Kolkata

11 February 2007

This morning we attended a service given by the Reverend James Stevens (founder of Udayan) at St Andrews Church. As we write this message we are sitting in the tropical courtyard under the palm trees at the Fairlawn chatting to James and his wife Lallita. We are discussing plans for our time at Udayan and are getting excited at the prospect being with the children.

Later on we shall be going for a tour around Kolkata visiting the Botanical Gardens and Tagore’s Museum among other places. It has now been decided that tomorrow we will be going to Udayan and spending the night there! We will be taking the reading books we brought over from England to use as the basis of our literacy lessons with the little ones.

James visits Group at the Fairlawn

James visits Group at the Fairlawn

Unfortunately the internet café that we are using here to update the website shuts early on Sundays and we will not be back in time from our Kolkata tour to inform you of our afternoon’s activities. We will be posting all this information together with photographs tomorrow.

Comments:

Kathy O'Brien

@ 6877 days ago

Good Morning Siobhan, good morning all. I thought I’d fire up the PC early just to see comments from yesterday and was surprised to see your entry. It’s quite funny waking up and realising that you are half way through your day. The gardens of the hotel look really beautiful. Have a wonderful day today exploring Kolkata and enjoy your trip to Udayan tomorrow. I’m sure you are all looking forward to it. I’m just off to Mass myself now. My turn to do Children’s Liturgy this week. We have a lovely sunny day today and it is much warmer, still not above 10 deg but warmer than it has been.
God Bless and lots of love, keep safe and well. Mum and Dad xxXXxx

Kathy O'Brien

@ 6877 days ago

Scratch that last report. Just about to leave the house for Mass and it’s grey and raining now. Oh the joys of living in England.
Love you Mum xxXXxx

samuelbell

@ 6876 days ago

wow. that little place you are sitting in looks like a complete different world!
it looks stunning. you also all look very engrossed – sharing conversation with James.

hope the day goes well, and take care.
again another good diary and pictures!

love BELL
xxx

Hilary

@ 6876 days ago

Just left a stoopidly long message on the previous page, but can never run out of things to say when you are always doing such amazing things!!
Have fun on the Kolkata tour!! The photos are fab- it all looks so tropical and surreal!
Kirsten is driving her car about now and getting used to the non existent power steering lol yay my car isn’t the only one! I’m reminding the gals not to squander their money as the 1st March is looming closer lol ahhhh
will log in 2moro to be amazed , yet again!
Big hugs to all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xXx FraNceSca xXx

@ 6876 days ago

btw that msg b4 was from MEEEEE ppl , not my mum hehe XxX

Grace

@ 6876 days ago

Hey guys
Glad to see that you are still having fun out there!
Hope that you had a good tour around Kolkata! Bet you all are really lookig forward to tomorrow, afterall it is the main reason for you going! and girlies once you get there you suitcase will become even lighter meaning more of an excuse to go shopping :p i mean you cant some back with an empty suitcase!!
Looks so amazing there! THe picyures look like you are sitting in a little jungle:p
Look forward to your update tomorrow!
Look after yourselves as i understand that Dehli Belly hasnt found its way you you yet!
Grace
x x x x x x x x x x

Bekah

@ 6876 days ago

Hey guys! im writing this while feeling rather worse for wear after last nite! It was a wkd nite but missed u guys! We will celebrate wen u get home! Nxt its u shane!!!!
Where you are now looks gorgeus! It must b so sureal being there! 2moro sounds like it is going 2 b a lovely day aswell! Something u will never 4get! U’ll have an excellent time! And shane i kno how much u want a child but no stealing one!
Well i will love u and leave u! Missing u all!
xXx

Kathy O'Brien

@ 6876 days ago

Hi Siobhan,
Spoke with Tony in Vienna last night, he said that they had all caught up with all your travels and asked to send you all their love. He said not to come running to him if you lose your passport. I don’t know these government types never do what you need them to. We said that he could leave his own message but he said he was too lazy, more likely he was depressed over the QPR result. Lucy text dad – she’s not a happy bunny.
Love you lots have a wonderful day and night tomorrow. Our little pied piper in India – knowing you there will be lots of tears when you have to say goodbye to the children. Keep your chin up and enjoy the wonderful experience. It will encourage you to drum up more support when you get back St. Joan’s.
Must go now and finish preparing the roast chicken dinner for when the boys get back from Mass.
Love and kisses, Mum xxooxxooXXooxxooxx

Stacey

@ 6876 days ago

Neal! How is my favourite cousin? Me mum and dad just went for a curry and i thought of you! hehe thought i’d leave you a qucik message to see how you are. Bet your having a great time, hope that you wont come back with a ‘curry belly’ like my dad! and hope that the toilet situation is ok! Lots of Love, Stacey xxxxxx

Danny Risdon

@ 6876 days ago

Good to see you are all having a nice time. I’m guessing you’ve heard about school being closed, but the good news is that I’ve still been working hard. It’s going to be hard without our discussion lessons in history, but I’ve found a video which you may find interesting. Enjoy the rest of your visit.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5h95s0OuEg

Mimi

@ 6876 days ago

(trys to leave a message for the 3rd time)

Hay there in India! i left a message the other day, but i seems that i must have only pressed the preview button being the silly person that i am :p so i gess katherine you’ll be thinking that i’ve forgotten you! well think again! im missing you like mad! specially at kelly’s party last night, i know you would have danced the whole night long! :p
well i’ve been watching all your progress and everything looks amazing! i cant believe you’ve now seen the Taj Mahal and been on the Ganges! Well done to everyone for not falling in at that early hour for the morning! :p and the picture of you all infront of the Taj looks blue screened it’s soo beautiful!
The pictures of your morning today… WOW it looks like a paradise! and i bet you where glad of the shade! :p (unlike here, tho my snow man is down to a snow lump now, so it’s warming up a bit)
i would also like to say (as i did in the missing message i left :p ) that i am glad to see that your wearing your scarves katherine! i wouldnt expect any different and cant wait to see your new one! please wear it in a photo for us all to see! :p
Good luck in the next leg of your amazing journey! you’re soo lucky to be able to see the smiling faces of the children we are changing the lives of!
I cant wait to see your next instalment!
Thinking of you,
Mimi xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx huug!!

flood

@ 6876 days ago

sorry i haven’t posted in the last few days. what a time you’re having! hope you’re all well, you look it anyway. silly o’clock here now, goin to bed… doesn’t sound like you get to spend much time there!

take care, keep enjoying yourselves,

Matt x