for tomorrow.  As is a load of other work, the minutes to write up from yesterday, a couple of other letters for another club, a meeting with the Head.  If the minutes from the last governors' meeting come through I'll have to go through them.  It's all right, I'm still on top of things, but only just.  I'd be bored with routine though, this is how I like it.

I bought some presents to take to our friends in India, including some chocolate (Easter eggs, English chocolate is popular over there) and dropped in at home to leave it rather than have it in the heat of the car while I was in Year 9 Music.  As I came round the bend in the drive, the black and white cat that spends a lot of time around here appeared through the hedge by the lawn and ran over the drive towards the Ups and Downs, the rough field.  It had in its jaws a half-grown rabbit.  When I left again, a couple of minutes later, it was the other side of the drive near the hen-house, still carrying the rabbit.  "Was it alive?" asked the Sage when I told him later (the rabbit, that is).  No, definitely very dead.  I congratulated the cat, we're rather overrun with rabbits, sweet as they are.  Its jaws must ache tonight, carrying it like that.

I bought a couple of summer skirts today.  Comfortably back to a size 10, thank goodness.  I put on a few pounds last year and have been assiduously losing them - well, not quite all yet, but they will go.  Gorgeous as the food is in India, I shall not gorge.  It'll be too hot, for one thing.  But yum, I'm really looking forward to that food.

Just the ticket!

I'm a bit busy this evening, and hoping for an early night as well, but I'm wondering if anyone would like a ticket for the Hockney exhibition at the Royal Academy?  Wink bought it before we were invited to India and has sent it to me to see if I can place it.  Thing is, it's for Easter Sunday, 8th April, at 2.30 pm and it's a senior ticket, though I suppose someone younger could pay the extra, so a lot of people will be visiting family.  If you would like it, please email me asap, first come first served and I'll post it to you.

After all the work of yesterday, the documents went awry in the ether and I received several apologetically complaining emails to say that their data had become corrupted.  So I got tough with the bloody thing and have asserted my authoritay and it's all okay now.  I'm not being beaten by a stupid incompetent computer programme (though at one point I did have to turn it off and on again).  And since, of course, a few people have sent me the documents they didn't get around to before - no complaints, I know what it's like and we're all volunteers - so I'm having to return to it again now.  So no great news from the Zedary.  Tomorrow night, I'm staying with Weeza so will post from my iPad I expect.  Unless we're talking too much, in which case please excuse me.

Z can't count

The effect of the clocks changing was mainly to stop me sleeping at all.  I woke at 12.20 am, went to sleep sometime around 4.30, three hours later, and dozed for ten minutes at a time until 6.30 when the alarm went off.  So damn.

Apologies for no post yesterday, but I had an early night.  And I slept very well.  And I cracked, at least for the night, the way to get back to sleep.  I counted party guests.  Badly.  I started to tot them up - started on the south coast - well, there was Phil and Lisa, moving up a bit there is Tim, there's Mig, up to Mike and Ann - I kept counting, then realised I'd left out Pixie Mum and Ian - ooh, I must add them ... add them to what?

I'd forgotten the number. So I started again.  Then - ooh, how could I forget to add Rog and Mrs Rine? - add them to ... oh bugger.  Start again.  I know, I'll start from Norwich, Roses and Lawrence, keep going south ... I lost count again.  And that wasn't even including the people who would like to come but haven't confirmed yet.  I shall write them all down.

However, the thing is that, even as I was chuckling over my inability to remember what I'd counted up to, I was falling asleep again.  So these various tickings-off were not all happening at the same awakening, they were each an hour or two apart.  Quite ludicrous.

I had a busy morning - a document that had to be combined from 25 other documents and I can't bear to relive it all - suffice to say that I hadn't finished by 1.30 when I had to go out, so it wasn't sent off until the early evening.  So much seems to happen on a Monday morning - first Wendy, my governors' clerk, noticed something had been left off a document and it took several emails for it to be sorted out, then I received more emails and a whole lot of phone calls, most of which were for the Sage and I had to leave my desk to go and find him, then Jamie wanted to know how many trenches to dig for asparagus crowns, how deep etc, then the fishmonger called.  And then it seemed to make sense to plant the asparagus straight away, so I had to go and haul my muddy jeans out of the washing basket and put them on to do that, because I was wearing Good Clothes - ooh, by the way, there is good news in that I'd sort of grown out of those jeans (and I couldn't buy more because I've a strict size limit for wearing jeans and if I'm any bigger I don't wear them) and I've shrunk back into them.

