It seems that the amount of time I can spend retelling stories dwindles every week. I need a new approach. Rahat is here, which is so nice. She has spoiled us with beef jerky, white wine, chocilate, gifts from grandma Pat, hot cereal, helmets, olive oil, sesame oil, vitamins and so on. It is great. We are having a ton of fun. Hiking, and exploring. Tomorrow she is coming with mke on a field trip up Top Tibba to see a farm with the grade 12 class.

The past few weeks were excellent. Especially activity week where we went to a local village to learn about the real life in India. I will definately post more about this, but in the meantime, you can look at Jeanne's blog to get the picture.

Here are some photos that Roxy created on the computer. It is weirdly amazing how old I feel when I see her work away on the computer, saving and editing pieces using the paint program. SHe is getting good. As well, tooth number 2 is loose and hanging by a thread. You can see her new one coming in....but the babies are still hanging on.

Ganga. It was clean and cold. We stayed on a camp on the rivers edge. Didn't raft this time, but definately will next time we go. For those of you coming over here to visit, it is a definate must and on the way to Mussoorie. It is called Himalayan River Runners. And they have an amazing retreat down the river as well. We had a very relaxing time. Swam, slept, ate and drank beer. I think all of us needed to swim. Here is our view down the river.

Some of the tents along the beach.

Hanging out by the water.

Daddy and the girls rock hopping.

Swimming

Before going to the Ganga, we were in Rishikesh, and Roxy learned to cross her eyes.

And discovered a scull. This is her finding the scull. At first we really thought...oh dear...a baby's head. But then after further investigation it revealed itself to be a monkey skull. We were exploring a monsoon river bed and also found its spine, fur and broken leg. It was clean as a whistle.

Roxy noted that it had lost the same tooth that she is losing. Any day now, we keep saying. I think it has been loose since March or something. Also, the girls learned that if you don't brush your teeth...you can still get coffee stains.

I almost took it. But my better half advised that since we didn't have a bag, and monkeys tend to be sacred, that it wouldn't look so good walking around with it. I still regret it. Saley would have loved to opened that in the mail one day. I should have scooped it. Maybe one day, it is now in a good hiding place.

The view from our tent.

And here we have our visit to Fun Valley water park. Apparently there is another "better" park called Food and Fun. But we ended up here. They checked my bathing suit at the door and said that it would not do. "It is my wish that you would please wear a swimming costume." I say, "no I am fine" The man says, "You do not know Indian men. It is for your own comfort". Well, that was a rude generalisation. Not all Indian men like to stare at women's legs. Especially mine! And who cares. Although, it would be really disrepectful if I didn't. I can understand that part. So I had no choice...I rented the suit and swam in style. There were about 5 others in the park!

And this is where they were. Dancing.

Steve cruised down one of these slides super fast.

Asha lurking in the wave pool.

The wave pool.

This weekend we are resting and enjoying the amazing weather. Roxana had an appointment at the hospital this morning to get a cortisone shot in her knee. It turns out the aneasthetist volunteering at the hospital is Canadian, grew up in Burlington, did a two week stint at Joseph Brant Hospital, and has lived overseas on and off since. Whew were we happy. She was put to sleep with the mask, and then given two shots in her knee. It is wrapped up like a cast fo two days, so hopefully this will work, and no more medicine. Other than that, no new news. Rahat comes in three weeks. Happy Thanksgiving!

Mint Mischief

My favorite chips are Mint Mischief.

The past few weeks have been busy. Marks, report cards, fair weather day, two long hikes up two great local peaks (Top Tibba and Pepperpot mountain, Led Zepplin night, board meetings, Jackie thinking that Steve was gone missing for a day (more on that later), steve teaching art, an invitation to our first Hindu wedding (Oulmilla's daughter), a day trip to Kempty Falls, learning to cook again, a day in Dehradun at the doctor for Rox, and a week long cry. It's a wonder why they call me a teacher. Anyway, 10 pounds later, I am pretty wiped. I think that my body is craving red meat. I think of it all the time. Especially when I am yawning not stop. I must need more iron. I am having a great time...don't get me wrong...but I always feel exhausted. It must also have something to do with the lazy life I had at home. I don't think that I can live like that again. I was so fat.

Quarter break is next week. I think we are going to Rishikesh for a few nights and then take the girls to Fun Valley for a day. Check it out: http://www.thefunvalley.co.in/.

Rahat is coming on November 1st...I can't wait...and I think that Sara and Loo are booking tix to come in April.

Pictures to come. If you want more and a good laugh, check out Jeanne's blog. It's on the right menu.

