I went to the nursery school we'd found for Darcy and paid the first terms fees. The list of add ons was fairly small and I got away with just Rs32500 which is about £480 for the registration, uniform and first term. The uniform is a little red tartan (!) Pinifore dress, red sunhat, little backpack and tiffin box and a blue painting apron, very sweet and Dar is very excited.
Currently enjoying the dun which has momentarliy broken through the overcast skys. The heat builds up so fast, going from 90% humidity to blazing sunshine no wonder the monsoon affects so many peoples health!
Saw a Tuk Tuk with custom made mud flaps on the rear - the left said 'Ladie' and the right said 'oilets', I wonder where the driver got the material to make those?!
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Sunday, 25 July 2010
26th July 2010 - Ha Ha Honda
Saw a Honda Civic this morning with a box of tissues on the rear passenger shelf, made me wonder if this was a standard Honda optional extra the World over!?
Cecelia, our new maid starts this morning. Four calls later and she is still trying to find our apartment, is this an omen?
Our first water delivery turned up today, must order more immediately as we have got through it quickly and it took over a week to arrive!
Next step is the internet.
Cecelia, our new maid starts this morning. Four calls later and she is still trying to find our apartment, is this an omen?
Our first water delivery turned up today, must order more immediately as we have got through it quickly and it took over a week to arrive!
Next step is the internet.
24 - 25th July 2010 - Good food
A weekend of excesses, lots of good food, too much to drink, way tooo much rain and excessive hours awake. The sleepless nights are taking their toll on all of us as stress building up and not awake enough to cope with it.
Still managed to find a coffee maker so at least we have caffine flowing again so helps to gat you throught the day.
Took Max for his first haircut although chickened out of using the roadside barber in favour of a salon in Powai - Rs200 rather than 35 on the roadside!
Still managed to find a coffee maker so at least we have caffine flowing again so helps to gat you throught the day.
Took Max for his first haircut although chickened out of using the roadside barber in favour of a salon in Powai - Rs200 rather than 35 on the roadside!
Thursday, 22 July 2010
22nd July 2010 - Taps LOL
Finally got the LG man to turn up yesterday to fit thee washing machine and dishwasher. It has only been a month since the appliances were delivered, 15 broken appointments, bucketload of stress etc only to find that the contractor hadn't installed the necessary taps, water point yes, taps no. Call agent who provides contractors number, shout at contractor, contractor comes straight round to see work required. He advises that the taps cost extra! Told contractor to invoice the owner. Aparently the contractor will come back tomorrow to fit the taps at 1030 am sharp (sharp!!!???) Seeing will be believing. What have I become - stressed, cynical, worn out and fed up, not good!
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
20th July 2010 - Foot stuck
I'm starting to understand why people are so pleased to show you any new item or installation it is because they have waited so bl**dy long to have someone come round to deliver or install it! Four appointments where noone turned up and finally we sent our driver to pick up the carpenter and drive him round for our simple door lock to be fitted. We now show it off to anyone who will listen!
The large bass speaker we have that is part of the surround sound system has a large hole in the front to allow the sound to travel out. Shouts from Darcy the other day of 'foot stuck' upon entering the room there was Darcy laying on tje ground with her foot wedged in the front of the speaker!
Off to Thane in the morning for a visit.
The large bass speaker we have that is part of the surround sound system has a large hole in the front to allow the sound to travel out. Shouts from Darcy the other day of 'foot stuck' upon entering the room there was Darcy laying on tje ground with her foot wedged in the front of the speaker!
Off to Thane in the morning for a visit.
Monday, 19 July 2010
19th July 2010 - Silver Service
More shopping today, this time home stuff from a place called Hometown, something like IKEA but India style. So you get lots of dfferent sections, the usual overdose of staff who fall over themselves to sell you something and then when you actually want to buy something they haven't got it in stock! However, one fab thing is a silver serice resturant - Susie and I had a very nice meal while Darcy slept, all for princely sum of Rs400 about £6! We'll be going back there again!
