It really is useful

I am sure I am forgetting lots of things here - perhaps it is better to go for shorter but more frequent entries.

I blame it on the monsoon and the change in the weather - definately cooler & more humid - as i haven’t been rowing for ages - have just felt so tired at about 6 that I’ve not had the energy - too much drinking hasn’t helped either.

Finally signed the lease agreement yesterday. The house is looking good and won’t quiet be ready on time but the landlord is being great. Had a drama about the servants qtrs. They will be being revamped better toilet / washing facilities and a kitchen put in. Have also decided that we should have the least amount of staff living in so it will just be our household staff and one gardener - to start with anyway. It will cost slightly more but the guards will live out locally.

In order to celebrate I went with Levine - my house agent - to Djins - the nightspot at the Hyatt. Firstly I wasn’t allowed in as I was wearing open sandals so we borrowed an ancient pair of black shoes from the concierge - not the first time I have had to borrow clothes from them - its amazing what the do keep - a couple of sizes too small but I made it down the ramp and past the doormen. Even managed about 10 mins inside but eventually had to take them off - what a relief. Stood rooted to the spot fearing my precious little toes would get trampled. I eventually had to go to the toilet and unlike and UK bar / pub or club the floor was spotless, not sticky and no broken glass - truly amazing.

Whilst barefoot I had a great opportunity to watch Delhi night life and is it bazaar. No kidding an indian David Brent - christmas party moves down to a tee - with no irony - French gendarme strutting his stuff, indian pop songs mixed with western hits. One of the managers was doing his talent spot bit giving out complimentary cards to the best dancers and good ole Dave got one!! Bored I left just after midnight and walked out barefoot to retrieve my sandals. Its going to be interesting seeing Jess dance in a few years and what moves she has picked up!! This even surpasses the DJ in the Dublin trying to mix from Oasis Wonderwall to Sweet Home Alabama!!

Oh and the thing that is really usefull is of course the mobile phone charging socket on your new scooter!!

Wonderful World

Its always good to be prepared - even though Kathy was on route to Thailand I am pleased that I had everything under control for our wedding anniversary

Glad I wasn’t sat in the Dublin bar with a Havana Beach in hand, panic, run up to the room and phone the Amari and ask them to leave a bunch of flowers and card in the room ready for when she gets in - even though it was 10 at night in Thailand.

So releaved I didn’t have to do that!!

Do miss them all very very much - can’t wait till Monday.

Wimbledon - Its got to be raining

And it is. Not here - its the monsoon - in England and of course I get to watch some lovely old matches - Conners vs Ashe. Quiet nice knowing that because of the time difference its another year where I can watch a lot of Wimldledon - fantastic - the only tournament worth watching.

I met a domestic couple late last week who are looking for work. Their current employer is going to Denmark. Manoy and Rajni. Rajni - the wife definately the boss - but whats new!! They are very nice and hopefully things will work out. The things that concern me - which concern them also is that they have a 6 year old daughter who’s at school a fair way away and also my sevrants quarters arn’t up to scratch - so they need to be looked at. Sadly my landlords father died at the weekend so all other house stuff has been put on hold - understandably.

I saw the house again and its looking good - will try to pop in overthe next few days but John 2 Jags Prescott is in town for a visit - nothing offical -so hopefully he won’t cause to much of a stir.

Had 2 companies come a quote for providing guards - also a must. They wanted to put armed gaurds at night but neither Kathy nor I were too happy with that so will do with out and see how it goes - we will have 24 hour guards though with the one at night patrolling. I have found a company that supplies Gurkhas - mainly indian or Nepali ex military who do seem very competant so I think we will end up going with them.

This staff thing is a totally different world - I also think I will very quickly have to get Kathy a car and driver too!! No way she can drive here - not sure if I’m going to like it but there again it would only be at weekends - if at all.

Kathy and the kids are leaving the UK today - can’t wait till I see them on Monday though I imagine they are not too happy at the moment saying goodbye to all their friends - actually its not good bye - au revoir.

We are alreday organising webcams so everyone can keep in touch - which will be fantastic - on that note au revoir indeedy.

Blame it on the Weatherman

29th July - Monsoons will arrive. OK but thats 3 weeks away - its not the UK so I guess the weathermen know what they are doing. As if Michael Fish could predict two days correctly!!

Arun, our cricket playing driver picks me up Saturday morning - yesterday - and says that the monsoon has arrived - it did rain last night - it is much cooler. Cool if this is what the wether is going to be like.

Our first stop is at the house to meet a Gurkha security company about supplying guards - we walk around the house and he says three will do on 8 hour shifts. OK but I can only give them on room in the servant quarters - not a problem they will all live in that - really - oh yes that’s how they live!! The rooms aren’t big. I am impressed by this company - smaller and seem to be more dedicated to providing a good service - unlike Group 4 who have been totally unimpressive.

Suns up and its starting to get warmed and we head off to Guragon to see the Malls there. Gurgaon is a purpose built new city and call centre haven and as such the wages are much higher than Delhi. Its only 25 mins from the house so won’t be too much trouble getting there. The malls though aren’t bad and you can by stuff at reasonable prices - men shirts for £10 - not the £25 plus in the UK. Even an M&S which is over priced. We cross the road and the humidity is there definately - he temperature has dropped but the humidity is back to HK levels… ah such joy - Richard is right we do seem to have moved here at the worst time of year.

