Today’s blog comes from Echo 3 thanks to Valerie, our lovely project communications officer.
Our guest blogger Valerie
“Echo 3 has been in our village for over a week and the time has flown by. Just one week ago we arrived on an empty grassy land.
“Our campsite has a beautiful view of the reservoir and in only two days we have built a shelter, toilets, slops pit, shower and 11 amazing bashas. Sadly the heavy rain came on the first day so we were only able to build two bashas then. However, this didn’t dampen Echo 3’s spirits as we were able to sleep in the local school. Since then we have given our campsite a lot of homely touches and, with the local children playing on site, we have created a lovely home.
“Once the camp was finished we started on digging lots of holes and dug non-stop for five days. Yesterday was our last day of digging. We have completed a circle with a radius of 11ft, 4ft down at all four houses. Sometimes if felt like it was 6ft down!
“On Friday, the engineers told us that the holes needed an extra box on the side and, in the centre, it needed to go down an extra 1 ½ ft. Although the digging started to annoy people, Shafeeque’s songs and Dan’s stories kept us going.
Lots of digging!
“The families where we are building the biogas are amazing. They give us the best rice dishes in India for lunch and also get us awake in the morning with their spicy rice breakfast. During the day they keep our energy up by giving us lots of chai. All the food they give us comes from their land and animals. We get milk from their cows, eggs from the chickens and fish from the reservoir.
Some of the local children
“Back at camp we have a regular visitor called Dewi. She is about 4ft tall and very sweet and always offers us chai. Earlier this week she helped me with my washing and I helped her with hers.
“A lot of women from the village wash their clothes in the reservoir in front of our camp so they pass by us with huge pots of clothes on their heads and their beautiful saris. The children from the village love to play cricket with us and watch us have our daily swim in our life jackets.
“Echo 3 has lots of fun in the evening. We make delicious meals, play games and have long chats around the fire. We have a great vibe in the group and a weird sense of humour we are all enjoy. Yesterday we had a Pooja to bless our camp, with flowers, incense and candles.”
F.A.O. Jon Hurrell Echo3.
ReplyDeleteHi Jonathan, Have just been reading the news from your camp. Boy, have you all been busy ! It sounds as if you are having fun aswell as all the hard work. Pleased to hear you are playing cricket; the villagers are no doubt delighted that India are bringing the England cricket team down a peg or two !
Anyway our good wishes to you all. Keep well & look forward to hearing from you soon.
Lots of Love, Mum & Dad. Xxx
For Lizzie Haywood - Echo 3
ReplyDeleteHey Liz!
Just spent my morning catching up on your exploits in India - some excellent action shots, especially rocking the hi-vis! Sound like you're having a blast, can't wait to hear all about it on Skype when you get back =)
Emily x
Hi lieve Val,
ReplyDeleteWat geweldig om je verhaal te lezen en je foto te zien. Je schrijft leuk. Wat hebbenjullie al een werk verricht en ik had niet door dat jullie dicht bij een dorp werkten. Blij te horen dat het ook gezellig is en leuk dat jullie regelmatig contact met de indiase dorpelingen hebben. Hoop dat je gezondheid ok is enik blijf de blogs volgen heb ook een brief gestuurd,dikke kus,P &W
lieve esmee (charlie 2
ReplyDeleteNet het verhaal van echo 3 gelezen.Hard werken,maar ook wel erg gezellig. ik hoop dat er snel een bericht van charlie 2 op komt te staan. Vanmiddag bij monique in de winkel geweest . Heerlijk warm vest gekocht . Tja, dat is nog eens wat anders dan een bamboeshirt of afritsbroek.
xxxxmama
lieve esmee (charlie 2)
ReplyDeletedenk je dat je het het onderknie hebt om via het blog een berichtje te sturen, blijkt het toch weer moeilijker dan gedacht. ben al een aantal dagen bezig om het voor elkaar te krijgen . Ik heb tante nel het zelfs nog uitgelegd , ha ha. Nou dat is dus niet echt gelukt, want haar berichtje staat er ook niet op . we blijven volhouden.xxx petra
Lieve Juul (Charlie 1)
ReplyDeleteHoe is het met je? Hoe is het daar? Ik was aan het kijken op de Raleigh site van Costa Rica omdat Mul daar zit en heel toen zag ik India ertussen staan en toen bedacht ik me dat ik jou gewoon zo een berichtje kan sturen! Hoe toevallig? Hoe is India? Volgens mij is het geweldig en doen jullie echt super veel en goed werk! Ik kreeg een super lief kaartje van je mama over het ehbo pakketje dat ik voor je had gemaakt! Hoop dat je het nog een beetje kan gebruiken!
Nog heel veel plezier daar lieverd en ik ga binnekort maar even een theetje doen met je mams! En heeeeeeel misschien loepie uitlaten, al denk ik niet dat loep daar heel blij mee zal zijn haha!
Dikke kus, ook van mijn mama!
En ik blijf jullie blog checken, heel gaaf die fotot's
xxxx
lienepien
Hi Steph
ReplyDeleteJust been catching up on all the exciting things that youve been up to in india.It all looks worthwhile and very exhausting.Hope u are enjoying it as much as im enjoying reading about it.Take care love and missing u loads.