And I've just looked around and the Sage has brought me a snifter of whisky.  Or does it have to be brandy for a snifter?  A dram, then.  Cheers, everybody, cheers!

Ooh, I told the tequila joke to the Head this afternoon.  He thought it was very funny too.

Z dabbles in the mud

Today, I've mostly been planting plants.  The result is that the new bed between the wall and the drive is pretty well full.  There is room for a few more things that I can buy when I see and want them, and I'm quite sure that things will be moved around in the autumn, but at least the ground will be fairly well covered and there will be some flowers.  I know I haven't got it right yet - how is it that nearly all the climbers have turned out to be yellow? - but at least there's something there now.  And about 100 plants put in during an afternoon was a bit of a marathon and I got rather bored, I have to admit.  It wasn't helped by the dark brown hen being so keen to be the first to find anything edible as I dug that she sat on my spade and I had to lift her as well as the sod.  Which was a word I said more than once, truth to tell.

The day started quite well actually, when the Sage remembered to remind me that I needed to turn on the church heating for tomorrow as well as a couple of days in the week when the village school is using the building for their Easter Play.  I went down, checked all timings, put in the right ones (there are a few of us who understand the timeclock but I was the only one about today) and came back home, made a cup of tea and some breakfast toast and then, sitting reading the morning emails, I remembered that the bloody clock changes in the small hours tonight.  And I had not changed the church timer accordingly.  So I had to go back and do it - and seriously, if there is not a firm decision made to abandon Greenwich Mean Time, fine institution as it was but is no longer except in Scotland where they are welcome to it, I shall mount a protest.  Well, not literally, but I'll moan like anything.  The point is, I don't want the clocks to change at all.  Summer Time all year round, I say.  It's the obvious way forward.

Anyhoo, that having been done I made another cup - well, I made coffee this time and faffed around reading the paper and so on for a bit, until the sun moved round to warm where the bed is, and then I started planting, and it took a long time, because I had to set the plants out and then change my mind and then tweak a bit and then ... oh darlings, you get the idea.  Fortunately, Jamie had rearranged his time, most kindly, to come for a couple of hours this afternoon and he has put wire netting round the bed so the chickens don't scratch them all up again first thing tomorrow.  He noted that I was looking a bit glum as I neared the end of the job - and then said I'd cheered up to my usual self after I finished, so that made me feel better - that my usual self is perceived as the cheerful one, that is.

I bought several pots of sweet pea seedlings that I've split and put into larger pots and will plant tomorrow or the next day - 50p for around 15 seedlings - that is, about 12-20 in each pot - which seems extremely good value.  I've also got a couple of dozen asparagus crowns and I've put them into some compost to keep moist until the bed is ready.  I'll probably plant them on Tuesday.

The slightly sad thing is that, a few years ago, I'd have been in a state of bliss all day and thoroughly enjoyed it all.  Now, it's a bit of a chore.  I don't quite know where my pleasure in gardening went, but it's more an obligation now.  I'm very sad about that and I really do try hard to renew that pleasure - I do love to raise plants from seed and care for young plants - but I think I have lost the ability to relax through work.  I shall keep trying, though.

Something I said the other night made me wonder if I was just saying it or whether I have found out something more about myself that I never knew ... I was at that school concert and (I can't remember the context) the Head remarked that I'm a linguist, aren't I?  I hastily disclaimed, acknowledging that I took Latin and French A Levels but haven't used them since and am pretty useless - and I took them the year after O Levels, which was way too steep a learning curve, especially for Latin.  I was asked, by the other governor, how so? and explained that I'd flunked Latin twice, dropped it for a year, took it again, got a respectable grade so went for the A Level (and in French too) in a year.  "If I failed, I raised the bar and tried again, harder," I said in explanation.  She suggested that I must have been quite an exacting mother - I said, not at all - and in fact, it's self-command that I'm interested in, not imposing things on others ... but the first bit, is it true, I wonder, or was it just something I said to give a plausible explanation?  I'm not sure.  I do know that I've a reputation for pushing myself hard, but that's easy to gain.  I don't really, I just take too much on and then scurry around at the last to get a reasonable result.  If I did less, I would be able to do it really well - but I can't be arsed.  I'd rather be just good enough at a lot of things.  I don't mind failing at something that's beyond me, but I don't like to be beaten for lack of effort, even though effort is a slightly dirty word in this part of the Zedary.