This week was the annual Woodstock cross country run. Which is really along the Tehri road through the campus. Roxana was definately NOT going to run. All week, she complained about her knee and worked as a helper for Mrs. Cooke while others practiced. Oh dear. Steve and I talked and talked to her about just running or even walking to complete the run. She wasn't into it. Asha on the other hand was full of excitement. She came pouncing onto our bed on Tuesday morning and announced "The race is tomorrow! I am going to win!". Mrs. Cooke told me later that she had been winning the races in practice. Just perfect for her ego. (The race by the way is about 50 meters long) So Wednesday came, and the race was scheduled for 10:30 am. Roxy 's knee had been feeling better all week and the swelling gone down.

Asha and Roxy and I had some practice races in the morning on the way to school. Roxy of course was pleased to be the winner, and Asha satisfied with second. It was looking more and more like Roxy was going to run. Race time came, and Steve was there. He took some pics of the event. So damn cute. Here they are...




Roxy won, Mohima in second and Ashie in third. the girls were very pleased with their performance and have spent the last two days in the best moods ever! Nothing like a little confidence booster, even if they are the biggest kids in the class! Roxana later confessed that she simply didn't want people to watch her. Wonder who she takes after!?

Flag Hill and Rajpur

Hi there...this blog is taking acceptionally long to make. The picture part I haven't mastered yet. Anyway, here are some shots of the path from/to our house...again...

notice the sun...

Here I am, admiring the girls new artwork above their beds.

Here is Chris, who may or may not buy this Royal Enfield. Katie, this one is for you. Especially note the sari step in the next picture ...for comfortable riding.



This one is for all the kids out there who have been following the bugs. This caterpillar is about 4 inches long. And 3/4 inch thick.

creepy camo


Here is the latest house spider we caught in Maija's kitchen. They are so fast. The next one I caught was in our bedroom. Roxy had fallen asleep and there was "Heart", the girls fond name for it, right above her head. So I tried to catch her, but she lost a few legs. oops.
This one is Rover 4.

Roxy in the woods on Flag Hill

Flag Hill

Last week we went to Flag Hill for my Grade 11 and 12 classes. It was great: we sketched and listened to our local expert and good friend Darab tell us everything about the local fauna. There really isn't anything that grows that isn't of some use traditionally or even commercially. It's pretty amazing.

The first day we hiked it was clear as can be. We could see the white capped snow peaks beyond Bear Hill and Pepperpot. The next day was completely fogged over, but we had chai and the girls and Steve came along for the hike. I think overall that the kids were pretty happy to get outside of the class. It is so easy to organise the outings, so I hope to get out with them every other week.




On the way up.




















Here comes the family!

"It's Mr. Pye!"
















Blue Pine












Kyle lighting the stove.

Hike to Rajpur

Above is Jeanne hiking down. Below is ...well...not really sure. No one was brave enough to peek. I think its Jeanne resting.

This past weekend Steve went with a gang on a day long journey from the Tehri road all the way down down down almost to Dehra Dun. Some of the pics above are from Rajpur where the hike ended and a bus was taken back up to the school.

And last but not least...a new outfit! And crimped hair. You will notice that we bought a TV. I know I know. But I am excited for it to get hooked up. We do get the newspaper everyday, but I can't wait to be able to watch late night news and movies. Roxy's arthritis flared up in the monsoon. She is OK and it seems to be getting better. It is more than likely that it is just monsoon dampness. Asha is loud as can be. But I have to say, she is really growing up.

As of today, I have been here for exactly 6 weeks: in Mussoorie at school. I say I because Steve has had some excursions to Dehra Dun on his own. I suppose the kids have been in one spot alos...but that is besides the point. As the sixth week has approached and almost gone, I don't feel the six week sadness that I have been warned about per se. (Although I did cry after I spoke with mom and Rahat) but I do feel a tiny bit of cabin fever. It is so ironic since we are in the most beautiful countryside in India (I would argue). But even though the monsoon has its own beauty...it does grow tiresome. One more month I am told. Leaving Mussoorie and heading down the hill isn't even super interesting to me...because it means I would be in one big hot city, and that's no fun. So I am tempted to wait it out right here, and then once the monsoon goes I am going to hike all over the mountains. I have been spending the past month researching and looking at all the treks from here. Next summer, I think we will have to spend 6 weeks exploring more and the surrounding Himalaya up closer toward Tibet. Anyway, that took way more energy than I thought. I am sure youc an tell, I am not really into writing. Next time I wm only going to write when there is really something to talk about. As Tanya would say...

Love and Laughter!