ODD xxx
Hi Steph
ReplyDeleteIm following you all the way on the blog.Feels like i,m there with you.Take care and enjoy which im sure u will.You are so brave.Soldier on my girl.Love u loads MUMMY (lol) XXXXX
A message for Charlotte Ali, Echo 3, hi sis been keeping up to date with you adventures on the blog, sounds like your all having a great time with plenty of chai, and plenty of digging! keep up the good work. The times is going so quick, all is ok here kids have had their fair share of illness but there are all on the mend, we are looking forward to going to mums for a halloween party, anyway sis take care, speak soon, love you. xxxxx
ReplyDeleteGary Holmes
ReplyDeleteto Kate Holmes (Echo 3)
Hey Kate, nice to see you getting some digging practice. You'll be able to give me a hand in the garden when you're home :-)
I bet that you're loving all the chai the locals are giving you. Don't forget to pick up some cooking tips, that spicy rice breakfast sounds . . different. Your granddad might like to try it as an alternative to his porrige.
Keep up the good work.
Love you, Dad xxx
FAO: Dan (Echo3)
ReplyDeleteHi Dan! We have been reading your group's blogs and it looks incredible out there. Hope you're having a great time and finding the hard work rewarding as well as exhausting! Big hugs from Tom and I and a slobbery raspberry from William! xxx
for jenni codd (echo3)
ReplyDeleteHi Jenni.Sent message a week or so ago, but I think I messed it up. Anyway looks like
your well involved and hope you are enjoying the experience. Spoke to Linda at the weekend and we both said we enjoy following these posts.
Look after yourself. Lots of love from Andrew and Wendy xxxxxxx
Gemma - Echo 3
ReplyDeleteMorning Gem, we have as always been checking the blog site many times a day, it has been lovely catching up with all the news of your group. See the weather wasn't too kind when you first arrived, but glad to hear that you are enjoying life with the villagers. How are you enjoying the indian cuisine? oh yes and the chips...
Looking forward to hearing all your news, you must have so much to tell us about already.
Lots of love
Dear Will, Hope you are having a fantastic time. From what we can see from the photos, it looks the most amazing landscape. Everyone is well here but we miss you so much. Take good care my boy. All love, Dad.
ReplyDeleteValerie - Echo 3
ReplyDeleteWoah, wat ben je toch een lovely communications officer (mooie foto en herken het shirt)! Het klinkt echt super wat je daar meemaakt. Wel hard werken zeker, maar zo te zien ben je echt closer geworden met de locals. En kan jij ook goed cricket spelen? Las net je mailtje, ben blij dat het al wat beter gaat en fijn dat ze je goed verzorgen. Hoop wel dat die luizen weggaan anders mag je niet naast mij in bed liggen in Australie! Haha, ben net terug van hele grote beurs in Quangzhou en papa is nu hier dus ook heel gezellig. Ik mis je en blijf lekker deze blogs lezen om op te reageren! X Q
to Valerie van Walt Meijer, echo 3
ReplyDeleteHiValerie,geweldig je bericht(met foto's!)te lezen. Hard werken,contact met bevolking enlekkere hapjes
Ik ga veel uit eten, verheug me erop met jou dat ook weer te doen. Succes met alles, grandmother Omi.
Hey Steph (Echo 3)
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear from you, and i am glad you are having a wicked time. Glad to hear that you are working hard too, except would like to see some evidence of that. Lol!!! Still no sign of your godson, but i do have 5 weeks left to go, woohoo :) Roll on!! Broy is now potty trained and doing really well. Congrats on the run, i see that your team won with the lowest time.
Well i'm off as i am in the middle of watching DH. Will write a letter soon, as i have soo much to say. Take care, and keep up with the hard work.
Love u and miss ya loads Caz xxxx
Zoe Coles Charlie 2
ReplyDeleteHey Zoe, hope you are keeping well and enjoying yourself. Nearly three weeks gone now and you are being missed back here in Buckley. Infact Rach and I were talking about you today, wondering what you were doing. We were Christmas shopping. I went to Chester yesterday with your mum and we bought some things to send to santa - he he! Anyway take care and be safe. love you xxx
Amelia Ayliffe (Charlie 1)
ReplyDeleteHi, Meem, great to see news and photos of you at Malligalli. And got your letter this morning. So glad you are ok. All sounds very exciting! Relieved to hear you are getting enough food - Mum has cancelled Sunday lunch until you get back because she thinks it wrong without you! Otherwise life as normal here. Schmoogle (?) is in New York this week. Joy and Mum taking it in turns to be grumpy ... we miss your calming influence! Taking Jellie to Scooby Doo day at Legoland tomorrow (bet you wish you were coming ... not!). Look forward to hearing more when you can call. In meantime take care. All our love, Dad
Lieve Val
ReplyDeleteWeer boven jan? Je berichtje gelezen en hoop dat het weer goed gaat. Het ziet er wel allemaal uitdagend uit wat jullie doen. Met Q in Guangzhou geweest op de beurs en nu terug in Hong Kong.
LY
Papa
for amelia( india 1 )
ReplyDeleteheyyy i went for a swim and then drank a mocha frap on ur behalf !
you look so strongg, carrying all that stuff :) im glad they are feeding you loads coz i was worried you would get really hungry lol.. texas is finally getting cold how is the weatther in india ?? miss u only 68 more days till i finally ge to c u
xxxxxxxxxxxxx that sounds like forever omg :(
love lish
Alex Rolfe (Charlie 2)
ReplyDeleteMan City beat Man Utd 6-1! Crystal Palace are third in the Championship and the glorious 4's are cruising.
Eddie was at the Crystal Palace game against top of the league Southampton in a deluxe box. Palace won 2-0.
I'm sure that's all the important news.....
My only observation is that in all the pictures of Charlie 2 team digging.....you're never in them (no doubt watching a Tarzan movie...). Bearing in mind that digging is the only thing you have been proved world class at I think you should be pulling a bit more weight!
Boys.