Back in India

So I am here again !

I've got roughly 2 weeks. My wife is back at home but is also very supportive. On the up side for her, my mother in law- Gianna is over from Italy for two weeks, so at least Silvia will be eating well and the kids will have an inexhaustable lady for affection and attention.

I arrived late last night. A fairly tiring journey 29 hours door to door. Delhi was pouring with rain so much so that the auto rickshaw's wiper blades weren't wiping. Me and Ranji (the driver), stopped for half an hour for a samosa and 2 cups of tea in some shack whilst the rain did it's best to make a new river. I don't like to bang on too much about how cheap certain things are in India or rather how expensive England is, but a smaosa and a cup of tea and I got change from 10p !

Eventually I got to my destination by government bus 8 hours later. The boy sitting next to me was a pleasent travel companion. He had just left his job in Bangalore the previous day and was pondering over two new job offers, one in Bangalore and one in Chandigarh. He was swaying towards Bangalore, this way he could have fun away from his parents who were apparantly on the look out for a suitable wife.

I found my guest house, it's really lovely, family run and with a big garden. I am currently, as I usually am in the evenings here, sitting outside on the veranda writing this. Every now and again there is a distant long winded honk from a train. It's quite pleasent. But it's also work.

Today I got hold of 16 Saris, and visited the gold smith, the silver smith a small silver shop and I even sold some bangles at a friends stand in the street ( see photo ).

12 more days are not enough. Orders have been put in for some very nice earrings. There are 3 types I am having made. Type 1. Enamel with silver hooks, highly colourful and great selling. My mother (she has a shop ) asked me to buy her some a couple of years back, they went very well. You may have seen them before at trade shows but not at the price I'm going to sell them at. Type 2. Very wearable silver earrings and very good looking ( sorry too difficult to describe ) with a stone, there are 3 types - chalcedony, labradorite or smoky topaz , if I remember well. And type 3. A simple solid silver flute earring.

I am a little worried about running out of money, it seems I did't bring enough. There is just so much to buy, bags bed covers, wooden trunks and more silk. There is even more I would like to have made.

In the way of food, I fell on my feet today. It's Eid ( a holy mulim holiday ), Zubair the shopkeeper insisted I share his mutton and rice. Waah, delicious. I did't need much convincing, free food is free food ! I'm quite sure he invited me for dinner at his house with his family on Sunday.

Tomorrow I shall go out into the markets again and talk money with my associate. I will introduce him properly to you soon- the most honest man around. I may well have a haircut as I'm here. Anyway for the time being I think I will have another Chai and go and chat to someone. See you tomorrow.

Good night from India.

ps. If you would like to place an order and are concerned that I am not around to fulfill it, don't be. I have a colleague working for me and I can take all orders via email.