I’ve lived on, or next to the river for 15 years now. It’s hard to leave, there is always another picture to greet you every morning, like a new watercolour each day, a fluid, liquid impression of the day to come. Sometimes vibrant in colour and texture, sometime pale and pastel but always moving, no hesitation, it knows where it’s going and continues its path and nothing will stand in its way. The river brings calm and tranquility, a peaceful feeling that everything will be just fine.

So, needing a home of my own, it was not only an economic decision but a choice for my soul, my health and wellbeing. I needed to find a narrow boat that needed little or no attention inside, to be ‘me’, a little be quirky! It would have to have everything I needed on board and a good engine. It didn’t take as long as I thought it may, fate perhaps..

She is called  ” Merlin” I love her name and it will stay.  She’s 11 years old, a traditional-style narrow boat, in amazing condition, perhaps a new coat of paint in a year or two, other than that nothing to do but move on and start my new life.

With the help of  wonderful ‘River’ friends, we moved her on my birthday to her new home, my steering wasn’t great, zigzagging up the Thames but it was the best feeling, to be out there on the river, on my own floating home. We toasted my new home with prosecco and strawberries, I had arrived.  That said, I was also scared to death, surrounded by blokes on boats! I didn’t need to be, it’s a wonderful helpful, friendly community.

It hasn’t all been easy, I’ve felt very anxious, I still do at times. Having a home with an engine, I’m not an engine sort of a girl! Worrying about what could go wrong, how does it all work. Everything needs to be brought onboard, Gas, Diesel, water, electric.  I have batteries, an Inverter, water pump and a calorifier. Other things have to be taken off, ie. the cassette toilet has to be emptied every couple of days!

I know in time I will feel more confident more capable as less like ” the new girl”. I will have driving lessons (what do you call it), you don’t sail it, motor it? I’m taking it on as my new challenge. I’ll need some maintenance know how and a lot of courage. Life isn’t always easy.

I love my boat, I’m very happy I made this decision to move onto the water. I especially love the night time, going to bed, it feels like camping, memories of childhood holidays, staying in a caravan, that smell of river water, the stillness, the darkness, there is so much sky space. I feel I have to physically make myself smaller, a little “Alice In Wonderland”, I move around more slowly, life has become less hurried and rushed. I have bruises on my shoulders and head, I’m still getting used to my space. Although the boat is not cramped, it’s open and light, surprisingly spacious.

The swans and ducks come each morning for breakfast, they know if my side hatch is open it means food, they now reach up, almost able to reach inside. The ducks wake me up in the morning tapping away eating the Algai from the bottom of the boat. I regulary see Herons, Kingfishers, Coots and Geese. I could film a wildlife documentary right here!

The best times are of course early morning, when everything is so still and tranquil, the quiet, the light, a cup of coffee never tasted so good, sitting up front, sorry Bow, on a beautiful morning. Again when the sun begins to go down, to fade away for the day, again the river becomes still. The light is deeper, has more colour, it has a richness that is different from the eager morning sun.

A red Balloon, a colour impossible to paint or recreate

A warm light, hanging, it drops, it fades

Almost purple, now it’s gone, dropped to the other side

A perfect sphere, that gives life

It hangs with a promise to return tomorrow

The Red Balloon, it’s not ours, it doesn’t belong

But we all share it….

(me)

 

Merlin is healing me..”slowly”

Rosie enjoying the river too!

 

A Shared Auto is like a Tuk Tuk but for 6 people at the back and a couple up front with the driver. Only there is more likely to be 8 or even 9 in the back and I’ve seen 4 plus driver in the front! There are no stops, you just wave it down, you need to know when to get off and shout Rukaw (stop) to get off, (that may not be the correct spelling). My journey to and from work takes about 10 minutes and costs IR5, about 5p. It’s an experience I won’t easily forget, since I’ve been here I’ve  passed an Elephant, with his owner sitting on top,  just walking along amongst the scooter, busses, bikes and cars, all hooting, ALL of the time, totally unconcerned. Camels, stunning white Rajasthan horses, donkeys, more dogs than I’ve seen in one place, they are all the same, they just come in a variety of colours and look like skinny Labs.

