Back into full swing!

It's been 3 weeks since we arrived back in Bangalore after our wonderful European holiday. We've had more than enough time to re-adjust and get back into "India mode".

Not that we had a choice as so much has happened in the past 3 weeks. Time really does fly when you're having fun:

We arrived back to Bangalore to find that our driver was dismissed while we were away. We of course didn't know about this until the day we arrived back at the airport and Nagraj wasn't their to collect us. Long story short: we've had two drivers since and test drove another two. We have a substitute driver until we strike it lucky and find one that we like.

In the mean time I've been very busy with work for the OWC (overseas women's club) http://www.owcbangalore.org/ which is a social and charitable organization and a registered trust. I share the role of Vice President of Activities (Unfortunately voluntary). It is a full time job keeping about 600 members busy with planned activities and events throughout the year. EC Meetings, monthly reports, meetings with GM's of hotels, restaurant managers...the whole bang shoot! I haven't worked for over a year and as you can image this is right up my ally...I love it!

And to add to all the excitement, Jacqueline is getting ready to say farewell to India. She's had to sort out all her stuff. Decisions, decisions...20kg Mmmmmm(what stays and what goes)! We've done some last minute shopping to just add to her dilemma of space.

Commercial street - which has been some what of a "shopping paradise" for Jacqueline the past 6 months.

Jacqueline had a list of "all things Indian" that we had to shop for.

On Tuesday we collected the keys to our new apartment. It was a easy and painless move as far as the actual moving of the furniture and other household items go. We started moving some of the smaller stuff over the next couple of days e.g. clothes, the few ornaments, kitchenware and office stuff that we have. By Thursday when they delivered the furniture I had already unpacked, hung curtains etc.

Our new apartment block - Chartered Raaga in Cooke Town about 5km from the city centre.

I took down the auspicious mango leaves that were above the front door. Hope I haven't jinxed anything now..Oops!


Home Sweet Home!!!

We had a couple of teething problems with a leaking toilet, dust all over the place from when they installed the AC in the bedroom and some minor electrical work to be done.

By this afternoon it was all sorted...mirror up, AC connected, kitchen switches re-wired, the bed side lamp's cables were replaced, the 3rd load of washing was on the line. All in a days work!

Of course not without supervision, as Marc had to man the vacuum cleaner while Kumar drilled holes for the AC cables, mirror etc. Kumar was very impressed with this ingenious "No mess no fuss" technique.

Marc standing by with the vacuum cleaner!

Isn't this ironic...the electrition's drill doesn't have a plug!

We enjoyed our first BBQ in India, fillet steak on our own gas "braai" in our new house, Life is grand!

The great BBQ on our small patio where we hope to have many more great "braai's".

Our lusious, green private garden with all sorts of herbs, a lime tree, a mango tree and even our own coconut tree.

In July I will also resume my graphic design course, which I'm hoping to finish by the time we go to SA at the end of August.

Now that things are back to normal we are hoping to do a trip, somewhere in the Karnataka State, soon.

Watch this space!