Riding Lessons

Every Wednesday Jessica goes for riding lessons with her friend Hae-Myn (not sure if I have spelt that right). Finally I get a chance to go and watch at the stables which are very close to where we used to live.

Whilst the girls don’t get to do any of the fun things like mucking out and grooming they do get to feed the horses. Not sure if India horses like polos though. I will have to see next time I go.

First lesson of the day is to learn how to ride with out hands or feet…

Then after that they moved on to a bit of trotting.

All the time being watched by Beeja the riding instructor.

Jessica does look very comfortable in the saddle.

Round and round in circles - it must be great to get out into the open.

Going the other way round now - not sure if its to unwind the horses or not, the stable boys decide to handover or just play argy bargy.

After only half an hour the lesson is over and its time to head home.

Damn Phones

It had to happen and it did. After driving for two and a bit years round Delhi I was finally stopped recently for talking on the phone.
Confronted with a policeman (not a great English speaker) who wanted Rs1000 (£12) as an instant fine. I thought this stank as fines are only Rs500. He asked to see my driving licence, so showed him my EU one - my Indian one having expired. I did make sure he did not walk off with it however - he asked for it back so he could impound it. Fat chance.

Not happy with that and still demanding his Rs1000 I asked him to send me the challan - fine in the post.

He looked at the number plate of my car - as its not a Delhi plate that won’t work - its got to be cash - I wouldn’t get the fine. Damn. What to do? Neville to the rescue - after hading the phone to the policeman I get it back and told - just give him Rs100.
Luckily enough I actually have some money - most of the time I don’t - saves spending it I find. Back at the office I tell Arun… oh the fine IS Rs1000.

Oh well there is always a first time for bribing a policeman!

The Soccer Match

This happened such along time ago - or it seems that way that I have forgotten most of what was happening. In any case its Aaron playing soccer.

The defender successfully gets the ball and the chase ensues..

Aaron strikes at goal - he scores.

Not so lucky this time - even though photographic evidence proves otherwise - this goal was ruled offside . Ref how? there’s a defender crawling along the goal line!!

Finally celebrating the 6-2 win with Pavel

James & Ben's Party

Cousin James has come to visit. That is the kids’ cousin, my nephew. And not really to visit us… but to pick up bags that he had to leave behind at the airport following his expedition to Everest earlier in the year - which he conquered. Not only conquered, but with his best friend Rob, becoming the youngest Britons to do so at the tender age of just 19. Reported here on the BBC website.

A dream from the age of 16, Rob & James prepared very well. This is as shot from Ama Dablam in Nepal on an earlier climb - just ten miles from Everest. At the bottom right of the picture you can see the camping ground. Yes that is a tent on a rock pinnacle. So big your feet stick over the edge apparantly.

I can see why James like to do this. Here is is nearing the summit of Ama Dablam with the valley stretching off into the distance.

Now we move on to the main event - James close to the very very top which is about the same size as a dining table… at the same height as planes fly… with thousands of feet to fall down any which way… seeing the curvature of the earth - with you feet on the ground… its utterly amazing.

James sat here on the left holding his school flag - Christ’s Hospital which undoubtedly gave him the confidence and where with all to do this.

Meanwhile back on planet earth with his flight into Delhi delayed by two hours, and baggage collected - finally with a little help from Virgin to find out where they had put them… I pick up James and whisk him off to school so he can talk about his adventure to Ben’s class - who are studying mountains!! What timing. Despite the overnight flight he gave a very good talk which had both the teachers and the children in awe…. quiet frankly me too. That was Friday.

Saturday is Ben’s belated party and James being the good cousin obviously helps out. After he has had a massage of course - standard Saturday morning fare - though the bedroom floor isn’t the most comfortable of places..

Barefoot football in garden is a good way to get going afterwards. The teams being Aaron and his friend Emanuel against Ben’s friends with James in goal - what could be fairer.

Aaron weaving and dodging…

On the attack - can I beat the Everest conquerer… errr yes - many times!!

Next its into the pool with Lucy keeping her usual watch full eye on things.

Ben and Shiv taking a quiet stroll. Whats this the pool - oh no.

A much better game is diving through the boat with a hole in it. I could swear its more fun now that its broken. A bit like the cardboard box syndrome.

Want to know what it feels like to hit solid water with your face. Not sure but it obvioulsy doesn’t hurt!!

Finally its dinner time, James, Aaron & Emanual having demolished their pizza.

Now if you were a Labrador at a party what would you do…. strange thing is Lucy has never been told waht to do she just does it!!

Ben and his buddies meanwhile munch away.

‘What do you mean you want to take my photo - leave me and my pizza to be!’

With less than 48 hours gone by, it’s time for James to leave. Only 19, with Everest under his belt and more adventures in the pipeline he is quite a role model for going out and achieving your dreams. Utterly Fantastic.

Had we known where the bags were at the airport and how easy it would have been to get them all this could have been avoided. Thank goodness it wasn’t.

For James next adventure - May next year, travelling from pole to pole 100% man powered… 180degrees.co.uk