Apologies for the delay in posting this, the next instalment. I have been busy sorting out the next chapter in my dads life. He is moving into a care home as his dementia is getting worse. Also I have been busy getting ready for my next trip to India in a couple of weeks, I'm off to Rajasthan with a 19 strong team of volunteers.
Day Three Monday.
Hard day today, Started by visiting the 3 homes under construction and meeting the families (home owners). The team is fired up and ready to start. Keep an eye on Mitchel a previous team leader who says he is happy to take a back seat this time, (I'm not so sure).
The whole team are working on one house, Shift and sift sand and transport (carry) concrete blocks from the road to the site. Calculated by steps to be 150 mtrs each way. Lost count of the number of trips I made. Because of the weight of the blocks, we divided the labour with the girls shifting and sifting and the guys hauling blocks. It was a hot, humid and hard day to say the least.
My main man Jim, Jim has worked with me on several more projects since this one and that's not a cigarette, it's a plastic holder he chewed as he was trying to give up smoking. 
Not a good start for the team actually as I would have liked to break them in gently but that was not to be. Plenty of water breaks and lunch kept them going. The team did a superb job without a single complaint. Mitchell was not looking so good, I kept an eye on him to make sure he didn't over do it. The heat and work load was getting to him. His son is on the team and I wonder if he is trying to impress him, I hope not. Note to myself to keep an eye on him.
The bus journey to and from the site is something to behold. I sat sideways at the front next to the driver. The windscreen was 18" from my left shoulder. The driving condition and roads are appalling. You will just have to see the pictures to appreciate it. Risk assessment nightmare. Apparently last month it became a legal requirement to wear a crash helmet. Out of the hundreds of bikes vying for position on the road, I saw about 2 helmets. I am also told that they buy their licence not take the official test. It shows, I don't think anyone has ever taken a test.
The team were fine over dinner and drinks. Team meeting was OK. They thought the days work was a bit hard for the first day but realised it was work that needed to be done. Not much feedback at this time. I'm sure it will come.
Day 4 Tuesday
I have delegated team leadership to Mitchell for the morning as I have to go to the airport to collect Leslie. Up at 5:30 in reception to meet the taxi at 06:00 after much chasing and excuses it arrived at 06:45. I was told he was filling up with diesel which was a partial excuse for his lateness. When I got in he didn't even know what the job was and then we stopped to fill up with petrol. I told him that we were late and make it fast. He took me to my word, you would think James Bond had leapt into his cab and said airport quick as you can. We got to the airport in time, just, but a great drive, I wish I had had a video pointing out the front of the car.
Collected Leslie and took a slower drive back but no less exciting. Leslie who has never been outside Ireland and the UK sat with her mouth open all the way. Too scared to close her eyes. She is now safely deposited in her room and we shall meet for lunch before heading out to the site. She wants to get stuck in as soon as possible. Brave girl, or is that daft girl?
After lunch I took Leslie to the work site. Work had progressed well in my absence. Blocks had started to be laid at the first house. This perked the team up a bit, they were getting a little despondent with the work load. Throughout the afternoon things went well although I think I was quite tired having been up since 05:30.
At the hotel I had arranged for dinner to be served in a small section of the roof garden. This allowed those who wished to take their beer to the table to do so. This is not allowed in the family restaurant area. Again this pleased the team. I say this because I have a couple of members who I think are not to happy with what they have signed up for, even though one of them has attended a number of previous builds. I feel that the work is too hard for him and am therefore keeping a close eye on him.
Day 5 Wednesday.
People are happier today because they can see the house coming together. All the hard work is paying off. Health and safety is no problem (yet) but we have had a few blisters to deal with. We have not started on the 3rd house as we are waiting on materials. The number 2 house is close to the road and attracts more attention from the children and the passers by. They have never seen the likes of us before. The woman find it strange that we have female team members working alongside men. Number one house is racing ahead although the work has been long and hard on this one you can really see it taking shape. Whilst I get my hands dirty and sweat as much as everyone else, I am flitting from one place to another to make sure we have enough material in the right place and enough work to keep everyone happy. Not an easy task.
