My birthday

Well it's been something of a hectic day,meeting up with two couples who we haven't seen since last year, phone calls from home wishing me a happy birthday; then  a FaceTime call from Sharon to say Annette our daughter in law had gone into labour. Isabelle Keira Kendrick was born 7lb 12 oz and what a little beauty

Isn't she gorgeous? Then on our way back from the restaurant tonight Albert our taxi driver screached  to a halt and presented me with a bouquet of flowers! That along with an invitation to Suku and Johns brothers wedding in Margao India next week has really made my day very special 

4 Airports in one day

We started our day at Birmingham airport our sterling driver 'coughing Ken' delivered us in style. We booked into the Aspire Lounge and I got chatting to the Indian receptionist Rajhid and explained we were going to miss our grandbaby being born. I also said I was starving and had skipped breakfast. Ok he said,would you like a bacon roll I can get some from the staff canteen, we thought he was joking but 10 mins later he appeared with four  crispy bacon rolls and brown sauce, what a star! 

As luck would have it we were surrounded by crying babies all the way to Dubai. We got our Emirates connection after a short G & T break and arrived at Mumbai 2 .5 hours later to the new terminal which is  just beautiful

 It has 90 gates all spectacularly decorated. We arrived in Goa and Albert our taxi driver greeted us, and bless him he even bought our breakfast supples, a bottle of gin and some tonics, and gave us his phone till our new SIM cards arrive. . True  Indian  hospitality. Weather on arrival 32c and that big yellow ball we don't seem to see at home .

2016 Destinations

This year we shall be staying in Varca, Goa for most of our stay which is 1 hours drive south of Panjaji on the map, but will be flying off to Pune, just short of Mumbai, where we are going to see, amongst other things the Aga Khan Palace. We have 4 days sightseeing in Pune. Hyderabad is another 4 day break we shall be flying off to, and to complete our wanderings we are going to Hampi by train! A complete day on 1st class air conditioned train carriage which should be a complete assault on the senses! 

Not long now

This jumble is the start of my packing heap, including presents for my birthday! So exciting, and really looking forward to catching up with old friends in sunny Varca 😊

Goa to Chennai

Still can't believe It's been 8 weeks. We've said our goodbyes to our last remaining  friends Kath & Bob after dinner last night

We're now Chennai bound 

Albert our taxi driver has kept some of our things ready for next year and the good news is it's just 10 months away.

So not long!

Last few days

View from our apartment 

We've had a really great time and met some amazing people - some intrepid travellers with great tales to tell.

Fred, and brave Val who had a heart attack and pacemaker fitted at Margao hospital. Fred swam morning and evening in what has since been called Fred's pool. 

Linda & Dennis from 202 who gave us loads of books and himself read the trilogies.

Mo & Bob; Bob ended up in intensive care after a major problem with an ulcer, poor Mo had to collect 2 units of blood by taxii - sorry we'd gone off to Jaipur so couldn't help.

So no worries about the healthcare everyone was more than happy with their  doctors and let's not foget Indian doctors are the very backbone of the NHS

John who managed to find HP sauce in a restaurant we went to - everyone had some even on their curries!

Wonderful Al found meditating in a cave, what a breath of fresh air and inspiration he was.

The River Ganges - intoxicating! This is the before picture 

This is the after picture - id been blessed, accidentally got my hands wet whle lowering our lighted candles, and unknowingly drunk Ganges Chai (tea)

Today I spoke to a guy I'd referred to himself as Castro- his beard and appearance reminded me of Fidel. As its my last day in Goa and I've walked up and down the beach watching this guy, I decided to ask him what on earth he hunts for everyday on the beach. It turns out he's from USA and he collects sharks teeth! We talked for half an hour about India, where we'd been and what we'd seen - fascinating.

Our last ride on Betty to get some last minute bits and a pic of our local vlage church 

On Sunday we fly down to Chennai before flying back home on Monday 

39c Feeling hot, hot, hot

The temperature is getting hotter and it's even too hot for us. 

We went into the village to do some last minute shopping, all the local shopkeepers  know us and have a chat about what's going on. The co-op veg shop manager used be on P & O Cruise lines and has been round the world nine times. He gave me some extra limes  foc and some bananas from his own garden.

The supermarket manager said 'are you never going home'  and didn't have any change so gave me this instead - nice!

Then there's the cricket. 

The wine shop manager was talking cricket, he has the cricket on the telly all day and locals pop in to find out the scores. India are ,of course, doing very well.

We went to the beach but it was just too hot and heard this really loud noise - a hovercraft! 

The breeze dropped so we headed back to the apartment after lunch on the beach

Then a nice dip in the pool. 

The air con indoors is on 23c and it's just like walking into a fridge. 

Himself is feeling homesick and needs to cook. Maybe chicken curry and a side order of chips? I really  must diet I've piled on the weight, beer at lunchtime and ice cream in the afternoons.