Anyway, the thing is, those plants are all in place and that's one job jobbed.

Chick pic

When we were out for dinner with the family the other night, Squiffany had a joke for us.

"A Mexican man pushed his wife off a cliff.  What did he do that for?"

(see below photos)

.............................................................................

 The chickens have been enjoying the spring weather.  Two of the three cocks are in this picture - they are still pretty friendly with each other and don't fight - it appears that there are quite enough hens to go around.  A bit x-rated on occasion, has to be admitted, around here.

 The new hen, Christmas Eve (I can't remember the alternative names) is particularly tame and makes herself welcome inside the house at will.  She is quite willing to be picked up for a cuddle.

And yesterday, when I arrived home and hurried in the house to fetch some change before delivering the meals on wheels money, I returned to find that I'd left the car door open and she'd hopped in.

Zerlina and Augustus enjoying the swings.

........................................................................

TEQUILA!

The usual Z

Things are progressing nicely.  My passport has arrived, duly visaed, I've picked up my daily contact lenses as well as the usual monthlies and I've bought mozzie repellent and sunscreen in bulk.  Wink and I have just had a conversation on the phone and are in complete agreement - that is, that we don't want to rush around sightseeing in between parties but are content to move about gently and chill in nice hotels, keeping the wedding ceremonies (bride Hindu, groom Christian, albeit also Indian) and receptions as the main events.  We've also agreed to go to Heathrow the night before departure, and Wink will book the hotel.  She's also investigating hotels in Chennai and in Pondicherry.  Since I've sorted out the aeroplane tickets, this seems a fair division of labour (I must remember to take the credit card I booked them on, apparently.  All this remembering is tough on a frivolous little thing like me, I prefer to let go of things once arranged to my satisfaction.

So now a short break in writing while I make coffee.  'Scuse me.

..............

Right.  Chocolate truffle and coffee in front of me.

The catalogue for the Sage's next sale is at the printers and Ro is trying to work on the website tonight, but Skydrive won't let him access the photos, even though it clearly says at my end that he has permission and I can't see a time limit.  Hmmm. Since our internet is deadly slow now, it takes ages for anything to happen at all, and I'm still trying to check it out.  Honestly, darlings, it's a good job that I'm as remarkably patient as I am.

Still waiting.  Eaten chocolate.  Sipped coffee.

I've sent the file link again.  No idea.  Poor lad gives his time and expertise, I hate him being messed around like this.  Fingers crossed that the sodding thing works this time.

The Sage and I bought some plants today.  Well, that is, he came with me and spent ten minutes helping, then he vanished without saying anything, me waiting patiently, then impatiently.  Finally, I went and found him again.  Not that it mattered to me how long we took, it was he who was expecting a phone call.

It was a good thing that I've been hanging around, as it gave me space to remember that there was a casserole in the oven and I've taken it out.  No smells emanate from the Aga so there is nothing to remind you when a dish is ready - or overcooked - or burned.  Not that it ever burns in the bottom oven, it just sits there getting darker.  I was making spag bol for supper - not that I'd dream of calling it spag bol myself of course, it's just to save time typing.  I'm not big on abbreviations (and have never shortened university to its first three letters in my life.  You knee.  Hmph.) and have been known to get quite cross.  Apart from sensible ones, obv, darls, y'know what I mean.

It was not until this morning when I was roaming around the kitchen making coffee that it occurred to me that I had not had a drink at all yesterday.  Water, tea, of course.  Nothing alcoholic.  The good news was twofold - I didn't miss it and I didn't feel any different this morning.  If I'd felt all bright and clear-headed, it would have been a bit worrying.  As it was ... no, the usual grouchy Z.

Two more firsts for Augustus

The most cheering news of the day for me was that my passport, complete with visa, is in the post and I should receive it tomorrow.  Wink was going up to London today to fetch hers in person.  So we're on track.  I still haven't sorted out my transport to Heathrow or my insurance mind you, but that's because I've been having far too much fun today.

