Me and my Ambassador

Take Seth down any road in India and he points out every Ambassador car he passes. There are Ambassadors everywhere, so each walk or drive we had a commentary 'Amasssshador, two Ambassshador, AMBASSSHADOR' and so on. For about four months he's been doing this and never tired of it. He had a couple of Ambassador drivers around Cochin who would let him hop up into the driving seat, so he was always delighted if we spotted Simon ('Man') or Sheshi. Here is Sethie on his last drive, clinging onto the the steering wheel and gearstick because we said it was time to say goodbye to the Ambassdor.

Seth and Ted

Teddy is Seth's new best friend. He doesn't leave Seth, Seth doesn't leave him. Papa, Ammu, Macu, Hannah, Heather, Rene...they come and go, but he doesn't have to say goodbye to Ted. He puts him to bed, wakes him up, baths him, takes him for pee-pee, dresses him and sits him at the table to eat with us, and the rest of the time tucks him under his arm and takes him around with him.

I would love to have my very own Calvin and Hobbes, so this imaginary friend business is going to be encouraged!

The tired trampolist and Ted

Big shoes to fill

Good hair day

Seth had a hair appointment with me in the garden this morning. He here is feeling pretty good about himself, even while just wearing underpants. Bo, poor baby, is still pretty bald. I reckon he'll be two before he has his first haircut.

Playgroup pampering

We fly to Bangalore on Saturday and our hope is to find a nursery or playgroup for Seth on Monday. The extreme heat and all the changes, we think it's good for him to have a place he goes each day and can play with other kids.

Ollie's schoolfriend Danny has a sprawling family in Bangalore who enjoy fussing over Ol (and it's fair to say, he quite enjoys them fussing over him). They've already called round several nursery schools and asked on our behalf if Seth could join for three weeks. The Principal at First Steps Nursery, we've been informed, would be delighted to welcome Seth on Monday morning.

I checked out the website of First Steps. 

There is ample play area for children to run around and explore. There is a large Jacaranda tree, flowering bushes, with butterflies flitting around. The presence of ducks and other fowl fosters feelings of compassion in the little ones.

Sounds great!

Then there's a wonderfully random line:

Two elderly ladies who have been coming for over ten years now, purely for their love of the place and children provide a sense of security in the little ones.

Ok, so two grannies wander in off the street every day and hang out on the bench watching the kids...
Here's the explanation, quite sweet really.  

This special feature of the school where children, the elderly, aminals, ducks and other fowl co-exist in harmony, represents inter-dependency, where each benefits by the presence of the other.

I'm digging the next paragraph though:

For the mothers there is ATMASPARSH a spa located on the roof top, which is a serene oasis in the heart of the city, yet away from the madding crowd. After dropping their wards in school mothers can visit the Spa to refresh, rejuvenate, the mind, body and soul.


Gotta love that!

They even have a social conscience:

Apart from curriculum First Steps believes in reaching out to the less fortunate by hosting an annual charitable event the proceeds of which are donated to 'Navchetana -a home for the aged and mentally challenged' and several other deserving causes. We believe that a little thought, kind actions, go a long way in removing the lonely from within tired hearts and it revives in them a sense of belonging and meaningfulness in life.

Hear, hear! And if I was in any doubt, they endorse the above with an extract from the Bible, the Gospel of John, no less:

“For, in the twilight of life God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human successes, but how well we have loved” By St. John 

Monday morning I'm there.

Hat parade

Bo looking cool, showing up big brother Seth who has grown out of all his hats. Ollie giving his only smile of the day. He was hot, tired and having a bad India week! He's promised to find a good mood in Trivandrum and bring it back with him at the weekend. Mmmm, let's hope so....

Three things to do with a coconut

1. Drink the milk

(Our first family shot in almost a year and I look washed out - I was, far too early a start for my liking - and Ollie was in the worst mood that day. Grumpy face all day. It seems to be his turn for India to get to him...)

2. Eat the flesh

3. Spin the husk fibres into Coir rope

p.s. from Seth
4. Use the piles of fibre as a bouncy mattress to jump and down on and throw at local girls

Bedfellows