Sunday, 18 July 2010
18th July 2010 - Man and a Van
Susie'd bought a range of plants from Mamta as she and her family were leaving Mumbai for Marlbrough, Wiltshire. Decided that a man and a van was required as some of the plants were pretty big. I was imagining a bloke with a motorbike to turn up with them balanced on the pillion seat like so much else that gets moved about here. How wrong I could be, a little 3 wheeled pickup turned up with all the plants in the back. Vikas had been roped in by Mitra to pick up the plants which he had to carry down from 28th floor as they were not allowed in the lift! Poor Vikas (and his young Nephew) were soaked by the time they got to us. The security guard was preventing him from using our lift until I stepped in and just loaded the lift anyway - speak to the hand ineffective security guard!
Just off to another shopping mall to buy plates, bowls, glasses etc etc as we only have the kid's plastic stuff to use.
Lockmman supposed to be turning up today at 2pm, told Susie not to expect him but be pleasantly surprised if he does turn up!
Just off to another shopping mall to buy plates, bowls, glasses etc etc as we only have the kid's plastic stuff to use.
Lockmman supposed to be turning up today at 2pm, told Susie not to expect him but be pleasantly surprised if he does turn up!
Saturday, 17 July 2010
17th July 2010 - Moving on up, moving on up!
22nd floor to be precise - moved into the flat today, went pretty smoothly mainly as we had organised it and all elements were under our control.
The workmen that were supposed to turn up (all from separate companies) to fix water purifier, fit dishwasher, fit washing machine, fit new lock to front door, mend the kitchen draws and make sure that the water works in Max's bathroom.....didn't turn up, not a single one! I queried it with our fixer who assured me that he had it in writing that they were all coming! Normally at this point the writer says something like 'well 4 out of 5 ain't bad!'
The workmen that were supposed to turn up (all from separate companies) to fix water purifier, fit dishwasher, fit washing machine, fit new lock to front door, mend the kitchen draws and make sure that the water works in Max's bathroom.....didn't turn up, not a single one! I queried it with our fixer who assured me that he had it in writing that they were all coming! Normally at this point the writer says something like 'well 4 out of 5 ain't bad!'
Thursday, 15 July 2010
16th July 2010 - fitness?
Something I've noticed recently is just how many gyms, fitness studios, swimming pools etc there are appears to be about equal the amount of sitting about that gets done!
D-Day - 1 today, we move into our flat tomorrow, regardless of whether it is fully fitted. Susie has done a pile of washing as we don't yet have a washing machine! If push comes to shove the local laundrette is only down next to the river!
Had take away Indian scrambled egg club sandwich this morning, sounds weird, tasted bloody lovely. The sous chef at the hotel had come in early to prepare it for me and then wrapped it in foil for me to take away as I'n always in a rush - genuine thoughtfulness.
Tuk Tuk slalom this morning, another entertaining game. Drive at speed picking you way through the Tuk Tuks ahead of you by driving to the left, right, centre of the autos in front of you, reminds me of one of those hollywood movies where the car chase takes place through strategically placed vehicles for maximum movement and excitement!
Sun is out today, nice!
Saw a few pigs this morning, mentioned them to Vikas and he held his nose. I said that pigs were very clean animals and he said 'not Indian pigs sir' LOL
D-Day - 1 today, we move into our flat tomorrow, regardless of whether it is fully fitted. Susie has done a pile of washing as we don't yet have a washing machine! If push comes to shove the local laundrette is only down next to the river!
Had take away Indian scrambled egg club sandwich this morning, sounds weird, tasted bloody lovely. The sous chef at the hotel had come in early to prepare it for me and then wrapped it in foil for me to take away as I'n always in a rush - genuine thoughtfulness.
Tuk Tuk slalom this morning, another entertaining game. Drive at speed picking you way through the Tuk Tuks ahead of you by driving to the left, right, centre of the autos in front of you, reminds me of one of those hollywood movies where the car chase takes place through strategically placed vehicles for maximum movement and excitement!
Sun is out today, nice!
Saw a few pigs this morning, mentioned them to Vikas and he held his nose. I said that pigs were very clean animals and he said 'not Indian pigs sir' LOL
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
15th July 2010 - Aaaaarrrrrrhhhhhhhhh!
