What can I say?
The last 48 hours has offered me 6 hours sleep, 17000 sari bracelets, 2 hours of excellent feeding and probably 42 hours of worry.
A large amount of Sari bracelets have arrived from the village. Including a large amount of wrong colour Sari bracelets have arrived from the village, thankfully not all 17000.
Having been informed that the bracelets had arrived i made my way to Prasad's house on the back of his dusty scooter.
We hired a rickshaw and transported them to my guest house room. I have only left this room twice in the last 48 hours, once this morning to see off Manoj, he's going to Calcutta for an art exhibition, the other time being when we all fed ourselves to the brim courtesy of Prasad's wife.
Our feast at Prasad's was cancelled for 2 minutes. The realization that 30 % of the stock was incorrect came as a gutting blow. Dinner was cancelled we were all going to work like mad men to do as much as possible. Prasad made the phonecall to his wife, "please to stop cooking, only working is going". Prasad looked bitterly disappointed, he had spent a great deal on the best mutton and chicken that he could afford. On top of this his wife had been cooking for the whole afternoon. It was an honour to receive and be received to this meal.
Plainly i felt very bad for Prasad and as soon as i put the phone down i had changed my mind. It was all back on and Prasad could not stop smiling for the rest of the evening. Although the dinner could not be at a worst time, it was also very good to have a break.
Manoj did his best to not eat everything. That boy has not yet stopped eating since arriving. We arrived. Prasad lives in a small house inhabited by three generations of his family. We ate in his bedroom. The table cloth was spread out on the bed and Prasad ordered his younger brother around to help prepare things. The brother just followed orders.
Mutton stew, fried chicken, rice and mutton, salad, naan, rasmalai pudding and fruit
were all laid on. This wasn't a meal for three this could have easily have fed seven. Surrounded by some quite peculiar kitsch plastic bits and pieces in glass cabinets and jazzy green wallpaper. We were given- myself and Manoj, the two glasses in the cabinet and poured sprite. This was quite a proud moment for Prasad. The dinner had gone down perfectly and the lemonade in the best glasses was a type of toast to the success. Prasad's son - Ibrahim, had come and joined us during the meal, it was late for a boy of four but he was still awake. The bed we were eating on was also Ibrahim's bed that he shared with his parents. Manoj was introduced as "uncle". I'm not sure as what i was introduced as but the little chap came over and gave me a big tired cuddle. Very sweet indeed.
After presenting Prasad's father with a box of sweets we made our way back to the guesthouse to work.
I can't say Manoj was the biggest help when counting and checking quality. This was plain to see when he fell asleep on my bed with Prasad's crash helmet on. Prasad just shook his head in disappointment. Manoj is the creative provider of ideas and a very good communicator. He has made a massive difference to this trip for me, all good i must say.
I am currently waiting on the veranda for Prasad to turn up.
He's here.
A short update will come later this evening.
Have a good day England
dominic
The last 48 hours has offered me 6 hours sleep, 17000 sari bracelets, 2 hours of excellent feeding and probably 42 hours of worry.
A large amount of Sari bracelets have arrived from the village. Including a large amount of wrong colour Sari bracelets have arrived from the village, thankfully not all 17000.
Having been informed that the bracelets had arrived i made my way to Prasad's house on the back of his dusty scooter.
We hired a rickshaw and transported them to my guest house room. I have only left this room twice in the last 48 hours, once this morning to see off Manoj, he's going to Calcutta for an art exhibition, the other time being when we all fed ourselves to the brim courtesy of Prasad's wife.
Our feast at Prasad's was cancelled for 2 minutes. The realization that 30 % of the stock was incorrect came as a gutting blow. Dinner was cancelled we were all going to work like mad men to do as much as possible. Prasad made the phonecall to his wife, "please to stop cooking, only working is going". Prasad looked bitterly disappointed, he had spent a great deal on the best mutton and chicken that he could afford. On top of this his wife had been cooking for the whole afternoon. It was an honour to receive and be received to this meal.
Plainly i felt very bad for Prasad and as soon as i put the phone down i had changed my mind. It was all back on and Prasad could not stop smiling for the rest of the evening. Although the dinner could not be at a worst time, it was also very good to have a break.
Manoj did his best to not eat everything. That boy has not yet stopped eating since arriving. We arrived. Prasad lives in a small house inhabited by three generations of his family. We ate in his bedroom. The table cloth was spread out on the bed and Prasad ordered his younger brother around to help prepare things. The brother just followed orders.
Mutton stew, fried chicken, rice and mutton, salad, naan, rasmalai pudding and fruit
were all laid on. This wasn't a meal for three this could have easily have fed seven. Surrounded by some quite peculiar kitsch plastic bits and pieces in glass cabinets and jazzy green wallpaper. We were given- myself and Manoj, the two glasses in the cabinet and poured sprite. This was quite a proud moment for Prasad. The dinner had gone down perfectly and the lemonade in the best glasses was a type of toast to the success. Prasad's son - Ibrahim, had come and joined us during the meal, it was late for a boy of four but he was still awake. The bed we were eating on was also Ibrahim's bed that he shared with his parents. Manoj was introduced as "uncle". I'm not sure as what i was introduced as but the little chap came over and gave me a big tired cuddle. Very sweet indeed.
After presenting Prasad's father with a box of sweets we made our way back to the guesthouse to work.
I can't say Manoj was the biggest help when counting and checking quality. This was plain to see when he fell asleep on my bed with Prasad's crash helmet on. Prasad just shook his head in disappointment. Manoj is the creative provider of ideas and a very good communicator. He has made a massive difference to this trip for me, all good i must say.
I am currently waiting on the veranda for Prasad to turn up.
He's here.
A short update will come later this evening.
Have a good day England
dominic
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