Weeza had an appointment locally this afternoon, so she brought the children over for us to look after them.  It was a beautiful day, really hot and I took them to a local playground, not the one in the village but about five miles away.  I thought an Emergency Russian would be a good idea, so packed a hot cross bun - not that it was hot, you understand, but 'cross bun' doesn't make sense.  Anyway, as soon as Zerlina heard about it she decided she was hungry, so I shared large pieces for her and small pieces for Gus.  Then they went on the swings - z had a go first, then I put Gus in the swing and she pushed him, then she went on the adjoining swing and I pushed both of them, then I received a phone call so spoke to a friend and kept pushing both swings.  Oh, how I multi-tasked.

Later at home, I gave Gus some tea and had just cooked boiled eggs and toast soldiers for z when Weeza arrived back, so I made a pot of Earl Grey fumé to drink while z ate.  Weeza was pleased to hear about the park and Gus's first experiences of bun and swing.

This evening, I went to the high school's Spring Concert, which was absolutely brilliant.  The huge enjoyment of music shown by the students is lovely and the standard is very impressive.  My ears are slightly numbed by the rock bands, but they're very good indeed and extremely dedicated.  I wonder if some of the musicians have much time for the rest of their school work, actually.  But maybe they are good at multi-tasking too.

Z says no

We all went out to supper this evening to celebrate Squiffany's birthday.  She had a party at home yesterday for her friends.  Weeza and Phil came over with the children, Phil on his bike straight from work - I've mentioned his 45 mile a day round trip commute, this added several more miles but he never seems to mind.  Ro cycles to work too, but he just has 4 or 5 miles each way to the city centre.  And I - well, less said the better.  One has to allow so much time, especially when travelling from one appointment to another - yes, it is possible because I used to do it, but I haven't been that dedicated recently and I tend only to get on my bike if I have a single errand to run.

The children were all lovely at dinner, the babies in adjoining high chairs looked particularly adorable.  Weeza shared her ice cream with Gus - his first taste of such a delicacy and he was thrilled.  He sat very still and well-behaved on her lap, his eyes following every movement of the spoon in the hope that the next mouthful would be for him.

I finally have got some seeds sown, but have decided not to grow greenhouse vegetables from seed this year.  I'll buy the plants.  The reason is that, with me away for a fortnight in April, it's a lot for the Sage to look after.  It's not difficult nor even very time consuming, but when I have seedlings or young plants in the propagator my first thought every morning is the weather and the temperature, whether I need to turn the heat off, leave the cover on, off or shade the plants, remember to fill a watering can each day and put it in the greenhouse so that it's not going to chill the plants and I can't expect him to remember it when it's not normally his job.  For a few days yes, but not for two weeks.  Just a few trays and pots to be watered is quite enough, on top of looking after himself.

Having said that, I think he quite likes looking after himself.  And I'm slightly anxious about what I'll find when I get home again.  This afternoon, for example, he asked to borrow Al's van.  Al said yes, but asked what for.  Tim in the shop wanted the old fridge taken away, he said.  "What are you going to do with it?" I asked suspiciously.  The nearest tip closed down and I didn't think he'd be driving 20 minutes to the next one.  "I'll leave it in the van, or maybe put it behind the wall" - he gestured to the newly-paved area where my shed is to go.  I lay the law down.  I said no, quite vehemently.  I was not having it brought home, it would be here for the next three years at least, and it wasn't to be left in the van.  The Sage accepted this with reasonable grace, though obviously thinking I was being totally unreasonable.  Later, I drove into town and saw him going in the gate of a neighbour down the road who is renovating his property and has a skip in the garden.  I asked, later ... the neighbour was out, he'll ask another day.  The Sage dearly loves helping people.  Unfortunately, I don't count as people and the result is not always quite harmonious.  Not that we fell out over it.  We would have if I'd found that fridge in my garden though.

Z perks up

A brilliant day today, very successful.  I've bought Squiffany's birthday present for tomorrow, two dresses for me for India, spent the best part of three hours having lunch and chatting with Roses (we'd left it far too long since we saw each other, we won't make that mistake again) and then went to the dentist and now have a shiny new crown on a bottom left molar.  And I felt quite calm and relaxed after all that and sorted out NADFAS paperwork that, to my startlement, nearly drove me to panic the other day - really, I was in such a state that I couldn't even start and my heart was still a-flutter half an hour later.  Muttering JFDI, as Weeza puts it, I just did and now it's done.  Well, the easier half at any rate.  The bit that'll make me swear is still to do, but that'll be all right.

