Charlie 2 outside Halsur school
The vermi compost unit underway
Shyam shifts bricks for the vermi compost unit in a villager's back garden
They're currently sleeping in the school (the village children are using another building for the time being), which is looking very homely, and are being catered for with plenty of breaks for hot sweet chai! Which means the group also gets time to play with the many village children, help them with their English and take lots of photos.
The children are happy to pose for Christina
Alain has a break for frisbee
The loop vehicle is to set off to the environmental groups and Charlie 1 soon so on our return we'll be able to tell you how those groups are getting on. But some messages from Charlie 2 first...
To Libby and Mum, cheers for all the blog messages, doing well on the community project, it's really good. Missing all, Crimbo. Rwarries x
To Lorraine and Gwenny, Alain and Tina here. Just to let you know we are having a fantastic time in Charlie 2! We have already done lots of work and love playing with the children here. Thanks for the messages on the blog mum. Alain is missing his shower and his bed but he can finally eat with his hands so all is well! Lots of love Tina and Alain.
Hey everyone, thanks for the messages! Great to hear from you. I'm still having an amazing time, it's going so quick. Had a day trip out yesterday to a buddhist colony which was awesome. Keep me updated about any news. Speak to you soon, Love Christina x PS. G - new year?
Hey everyone, I'm doing great and had a fantastic birthday. We went to a buddhist temple and then went swimming. Charlie 2 threw a great party in the evening with balloons, cake and body paint. Glad to hear about the Yankees; sadly no one else cares. Also very happy to hear about the CELTA. I miss you all so much! Love Jaime Green.
Hey guys, Halsur is really good - went to a buddhist temple.. in south India. Had some 60ft statues at Buddha. Also went to a wildlife park. Mum, your camera's given up the ghost but loads of people are taking good pictures - I'll just get them to send them to me. Hope everything's going well at home. Lots of love, Mike.
Hey Darndy (For 12th November), Hope you're having an awesome time in London - email me about how it goes. Have agreat day! And Mum - please tell Darndy this message is here ;o). Lots of love, Mike x
Hi Tina
ReplyDeletewhat you gonna do with that pick axe??? Surely not some actual physical work, not my Tina.
Your looking really well and it looks like a nice bunch your with.
It's frosty here this morning(5.30am, ....... freezing.
I hope the experience is all you expected it to be, now get digging those trenches,
lots of love MUM XXX
chris braggs about time you got in the front of the picture lol instead of hiding behind people. you look really well proud of ya. keep up the good work. i know you good with children so they will love ya. we all happy and ok. preparing for xmas for you to come home. take care love mum ben and all.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteHello Christina,
ReplyDeleteThrilled to see the photographs of you all. Now we can put names to faces. Love the pic of you taking photo of smiling faces too, the children look very happy,as do you all. Monday morning so just going up to post office to send you a letter or two. Postal strike off. Misty but sunny day, needing warmer clothes now - winter is coming here. Linford and Evie are missing you,both curled up on your bed! Sending lots of love from everyone - Mum xx
For Georgie W.
ReplyDeleteHurrah - at last a picture. You're looking great - what's that around your right wrist sweetheart?
Posted a letter today. Have fun, work hard and lots of love as always, Mummy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Msg for James Eyles (Tango 7)
ReplyDeleteJust to say, I sent another letter on Saturday. I was careful to put the right stamp on it this time so hopefully you will get this one!
Also, thanks for your letter! I wasn't expecting one, it was a nice surprise :-).
love Hollyxx
Christopher!!!! <3
ReplyDeleteHello my lover. :) nice to see youu got rid off your stubble. (Y) good boy. :)
had abit off a stressful day.. but that dont matter.
omg i been watching the xfactor.. the tiwns were in tha last bottom two! i fort they where gunna get kicked out last night.. but obviously the to trolls are still in it. :( olly and jamie are still in it.. we want one of them to win dont wee bubb. :)
i will keep you updated on that if ya like.
ohh you no sophie and aamir.. well they aint together anymore. :( split up at my gathering on saturday. :(
wasnt ment to be.. then its not ment to be.
well i dunna wat too say apart from...
I LOVE YOU BABE!
RAWWRRR ;-) mmmmm, jammy stain. ;)
Yours Truly.. Libby xxx
Hey Christina, fab to see photos of you on here! Looks like you are having lots of fun : ) Got your postcard the other day, I loved it thank you! Not alot happening here apart from I have Ofsted tomorrow - ahhh! Will speak to you soon hopefully, loads of love Gill xxxxx
ReplyDeleteHey christina
ReplyDeleteGood to see pictures of you , your looking good :)
how is the work going . Am still in cardif 2 more weeks to go then I am all finished.