My route to work, the red building on the right along the dusty road.

People on the bus usually point and stare at me, they smile and giggle, they say “hello, how are you” every time and are very friendly towards one another. Accept  the old ladies, if there is no room, they will give any young guys a clout and make them move!

A very beautiful travelling companion. 

The most people on a motor bike so far 5, a family, mother sitting ‘side saddle’ with a tiny baby on her lap, one child on the handle bars the other wedged in between mum and dad, terrifying to see, it’s madness on the road!

I digress, after shouting Rukaw, it must sound right because they always stop, I then have a 10 minute walk to the Short Stay Home where I work. It’s a home for abused women. Most are young, married early by arranged marriage. All are very sweet. A young Indian girl, who studies in Udaipur and also volunteers, comes two afternoons a week, when she is able to translate so we can all talk together. When she is not there, well, I do what I can. We have 8 women and 7 children at the moment.  I play with the kids and just try to get to know them, win their trust and become friends. Last week I took everyone’s photo, had them printed and gave them as gifts, the women were so happy, some even dressed up in their best Sari’s and wanted more taken. In time I need to come up with ideas to keep the women interested and entertained. Arts and crafts, some exercise, teaching them hair cutting, manicures and pedicures, writing their storey, poetry. 

Another project I have been given is to write presentations on issues like, personnel hygiene, family planning, health and nutrition, STD’s, drug and alcohol abuse, to name a few. No expert myself, I am researching via the Internet and putting together small presentations that can be translated into Hindi. There is no expectation, you do what you can, when you can, no one is checking up on you, you do need to be very self motivated, able to come up with ideas or a plan and see it through. I’ve been asked to do another presentation about ‘anything I like’ to the people here in the office, anything that will help them either at work or in their personnel life, wow, I feel very under qualified for this task, any ideas???……

My room mate and I also visit The Blind School when we can, it’s a government funded school for boys, age 7 to 18. Seva Mandir try to help by providing what they can to make life for the boys a little easier. Conditions are appalling, I can’t even begin to describe the horror I felt the first time I went. The boys ‘live in’ most see nothing at all, born blind, others have gone blind, some can see shadows. They are from very poor families, even though conditions are so bad, without the school they would probably be begging. They appear happy, they love to try to speak English and play cricket very well by using a ball with a bell inside, it’s incredible to watch, they never miss! 

The  Blind School

I took some time off and relaxed at a hotel pool this weekend, it was needed and so refreshing, good to feel clean apart from anything else! Sunday morning I went with my room mate to a temple with one of the staff and her husband, they then treated us to Sunday breakfast India style, the best samosa ever and other things I don’t remember the name of but it was hot, spicy hot. I’ve had an ‘iffy’ tummy a couple times but nothing too terrible. Still living on a limited diet at home but have been a little more daring when I’ve been out.

Feeling……..very peaceful, happy, a little ‘homesick’ at times but mostly content and full of gratitude.
Namaste

Life here in Undaipur brings uncertainty every single day, just getting a Indian SIM card for my phone is a challenge in itself and as I leave the store for about the 5th time and the guys are laughing at me, I’m sure they think I’m a crazy English lady! (I think perhaps I am too). I smile, still uncertain that my phone will actually work but this time it does! Then…..I send one text message back home…..all my credit gone! Back to the store the next day, I swear two of the guys ran out the back of the shop!n

I have visited the Foriegn Residents Office many times to get my official papers, every time I seemed to be missing something, even though I had a previous list, they always need just one more document, every time there was uncertainty that I would actually get my passport returned. One day I went alone, I had been a few times before, I was sure I could do this by myself. I got in a Tuk Tuk with the address written down, the driver had a long white beard, long grey hair in a pony tail and was smoking something….he got totally lost, he had no idea where he was going neither did I, my appointment time came and went, we stopped many times for advise on directions, would I ever be seen again! I arrived, too late and was told to come back again the next day. It’s done now, I’m legal!