The other good thing that happened this morning was that I actually cancelled a meeting.  Yes, darlings, I really did.  I reckoned that there was nothing so vital as to need to take up our valuable time, so I emailed round and got very cheerful replies from people who were happy to be granted an extra hour of free time. I'm spending mine having coffee with one of the others on the committee.  Excellent use of it, don't you think?

In the next couple of days, I've got to finish sorting out my holiday insurance (I know, I know, I've got one quote but I want something to compare it with) and reply to two wedding invitations.  That'll make three weddings in less than four months!  And the reception for one of them will be held here, which will be great fun.  It's the daughter of our former Rector, now working in Oulton Broad - she asked if it might be possible to have a marquee on our front field.  Of course we said yes and we're really looking forward to it.

And now I'm leaving you, because I haven't had time to read the papers yet.  So goodnight to you all.

The Zandwoman

The Sage took Ro and Phil with him to the shooting range today and they had a lot of fun.  Phil had never shot before and he and Ro are keen to do it again and Weeza is tempted too.  I think that's a brilliant idea, a good way of spending a couple of hours on a Sunday and then they can come back here for lunch.

While they were out I was in church.  I was playing the music today, but felt the songs weren't really suited to the organ so played them on the clarinet.  We've recently updated the sound system and, for the first time, I was amplified.  Sounded quite good from where I was standing, I rather hope I might be asked to do that again sometime.  I like playing the clarinet and I like playing the piano (although to a very poor standard nowadays) but I have never been an accomplished organist and I rarely enjoy it.

Weeza and Phil brought fish pie for lunch, Ro brought apple strudel and cream and I provided a chocolate sponge pudding and custard, and the vegetables (carrots, cauliflower and courgettes, if you want to know) and it all went down well.  I sent them home with some fairy cakes that I'd have served with tea if Al and family had come through, but they still aren't at all well and Weeza and co certainly don't want to catch their bug, so better not mingle if there's still a risk.

After lunch, Gus was tired and started to cry, so I picked him up and took him out of the room.  A few minutes later, I returned with a sleeping baby.  The secret of my success?  A single recitation of The Walrus and the Carpenter did the trick.  He was asleep by the time I mentioned the 'shoes and ships and sealing wax.'


I'm not sure that I've ever mentioned (although I may well have, if you've been reading all this nonsense for the past six years there is little of my life that you do not know) that I have two ways of keeping young children quiet while waiting to be served in restaurants.  The first is teaching them that particular verse of the W. and the C. - it takes children a surprisingly long time to pick it up accurately, possibly because it is more-or-less nonsense (I've never yet had to move on to Jabberwocky) and the second is napkin folding.  I teach them the waterlily and the slipper, both of which are quite simple to do but take some practice to learn.  When I was quite small, my mother used to get me to fold the napkins when she had friends round for dinner.  I realise, of course, that it was just to get me out of her hair so that I wouldn't try her patience by 'helping' in the kitchen.  But that's okay.  It's proved its use over the years.

It's raining, so Z blogs rather than gardens

I was talking yesterday to a friend about being looked at when you go into a village pub.  You know how it is, all heads swivel as you open the door and you're greeted, smiled at, eyed up and down or turned away from, depending.  In our village pub I get a welcoming 'hello' at the least, though I don't get down there very often nowadays.  It used to be my post-church excursion where I was bound to find a few mates, we'd have a couple of drinks and then go home for lunch.  Not all the wives turned up because they were cooking, but I allowed for it in my lunchtime planning.  However, once we started to serve coffee after the service every week, I never had time.  I was churchwarden at that time and stayed until the end and was in the last group to leave.  By the time I arrived at the pub, my friends were about to leave so I didn't bother any more.  I always meant to start again but, in the way of the world, that group of people don't necessarily turn up regularly either,  and I can't really leave church without having a cup of coffee because it would be unfriendly so I'm still on the late side.  So John's sales have diminished by a pint or two a week for several years now.

