Home!

So, our Indian adventure is over, but I'm left with some awesome stories and (in spite of the bitching) some really happy memories.

Our first rickshaw ride to MG Road.
The fantastic little restaurant in Gandhi Nagar, with the owner who wanted us to try EVERYTHING and kept us supplied with hot, hot, hot rotis to eat everything with.
Getting tailor made clothes.
Watching monkeys bouncing about in the trees and outside our room.
Making curry in India!
A yummy thali of rice, dhal, curry, rotis and curd that only cost Rs.15.
The smell of incense wafting from temples and roadside shrines.
Anjuna beach at sunset.
Coconut porridge from the Sea Rock.
Haggling for taxi rides and clothes.
An extra 3 months of summer sunshine.
Monsoon showers coming out of a clear blue sky.
Icy cold pitchers of Kingfisher at Guzzlers after a shopping trip to MG Road.
The utterly demented takes on Western food at 20ft High.
Brigade Road.
Buying silk.
Sleeper buses.
Pootling along past golden paddy fields on a scooter, watching water buffalo grazing under the blazing sun.
Exploring the colourful little villages in Goa.
Watching the kids at the nursery get used to the tall, blonde, white person. They went from being scared, to being inquisitive, to demanding that "Nina ma'am" come help them.
Making glittery Diwali cards with Ruchi.
Trying to explain what temperatures of -10C feels like to folk who think that 10C is cold!
Being invited to a Diwali puja.
Setting off fireworks, paying no heed to health and safety!
Booking a first class compartment for £15.
Fresh samosa and sweet coffee from the stall at the station.
Cooking in our kitchen for the first time.
Buying a kettle and being able to make tea.
Finding Tetley's teabags in the supermarket. We shouldn't have been too surprised, Tetley's is owned by Tata, who own just about everything in India!
Schlepping all the way across town for silk yarn.
Rickshaws with LED lighting and massive speakers in the back.
Playing pothole roulette on the way home from anywhere in the dark.
Buses covered in tinsel.
Finding a rickshaw driver to take me to work every morning.
Random government holidays.
Making popcorn on the stove.

I'm sure there's a lot more. I'm still jetlagged, I've been awake since 7.30am because my stomach was telling my brain that I slept through breakfast and it would like its lunch, please. I'm going to try and power through today so I can go to bed at a normal time! I think today is the day I will cast on my Owls jumper. Judging by the Airfrance staff's reaction to my reaction to the cold in Paris, the weather is going to take a bit of getting used to!

The flight was pretty good, we had an aisle seat on the plane to Paris. Unfortunately I've found that being able to see what's going on outside helps the fear of flying. If the plane wobbles or dips or banks, being able to see the movement stops me freaking out and clutching Ollie's hand! There was a lovely couple who had the seat across from us, and I asked them if they'd mind me swapping with them. They were kind enough to swap, and I am still impressed by the fact that they did. It helped so much, and I'm starting to enjoy flying instead of dreading it! I'm still not a fan of takeoff but I actually really like landing! And I will admit, there was a wee tear in my eye as we popped out of the clouds. I don't think I've ever been so pleased to see Manchester!

Anyway, I think it's time for a shower and to try and encourage Ollie to get out of bed. A lot of tea will be made!