We lost all social media last week for 3 days and the Internet for a day due to a riot 40 miles away, social media was being used to instill hatred, so they just shut it down! The electricity comes and goes, the worst part of that is, no Fans, without the ceiling fans you die! One night last week it kept going off during the night, we were waking in pools of sweat all night and got very little sleep. Top temperature last week 46 degrees!k

I’m understanding the way of life here, accepting, handing it over to some higher power, I never know what my next day will bring and I’m finding that a very beautiful thing.

I buy my fruit and veg from a little lady sat on the floor at the end of the road, she talks to me, I have no clue what she’s saying, I’m sure she charges me double the price it should be but 20p for a beautiful Mango that tastes better than any Mango you have eaten before is definitely worth it. You are supposed to haggle but I’m not very good at it yet, everything seems so cheap it hardly seems right but then it’s what’s expected and part of the negotiation thats enjoyed.

I have bought 2 Kurta’s ( long tops ) to go with my baggy pants for work, not that I can blend in of course but at least it looks like I’ve made an effort to dress like my fellow workers, I will try to get a photo soon. I adore the way the ladies dress here, either stunning jewel coloured Sari’s or Kurta with pants, all in stunning matching colours, although I have noticed the younger generation wear more classic colours and some dress in a more western style, many in jeans, I have no idea how  they wear jeans in this heat!

I promise not to mention the heat in my next blog!  My ugly shoes and I have bonded, we now go everywhere together and I’m not one bit shy, they are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn, they will not be going in the bin when I leave here. I’m eating a little better, eggs on toast is now on my menu and I have been out for two delicious meals, the only time I eat a real meal, it’s just too………….to cook!

 

More about Udaipur and my work coming soon…..

Namaste

 

My shoes and I have arrived safely! I will share the story behind the shoes. I needed sensible Shoes, not my usual flip flops, for the extreme conditions I may find myself in, here in Udaipur. Off to a sensible shoe shop I went, unable to part with £80 for shoes I disliked, I bought the only pair on sale for £30, it didn’t really matter what they looked like, they will probably be discarded in 6 months time. I told the salesman I hated them but would take them, much to his amusement. They looked OK in a size 5 but once you get to an 8, not so attractive!

Anyway, there are very comfortable which is I guess all that matters. On the subject of clothing, while I am working I will be wearing the traditional Khurta (long shirt) over baggy pants, (usual for me). They come in the most beautiful jewelled colours and in the old town cost as little as £3 to £5 100% cotton, essential.

My first job here will be working in the ‘Short Stay Home’ a refuge here in Udaipur for abused women and their children, they come to the short stay home when they have nowhere else to go. I will assess the needs of the women and children and come up with ideas to entertain and educate, building confidence and social skills. I start next week so will have more of an idea once I begin. If you would like to learn more about the work of Seva Mandir do go to http://www.sevamandir.org

My home for the next 6 months will be a dormitory with 4 beds, one bed is in a separate space which I can have next week when one girl leaves, we share a kitchen and bathroom, no shower, just bucket and jug, however there is hot water. It’s basic but has everything I need. A ceiling fan blows the hot air around all day and night, without it, it would be unbearable, a power cut for only half an hour had me soaking wet! It’s 42 degrees, drops to 32 at night.

My Ugly Shoes.

My new home 
It’s been a difficult few days, I have felt ‘out of my comfort zone’, bewildered and wondered what am I doing here?  I’ve eaten very little, banana sandwiches mostly! However, today I’m feeling a lot more settled and happy that I’m here. I’m off exploring, me and my ‘Ugly Shoes’ are going to find a cappuccino by the lake.

Udaipur is set beside lake Pichola, it’s a romantic setting with palaces and temples. In the old town, narrow colourful streets, ancient bazaars and an artistic vibe. Still to explore so keep reading my blog! 
Namaste