Titus is my HfH contact. He took over from Mcloud. Unfortunately his English is not that great. But we just about get by even if the first answer is yes followed by no or visa versa. The family of the first house are currently living with the wife's family and have one son. I love this country, thought I'd just let you know that as it flashed into my head just at this moment. If I could work out here for six months a year I would do it like a shot.
In the evening we went shopping. Well maybe not so much shopping as one stop at a tranclimentarier shop (trinkets and junk for the mantle shelf) and then onto a supermarket. I must say that the "cake world" shop was great. I tasted most of the nibbles for want of a better word. Leaves deep fried in spices (bought some) curry coated cashew nuts (bought some) nuts with something else on them that tasted great (bought some) had to stop then or I would have had the lot.
Titus and I arranged for the team to eat in the restaurant above the supermarket. Whilst the team were shopping we went upstairs and ordered a set meal so that we didn't get the usual ordering problems when you have thirteen people at one table. It worked fairly well, we just kept on ordering replacements as the dishes became empty. The team thought it was great, except one who thought he should have been able to order his own. I let them order individual sweets. Cock up, I rest my case. The bill was extortionate. 13 meals 3 courses plus extras. £20:00.(thats for the lot, not just one meal, amazing value) Suitably refreshed we headed back to the hotel.
Day 6 Thursday
The day started well, everyone on block laying, pointing and handing up blocks etc. The digging was over for now. Split the team into two between homes one and two. Still not on 3 yet although the home owner is there every hour to see when we are coming.
At lunch one of the team wanted to make a point that he thought the number one family were unappreciative of our attendance, they didn't smile and thought that they may have felt that we were a hindrance instead of a help. Although these guys are going flat out (not very fast by our standards but then this is India) to have the roof on by next Wednesday. That will be some achievement if we can do it. The dissenter was joined by another in complaining. In fact she really got of on one. She thought they were ungrateful and didn't want to go on another HFH trip if this was how we were treated by the home owners. The team from house 2 expressed the complete opposite. No problem, all in a days work. I had a chat with Titus and we then went and spoke to the home owner and the mason. Half an hour later and both dissenters were happy as Larry. Order restored.
After the afternoon tea break Titus and I went to assess the third site as materials had arrived. Needless to say I will be the bad boy tomorrow when I tell the team that there is more shifting of blocks and sand to be carried out. I have already lined up two willing members so only need to find one more.
I have arranged dinner in the side bar tonight so drinks at the table, that should keep them happy. Team meeting at 7:15 that should be interesting.
As team leader I have not had the interaction with the families as much as I have on previous trips but from the time I have spent with them, They are such lovely people who are desperate to achieve. They are a proud people. The kids love having their picture taken as do the mothers. It really does make you reflect on the life we as westerners make for ourselves.
I don't think I have sweated or ached as much in my life, even digging that hole in Sri Lanka didn't compare to the work, heat and humidity here. But I love it.
There is an Indian wedding going on in the hotel and the music sounds total Bollywood. Must try to get in and listen if I can. Rajesh (bus driver) played a Bollywood DVD in the bus yesterday on the way home. I couldn't see it as I was in the front but it sounded great and the team loved it.
Found that young Geoffrey and I have similar music tastes. Rajesh is going to procure some music dvd's for us. Cant wait, they are so camp it's brilliant.
Latest request from the team is an 05:30 start on Saturday so they can see the sunrise. Also 6 tuc tucs' for a trip around town. I will see what I can do. I'm off for the team meeting and dinner. More to follow.
Day 7 Friday.
What can I say, it rained. Everyone was in good spirits and worked through the rain. Needless to say we got soaked. We didn't get to work on smiley dudes place (home 3) as the rain had made it too dangerous to shift material over the distance required. He was not a smiley dude today. Perked up a bit when we said we would be back on Monday. The team split into two with one moving sand across to cover on the second home so that they did not loose it in the rain (expensive stuff, sand) The other half moved timber, blocks and rock down to the first home. Although it was raining we kept on smiling..
