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.