Some time ago, I chatted to the sister of a friend, whose son was married to a Japanese girl.  They'd met when he was working in Japan, married and were living in London.  She wasn't finding the adjustment all that easy, especially when they visited his family. The previous weekend they had come to visit and gone to the pub and she was very self-conscious.  "Everyone looked at me when I walked in the door!" she said.  "It's not so bad in London because it's so cosmopolitan, but I stand out as a Japanese woman and I'm stared at."  They explained that she'd have been stared at anyway, not because she was Japanese but because she wasn't a local, but she didn't believe it.

I've noticed that on many occasions though, that someone thinks that their experience is because of their particular circumstances when actually it's what is likely to happen to anyone.  I expect there are times when it occurs with me too (because that is a logical conclusion).

I was going to give an example there but I've completely forgotten it.  The Sage just came and asked me for help in sending an email.  It turned out that he'd put a comma instead of a dot in the address so it was quickly sorted out, but I've lost my train of thought so will go on to another one.

The interviews yesterday were both very good and it was one of those awful occasions when you're going to have to disappoint someone whom you would be very happy to appoint because there were two applicants and only one job.  The worst things about all the interviews, and we've had about twenty new appointments to make (I've not been involved in all of them), is that the reason is the closure of the middle schools.  So there have been and still are a lot of teachers and other staff facing redundancy. We are so conscious that someone we do not pick might find it hard to get another job in the area, especially if they would prefer to move to a secondary rather than a primary school but do not have GCSE teaching experience.  We can ease them in - after all, some of our teachers have no recent experience of teaching 11 and 12 year olds - but schools not involved in the reorganisation would expect them to just slot in and not being able to do so could count against them.  So it's quite upsetting to think about.  And I turn up, do the interviews, discuss the applicants with the other interviewers and we come to an agreement, but I'm not the one who has to tell the unlucky ones that they haven't got the job.  So my sympathy was with the Head too, because that was his job yesterday afternoon.

I did once have to do it, actually.  I rang the successful person first, who was very pleased of course, and I asked for confirmation of acceptance (I'm not the biggest fool in the world, though not the brightest spark either, and if that person had said 'no' then the other one would have been offered the job, they were both good) and received it, and then I phoned the other.  And she cried.  I wanted to as well then.

The Zed Shed

Yes thank you, I'm rather more steady today.  But I've a feeling I'm in for another wakeful night, because nighttime is when one worries.  Daytime is when you get it all into perspective.  Pah.  Really.

The family next door is still unwell.  Pugsley made it to school yesterday - I'm not sure if he had to come home at some point during the day but anyway, he wasn't well enough today.  Everyone has a hacking cough, a raised temperature and feels generally rotten, apart from Squiffany, who is fine.  The Sage and I are also fine.  Squiff came through for a while this afternoon, having a family who doesn't want to do anything much with her and just lies on the sofa coughing isn't the most fun for a lass.

Yet more paving is being done in the garden, this time in the kitchen garden.  It's part of a job that's now in its third year.  Those of you who have been here - it's between the greenhouse and the right-hand end of the wall, it all needs to be levelled, pathed and a shed erected.  There's so much to do before I go away, I don't know how it'll be done.  To make things more difficult, the soil is already drying out and a hosepipe ban will be brought in in April.  And there's me wanting to put in a lot of new plants.  It's going to be a bugger, lugging watering cans about - but it's been very dry for ages, one can hardly complain.  Anglian Water have got a good record for managing water supplies and not having a ban, especially considering this is the driest area of the country.

The reason the job is taking so long is that this is about the only time we get around to it.  My kitchen garden was originally 6 beds, each about 35 feet long and 4 feet wide with concrete paths in between.  The reason for this was to make it manageable, not to have to walk on the beds because you can reach from both sides to the middle, and not to have to dig or manure areas where you were going to end up walking.  It's always worked very well, with the additional bonus that rain doesn't soak into where plants aren't going to grow, and the unexpected benefit that the concrete heats up in the sun and this helps to warm the soil.

As time went by, we kept increasing the area and I had a large section that I used for various things, mostly Jerusalem artichokes in the end (I've got rid of them for the time being, they spread too much.  I like Jerusalem artichokes, but they are very tall and quite invasive).  Then, when we were planning to build the Wall, I extended it further again towards the drive, rather than have an expanse of grass between the wall and the drive that the Sage would be unable to resist using for storing wood or something.  We've been dividing this area into beds, but kept getting too busy or the weather was too hot or something - anyway, I hope we'll be able to finish it this time, though I'm quite doubtful.  The other thing is, of course, that the veg garden is now far too big for us.  Still, the other advantage of the beds is that one can cover over those that aren't in use and the job of bringing them back into use another year isn't too massive.