That's better.
Today I've hit a brick wall, I could happily walk away from this great adventure, I'm not coping with it well today, I've had enough.
Today I've hit a brick wall, I could happily walk away from this great adventure, I'm not coping with it well today, I've had enough.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
14th July 2010 - Invisible force
The sun is out today which is nice, uplifting feeling after the heavy rain yesterday.
Vikas is driving as if equiped with some sort of forcefield around the car, super agressive driving whiCh is strangly hypnotic as we make it through impossible gaps and record progress!
Trying yet another combination of routes into school and work today, think we might have found the perfect blend of smooth(ish) roads and speed.
I had Scrambled eggs, Indian style, this morning which were spicy (natch) and very tasty.
Saw a road side barber, he had just given a little boy a hair cut, in the middle of the road junction with nothing more than a pair of sissors, a water spray, cloth and rock used as a seat - what more do you need?
Vikas is driving as if equiped with some sort of forcefield around the car, super agressive driving whiCh is strangly hypnotic as we make it through impossible gaps and record progress!
Trying yet another combination of routes into school and work today, think we might have found the perfect blend of smooth(ish) roads and speed.
I had Scrambled eggs, Indian style, this morning which were spicy (natch) and very tasty.
Saw a road side barber, he had just given a little boy a hair cut, in the middle of the road junction with nothing more than a pair of sissors, a water spray, cloth and rock used as a seat - what more do you need?
Monday, 12 July 2010
13th July 2010 - Lost and found
Good news - Pickfords have found our missing stuff sitting in their warehouse......in Wembley, UK! Seems that some bright spark unloaded 34 crates from the Truck, this didn't tie up with the written list they had so the other four crates were removed when it was repacked for shipment. Nice service.
Not in the flat formally until weekend but went back there last night after work as Susie and the kids were there. Brought a pizza and we had a simple dinner there, it felt great to put down roots finally and watch the sunset from our new home.
Raining hard again today, it just creeps, up one minute it is dry next the sky falls in and you are soaked right through.
News - massive chemical leak down in south Mumbai. Chlorine gas had been stored at the port for the last 13 years and noone really knew what was in the cylinders...until they started leaking!
Not in the flat formally until weekend but went back there last night after work as Susie and the kids were there. Brought a pizza and we had a simple dinner there, it felt great to put down roots finally and watch the sunset from our new home.
Raining hard again today, it just creeps, up one minute it is dry next the sky falls in and you are soaked right through.
News - massive chemical leak down in south Mumbai. Chlorine gas had been stored at the port for the last 13 years and noone really knew what was in the cylinders...until they started leaking!
Sunday, 11 July 2010
11th July 2010 - S.H.O.P.P.I.N.G
Went to R City Mall today to buy china for our new flat. Shopping with two hyper kids in a china department not conjusive to a stress free trip so decide to abandon and go to kids amusement arcade instead followed by lunch at a rain forest inspired resturant. I managed to get a pair of jeans which although too long were adjusted by the shop free of charge, nice work!
Saturday, 10 July 2010
10th July 2010 - Air Fret
Yippee, air freight being delivered to the flat today, need to get round there for 10.30 as Allied Le Muir have said they will be there. Wow, 10.35 and there is a knock at the door - its Allied Le Muir!
Service lift is being used to remove rubbish from some of the other flats being finished so I managed to agree with the block manager that we could use one of the normal lifts. Boxes soon start arriving which is a great feeling, we haven't seen this stuff since late May! Worryingly a few individual unpacked items start arriving with heavy damage. Soon becomes clear that one of the packages has been opened/destroyed and the remaining contents damaged, worse (?) still items missing too. We are understandably heart broken as the euphoria of the early morning disappears and we switch into trying to list the items missing, take photos and make sure that the we have made Allied Le Muir aware of all the problems.
Gin is the answer and on my way back to the flat to wait for more deliveries, I order tonic and limes to be sent up to the room, didn't want Susie to start drinking neat gin as she needed a drink!