Satisfied that you don’t have to shop in sweaty markets we head off to one in search of stuff for the house / office - Surojini which has been recommended - just clothes though and huge - Kathy will love it.

Back at the hotel sit down too read the paper - this isn’t the monsoon its the pre-monsoon - so the weathermen aren’t wrong. Its not the monsoon as I expected either - no torrential rain all day for weeks on end - just at night! Another myth shattered. Though it has brought 12 hour blackouts across swathes of the city. No potable water - no guarenteed power - much work needs to be done.

Driving to the back - Not

Was having dinner and Richard’s house the other week and left about 11.30 pm after beer or three it must be said - there were no taxis around so the only way to get back to the hotel is by a three wheeler or tuc tuc to most people. the driver tells me what the fare will be (Rp 60) and I realise that last time I was fleeced (Rp130) quite content we trundle back to the hotel at a breakneck speed of must have been 25 mph tops - not a patch on the old thai models - must be super charged or what.

Get back to the hotel and start to drive up to the entrance to be dropped off - suddenly security guards seem to be popping out of the bushes trying to get us to stop - not wanting to walk obviously I urge the driver to go on - on but also just before the main entrance we are blockaded and corralled into a car park. The poor driver is being berated by the guards so I give him big tip (Rp100)- he seems happy and I clamber out. Walking the 20 yards to the entrance is terrible not sure how I managed it but being of the disposition I enquire at reception why I can’t drive up to the main entrance - not allowed I’m told - all Delhi hotels are the same…. hmmm so if I was on my bike I couldn’t come to the main entrance - no sorry sir you must go to the back entrance - even though I’m a guest - yes - I think it s wrong but if its the rule its the rule - knowing I won’t win this of to bed I go.

With the black out curtains yet again I don’t walk up as early as I would like - I have now solved this by keeping them open a bit - back from breakfast I get a call from the head of security - yes - ahh Sir you tried bring a three wheeler into the main entrance - sorry but its not allowed - Ok I understand - if I get another one I’ll go to the back entrance.

Thinking I was suitable chastised - no - I need to get a letter from the front desk confirming I’m a resident so I can get my residents permit extended - sit down at the duty mangers desk and his first word are - last night you tried to bring a three wheel….. yes I now if I get another one i’ll be good… who doesn’t know!! At least I’m not a faceless guest and am greeted with smiles all round.

Explained this later that night to one of the bar men in the Dublin (no Guiness) who suggests I hire a horse from the Red Fort. It’s got 4 corners after all!!

Its been a good day

I don’t really know where to start but so far today has been productive - hopefully England will win tonight. Starting off with my banking dilemma from yesterday - I got a call this morning and the bank actually came to me to open the account - obviously I found the right guy in London and he was able to sort it out overnight - given the bank it would have been pretty poor if they couldn’t give me a bank account - anyway sorted and transactions from the UK to here should now be a breeze.

Starting off with my banking dilemma from yesterday - I got a call this morning and the bank actually came to me to open the account - obviously I found the right guy in London and he was able to sort it out overnight - given the bank it would have been pretty poor if they couldn’t give me a bank account - anyway sorted and transactions from the Uk to here should now be a breeze.

Saw the house yesterday and the aircons are being put in - with huge channels being cut out of solid brick walls by hand - not a job I would fancy. There just don’t seem to be any labour saving devices here and what there is isn’t necessarily looked after or maintained properly. The other day at the office site some of the builder were cutting the steel cables, using for reinforcing the concrete, using a hammer and chisel type affair just giving a good whack - amazing.

Back to the house - its been painted and looking good. I went with the landlord to pick the wall light this afternoon. A reasonable collection which I hope Kathy will like. - She trusts me - yeah well!! I worked it out and there are about 11 different areas so some of them have been doubled up …. all imported from China as well. Lease has been agreed by the office so I just have to get the amendments agreed to by the landlord and its ours!!

Well his does have to do some more work - painting the windows and doors, sorting out the wardrobes, handles for the kitchen units amongst others and a thoroughly good clean and polish. I need to buy a fridge, cooker, washing machine, water coolers, water filters and make sure they are all in before the family arrive.

..Thankfully Richard is going back to London for a week early July which gives me time to get the odds and sods sorted and not worry about the office stuff too much. Sometime we’ll get to do some work.

And lastly all of our memberships for the FCC have been approved. Not a patch on HK but I am sure there will be a few nights spent there chewing the fat - and playing pool when not at Nikkis!!

Banking

Why is opening a bank account so difficult?

Went to the main branch of an international bank today and tried to open an account - given that I have one back in the UK you would have thought that this was a cinch. Never - obviously I’m an undesirable but after about an hour on the phone I got through to a good man in London who seems to be on the case and hopefully it will all happen - globalization - yeah!

Aircons

Spent most of the day in the office - broke the lan that I created yesterday - still couldn’t get the printer to work despite the best efforts of Andy over the phone - and the aircons would chill down to 17C ~ only about 24C and its 38C outside.

Managed my 5k on the rowing machine though - nice an gentle after yesterdays thrashing. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep this up though given the first excuse it’ll probably go.

Off We Go

Something that I have meaning to do for a long time is keeping a diary but ‘never had the time’ now however with this and a kick from it has all started. Perhaps I will keep this up?

This is something that has been done long hand by Tony Benn and who suggested that I did something similar - but writing out transcripts of all your taped conversation is too much for me - not enough drinking time in the day anyway!! But I have started and that is that.