SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH Please note that blogs aren't always in date order, due to access problems. The date shown will be the date of posting it successfully, not necessarily the date of writing! Some older blogs might have pictures added later, or we might just put up a few picture blogs as and when......

Pictures: 'Crocodile' forming to walk to church.

St. James' very British looking church tower.

Church is quite an experience. The service starts at 9am prompt, but people wander in during the next 10 to15 minutes. I think the first 15 minute slot is spent in reading out the collection, with names, from the week before. Don't think that will fly in Llanfaelog!

II had been asked to say something 'before the message' so I was prepared to offer greetings from the Diocese and the parish and thank them for the warm welcome. However, just before the service started, the Catechist came and said he would introduce me, and I had 10 minutes! So, I sent greetings from Bishop and Diocese, Dean and Cathedral, parish and people. Speaking slowly, being translated hesitantly with the Catechist referring to Johnson who was sitting on the step of the doorway nearest the chancel steps, for help with translation, I rambled on about our ways being not the same, our dress not the same, our language not the same, our weather (!) not the same but our God is the same and we are happy to worship together. All that goes on in church is broadcast for miles around from huge speakers on the church tower, so goodness knows what came out in translation! I haven't quite managed to explore the place of women in the church of South India yet, but in Chinnamalpuram it reminds me a bit of what Dr. Samuel Johnson is alleged to have said, 'Women preaching is rather like dogs walking on their hind legs in the street. It's not that they do it well, but that they can do it at all'. They are, however, a good deal politer than the rude Doctor.

The service was Morning Prayer, each section pretty long. Everyone is dressed in their best (still Sunday Best here) women on one side of the church and men on the other. Most people sit on the floor - loads of children, good as gold, even tinies. Only the old, the infirm and visitors who don't fold up as well as the locals, sit on benches at the back. (Guess where we sat!) The singing is quite amazing. Sunday hymns are Sankey & Moody and are accompanied by a somewhat hesitant but enthusiastic harmonium, played by Mr. Kumar, the Grail Trustee. The tunes are recognisable, but the singing is a strange mix of Eastern and Western harmonies We ended, after over an hour and a half, with what I think was 'Praise to the Lord, the Almighty'....... Everything with that enormous enthusiasm. The Catechist preaches, or intones, for long periods at all services. We hear him broadcast over the village at morning and evening prayer- and a few things we haven't worked out yet. I would love to know what he's on about, I think! I don't think I'll invite him as a Harvest Preacher - it would take a weekend!

Came back from church with the crrocodile of kids, cold drinks, lunch. Christy invited us to visit her house in the afternoon, said she would come for us about 3pm. Another social occasion negotiated. Her brother, wife and children were visiting. All very smilley, no English. The eldest of the three boys had a little English and was lovely. The youngest, was a gorgeous child, but terrified of us, screamed the place down! They took him into the bedroom, where he was a bit happier. We got a wave and a smile, but when we responded he screamed again. Ah well, can't win 'em all!

The house was swept and clean, just two rooms, one with four plastic chairs, family pictures and a television. (Posh!) The bedroom was literally that, a tiny room that was entirely filled by a little bed - couldn't even close the door. There is a little outside kitchen (shed) like everywhere else. Kitchens are not in the house - they catch fire too often. In this area there is a different kind of clean than what we're used to. Cooking pots are clean, clothes are clean, everything else is just swept over with a whisk brush. Photos we take tend to sanitize the view, walls are usually peeling and a bit ramshackle and everything pretty run down. Maintenance isn't high on the agenda, survival is the main thing.

We all smiled at each other a lot, and a plate of biscuits appeared followed by two bottles of orange pop with straws. (More E numbers!)Hospitality is so important, and it is hard to accept when you know they can't afford it, but etiquette insists. The rest of the family didn't have anything, just watched us with apparent enjoyment. We knew all about the thing about 'beware of straws, they might be second hand, or more', but we grinned and enjoyed it and are still here to tell the tale.

When we arrived everything looked so tatty and seedy, dirty even, but we have got our eye in now and it all looks OK. Sitting on our verandah in the hot afternoon we wonder if all the pictures of the Raj are also sanitized, and maybe everything was seedy then - and without electricity! The fans make a huge difference, until the generator packs up, which is often.

When we got back from visiting there was a great hue and cry outside. The boys had seen a snake - it slithered over someone's foot - and the girls were all dashing off to see it, but not too close! If you know me well you will know that the two things I am most scared of in the universe are dentists and snakes, so I stayed put while Dave went to look. He came back and said, 'It's only a little cobra...' !!!!!! The watchman ( known by us as Groundkeeper Willie - Simpsons fans will understand-) had caught it with a long stick and killed it. I was persuaded to go and see. It was a bit sad really, but I prefer my snakes dead, I'm afraid.

Otherwise, all fine. Could get used to three meals a day prepared for us. Lunch and dinner are on the table when ready, whether we're here or not. There is a large insulated dish for the main item, and it's lovely lifting the lid in anticipation. Simple but delicious food, and smells wonderful with the herbs and spices. Still haven't identified the leaves that look like privet, but they are in everything.

Managed to access the web last night and put quite a bit of blog and some pictures up, but the power went and crashed most of it. Will try again tonight if possible.