Now I have to wait for a veritable army of people to come to the flat to install the electrical items. Understand that this is not an army of people at the same time to hit all jobs this is one 'specialist' after another as they turn out to me product/manufacturer specific. So Mr Panasonic can only install Panasonic TV so when I ask him to also set up the LG TV he declines and leaves. Still have to find Mr LG, Mr Zanussi, Mr Whirlpool, Mr Water purifier, Mr TATA Sky....we'll be done by Christmas at this rate.
Best bit about today so far? I set up the new surround sound system system complete with 650W sub woofer! Best bit about these flats has to be the solid concrete construction which means that literally no sound transfer so you can have music as loud as you want - bring on the bass!
Super hero Jason steps into action and sends a rocket to Pickfords to get things sorted ASAP. Holding our breath...for the moment.
All (Susie, Jason, Sharan, Teri and I) go out to the R City Mall and watch Knight and Day - bit of a romp, fun action, nice shots of Seville and we get to see Teri's (Spanish friend) house in the movie - very exciting!
Service lift is being used to remove rubbish from some of the other flats being finished so I managed to agree with the block manager that we could use one of the normal lifts. Boxes soon start arriving which is a great feeling, we haven't seen this stuff since late May! Worryingly a few individual unpacked items start arriving with heavy damage. Soon becomes clear that one of the packages has been opened/destroyed and the remaining contents damaged, worse (?) still items missing too. We are understandably heart broken as the euphoria of the early morning disappears and we switch into trying to list the items missing, take photos and make sure that the we have made Allied Le Muir aware of all the problems.
Gin is the answer and on my way back to the flat to wait for more deliveries, I order tonic and limes to be sent up to the room, didn't want Susie to start drinking neat gin as she needed a drink!
Now I have to wait for a veritable army of people to come to the flat to install the electrical items. Understand that this is not an army of people at the same time to hit all jobs this is one 'specialist' after another as they turn out to me product/manufacturer specific. So Mr Panasonic can only install Panasonic TV so when I ask him to also set up the LG TV he declines and leaves. Still have to find Mr LG, Mr Zanussi, Mr Whirlpool, Mr Water purifier, Mr TATA Sky....we'll be done by Christmas at this rate.
Best bit about today so far? I set up the new surround sound system system complete with 650W sub woofer! Best bit about these flats has to be the solid concrete construction which means that literally no sound transfer so you can have music as loud as you want - bring on the bass!
Super hero Jason steps into action and sends a rocket to Pickfords to get things sorted ASAP. Holding our breath...for the moment.
All (Susie, Jason, Sharan, Teri and I) go out to the R City Mall and watch Knight and Day - bit of a romp, fun action, nice shots of Seville and we get to see Teri's (Spanish friend) house in the movie - very exciting!
Thursday, 8 July 2010
9th July 2010 - Tuk Tuk
The traffic is dreadful this morning, a new benchmark.
What it does highlight is the exciting game of Tuk Tuk intimidation. If you force your way past them driving up the wrong side of the road then
either just cut them up as you force your way back onto the right side of the road or why not stay out on the wrongside and play chicken? You can see the on coming Tuk Tuk driver thinking about a head on challenge then at the last second deciding that the only sensible course of action is to swerve, skill fully or luckily not hitting the peiple walking in the road!
Susie off to check the flat again today, you never know it might be ready this time, bloody better be our shipping being delivered tomorrow!
What it does highlight is the exciting game of Tuk Tuk intimidation. If you force your way past them driving up the wrong side of the road then
either just cut them up as you force your way back onto the right side of the road or why not stay out on the wrongside and play chicken? You can see the on coming Tuk Tuk driver thinking about a head on challenge then at the last second deciding that the only sensible course of action is to swerve, skill fully or luckily not hitting the peiple walking in the road!
Susie off to check the flat again today, you never know it might be ready this time, bloody better be our shipping being delivered tomorrow!
5th July 2010 - Bandh
National strike day, so a day working from home as it is not safe to be out and about. Best Buses are running with wire grills on the windows, trains have armed guards. The police have taken precautions and arrested 1,900 people who might cause trouble! A few outbreaks, bit of damage but nothing much seemed to happen. The strike was due to fuel price hikes.
