Top down!

Sunday today and although I didn't go to the main church service I had been invited to a baptism. I've known Rajan and his wife Ratna for over 25 years, today was the baptism of their granddaughter Rianna, the little beauty in the frothy dress in the extras. I first met the baby's mother Rhinni in 1998 when we went on a picnic, as part of a large Cursillo group, up into the mountains. She sat on my knee in the minibus all the way. I've met her several times since then, so I was thrilled to be invited. They now live in Atlanta so it was pure chance that she should be here.
My main blip is a bit of an assortment - my posh teacup from Arasan restaurant, it wasn't posh especially for me, that is how cups of tea and coffee come here - if they are not in stainless steel tumblers.
The man is at the top of the scaffolding which held up the hoardings for yesterday's rally. Made of wooden poles as you can see it's on its way back down again.
The lady is sweeping out the area in front of Prem and Ida's house, you can see they grow a lot of plants. The tree nearest the house, just at the right hand end of the balcony is a neem tree. Neem has many medicinal properties and for many years was used for tooth cleaning too. The position of this one provides very welcome cooling shade for my bedroom. It was 36° today.
The fourth picture is part of a long story!
On Wednesday in the restaurant where I was having my Kashmir Pilau, I was washing my hands before eating (with my fingers not cutlery) when a lady came to me and commented that I'd left my bag at my seat. I'd replied that it was ok as I could see it.
This opened up a typical conversation of where are you from why are you here etc etc. She then introduced her friend and commented that their connection was through music and they were visiting from Chennai. I mentioned the only person I knew in Chennai and that he was my friend Caroline's brother. To which they both said, "What is your name?" I confessed and they said "You are Sally Mair - we have heard so much about you and have wanted to meet you for a long time!!!!!!??????” It turns out that they are very close friends of Caroline who is probably my closest friend here and had just come from spending the day with her.
The three of them, Caroline, Thangam and Grizalda, are there of the five members of a female singing group who record Christian songs in Tamil . In fact Caroline had sent me a video of them singing just last week. .....I hope you are keeping up here! So that was Wednesday.
Roll forward to today and Ida and I were chatting at lunch when she said that her friend Grizalda was coming by this afternoon - that's the lady holding the camera. It turns out the two of them are also good friends of Ida's through a completely different connection. What a ridiculously small world this is. In any case the two singers and I had a great time singing together this evening while Ida took some video. Ida is standing next to me in the group of four with Thangam behind her.