Missing you loads cant wait to see you, love you .
G
chris braggs hope you having better weather than we are. if you are send some our way lol. well seeing matthew this week, sam got to have a scan on his leg as its no better, but he ok, you know him whimpering lol. jasmine doing ok, summer loves nursery and ocean passed her appointment she is ok, went xmas shopping yesterday got pressies. going to get yours soon.. you no what you asked for lol. got some bits for libby and done you both a stocking filler. we ll the spades are different from ours over here? have you used your camera yet? well lots to do talk soon not got your letter yet. blog soon , missing you love mum ben and family.xxxxx
ReplyDeleteFor Jamie--what a great birthday present--seeing you with the gang and hearing what you've been up to. You look mahvelous! Hope you celebrated in style. Well, playing with worms and digging in the mud in India is pretty high up there in style, of course.
ReplyDeleteThere has been tons in the news about the Berlin Wall falling so I wonder if you guys discussed it at all. I remember it happening but had my hands rather full with you and Ben so perhaps didn't soak it all in at the time. Anyway, it was a happy day all around the world, but happiest at our house!
We haven't sent snail mail--sorry! Hope you are getting our blogmails, here. If you can find a pen and envelope and write, I PROMISE I will send you a letter back!
Later--LOVE you. Mom
chris mate its adam im so proud of you and we all are i hope i can see you soon and we all miss you and i agree wid that person it is abouttime you get in the front of the photo :) well i hope you are okaii!!! see you soon adam!!!!x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
ReplyDeleteFor Alain! Hi skatje! how are you doing now? Wrote you a letter and 2 cards, dit you receive them?Hope you are doing well!! We miss you allllll very much! Have fun darling! Home is very quit.....without you! big kiss, your mum!
ReplyDeleteTo India, Charlie 1
ReplyDeleteHi baby hope all good, looking forward to your next update as we dont know where you are or what you are doing??
Its gorgeous her,sun shining, sea sparkling,just had breakfast on terrace.. Alice fasto.
Alice growing fast, she is now sitting up all by herself--she has also learnt that she loves fruit but not vegetables, she pushes them out with her tongue--yukk!!
Gran had her operation and miraculously only spent four days in hospital, all went really well and now she has moved into a local nursing home for a couple of weeks.Grandad is struggling with a leak in the kitchen-thats not euphimism by the way- so Uncle Peter has gone down to give him some support. Thank God I am in Australia.
Any news from Vicky, is she still coming out?? Any other plans??
Ok thats it,we love you, and are thinking about you..
Love, Dad, Nat, and Alice xxxx
Page
ReplyDeleteWe got a great letter yesterday and all sat around reading it. Abbie babysat for Christopher and Isobell and they were read it as a bed time story! Cold and wet here. Went MTBing with the boys yesterday and got back top to toe covered in mud. We are all looking forward to the next set of photos and info. Mum is invigilating this week and I have to go to Antigua tomorrow. We are all missing you but very peased you are having a great time. All our love Dad XXXX
Hi Hol
ReplyDeleteJust about half way through now - how ya goin on!! Hope everything's still as exciting and amazing! The pictures are wonderful and you all seem to be enjoying every one of your activities. Do the children in the villages ever stop smiling?!
How are you getting on with this phase? It must be quite physical work and quite tiring. Hope you haven't had to use your first aid kit yet.
It's Remembrance Day today and I was in town at eleven when the clock chimed. The whole of the Market Square stood still and observed 2 minutes silence. It was very moving.
Make sure you take as many pictures of the local food you're eating - I'd love to see them when you get back - got any recipes?!!
Keep safe. Keep smiling.
All my love, Dad xxx
Mum's fine - working hard, as usual. Steve and Louise send their best wishes. (Steve also asked if you bring some fresh cardamom pods back with you!!!)
Hey Mikey, thanks for your messages. i will be sure to tell Alex about her birthday message. off soon on the train to celebrate with her. we'll miss you at the birthday dinner. are you getting a taste for sweet chai? shame about the camera though. it needs LOADS of charging for a very short operating time. well let it go and move on. fortunately others have images to share with you. hope you can tell me what a vermi-compost is when you get home? you look good, happy and well in the photos, which does my heart good. keep up all the good work! sending so much love to you, Mum xx
ReplyDeleteHi Jammy Dodger
ReplyDeleteHope you are in high spirits and keeping well,have you completed the long trek yet or are you still at it with 26 kg strapped to your back...some people always have it easy!!
Joking aside , I really hope it went well and you are in good shape.
