Summer 2010

Sorry all its been hectic.
So I arrived in UK for a visit, work conference and home on the way back from India. A quick trip - No such luck, got caught up in the volcano, not literally although felt like it. Travelled the Midlands, stayed in 5 hotels in 8 nights - some nicer than others! Worked nights at HO assisting team bringing guests back from continent. An experience! Hopefully not to be repeated.
So left Blighty with Beryl the Peril for home. FABULOUS to be home to Martin and my babies. A great reunion! Missed them all terribly while I was away. House looks great, all newly decorated, jobs finished, all spruced up! Beryl visited for 2 weeks as she lost the first week to the volcano. We all had a fab time with her, and then she was gone home all to quickly! She took the start of a great tan with her.
We all started work immediatley - DOH! - season to season. Although must say we are all fortunate to have work as some people we know are still looking.
WE had a super visit from Barry & Anne. Great fun, good company although, I had to dry out once they had gone, and it wasn't as a result of the rain....
Next visitor was Julie. Owen is also on the island working in Malai for the season. Julie spent a week visiting with us all and relaxing. Great to see her!
We are looking forward to seeing you all soon.

The end of an exciting winter in India

So the season draws to an end and I am packed! All **kgs of it. I have had a fabulous time in India, taken some great trips and met some good friends. Hoping that I maybe able to go again for winter 2010 to finish the work I have begun and to take in some more of the culture and sights. We'll see? Anyway looking forward to seeing you in April when I am visiting the UK, before finally getting home to Crete and my lovely family. I have missed them and you ALOT! xx

A visit from Julie

Well Julie made a late visit for a couple of weeks holiday. A lovely surprise. We managed to fit quite a lot in, trips to the beach, visit to the south of Goa, Julie took a trip to a Spice Plantation, Panji and an interesting excursion by train to Karnatika to visit the Krishna Temple in Uduipi where the Beatles hung out and wrote Let It Be, an Elephant Rehabilatation Centre and the Tiger and Asian Lion Conservation Reserve. This was all within the area of the Western Ghats, so the road journeys were pretty hair raising! One climb had 14 hair pin bends on it and our driver did not take any prisioners. We finished her trip back at the beach followed by a last minute dash around the market. She headed off home after having a good and interesting holiday. Hope you enjoy some of the pictures. I will see her soon when I make it back to UK.

Feb 2010 and Mieke's visit

Back from a great trip to Kerala and Mieke has arrived. We have had a great time as you can see from the pictures. A lovely relaxing stay at the beach huts of Mandrem Sea Paradise to try and get over the time difference although we still fitted in the Ingo's market experience, don't you just love those hippies. Still here making all sorts of tat that they sell each other.... Anyway enough of my prejudices. We had a great meeting with an elephant at the Spice Plantation, quick trip around Old Goa to see churches and St Francis Xavier laying in the cathedral. We spent valentines evening with the Reps at the Dona Alcina Gala Dinner. Valentines is a BIG deal here, lots of in love Indian couples of all ages. Stunning Russian ladies taking prizes for turning up. English couples grateful for the buffet. Good fun was had by all! We took an epic trip to Hampi, a 12 hour train journey to arrive in an area of great beauty. Bolders of huge proportions that they fashioned into statues of Hindu gods, temples and beautiful palaces dating back 1000's of years. I hope some of the pictures capture the essence of the place for you. Our hotel was a basic local, leave you to imagine the comfort and ambience of the rooms. Another 12 hours to get back to Goa on the sleeper train. Fight for a 3 tiered bunk, sharing with strangers, travelers, young locals travelling from Calcuta to Goa. Very enlightening.
Back in Goa and we took a boat trip to Anjuna and dolpins joined the boat, more shopping, at the local flee market, lunch at a beach shack, more shopping on the beach from a lovely young lady, 19 years, who proudly tells us her name is Sharon, has a husband who drinks all her hard earned money and has 2 children already. She came from Karnatika but says she will never be able to go back now, her family married her to the man in Goa and thats her lot in life. Thought provoking!! So glad our daughter has choices.
We had a fab visit together in Goa and saw more Indian culture during our trip east. Sad to see Mieke go home!