Oh, and I'm not going to let the Sage put anything into the shed.  It'll be my shed and he's not going to fill it up with a load of stuff.

Z gives in

No really, it's the bloody internet that's the real problem. They said 10 day disruption, it's been twice that and it's always when you're doing something important that the connection goes down.  Darlings, I'm so at the end of my tether that I've apologised in advance to the Sage in case I'm snappy or rude, because I won't mean it.  He's being kind and understanding.  I'm mostly wishing I was sober.

I'm done, darlings.  I'm exhausted, will read the papers and go to bed.  Sorry not to be my usual self.

Z has downs and ups

The Sage has made a small alteration to the catalogue, so Weeza and I have made the changes, taken the photos and Weeza has given me the latest PDF on a memory stick for, we hope, the final proof-read.  Though I'm not printing it tonight, it can wait until tomorrow.  But there's always so much to do, how am I going to ever get it done?  I've got three meetings tomorrow, two at the school and one here, with our insurance broker, and I'm falling behind on my other work and the garden needs so much done at this time of the year.  I'm trying very hard to keep a balance, being under quite a lot of pressure, so took much of today off with Weeza and Gus, but all that means is a bigger backlog.  I used to be able to get a lot done in the evenings or early mornings, but I get too tired now and need a long time to unwind or I don't sleep.

Sometimes, honestly, I think that a proper 9-5 job and then come home and get on with domestic stuff would be far easier.  Too late for me, though, I'm not going to do it now.  I'm close to juggling deadlines, though, and am feeling the stress of it.

Oh bum.  Sorry.  This is the upbeat blog, where I remind us all that life is splendid and every moment to be appreciated.  And I certainly did enjoy today.  We went to the very good little café at the local garden centre for lunch and then went and mooched around looking at plants.  We spent a lot longer than we'd planned because Gus went to sleep and so, since he would have woken on being put in the car, we stayed, walking and talking, until he woke up again.

Good news of the day is that the Head has just become a grandfather again for the third time, though the first baby for the couple concerned.  I'm sure I'll see photos before the week is out.  Like the Sage and me, he and his wife are doting grandparents.

And I've just had an email from Dilly asking us to join them for Squiffany's birthday tea next Tuesday.  And the family will all be together on Sunday.  So I'm going to stop worrying and enjoy life after all.  What else is there to do?

Flowers for Z

I'm trying to think of something to write that doesn't involve droning on about what I did today.  Endlessly fascinating, my life is of course, but really only to myself.

I should put it on record that the Sage has bought me flowers two weeks in a row, if two is enough to make a row.  Mind you, he's careful to remove any hint of romanticism or anything like that.  Dora admired the tulips on Saturday.  I said that the Sage had brought them home. "Well, I was buying some for Muriel, so I thought I'd better."  Today, he brought a bunch of daffodils.  "Ma's birthday, I put some flowers on her grave and these were left over."

I know my place.  And I'm appreciative indeed, he doesn't normally buy me flowers or anything else.  Not that he's uncaring or ungenerous, just - well, if I collected any sort of antique he'd buy me things all the time, but one collector in the family is a lot more than enough.

I'm afraid that the nasty cough is spreading through the household next door.  It started with Pugsley, who was poorly enough to miss two days of school last week and was still at home today.  Al was ill on Saturday, but is soldiering on with work.  Yesterday, Hay started to cough and coughing makes him sick so things are rather difficult.  Today, it was Dilly's turn.  She says that Squiffany is complaining that no one is taking much notice of her.  I rather doubted that Squiffany is receiving much sympathy - I said that surely it's her job to look after anyone, anyway.  The Sage and I are still fine and we're being careful not to let a day pass without an alcoholic drink, that's the mistake that so often lets a bug in.

I've received an email asking me if I'll help judge the Denton Show in September.  Terribly flattered as always, I've agreed.  I must get dates in my diary, I'm booking holidays and so on and haven't got all the time blanked off.  Asking for trouble.

Weeza is coming over tomorrow, hoorah!  I'll keep her and the children away from next door, mind you.