Got caught out in a massive monsoon downpour with Darcy, one minute it was dry and sunny, then the wind picked up and within a minute or two the rain fell out of the sky and we were wet through in moments!
Got caught out in a massive monsoon downpour with Darcy, one minute it was dry and sunny, then the wind picked up and within a minute or two the rain fell out of the sky and we were wet through in moments!
8th July 2010 - There and back to see how far it was.
Went to Pune today with Jason to visit the Capita offices. If we were to drive it would take anywhere between 3 and 6 hours, depending on the traffic, rock falls, monsoon rain and any other vagary that would beset us....so we flew instead.
Arrive at the domestic airport 9am, check in, plane leaves at 9.50am...from the same runway as the International airport! Spend 17 minutes in the air, then start to drop down into Pune, shortest plane flight I've ever been on. Spend another 10 minutes getting out of the airport and into the car for the short trip to the office. On the way saw my first elephant wandering along the road with a guy riding on its back.
Spent the day in the office and left at 4.30pm to come back. The Pune airport is pretty small and is also an Indian Airforce base so the runway is shared between domestic and fighter jets!
Slightly late leaving and the airhostest's did the safety brief in record time, they couldn't keep up with the speed of the person speaking! The big difference here is that on the plane only the first 2 rows get liftjakets, rows 3 onwards have to rip off the seat cushion and hold it for dear life should we land on the water.
Darcy starting to feel a little better the projectile poo seems to be slowing down.
Susie went to the flat to check whether everything had been completed...it hasn't, so back again tomorrow as we have another assurance (the 4th) that this time everything will be sorted!
Our shipping has cleared customs and delivery has been booked for Saturday 10th, lets see if this actually turns up.
Arrive at the domestic airport 9am, check in, plane leaves at 9.50am...from the same runway as the International airport! Spend 17 minutes in the air, then start to drop down into Pune, shortest plane flight I've ever been on. Spend another 10 minutes getting out of the airport and into the car for the short trip to the office. On the way saw my first elephant wandering along the road with a guy riding on its back.
Spent the day in the office and left at 4.30pm to come back. The Pune airport is pretty small and is also an Indian Airforce base so the runway is shared between domestic and fighter jets!
Slightly late leaving and the airhostest's did the safety brief in record time, they couldn't keep up with the speed of the person speaking! The big difference here is that on the plane only the first 2 rows get liftjakets, rows 3 onwards have to rip off the seat cushion and hold it for dear life should we land on the water.
Darcy starting to feel a little better the projectile poo seems to be slowing down.
Susie went to the flat to check whether everything had been completed...it hasn't, so back again tomorrow as we have another assurance (the 4th) that this time everything will be sorted!
Our shipping has cleared customs and delivery has been booked for Saturday 10th, lets see if this actually turns up.
Monday, 5 July 2010
4th July 2010 - Wedding fun
Didn't really get ourselves sorted out for lunch in the apartment early enough today, so found ourselves going up the hotel to enjoy food from one of the delicious buffets. Sadly this meant that my planned viewing of the Moto GP race went out the window as we were still 'getting our monies worth' at past 4pm!!
As we came down from the hotel we came across an India
n wedding just getting started. The thing that hits you straight away are the vibrant colours and the huge noise created by the wedding band. First step is for the wedding goers to dance to the music of the band, whilst the groom waits (in this wedding he was left I a car which was covered in flowers!) We were watching and doing a little dance with the kids. A few of the wedding party came over and asked us to join in with the dancing! Susie and I joined in whilst Max took pictures and Darcy sat in her beloved silver Tuk Tuk with Deepak. It was gre
at fun, very hot and noisy and I think the kids were embarrassed by their parents - ha!
Bumped into Jason and Teri on their way to the hotel, so after the dancing we then went back up to the hotel and had afternoon tea, finally made it back to the apartment, after relaxing and eating for the majority of the day - must start some proper exercise soon!
3rd July 2010 - Dry cow
Sunny Saturday - nice to see the sun again, its been a little overcast the last few days. Decide to get out before it changes its mind!