After lunch we called it a day and returned to the hotel. Back on the bus at 3:30 to visit the satellite (affiliate as was). We all sat in front of his desk like naughty school children in front of the headmaster. His English was better than Titus but he spoke so loud and fast I had a job to pick up on it all. Got most of it. He was an angry man with a gripe to air. Made a note to speak to Titus on the way back. After the pleasantries and many pictures taken with Mr John front and centre beaming, we headed back to the hotel.
On the way I questioned Titus, It would appear, to cut a long story short, that Mr John has been demoted from an affiliate to a satellite. He used to arrange all the team visits and R&R. This is now done by the main Habitat office in India and Mr John is a little aggrieved at this, and boy did he let us know. Titus who works for the main office was cringing in his seat, but we had a good laugh about it on the way back.
The weekend is here and we will be having a bit of R&R. Some are going to see the sun rise if there is one at 5:30 in the morning. I shall pass on that one.
Day 8 Saturday.
I skipped the 05:30 sun rise. Apparently it did rise but with a little cloud cover, not worth the early start was the consensus. Good for people watching apparently there were hundreds there with music blaring. Somehow I wish I had gone just for that. (I love t he music)
This is what it should have looked like
10:00am we met in the lobby and headed off in tuc tuc's that I had arranged earlier to the town. A little shopping, one store, not large by English standards, 330 staff. You purchase your item having been served by at least 4 staff and get a ticket, take it to the man over there who records the sale and gives you another ticket, you then take that to the other guy over there. He takes your money and gives you another ticket which you take the other guy who wraps your purchase for you. But for each other guy there are 4 guys and the item only cost £1.50.
Walked back to the hotel, Anna-bell stopped to do more deals on her phone replacement. Oh yes forgot to mention, Anna-bell dropped her phone down the toilet on site, not a pretty place. She proceeded to put her hand down the toilet to retrieve it. She managed to get it back along with a few things she didn't really want (too much information I know) but she has managed to get a new phone and transfer her sim card. But to watch her barter for the cost was something else.
Time to catch up on paperwork for me, swim for others although I found out latter that the pool was not open. Lunch and then off on R&R to the palace and the hanging bridge. The palace (Padmanabhapuram Palace) look it up on wikipedia.org if you are interested, was just so good. Great guide, brilliant architecture such history. Also a festival day for the god with a face of the elephant (Ganesha). The music was blasting out wherever we went. The team are having a good time.
Then we went to the hanging bridge, look it up if interested (worth it) built in 1969 a viaduct carrying water across the valley to villages on the other side. Such stunning views. The route to the bridge took us past a previously built Habitat house. Stopped briefly for pictures.
See people do live in them after we leave. The villages we passed through on the way gave a real feel for the place. Words fail me, the culture, the poverty, the resilience of the people. Why are we so wrapped up in our own problems, our own world. Some of these people have never been further than the next village in their lives. They look at us white folk in amazement, the children have never seen a white face in their lives. It is such a picture I can't explain.
Back to the hotel and dinner. Total vegetarian meal tonight at the request of the team. They loved it, bar one, best meal yet, may get some converts.
In the bar after the meal I was confronted by a disgruntled team member who thought we (Habitat) were not helping the really poor. Only helping the middle class poor. He has a lot to learn. I tried to explain the ethos of Habitat and how it works. How by getting the home owners to repay an interest free mortgage of 30% of the cost of their home, Habitat can afford to lend more money to more families to help them into decent homes. (revolving fund).
I don't think Mr John did us any favours with his little outburst yesterday. I don't think he (disgruntled team member) could see the point. I feel he wanted to help the destitute which is not what we are here for. I tried my best to explain but I fear he missed the point and misunderstood the concept, sad really because he is one of the best workers on the team. I can only hope he survives the following week. I feel I could have done more, or explained better, I don't want to loose him as I believe his heart is in the right place.
If I let him go home with his current thoughts, he will not be a good ambassador for Habitat and I would have failed. I will have to bring this up at the next team meeting as he feels he is not alone in his thoughts and feelings. Just my cup of tea. I love dissension in the ranks. Lets see if I can send him home with a better understanding of what Habitat is about and why he is here. Money on it, he will be back. What an end to a good day. Not so for Geoffrey, he is not feeling to good again.
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