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Published: September 6th 2008
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hindu Shrine, darjeeling We have been pretty busy in the last ten days so we have not had much time to update our blog. We are continuing with the training and meeting adults and children alike. We have been involved in lots of social activities as well so sit back and relax. We hope you enjoy reading;
Day 28 - Tuesday 26 August
Philip is feeling extremely unwell and has had a terrible night. Tight pains in his chest and has a dreadful cough but despite this he insists on taking the session.
I have to step in at one point as Philip’s voice almost disappears. Today I should have gone with Philip to town to pick up my kurta but instead we return to Ahava. While Philip sleeps (for four hours - unheard of) I get on with my domestic duties, namely washing the clothes by hand, as we don’t want to entrust our fine things to the dhobi wallah.
Day 29 - Wednesday 27 August
Another day, another session at Graham House. After lunch which consisted of Chandrika’s fantastic chapattis and sabji, we return to our office at the school to find that the printer has been removed,
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Little Girl at Hindu Shrine the phone is still disconnected and the carpet is completely covered in mould. Philip writes material for Session 3 but he is still feeling pretty shabby.
In the afternoon we dropped down to town to buy a cough bottle for Philip as he has not got rid of his flu properly yet. We also buy a bottle of red wine as David intends to pay us a visit at Ahava in the evening. To our horror a bottle of red wine is four times the cost of a bottle of gin - and it wasn’t worth the money. The visit took place by candlelight and hurricane lamps as again we are without electricity. Needless to say dinner was late.
Day 30 - Thursday 28 August
Yet another session with good interactive discussion from this particular group. Philip has completed the work for next week’s sessions and we go to the office to attempt to print the handouts. Half way through the photocopier runs out of ink so we decide to go to town to collect the kurta. We will have to complete the photocopying tomorrow but we discover that the all Christian schools in India will be
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Flutes closed on Friday as a result of the killing of Christian missionaries by radical Hindus in Orissa. We were just about to leave for town when Aubrey appears for a catch up and to invite us for a quiet dinner on Friday evening at his home, Jubilee House. Additionally Eleanor is invited to be Chief Guest at the Minto Shield swimming gala on Saturday.
Day 31 - Friday 29 August
As today the school is closed we have a very depleted group and we struggle through the final session of week 2. Frankly it is a relief to finish as delivering the same material five times over is really quite taxing. Added to this, the weather is awful and it has not stopped raining for the last 48 hours. After lunch, consisting of snake coil (a vegetable) stuffed with minced pork cooked in chilli and coconut milk with tomatoes and onions (the best yet), we manage to complete the handouts and script for next week.
Our dinner with Aubrey and Shirley is disrupted by a phone call about one of the little girls who is dangerously ill in the doctor’s clinic in town. Aubrey has to leave
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Flags over the Mighty Teesta River and we are left in the company of Shirley and Christina bizarrely watching Bambi with Chinese subtitles. It is clear that the little girl is in a coma and her father’s arrival from Kolkata is awaited. We eat dinner in sombre mood and leave for home relieved to be getting to bed after a very emotional evening. Sleep does not come easily as we cannot help to think about the potential loss of such a young life.
Day 32 - Saturday 30 August
The day starts early as we are attending the Minto Shield swimming gala, an annual event held between DGH and Mt Hermon School in Darjeeling. Not only attending, however, Eleanor has been invited to be Chief Guest and to award the certificates and the Shield. The invitation asks her to be accompanied by her dear husband, so Philip tags along as handbag carrier! It turns out to be a great event and the competition is fierce. At the conclusion Eleanor made a speech and presented the Minto Shield to the winners. Unfortunately this turned out to be Mt Hermon rather than DGH.
In the afternoon we had a bit of a rest and caught up with the journal which has been neglected this week. News of the little girl is not good.
Day 33 - Sunday 31 August
We have spent a very poor night kept awake by dogs barking, eating food too late before going to bed and the thought of little Rosalyn’s struggle for life in the clinic in town. At breakfast we hear the news which we have expected for a couple of days. Rosalyn died just after midnight. Thankfully her father made it in time to see her but the trauma is great here.
After lunch we took a walk up to Deloe but failed to make it to the top before becoming enveloped in mist. On the way up we met Menduhp on his way down to make supper for us. We interrupt this entry to announce that the Bishop of Darjeeling has just appeared at the door to call on Mr and Mrs Gibson. As it turns out he has the English people we met last week with him and they have been in Kalimpong on official business today. So we entertain the Bishop to tea. Eleanor poured the tea and in true Indian style pulled up a little side table for him to put his cup on. Thankfully she was not invited to kiss the Bishop’s ring - what a whopper! All in all a rather pleasant visit; the Bishop seems like a really nice chap; well brought up, he even took his shoes off at the door just like Dinger used to do. Then they had to go and the Bishop’s party sped off in his very posh 4x4 complete with sign board and flags flying.
Included in this edition are a few photos taken recently. We think they reflect the rich culture and diversity of this amazing land.
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Kayte
non-member comment
Enjoying reading all your news. What diverse and emotional situations you are experiencing! No wonder you are tired at times. The huge cultural/social differences will make each day a memorable one! Glad to read that Katie is better. That will be such good news for you all! take care of each other and god bless, Kaytex