Shanthi Street Kids.

iwanttogoback

nick, nick, nick - do you have any idea how that sounds?

shanthi - great news. good to see you can stick your head in the door and say hello ocasionally.

Nick-H

There's a very expensive one coming from UK

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

shanthi

Saturday just passes, and we moved into our house!...it took only two trips and we were installed.....kind of! In a dream-like state, I thought we had been reansported to Mumbai central station asb all the world and his wife were also in residence! We shoved everything into the kitchen, including Tony whilst the painters, electricians, carpenters, (who had of course all completed their work the previous evening (!!!) completed their work~! 5 hours later after the if-you-open-it-please-close-the door-because-the-mosquito's-are-coming-in-in-droves syndrome had finished and the house was crawling with everything that crawled and flew we were left in peace and a very sleepy little Tony was seen to be nodding off on his potty - then I realised that the promised beds had not been delivered............Hmmm.Call ed the shop and they promised to get them there right away. They did.....except...they were not the ordered and paid for beds. They had sent us some put-you-up's, or Z beds, which were not really very good quality. OK for Tony, but for me and my size????!!! Oh well, we would put up with them until the right beds came! Back into the kitchen to find my son half on, half off his chair...sound asleep. I woke him gently and took him to his bedroom where upon seeing his new "bed" found a new spurt of energy and that was that until about 11pm. Oh well, I wasn't THAT tired, was I !Sunday morning arrived and the sun shined gently down upo0n my son who kept saying over and over "Mummy and Tony's New House!!" and Mummy?, Tony very really happy"! Peace and tranquility reigned....until 8.am. Visiotrs in the shape of an old friend from Dharmapuri came in the shape of Siva and his son. After many cuddles and kisses his son went into Tony's bedroom to play while Siva and I tried to make some kind of order out of the mess in the kitchen. Now, lads and lassies, I have noting whatsoever bad to say about the male of the species in India at all, but Oh how i wish he would have stayed away from unpacking!!!Whlst Siva was busy peeling labels stuck fast on stainless steel cups and saucepansd etc.. I finished what I was doing (arranging and filling coffee, tea, sugar containerrs etc...) and took some jiuce to the boys. On returning to the kitchen all my containers had dissappeared. "What the.,...?" "Oh SHa thi, they are better here....." exclaimed Siva! "No, really, Siva I want them here - that's why I put them there !" "Oh ok, if you want, but i think they are better here......" After this he began putting foodstuffs on the shelves....."Um Siva, I'd like all of these things to go over here, and first they must go into conatinetrs....you know, because of bugs and stuff...." "Oh no Shanthi, they are better here......" Grrrrr,Now, I forgot to mention that when the deliverymen delivered, or should I say literally DROPPED off the refridgerator, I was wise enough (not a normal happening I assure you!) to know that I shouldleave the thing sit for a good while before plugging in.Back in the kitchen. Now, I thought i would wash the vegetables a little bit and then put them in little cotton bags specially bought for the purpose, and I started looking amongst the things still littering the floor. "Hmm...Uh, Siva, you wouldn't have happened tpo have seen the vegetables, would you?" "Oh yes Shanthi, they are inside in the fridge"....UH, ok, Siva, but I wll bring them back in here if you don't mind. (The fridghe being in Tony's bedroom) I opened the fridge door and low and behold he had not been telling a porky pie at all. Every potatoe, tomatoe, onion, apple, banana, garlic bulb etc.. were neatly, if somewhat precariously piled on top of each other adorning the shelves - not in bags, just....on the shelves. The fridge was also duly turned on. Turning it off and gathering the veggies I went back to the kitchen. "Siva, please leave the frisge off, as it must rest from being delivered, the gas must settle!" "Shanthi, this is India, the fridge is not gas, it is electric, we have very good technology here you know!" and then he was leading me by the arm to my bedroom....."What the.....Siva where are you taking me???" You need rest Shanthi, dont worry I will finish everything"... "No, Siva, the fridge needs rest, not me"!!Back in the kitchen...."where did I leave my shampoo? - oh yes, you put it with the juice bottles, yes I understand it looks better there, and, em, the cornflakes, Oh aha, I see them, over there with the washing powder, Hmm""Um, SIva, will you be staying for lunch?, No?, WHAT a pity!!!. YES! you MUST come again, soon!"Peace again in the Shanti household, now I must have a bodywash.....but, what IS this brown stuff on the soap wrapper? and what HAS he used my bath sponge for?.......no, surely not......couldn't have...could he?FOOTNOTE: Just a little amusing thing to end with. Whilst I was scrubbing the dirty paintwork all ver the house yesterday evening my son , for no apparant reason began laughing uncontrolably. "WHY?" I asked him"OOOOOH mummy's bum is dancing!!!" he shrieked, pertaining of course to my large rump wobbling with the scrubbing motion......Hmmm, NO respect!!

shanthi

Oh boy! What a problem I’m having trying to post on IM !! Either I’m constantly logged out (for some reason) or after typing everything and clicked post message, the whole lot disappears, never to be seen again….gone the way of all errant things! (like me)

So, here’s a shortened version of the previous two I’d typed (that disappeared).