I have been dragged around the shops by Mum as she is determined to get as much stuff for the holiday as soon as possible....in fact I have never done as much shopping in my life and feel all shopped out....beware when you get back its your turn!! ha ha .
Also your hound was in desperate need for a haircut...so I gave her the once over with the clippers and we are now the proud owners of a Jack Russell!!......funny enough do not think she is too happy with the cut ....that reminds me who else was not happy about there cut ...can't remember now ..but im sure it will comeback to me!!
Keep smiling ..we are always thinking about you ..although not when we are eating chocolate!
lots of love from Keston HQ XX
FOR MORTEN,
ReplyDeleteHej søde Morten, håber du nyder dit byggeprojekt, jeg glæder mig til snart at se et billede af dig med værktøjsbæltet på bloggen!! Vi skriver et rigtigt brev til dig denne uge, men jeg ville bare lige sende dig en hurtig hilsen for at sige, at vi tænker på dig og savner dig og var glade for at høre, hvormeget du nyder det! I DK raser (svine)influenzaen, CIS har lukket resten af ugen og Anders' fodboldtur til Amsterdam idag er desværre blevet aflyst. Far har over 40 i feber og Anders har en grim hoste, så vi lægger os nok alle på stribe, surt her lige inden vi flytter, men lad os håbe det bliver overstået hurtigt. Nyd vejret hvor du er, da det er meget vådt og trist her, godt det snart er jul, så kan vi rigtig hyggegemme os! Niki jagter stadig egern i haven og Bella troner i sin nye fleeceseng i lænestolen. Jeg skriver mere til dig i brevet. Pas på dig selv og skriv snart! (vi har ikke fået dit brev endnu, sendte du det til jordhulen el. Holte?) Store knus, kram og kærlige tanker mor
Hi Maddy!!
ReplyDeleteThere is something en route for you in the post, but I have no idea when it will reach you! It looks like you're having an amazing time! Looked at all the pictures and it just looks incredible! When you get back, we will have to meet up and you can tell me all about it! I want to see all the pictures... your amazing adventures totally make up for my lack of!!
Be careful!!
Love, Rachel xxxx
Alain! Ouwe rups! Hoe gaat het daar met jou dan!
ReplyDeleteX Meneer Jen
HI Charles,
ReplyDeleteForgot to say on my last blog that John Smith did one of his fireworks spectaculars at the Pub last Saturday. You wouldn't have got bigger bangs anywhere in Britain! Debris fallout rained on us thoughout the display - Dad had a big chunk land in his beer mug!. Everyi=on says HI and hope the Echo 5 project rocks. Love Mum
Jamie G--Thanks for blogging--glad to hear you had a fantastic birthday and with cake and all--but what's with the body paint?? Wish I could have seen this. Hope you are taking photos and writing in book to remember it all. Nothing happening here. Miss you! Love Mom
ReplyDeleteMichael Stern wants to wish his sister a very happy birthday for his lovely sister! Ahhh... Happy Birthday from Raleigh too.
ReplyDeleteClarinette chérie, je pense à toi au milieu de nulle part, avalant des km avec tes longues jambes ! Je crois que le pays est magnifique, et j'espère que tout se passe bien. J'ai téléphoné à UCM pour avoir des nouvelles de ton inscription car j'avais appris qu Eliane avait reçu un mail. Hélas, tu n'es pas sélectionnée pour l'interview, je sais, tu es déçue mais never mind, tu pourrais reposer ta candidature à ton retour pour la rentrée de septembre ? Ou encore postuler ailleurs. Ne t'en fais pas, le monde est vaste et le choix important, donc, tu trouveras certainement ce qui te convient cette année. Tu nous manques, et le temps est long sans entendre ta voix. T'envoie de tendres baisers ma fille chérie. A plus !xxx Mam
ReplyDeletea message for charlotte ali,charlie 1, hi charlotte, thinking about you,how you doing? it wont be long before your back home, we all miss you, all my love uncle stuart. xxxxx
ReplyDeleteHi Maddy
ReplyDeleteBirthday Greetings for Friday 13th - what a way to spend it! Whatever you do it is sure to be one you will not forget. Hopefully you should have received a few letters and some cards, if not they will not be far away. We will raise our glasses and toast you tomorrow night!
We are all well, busy with work and starting to think about Christmas to. Decided that I will save the decorating for when you are home. Grandmas hand is slowly improving and she is planning her next holiday at the New Year.
Jenni and Danny are home Sunday they are having hot weather too. I will look so pale besides you both I will have to have a spray tan!
Anyway - bye for now - take care - all our love Mum, Dad and family and friends. xxxxxxx
ChristopherAndrewJohnBraggs.
