Every now and then there is a song that you will not be able to escape – it’s on peoples phones, in their cars or just blaring from houses. The latest one is from Slum Dog Millionaire Composer,  A.R. Rahman and its called Hosanna.

I would say I hear it at least twice a day, every day.

Groundhog Day.

His site was made by a BA crew member who had been using him and a Norwegian subsequently donated Samson a laptop.

Now the media have picked up on this and there was an article in The Hindu this weekend, followed by an interview on the radio this morning.

However, I am not in a rush to get a lift as I rarely use rickshaws and have been told that my frivolity when paying raises the prices for other Westerners!

I first became aware of him when I came home from work and felt the wind as he galloped past me – it’s not your average sized rat – he’s massive.

I’ve been approaching my porch with my laptop held above my head, ready to swing at him, but he seems to have gone into hiding.

Maybe I should arrange for the snake that fought and killed a cat in my garden last year, to fight the rat – and get Jose Luis Rodriguez to captue the moment!

We celebrated by having Pongal (sweet rice) a game of ’smash the pot’ blindfolded and a Rangoli competition for the girls.

Dhoti look nice

Vetti Good Team

Bosh!

This isn’t a provincial station, its a big station in the city.

Shower - Alfresco !

Logo looks familiar

Appropriately, people are wrapping up. I have seen people with jackets, wooly hats and even balaclavas!

I am standing on the train platform, shorts and a t-shirt lapping up the sun, while the man next to me seems to think its scarf o’clock!

Bit chilly?

As we ate in the restaurant which the book centers on, I spotted the author. Unable to resist the temptation, I approached him and got my picture.

Extra scene in the movie needed now I guess  . . .

Gregory David Roberts

As we drive from the airport into the city I am soaking up the scenery with all my senses when I spot some graffiti that I recognise instantly as North Londons finest, Drax, living up to the World Domination name!

Brought a big smile to my face.

Didn’t get a chance to get photos myself, so these are courtesy of Drax’s Flikr account

Draxi

World Domination

I adopted my usual “uncomfortable oh shit I am gonna drop him” look which i have perfected over the years…

Sri Hari

On Wednesday, a member of staff found a 3 foot Indian python wrapped behind the headlight in the steering chassis of his motorbike.

The motorbike was wheeled to the road and tipped over, where I am sad to say it was then attacked with sticks and killed.

Badger Badger Badger

Snake, its a Snake . .

Fortunately someone i met 3 weeks before informed me and I was able to get a flight out the next day and return to the UK to apply for an Employment visa.

The main aim of the change in law was to prevent foreign workers from taking low skilled jobs in India and to get taxes from the expatriate workers were on business visas (like myself).

Not surprising the government is looking to raise funds, since they has just realised they have been paying $43m to 22,000 non existent workers in Dehli!

Noel EPmonds

Anyway, all is back now, lesson learned and I will be updating shortly with Diwali, Visa dramas and more . .

Puja is a ceremony to bless the work place. Incense is burnt, prayers said, and red markings placed on all work equipment – from air conditioners to cars.

I did feel lightly guilty though, that as I watched the traditional ceremony, the kids were glued to the Wii which I had introduced them to minutes before.

Puja 2

Puja 1

Since November I have learnt:

“w” is pronounced “v”

“v” is pronounced “w”

“th” is pronounced “t”

“t” is pronounced “th”

If you shake your head – it means yes,

….and this is what you get for your Birthday . .

Happy

Birthday

Hashing is essentially a running club, or as the Madras Hash House Harriers describe themselves, “a drinking club with a running problem”.

The rules of this secret sport are that the “hares” lay a flour trail on a cross country / urban run. False trails are also laid to add to the general confusion.

A few weeks I hosted the pre and post Hash gathering at my house and laid the trail, along the beach, through the fishing villages and along the main road near me. Everyone meets at about 5 o’clock and sets off accompanied by the hares, complete with loud horns. The sight of 50 people running through the backstreets of Chennai is quite bewildering for any of the locals we pass but only adds to the amusement.

This weekend was my third run, so I have now been given my “Hash” name – “Blow my Pipe”

On On.

A family on a motorbike doesn’t attract a second glance, the constant beeping is now background noise and I probably wouldn’t even bat an eyelid if i was faced with a naked man jumping from a bush again.

I must have some stories from the last 5 weeks, I’ll try and post some soon.

Below is a photo of us – I am in the middle, front row.

Where's Wally?

But as it was election time when you would expect to see political slogans (at least in the UK) all walls have been whitewashed, leaving me with a very unimpressive photo of a wall, which was a piece of art a few weeks ago.

It's a whitewash

Last of the holiday snaps – must be time for another holiday.

My photos from Tokyo on Flikr

Leos photos from Tokyo on Flikr

There are a number of things which amuse me about this.

1. I didn’t realise that Chennai had much of a Magic Show scene (dont worry Bergy I’m sure your magic show was much better)
2. I didn’t realise that Chennai had an underground magic show scene,
3. The graffiti is carefully numbered so if ever the police were to catch him they would know exactly how many counts to charge him with.
4. He’s left his name and mobile number so the police should be able to catch him pretty easily.

Where are you Mr Potato Man when Chennai really needs you!?

Number 319 . .

I’ve just realised this is a different phone number – so maybe P James has competition – or one phone simply wasn’t enough for all the calls he was receiving !!