We moved into the house a week ago now, and even though the workmen had completed their work, they took five days completing their work! Beds delivered are kinda falling apart but the refrigerator that was dropped off, literally, is working a treat!

Friend Siva, that arrived last Sunday morning with his son and who completely re-arranged my kitchen is coming again tomorrow ….I WILL have to ask him what happened to the toothpaste, Savlon, washing powder and ground coffee……still looking for it!

My son was found to be laughing uncontrollably just before we came out,( venturing along the high street is a feat some days with the deluge we’ve been having – anyone got a boat?) - oh yes, the laughing….I had been scrubbing the dirty paintwork and he almost literally fell off his chair – so I asked him what was so funny? This was his answer:
“Mummy’s bum is dancing!” – of course this was pertaining to my fat ‘ol rump which was jiggling about with the scrubbing of the paintwork – Hmm, NO respect!

The Bus stand is worse than it was a week ago and kids are just not gathering there as usual so trying to find them to give a little food is proving difficult. BUT we are finding kids every day and giving some kind of nutrition to those that will accept it. I’ve sadly been offered three children to take care of altogether, but with the present circumstances, i.e. a not-so-wonderful-landlord, and a couple of other things I can’t possibly take them in permanently as yet. I’m working closely with some really lovely Sisters in Krishnagiri and often go to them with questions which they graciously help me with. They’re trying to locate a lease/purchase house that has a minimum of 8 rooms which will then allow me to take little ones like those I’ve been asked to take already.

Tony is Tony and is the absolute light of my life……to have a small, helpless little human being totally dependant upon you in every respect is an awesome thing – to know that his little heart is filled with love for you too, is an absolute privilege and wonder – I can’t believe that life has been this good to me to give me such gifts.

I’d like to apologise to everyone who’s sent me PM’s and whom I have not been able to answer. This is not because I couldn’t be bothered to take the time, it’s because Internet access is very difficult indeed. I’, hoping to get that sorted and need someone who is in Bangalore to ask at the RIM shop there if it’s possible for a COMPAQ EVO Notebook to use an R-CONNECT from RIM. This isn’t the phone/Internet connection it’s the little gadget like vodafone’s thingy that you can slip into the side of the laptop and has a little antenna that pokes out – and I ned to find out if I can get one sent to Krishnagiri , with the 1100/- charge monthly (I think it’s called platignum charge, or something else like that – and I also apologise for my total lack of explaining computer geek stuff properly!!)

Lots of love to you all - if anyone wants my cellphone number or private email address (for those that are visiting this area and those I've said I would give it to and have not had the opportunity) please PM and I'll get it to you asap)

Casey

Thanks for the update. While it must be heartbreaking to have to turn away some, the difference you must be making to Tony must be tremendous. As I stated earlier, you are truly inspiring, and proof that if one chooses to, one can make a difference!

shanthi

Hai, Auntie, or Shanthi resounds every now and then as we pass by during our casual walk around Krishnagiri each morning…and radiant smiles on bright little faces from shabbily dressed kids. One nice surprise comes in the form of Sameer. A child of about 11 years, who collects paper and rage from shop owners, had yesterday asked me for the price of a haircut. He knows I normally don’t give out money at all. Low and behold a close cut Sameer is proudly showing off his new hairstyle. What a lovely surprise indeed. He has come to know me a little bit in the past few weeks and doesn’t really “try it on” too much any more. In fact, he has endeared himself to me in many ways. In his eyes I see a terrible longing to be loved – he knows I know, but neither of us can do a darn thing about it at present. I can hear Sameer in my dreams sometimes, singing the melodious song of the Artful Dodger in “Oliver Twist”…..You gotta pick a pocket or two…..”

Sameer, Rahim, Anil, Anisha and Suresh accompany us on our walk to the food wagon near the post office, all telling me, via Tony, that they’d rather have the rupees than the food, but knowing I wont agree to that, all eating hungrily while shaking their heads at the offer of seconds and accepting the “next course”

As I turn to give Tony some fruit a new face stares back at me. I simply buy some food and place it in his hand. His name sounds like Sambi (he delivers teas and coffees to the market stall holders and is about 9 years old) He refuses the food initially, but Sameer encourages him and he eats.

We sit by the Auto stop and Sameer and Tony take centre stage. Pretty soon a crowd of about 28 people have gathered and the kids are making them all laugh. The air around us gets a little stifling. Now at 12,45 it is time to think about packing up and leaving….again. I give out candies and start to walk away. This is the moment I detest. Some hang on to the pushchair, talking to Tony…asking if we’ll be back tomorrow, some just calling out to delay the inevitable. But it’s the eyes that get you, the looking back as they’re walking away,.I never feel empty when we get home, I simply feel a terrible ache and when I do pray, and these kids are foremost in the prayer. Yes, they survived before I arrived on the scene and yes they would survive if I were to leave the area. But that’s not the point is it? I’ve traveled to many countries on this sometimes Godforsaken planet but the faces on the slum children of India are faces that haunt me 24 hours a day.

