Halfway, halfway.

I've had such an interesting week, ups and downs like a rollercoaster. Not been feeling well, again, so I can only assume that's made me slightly more emotional, but work on wednesday really got to me. It was fascinating seeing the mums and babies clinic, just a local woman administering the ennoculations - but she used clean needles and she was as gentle as possible. There were no children in that day so we just sat and watched, but towards the end a younger girl, maybe 8-9yrs old came in for some drugs. Her mum/aunt/sister was with her, and was being very rough with her considering she was obviously ill - following them out of the door I saw her being beaten around the face with such force. It made me sick to see, but we have been warned with great sincerity not to interfere. I hated it, going back to work on monday will be awkward. At least i'll have my friends there. Lanie watched a little boy being beaten unconscious by the headteacher in Dabla school last week, it's one of the things I just wish I could change.

So yes, not such a brilliant week at work, but the weekend was a welcome pick me up (with some exceptions!) 4am wake up to grab a tuktuk into Jaisalmer, 7hrs on a hideously cramped coach to Bikaner where we went to visit the rat temple. Hundreds upon hundreds of rats, one for every holy person thought to have died. We removed our shoes, for this was holy ground, and stepped into the chaos of worship, offerings, and rats. They weren't that bad, one bumped into Rochelle's foot, and they're not timid, but nobody got bitten. It was getting home that was a nightmare! There's no such thing as a return ticket in India and up till now we have been lucky getting enough seats home, not this time. No seats on the bus till 5am! No way. So 2 1/2hrs of stress, and driving all over Bikaner finally secured the 16 of us 10 beds on the sleeper train home. My goodness, you cannot imagine the kind of cold we lay in on that train. It must have been less than 10degrees, no blankets. It was the kind of cold that makes you forget what it's like to be warm. But worth it, and we were all in it together!

Camp has never felt more like home.

So, halfway, actually nearly 4weeks left. My sweets got robbed out of the post (grrr) but I have my work gloves now so no more sifting through broken glass etc. I got my first christmas card from home, Clare sent me a pudding which the Indians thought was bizarre. Hopefully George and Ami are sending me goodies... It takes about 12 days for things to arrive, so if you're thinking of making my day in about 2 weeks - send me something soon!

Don't expect christmas cards from me this year :) no time, not a chance. Presents are on the way though don't you worry. Missing home, missing George. See you all soooooon. xx

Chris hates cauliflower

Camp outing to the hospital last night for poor Chris who, for all we know you have some tropical disease! Did the doc take his temperature? Ummmm, no. Oh my days.

SO! Halfway, week 5 coming up and it's going far too quick. Looking back at what we've done so far i'm amazed! The kids have picked up our names, they're loving daycare, i've made about 50 little friendship bracelets. Camp is still rolling on nicely, although if i have to hear another argument with the camp manager about electricity I may have to do a runner.

We had to say goodbye to the beautiful Daniella yesterday, her dad passed away back in England so she is currently on her way home. We'll have to make sure we see her when we get back. It won't be the same at work without her!

Camel safari in an hour or so with Om and about 30 of the other volunteers - booze has been appearing all day but i'm still on the avoidance bandwagon. One sip of apple vodders the other night, literally, it was like paint stripper. Nahi Ji. No thankyou.

Have just had my headscarf hemmed for free by a man called Monik because he said I had a nice face. I wasn't going to object :) I probably owe him something now, i'll be avoiding him.

Quick updates? Ummm. Gosh.

• First bit of rain in 5months, and when I say bit, I mean rain in quantities you could not imagine, Wales doesn't get that much rain in a whole year. We played volleyball in it :)
• Nothing stays white out here. NOTHING.
• Chai is not dead! The camp dog, who we had believed to be killed by Chelsea's mouldy green chapati is alive and well.

My goodness, tonight is going to be an adventure and a half. Off to stock up! Acha Ji xxx

Nahi Ji - Fireworks and chicken.

Diwali weekend, and all that it encompasses. Oh my dayyyys.

Forget the bonfire night you know of England, forget roped off, flat areas with buckets of water on standby and health and safety assesments. Think cheap fireworks made from bombs and newspaper, think short fuses, think running like hell away from rockets setting your ali baba trousers on fire. Think little kids wetting themselves laughing at us funny english folk running from the firecrackers they're setting off in the street.

Such a giggle this place :)

Also - butter chicken at Kabab Corner? Phwoooooar.

More updates -

• The skin'eds upturned our tuktuk the other night leaping on the back and overturning it! Saw my life flash before my eyes.
• Indian men blow down your neck if they fancy you... better than a crafty bum pinch though i guess.
• You can buy ali baba trousers for 80Rupees. It's 67Rs to the Pound today.

Work again tomorrow, back to Jodha to see my daycare kiddies. Hope they're all ok! I quite miss the little horrors now. Especially Duri - little nugget.

Desert camel safari party next weekend, oh just you wait for the pictures.

Only in Incredible India

So work is going swimmingly! The daycare tiddlywinks have all learnt my name :) I've been trying to sneak photos of them but one glimpse of a camera and they all start posing like little filmstars.

A few updates from last weekend...

We travelled to Jodphur last saturday for some shopshopshopping and sightseeing. 5hrs on a coach was maaad but it's a gorgeous place. Haggled the hotel down to 288 rupees for one night, about 4 pounds...? Hot, clean, shower. LUSH. Bought lots of clothes, gifts, tea, henna, bindis. You name it. But felt like we were so rushed with silly curfew on Sunday.

Got to talk to Georgey for a whole hour :) highlight of my week!

Shooting star count is at 7 but when the generator cuts out and it's pitch black I swear you can see every single star in the sky. It's gorgeous.

It's Diwali this weekend, so camp is going into party mode for the festival of light. I'm so excited to be part of it, even though the staff all seem to be going home? Maybe that means we can push curfew.

A few funnies of this week -

• Some of the tiddlies now call me "Seven" instead of Sarah
• Stefan fell on his face in the middle of town and every single Indian here now points and laughs.
• Mr. Singh (Desert King) drove full speed through a huge cow splat today and it sprayed up the back of the tuk tuk all over Roxy and Tamara. If they reckon i'm going in the back on the way home they can go jig.

Missing hoooooome. Send me things? xx