Okay so today I am feeling rough and very sorry for myself. Chris, Sandra, Laurence, and myself went out to dinner last night at a place called Charcoal, which sells steaks. We all had the same thing, a medium steak with peppercorn source, but this morning I haven't stopped throwing up and my stomach is on fire. The annoying thing is that everybody else is fine, which makes me think maybe it wasn't the dinner, but maybe what I had for lunch. Either way it's time I can't really afford out of the office as I am away next week.

So Saturday morning we (Chris, Sandra, Laurence, and Myself fly from Delhi's domestic airport to Mumbia (formally Bombay). Two of Chris's friends join us Saturday in Mumbia and we have Saturday and sunday to look around before getting the night train down to Goa where we have a few day's rest and relaxation. Chris and Sandra fly back Tuesday, and Chris's friends fly onto Jaipur. Laurence and myself are staying on an extra day and fly back Wednesday evening. I then have the remainder of the week to generally chill out.

So the upshot is that this is the last post until probably next Thursday, but hopefully I will have some great stories and photo's to share.

Tags: Sickness, Travel

So Friday night I had my team leader monthly offsite dinner, which was good. We all ended up at a place called the Golden Dragon, a Chinese / Thai restaurant. located at the DLF Mega Mall. Saturday morning I woke up about 10:00 and was quite surprised I didn't have a hangover, given the amount of Kingfisher I had drunk. I got up and had a lazy breakfast of bacon, egg, and baked beans followed by a shower. The weather here has changed again and it's starting to hot up and it felt really good getting into shorts and a t-shirt, and I made the decision there and then to spend the day on the sofa, chilling out.

Lunch time arrived and I got a phone call from the Essel towers convenience store advising me that my sweet order had arrived. 10 minutes later the door bell went and I took delivery. Do you think I have over done it?

Anyway I spent the rest of the day watching films, listening to music and generally relaxing, and I intend on doing exactly the same again today. I have just sent all my ironing off to be done as it's back to work tomorrow, but thankfully only for a week, and then I am off to Mumbia and Goa for some serious R&R.

Tags: Beer, Food, People, Relaxing

Okay Mum and Dad arrived back from Goa on the 14th February. They had both caught the sun and looked a lot more relaxed. I was working so after work I returned to the apartment and we caught up over a few beers before heading out to dinner at a restaurant called Earth. Now none of use had even given the date a second thought (14th February) but it soon became apparent when we arrived at the restaurant, as there were heart shaped balloons all over the place. We didn't have a reservation but the waiter said he would try and find us a table. We sat down at the bar and had a few drinks arriving at the conclusion that everywhere would be the same. Finally, about 22:00, we sat down for dinner. We were all starving and tired by the time the main course came, we just ate and then headed for home.

Friday was back to work for me and I also had to go to the ministry to re-register but after that I sent Karan back to the apartment to pick up Mum & Dad who then went off shopping. Friday night was the start of my first Duty Manager shift so Mum cooked at home (Home cooking). I eventually finished work at 04:30 Saturday morning. Mum and Dad had arranged for Karan to pick them up at 10:00 and they headed off to spend some more money. I woke up about 10:30 and resumed working. Mum cooked again and we had another evening in. About 04:30 my internet line stopped working and I was left working on my BlackBerry, eventually getting to bed about 05:30.

Sunday I still had no internet connectivity so went around to Laurence's where I camped until about midnight. Lucky things were going largely to plan and I finished about 01:30 Monday morning. I grabbed a few hours sleep and then Mum, Dad, and I headed off the Delhi, in particular the old part. We went straight to Karims for lunch before touring the narrow side streets, stopping off so Mum could buy ribbons and other handy craft bit's and pieces and so Dad could take a look around a Jain temple. We headed back towards the point we had agreed to call Karan from but he found us before we could get there. We headed back to the apartment for a shower and a change of clothes and then to Dine Estey for dinner. Tuesday morning Karan picked us all up at 11:00 and we headed to the City Center mall were we left Mum to have a Manicure and Pedicure. Dad and I headed to the gym, where Dad had a massage and we both had a Sauna. We then headed back to the City Center mall and met up with Mum at Ruby Tuesday's for lunch, before returning to the apartment for a sleep as Mum and Dad had an early morning flight. We woke up about 19:30 and headed to TGI Friday's for dinner.