ReplyDeleteYour letters have came in the post.. but i cant read mine until saturday! omg, 4weeks and 4days left!!!! :)
omg omg omg! i might have my braces by the time youu get back! Geekage on me! :L ahaha, that means youu wont be able to kiss me, unless its soft and tender and loving.. :L ahaaa. unlucky for me!
hehee your gunna love the way im looking now.. changed my hair colour.. changed my hair style.. well aint changed my hair style yett, gunna get it cut soon. :)
well im going so i can watch the ten oclock eastenders!
i will read your letter on saturday.. even tho im getting butterflies. :)
hehehee i love youu baby! the heart is growing fonder. ;) xxx
RAWRR!
chris braggs well libs got her letter today not got mine yet. ignore the blog from adam as its not from him its caroline trying again. donrt worry we let you know how its goes she already annoyed libby. well libby will explain lol. ill be contacting connexions tomorrow see if we can get our name come up on this blog thing so i dont have to keep comming up annomous lol hope you ok, we have really got bad weather
ReplyDeleteWell now young Ben...today friday 13th marks the half way point in your adventure and I hope that all is going well and that you are meeting the challenges and having a good time.All ok here, usual routine...out to Telfords last night with Col and Deb - couple of Peronis.Rowing on sunday.Cal secured 3rd week on film. Hope to hear some news from you soon if you can.
ReplyDeletelol Dadio xx
Hello Benny at echo 5. Hope all goes well with you. Thinking of you lots. All well here. Dad and I went out to telfords warehouse last night with Col & Deb. Had a good time and made a change to go out on a Thursday evening. The music was ok although didn't hear that much - seemed to be more in the background as it was fairly noisy with people chatting. Should probably have sat nearer if wanted to listen more. Cal on his second week now and is definitely staying a 3rd which is brilliant! Haven't spoken to him this week, so will catch up at weekend. You take care and will write again soon. lots of love mum xxxxxxxxxxx oooooooxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteFor Georgie P
ReplyDeleteHey how are you doing? Went to parents eve with Abbie last night and Mrs Paget and Mrs T-B were asking after you. It is pouring with rain here and gales forecast for weekend! Am home having a quick break from exam invig.- decorator nearly finished and it is looking good. all our love Mum xxxxxxx
chris braggs howdy there hope you working hard. lol. not got your letter yet mummy waiting. lol. well samuel happy he got his money from college. also weve nearly finished xmas shopping. libby comming over tomorrow sat the 14th for the night. and cant wait to see her. summer been making cakes. she copying her nanny lol she says hello to you. she had to go to hospital had an asthma attack but she is ok. had a very tiring week lots of things to do lol.well hope you blog soon love mumxxxx
ReplyDeleteHi David, (Tango7)
ReplyDeleteVERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY for 16th .
I hope the trek is going really well and that you enjoy the rafting too. The pictures on the blog look a bit like Costa Rica- it is so green after the rains.
We are missing you a lot here and the house still seems quiet without you even with Chris here too!
Life carries on here much as usual- so no really interesting news.
Have a great day on 16th
Lots and lots of love from us all & Granny and Granpa send you lots of love too.
Mum and Dad.
FOR MORTEN
ReplyDeleteHej Musse, så lige du var med på billedet fra bussen, dejligt at se dit glade ansigt! Jeg har skrevet på bloggen for nogle dage siden, men det ser ikke ud som om vores beskeder kommer med, måske fordi det er for svært for dem at censurere på dansk?? Anyway, jeg har sendt et brev til dig igår, håber det når frem!! Vi er ved at komme os over sygdom, far havde influenza og jeg er snotforkølet. Men det klinger af nu, vi skal jo være klar om en uge til at flytte!!!! Nå, ville bare lige sige godmorgen og lade dig vide, at vi tænker meget på dig. Jeg savner dig, Musse, men det er rart at vide, at du har det så fedt! Store knus og kram mor
Hello Georgie P. I will try again! Having just spoken to Mum she has told me to try this site as you don't seem to have been getting my blogs at all - all that effort for nothing, you know how much I love computers!
ReplyDeleteAll is well here except for the weather, pouring rain and really strong winds. I didn't think Abbie would be sailing but apparently she is down in Weymouth, hopefully ashore!
I hope you have got my letters if not my blogs or you will really be feeling neglected. Not true we both think of you often and wonder how it is all going. I've seen your pictures and you look very happy in your work. I gather you have changed groups and are now on a building project - what with killing chickens, digging ditches and putting on a roof Granddad is getting more imressed by the day. It is certainly a far cry from home life and is a really great experience for you, enjoy every minute. Hope this gets on the blog page.