Off to interview the maid, Cecelia, who currently works for a lady Susie met called Mamta. Visit Mamta in the Evita apartments - wow what an apartment! The view of the lake, surrounding woodlands etc is unimpeded and lovely. The apartment is huge and beautifully decorated - benefit of working for British Gas! Interview complete and we have secured Cecelia to come and work for us starting towards the end of July for a very reasonable monthly salary.
Call from Chrispin (Capita Facilities) to say that our flat was ready to check, how exciting, pile into the car and drive round...it isn't ready, apart from the missing door now being attached to the shower nothing else has happened in 4 days since we kicked up a fuss so we pile back into the car leaving Chrispin in our apartment, full of people noting down the remaining jobs and hopefully make plans to sort it out.
We all go down to Aroma one of the nice local cafes for lunch. While I'm eating my strange Thai Red Curry Penne Pasta, the heavens open and the forecasted rain falls out of the sky. Within minutes the roads and pavements are awash with rivers of water. It becomes quite facinating to watch people going about their daily tasks wading through almost knee deep water and trying to stay dry - failing miserably. My favourite is the pillion bike passengers who hold the umbrellas up covering themselves and the bike rider or maybe the bullock who was sheltering from the rain with us under the awning of Aroma! Max went out and did a rain dance, we called the car and when it turned up ran the 50 yards to safety, not before getting soaked and wading through the flood water.
Top rain fall this weekend goes to one of the Mumbai suburbs at 210mm in one day.
Off to interview the maid, Cecelia, who currently works for a lady Susie met called Mamta. Visit Mamta in the Evita apartments - wow what an apartment! The view of the lake, surrounding woodlands etc is unimpeded and lovely. The apartment is huge and beautifully decorated - benefit of working for British Gas! Interview complete and we have secured Cecelia to come and work for us starting towards the end of July for a very reasonable monthly salary.
Call from Chrispin (Capita Facilities) to say that our flat was ready to check, how exciting, pile into the car and drive round...it isn't ready, apart from the missing door now being attached to the shower nothing else has happened in 4 days since we kicked up a fuss so we pile back into the car leaving Chrispin in our apartment, full of people noting down the remaining jobs and hopefully make plans to sort it out.
We all go down to Aroma one of the nice local cafes for lunch. While I'm eating my strange Thai Red Curry Penne Pasta, the heavens open and the forecasted rain falls out of the sky. Within minutes the roads and pavements are awash with rivers of water. It becomes quite facinating to watch people going about their daily tasks wading through almost knee deep water and trying to stay dry - failing miserably. My favourite is the pillion bike passengers who hold the umbrellas up covering themselves and the bike rider or maybe the bullock who was sheltering from the rain with us under the awning of Aroma! Max went out and did a rain dance, we called the car and when it turned up ran the 50 yards to safety, not before getting soaked and wading through the flood water.
Top rain fall this weekend goes to one of the Mumbai suburbs at 210mm in one day.
Saturday, 3 July 2010
2nd July 2010 - Land of the living
Thank goodness I'm feeling a bit better today. Think I had swamp fever for the last 3 days and felt pretty poorly. Told by most people that it is due to the Monsoon, lots of Europeans seem to be affected - temperature, cough, headache, limbs ached not nice.
Changes at work so more to absorb quickly but look like these new challenges will be fun so looking forward to it.
Ended the day with news of a nationwide strike on Monday 5th and warned not to be on the on Monday streets to avoid a stoning. Wondered about trying to make it in but this would also put Vikas at risk so not fair to even think about it. The strike seems to be about fuel prices, which also have a knock on impact on practically everything else, food prices, transport etc.
Night out at the Beatle Hotel, meeting place for people new to Mumbai, first Friday of each month. Met a few new people and then had a good dinner at the Hotel resturant.
Changes at work so more to absorb quickly but look like these new challenges will be fun so looking forward to it.
Ended the day with news of a nationwide strike on Monday 5th and warned not to be on the on Monday streets to avoid a stoning. Wondered about trying to make it in but this would also put Vikas at risk so not fair to even think about it. The strike seems to be about fuel prices, which also have a knock on impact on practically everything else, food prices, transport etc.