Mum and Dad left at 03:00 Wednesday morning, and me, well I went back to bed. I woke up at 11:30 and opted for a lazy day, chilling out on the sofa. Thursday morning Karan picked me up at 11:00 and I opted for another me day. I headed to the City Center mall where I had my first every manicure and pedicure. I then headed to the gym where I had a Balinese massage, and a sauna, before returning home for an afternoon nap. I woke up about 18:00 and Laurence and I headed to Italiano for dinner and a bottle of wine.

This morning I had another lay-in (Something to do with the bottle of wine) and headed to the Metropolitan Mall to do some shopping. I have had my eye on a pair of Bose headphones for a while now and finally took the plunge. They weren't cheap, but I figured I was owed a treat. So now I am back at the apartment. Karan is due to pick me up at 16:30 so I can goto the gym and then tonight I am off out with my team leaders for our monthly offsite team dinner.

Not sure what the plan is for the weekend yet, but it's warming up here now (28 Degrees) so am contemplating sitting by the pool at one of the hotels, but then it depends largely on alcohol consumption this evening.

Tags: Family, Relaxing, Shopping, Food, Gym

Okay so I have confirmed that I am not renewing my contract here beyond August and a number of people have asked me why, and have spent a lot of time convincing me to stay.

I could go into all the things I love about India, like the people, the Sun, the friendships I have made, but instead I am going to provide the two main reasons I have for returning.

Tags: Family

Okay so Thursday morning Mum was pretty rough. She had an awful night and couldn't keep anything down and was extremely dehydrated. We immediately decided that she needed to see a doctor and after a few phone calls I was advised the best thing was to take her to the MAX Hospital down the road from my apartment.

We arrived at the emergency department and Mum was seen by the doctor straight away and within a minute or two the decision was taken to admit her. Dad and I waited in the waiting room for about 10 minutes and then were guided to admissions to complete the paperwork. Once that was done we accompanied Mum up to her room where she was made comfortable.

After a hour or two Dad and I returned to the apartment for some lunch and packed a bag for Mum. We returned later that evening but she was still in a bad way. Friday Mum was still not feeling great allow she did look a little brighter but she hadn't had a very good night and the hospital isn't the quietest of places. The staff were taking good care of her and there wasn't much we could do so we headed into Delhi for a couple of hours and looked around the home of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. Friday evening Mum was looking and feeling a lot brighter and was ready to come home. the doctors however wanted to keep her in one more night.

Saturday morning we were there when the doctor did his morning rounds He was happy that Mum was on the mend and ordered one more set of tests before ordering the IV drip be removed. It was gong to be a couple more hours until they released her so Dad and I headed to the gym for a sauna, and then back to the apartment for lunch, via Galleria for provisions.

Mum was released about 3pm on Saturday and we all returned to the apartment and a relaxing evening and some home cooked plan food. Sunday morning Mum was back to her normal self but opted for one last quiet day.

Monday was back to work for me, so Karan picked me up from the office and then went off to sort out the brakes on the car, before returning to pick Mum and Dad up and take them shopping in Delhi. The rest of the week is a blur for me as it's been back to work with a vengeance, but Thursday morning after dropping me off at the office, Karan drove Mum & Dad to the domestic airport for a flight down to Goa and 7 days of Sun and relaxation. They are due back on the 14th so I will get Mum to let you all know via the blog how they got on!

For me it's a quiet weekend on the couch with a few cold beers.

Tags: Beer, Family, Sickness, Sightseeing