Lots of love, Gran and Granddad. xxxxx
Hi Tina
ReplyDeleteThanks for the message, about time too.
Just about to watch those twits; sorry twins on X Factor. I'm a celebrity starts tomorrow so I'm all set for the next few weeks, I know; how sad!
The wind is really bad here( no not your dad this time)I hope you're having more luck with the weather.
Stephens got a job interview next week so fingers crossed. Works really busy at the moment but no more than usual at this time of year, still don't you just love Christmas!
Everybody sends their love and best wishes, enjoy every minute, lots of hugs and kisses
mum,dad,Ste and the menagerie
(hey it rhymes) XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Weather lovely here in Antigua and have just been out in the hobie. Put factor 25 on the shoulders so i am fine!! Looking forward to more news fom you all. Love Dad XXX
ReplyDeleteHi Luke - Charlie 1
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photos - the artwork is amazing! Hope you've got some ideas for decorating the hall when you get back!!
It was really nice to see the boys looking through your book (was that Mendhi I saw on your hand?).
Missing you loads, looking forward to the next blog - lots and lots of love Mum xxxxx
Hallo Alain!Big kiss from Oma...
ReplyDeleteHey Mikey, we had a lovely birthday dinner with Dugald and Dianne, Harry came too so there was lots of conversation about guitarists and guitars! Alex and I spent the day together and got her a new warm winter coat. can you imagine needing a warm coat? i went to see D and D's new flat which is in the area where he and I grew up and we went for a walk and my old school was hosting a craft fair so I got to go inside the school hall, which brought back so many memories .. not all of them good! i also met Melissa for lunch and then went up to see Helen and Moe who are both getting frail. it felt good to see them, they are so warm to me. alex should be getting internet this week so she'll be able to see your messages for her, though I've passed them on. Thank you. i did an interview for Radio Devon about our project and had to field some strange questions. i think i did quite well but really must stop saying and, and, and... there seems to be so much to express. it's starting to get cold here now but it's beautiful. love getting your news. this is an amazing adventure and I'm SURE you're making the most of it. sending so much love, as ever, Mum xx
ReplyDeleteFor Jamie Green in Charlie 2
ReplyDeleteDear Jamie,
It is a beautiful day. Sunshine and autumn colors. A day off for me. I played tennis in Van Cortland. It was great. Sammy's new video game arrived (Code of Honor? Some WWII game new edition). Henry and Noah are here and they are all very excited. Life is fine. I think that you will be working another week and then off trekking. Is that about right? You should load up on the calories while you can. Ben said that he sent you a note on this blog but I don't see it. We all miss you. I know that it is still 4 weeks away, but think about what you want for dinner when you get back and let us know. Take photos when you can. I can't wait to see what it is like there.
Love you!
Dad
Hi mikey, got your message on Facebook despite not having had the internet for a month and a half (we finally have it sorted as of yesterday) and I replied on there telling you about London and stuff, dunno if you saw it but to sum up very briefly I have a job working in Gap which is quite good, everyone there's really nice which makes things easier.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your birthday message, I had a really good birthday, Melissa organised me a night out in a club by London Bridge tube station called Shunt. Obviously I assumed it would be artsy but it was mental. It had a boat in the middle of it, random art-studenty-type acts going on throughout and oh yeah, it's like... a cave, a massive, weird, dark cave. So so weird but really fun. Then for my actual birthday day mum came up and we went shopping for a present, ended up with a nice new coat from Topshop (I lost my other coat in a club in Notting Hill... Idiot.) Then Duguld treated me, mum, Dianne and Harry to a meal in the evening.
Anyway I'll keep checking here to see what you're up to, looks like you're having the experience you wanted. Robby's missing you, said he doesn't have anyone to call and is fed up of you being away now. I went to Brighton for Haloween which was really nice but was definitely missing you. I shall keep you updated with my London happenings via Facebook
Love the best sister in the world xxxx
He lieve alain, was gisteren met mama eten en zij vertelde over jou avontuur, fantstisch dat je dit doorzet ik heb de fotos gezien wij zijn ontzettend ontzettend trots op je en kunnen niet wachten wanneer je terug bent al je verhalen te horen. Lieverd geniet van je bijzondere ervaring!
ReplyDeleteHele dikke knuffels ook van Hennie en de meiden kus Paula x x x
Hi Nanette,
ReplyDeleteleuk om alles zo te kunnen volgen. we zijn heel benieuwd naar alle verhalen. nog een paar weken en je bent alweer terug!
geniet van deze laatste weken en tot snel in Nederland!
Groetjes,
Paul, Els, Floor en Sterre