Night out at the Beatle Hotel, meeting place for people new to Mumbai, first Friday of each month. Met a few new people and then had a good dinner at the Hotel resturant.
3rd July 2010 - Wet, Wet, Wet
Maid interviewed, maid secured to start third week of July. Had to increase pay to Rs 10,000 per month plus Rs 500 travel money. Still a good deal as this is about £160.00 per month for a 5 day week, 8am til 4pm!
Call to say that the flat is now ready so zipped round to check it out. The only noticable thing was that the missing door into the service room had been found and installed, just a shame it hadn't been cleaned. Still all of the snagging jobs to do, although the flat had been cleaned despite me asking for it to wait until all building work had completed. Oh well, they will just have to come back once it is completed and give it another clean. Won't be moing in just yet!
Went to hav
e lunch at the Aroma Cafe which was nice. The rain that had been threatening all morning came with avengence whilst we had lunch. Still a novelty to see so much rain dropping out of the sky and to see just how much water floods around the place in such a short space of time. The Tuk Tuks slowly start to breakdown as they flood, the motorcyclists all hide under trees and one van was stranded in the outside lane of the express way as one of its back wheels had disappeared down a manhole which had been blown off. Six inches of muddy water had covered the missing manhole, so pretty risky stuff. Even with Vikas driving as close as he could to the door still gave us a 50 yard dash in the pouring rain, then wade through shin high water 
to get to the car, Darcy thrown though the open passenger door, Vikas catching her and happily holding onto her whilst we all bundled in!
e lunch at the Aroma Cafe which was nice. The rain that had been threatening all morning came with avengence whilst we had lunch. Still a novelty to see so much rain dropping out of the sky and to see just how much water floods around the place in such a short space of time. The Tuk Tuks slowly start to breakdown as they flood, the motorcyclists all hide under trees and one van was stranded in the outside lane of the express way as one of its back wheels had disappeared down a manhole which had been blown off. Six inches of muddy water had covered the missing manhole, so pretty risky stuff. Even with Vikas driving as close as he could to the door still gave us a 50 yard dash in the pouring rain, then wade through shin high water 
to get to the car, Darcy thrown though the open passenger door, Vikas catching her and happily holding onto her whilst we all bundled in! Max had had fun running around in the rain before Vikas arrived and was also soaked to the skin.
Sitting and relaxing now, GP2 racing, 20:20 Cricket and Wimbledon....now where is that cup of tea?
Thursday, 1 July 2010
20th June 2010 - Phew
Usual 'short in distance long in time' travel to work today took us past a Hospital which proudly displayed a big sign at the gates stating that it had 'Indoor Facilites'.....
19th June 2010 - Brick sets
I guess travelling largely in Europe you do tend to see fairly similar things when you are out and about, only a few degrees of separation to what you are used to seeing. So I guess that I should expect to see a few more unusual things having move to a new Continent.
Road surfaces are the focus of today's blog, mainly because I see a lot of different ones on my way to work and wanted to capture what I see.
Leave the Hotel apartments on a very smooth surface, not unlike a tarmac road but with no visible lumps of stone, as I say very smooth surface. I saw them laying patches of it before the rain came. All done by hand, no tools, so intrigued to see how they managed to do it so well. Down the hill onto the main road where you transition from 'tarmac' to brick sets, around 1 mile of them. Some areas have tarmac repairs, now I though the idea of brick sets was that you could simply lift and replace the affected set? Few sets of speed bumps, with a few of the bolt down humps removed so that the wheels of the car will fit between and you can maintain your speed. I read a story in the paper that when the traffic police install them people then 'vandalise' them by taking up sections to allow cars to be unaffected by them. This does lend itself to all vehicles approaching the speed bumps and all heading for the removed sections to avoid the bump which adds to the excitement! Off the brick sets onto concrete slabs, mile upon mile of them. Then there will be some road works so transfer onto the mud beneath the road surface, then new concrete, then tarmac, then brick sets, then rubbish as Vikas the driver has found a new short cut - drive across the central reservation filled with rubbish and onto the other side.