Where there's muck there's Z

It'll be something new tomorrow.  I've often been part of an interviewing panel, but next week, for the first time, I'll be observing applicants teach before the interviews.  They always do take a class and are observed as part of the process, it's just that I haven't been involved before.  It will make for a busy week as, if I'm doing it with one, I'll have to do it with all, but it's all more fun than housework, hey.

I nearly sowed seeds in the greenhouse today.  The Sage said he'd bought some compost last week so I went and opened a bag - and it didn't look as I'd expected it to look.  He'd bought manure instead.  I'm sure he didn't mean to, we buy that from the farm not in bags, but I haven't been able to ask him because he's been out visiting various friends and clients all day and on the phone all evening, so we've hardly had an opportunity to speak to each other.  And in the short half hour we were having dinner and did, a bag of muck wasn't the most interesting subject matter.  Well, that is, I think it's quite reasonably interesting if you're discussing the finer points of manure, but simply a query whether its purchase was intentional is not so much.

When I was a child and we had a full-time gardener who took his job very seriously, the matter of manure was certainly important.  I remember very little about it, just that different flowers and vegetables did better with different animals' ordure.  Sheep droppings used to be steeped in water, the liquid diluted and used to feed/water begonias, that I do remember.

My parents and their gardener were very keen on horticultural shows and competed at local level and at the Norfolk and Suffolk shows.  My father's name was on any trophies won, with the gardener, Mr Weavers, being given the prize money and his name mentioned on the card.  It took endless hours to make preparations and we were only allowed the most misshapen vegetables in the week before the show.  It was not unusual for a whole row of potatoes to be dug up to find six perfectly matched ones.  That they matched was quite as important as them being perfect specimens.  As for flowers, Mr Weavers would sit for hours dipping delphinium stems in hot water then in cold to encourage the top flowers to open whilst the bottom ones were still perfect.  I remember my father holding a dinner plate in front of a begonia bloom and the flower being visible all the way round.

Somehow, I didn't inherit the competitive impulse at all.  I've supported a WI Area competition a few times with jam and lemonade and so on (I was particularly pleased with 19/20 for my lemonade as it was the first time I'd ever made it) and the village competitions, making a scarecrow with Ro one year (we won with the Reverend Paul Pitt) but otherwise I'm not really interested.  I enjoy judging though - as most of you know, I've been asked for several years to judge the home economics classes at Denton show and I take that on very conscientiously.

I turn 'judge not lest ye be judged' on its head, rather.

Z gets around

This last week, the Sage and I have mostly been doing sensible, practical things regarding paperwork and so on.  So we felt entitled to relax and enjoy Ro and Dora's company this evening when they came over for supper.  Steak and sticky toffee pudding went down well, with the Sage hovering anxiously over the last slice, hoping that no one else would claim it.  Ro having taken the precaution of taking his second helping along with his first (he knows his dad only too well), the Sage was lucky.

Finally, the warm weather that has been tantalising us all week with an apparent promise arrived and it's been a lovely day, though still a nip in the breeze.  We've had several broken panes of glass in the greenhouses over the winter and these are being replaced before I get started - I used to be very quick to sow seeds, but now I'm not.  The weather is so variable, you get plants growing well and then a cold snap with frosty nights and sunny days and you get frost damage on some plants and sun scorch on others, and now I wait until we're into March before I even start on the greenhouse veg.  Which should mean about now, of course.

Ro spent some time using my iPad this evening.  He's considering buying one.  He rather spurns the whole Apple thing, but he says that no other tablet comes close as yet and he reckons it won't for another couple of years.  I recommended getting one with a lot of memory, not a basic model.  You think you won't need it, but music and photos take up an awful lot of memory and my original 16 GB iPhone soon was full and I had to take a lot of stuff off it.  He loaded Google Docs on it, wanting to avoid Apple products as far as possible, but it was taking ages and they had to leave before it was uploaded.  Since our BT "upgrade" the broadband connection has been appalling.  Noticeably slower, keeps going down, nearly three weeks on (they warned that this might happen for ten days, hem hem) and no better reception  when away from the hub.

This evening, I'm listening to The Beach Boys.  Blimey, that takes me back.  I steer clear of too much nostalgia normally, keeping to the here and now most of the time - but once in a while it's no bad thing.  Or so I tells myself.