Going Home Day has finally arrived

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So going home day has finally arrived as the first batch of children and young people left in a fleet of buses for the station at NJP to catch the Darjeeling Express overnight to Kolkata. This was an emotional morning with children in tears as they took leave of friends and cottage parents. The emotion is understandable when we consider that these children spend the best part of a year here living, learning and playing together in this amazing institution. We enjoyed talking with lots of youngsters today including some seniors leaving for the final time after 12 years at Dr Graham’s. Yesterday evening saw the end of term marked with a candlelight service in the chapel and then everyone went off to finish packing their boxes for the journey home.

Last week has been action packed with an invitation to the Kindergarten Christmas Party on Thursday and completion (almost) of the adventure playground generously donated by Denise and Helen of Foster Care Connect. The structures will be painted during the holidays and the ladders and slide which are all detachable will be put in place along with the completed groundwork in time for the new session in February

As for us we are off tomorrow to catch a flight from Bagdogra to Kolkata where we will spend a few days. We are due to meet the Board to present the management report and to discuss the work programme which we managed to almost complete. We are also invited to hear the Choir in St Paul’s Cathedral on 4 December when they will present a Christmas Concert. We have heard them rehearse on many occasions this week and we are looking forward to hearing the final product which we know will be very good.

Then we will be going to Kerala for some relaxation before returning to Kelso. We hope to keep in touch in the coming 3 weeks but that will depend on internet availability. So in the meantime we will leave you with a couple of images of the final week and Going Home Day at Dr Graham’s Homes.

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Photos

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Ho! Ho! Ho!

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The adventure playground is open for business

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Next stop Calcutta!

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Edward, Eleanor and Moses at the bus

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We're going home

Comments

[Kayte]

Safe travel
Thanks for keeping in touch, Eleanor and Philip. Have enjoyed learning so much about your travels! Hope that you are able to relax in between emotional farewells and travelling! You'll need thermals if it stays as cold as it is this week here! Will look forward to seeing you and hearing some of your news - there will be SO much!1 Hope that you have safe travel back to Kelso. Love Kaytex

[Guy]

Almost there!
i have just read your last entry and have enjoyed it very much once again! I am waiting for my chopper off the clyde platform back to reality and dog walking! We are all looking forwrd to your return, oscar especially, he told me over the phone yesterday!! Thinking about you both. Stay safe. love Guy x