After the heavy rain earlier in June there have been some very large holes appearing in the road surface along with the missing manhole covers, most of which have yet to be replaced. One of these missing manhole covers had been covered over with a round 'No Waiting' road sign that had been ripped out of the ground! I guess it still served its purpose!
Road surfaces are the focus of today's blog, mainly because I see a lot of different ones on my way to work and wanted to capture what I see.
Leave the Hotel apartments on a very smooth surface, not unlike a tarmac road but with no visible lumps of stone, as I say very smooth surface. I saw them laying patches of it before the rain came. All done by hand, no tools, so intrigued to see how they managed to do it so well. Down the hill onto the main road where you transition from 'tarmac' to brick sets, around 1 mile of them. Some areas have tarmac repairs, now I though the idea of brick sets was that you could simply lift and replace the affected set? Few sets of speed bumps, with a few of the bolt down humps removed so that the wheels of the car will fit between and you can maintain your speed. I read a story in the paper that when the traffic police install them people then 'vandalise' them by taking up sections to allow cars to be unaffected by them. This does lend itself to all vehicles approaching the speed bumps and all heading for the removed sections to avoid the bump which adds to the excitement! Off the brick sets onto concrete slabs, mile upon mile of them. Then there will be some road works so transfer onto the mud beneath the road surface, then new concrete, then tarmac, then brick sets, then rubbish as Vikas the driver has found a new short cut - drive across the central reservation filled with rubbish and onto the other side.
After the heavy rain earlier in June there have been some very large holes appearing in the road surface along with the missing manhole covers, most of which have yet to be replaced. One of these missing manhole covers had been covered over with a round 'No Waiting' road sign that had been ripped out of the ground! I guess it still served its purpose!
1st July 2010 - Manflu
Woke up feeling poorly, advised by Dr Howard-Jones to stay in bed. Normally I'd ignore this advice and go to work but feeling very rough and not up for ignoring the advice this time. Taken another couple of the magic tablets and gone back to bed.
Woke at around 3.30pm to hear Susie on the Skype to sister Gilly dressed in a Sari which was a little surreal, with us calling from India dressed in European clothes!
Another warm day, overcast Sky looking menacing, wouldn't be surprised to have some rain later.
Susie popped over to check on progress with the snagging/cleaning jobs on the flat....nothing has happened save for the missing door has been found and propped up in the flat - I guess your could call that progress...India style!
Darcy and Susie just off to see if the Hotel has cleaned the Little Tikes playhouse Darcy found the other day, hope they make it before the rain comes!
Woke at around 3.30pm to hear Susie on the Skype to sister Gilly dressed in a Sari which was a little surreal, with us calling from India dressed in European clothes!
Another warm day, overcast Sky looking menacing, wouldn't be surprised to have some rain later.
Susie popped over to check on progress with the snagging/cleaning jobs on the flat....nothing has happened save for the missing door has been found and propped up in the flat - I guess your could call that progress...India style!
Darcy and Susie just off to see if the Hotel has cleaned the Little Tikes playhouse Darcy found the other day, hope they make it before the rain comes!
30th June 2010 - Torino
Fun and games with the flat bit of a bumpy start. We gain possession of the flat 20th June which was very exciting, the keys were given to me last Friday and we'd arranged for the first delivery (TVs, Oven, Fridge etc) Saturday 26th. The flat was a mess, even though we are the first people to live there, and it has taken us until today to get agreement to have the snagging jobs completed and a proper deep clean carried out. I'm not going to be too graphic but suffice to say that any and every builder working on the block has used the toilets, even before the water was connected is enough to paint a picture!
First full day of my Manflu, no ordinary cold you understand and to be fair (to me) it has been particularily nasty. My boss Jason has had it too and has given me some of his magic tablets to try and sort it out. No instructions so I'll just pop 2 now and go to bed.
First full day of my Manflu, no ordinary cold you understand and to be fair (to me) it has been particularily nasty. My boss Jason has had it too and has given me some of his magic tablets to try and sort it out. No instructions so I'll just pop 2 now and go to bed.
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