In case we don’t have the time, or the Internet is behaving badly, I really want to wish all my friends here a wonderful Christmas time. May you all have what you hearts need, and may friendships blossom and thrive. From the depths of Krishnagiri, in Tamil Nadu,

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

And loads of love to you all…..

Shanthi and Tony

somnath

Hi Santhi,
Nice to hear from you once again. Have a nice time there and plan for Christmas with new friends.

Nick-H

Thank you Shanthi; good wishes in return to you and yours, and all the best for a great New Year

Saw a story in the paper: a cop has resued a girl from a life of abuse by her family. He wants to adopt her. He isn't allowed to, in Indian law, because she is from a Hindu family and he is a moslem . This dates back to hard-line-moslem politicians who would never have allowed the bill permitting adoption at all to become law without the exclusion. Only in India, perhaps?

This is not an anti-muslim post, although I have no time for those who still, apparently, support this --- there are Muslims as well as non-muslims asking for this law to be changed.

The girl just wants to stay with her 'uncle'. It seems he may be able to be a foster parent. Better than nothing, but it does not give her the security and protection from her bad family.

manojb

There is guardianship/wardship, which is not the same as adoption, but should do until somebody gets around to having a Uniform Civil Code (read never).

shanthi

Lost about 80% of my kids to Bangalore and Chennai for the Christmas season unfortunately - that's where they go for richer pickings at this time of year!! If I'd been able to ahve offered them Night Shelter and more permanence of course this wouldn't have had to happen.....so here's hoping that this Blessed New Year brings the hope to many who need it here.
Now, Christmas hasnt been quite like this for a while now....I had three residents (only told the landlord about one of them as the other two were very quiet Thank God!) iT WAS such A WONDERFUL TIME THAT i CAN'T REALLY BEGIN TO TELL YOU ALL! tHE NIGHT BEFORE cHRISTMAS WE HAD THE LIGHTS OUT EXCEPT FOR THE LIGHTS ON THE TREE AND ONE HUGE CANDLE. wE HAD cHRISTMAS JUICE i MADE AND COOKIES (please do excuse the capitals...this keyboard it seems, has a mind all of it's own and is not responding properly). I used the little plaster Crib set to tell, in a very plain and simple languiage, the story of the First Christmas. Little eyes wide aglow in the candlelight - Tony translating and the other two sitting there mouths agog! Let them open one gift each before going to bed.

Christmas morning came and little hands and feet were getting into everything that didnt move and the living room was a wonderfully messy place. By lunchtime the blow-up swimming pool was inflated and the swing was hung....and "Bob the Builder" and "Alice in Wonderland" VCD's had been played....and played.....and played.....

We all went up into the places where we look for our kids....knowing that most were not there but hoping to find anyone others needing a meal or some company, and found six children wanding around very dirty. We all sat on the curb outside the medical shop and ate our lunch, gave out some candy and went back to the house.....whereupon, Bob and Alice were played and played and played.........again and again and again....

We havent found a new premises yet, but have given out some flyers and have a few people looking out for us.

Tony has begun school today, he is in UKG and looked very smart in his uniform....and oh so little and lost when I left him in class with an ayah. He asked me not to go....I told him I would have to go. He said "I will cry!" and I said "No you won't!". I turned tail and hobbled out of the gates....crying! ;-( Oh well, it's only half a day until June ;-)

So dear friends, I wish you all a very happy new year 2006 and may your god grant you all that your hearts need!

..............AND if I ever hear the title song to Bob the builder, or "painting the roses red.." from Alice AGAIN, I WILL SCREAM!!!!!

Nick-H

Happy New Year to you all

Dave&Jewel

So dear friends, I wish you all a very happy new year 2006 and may your god grant you all that your hearts need!

....and the same to you Shanthi, you are one very special lady!

__________________
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars

shanthi

First and foremost, HAPPY PONGAL TO ALL! Attended the local cow race yesterday and after securing a position on someones rooftop (the safest place to be I assure you) we had a great time. Got a call from the local Police superintendant just after noon and was asked to go to the Station. Three children were made orphans on Wednesday when both parents took poison. Good God, you should have seen the poor kids. 17yrs, 13yrs and 9 yrs. So, until the police find them a permanent place, two of them are now staying with us, at least for a few days I believe. It's very dificult, but I'm finding out through Tony what their fav foods are and sending a local auto driver out to buy it.

On another note, we sem to have acquired two puppies, one is about six months and the other about 6 weeks. I'd forgotten how much puppies like to empty their little bowels and took no notice of the newspaper put there for the purpose of catching it..! Trying like mad to find homes for at least one of them, (the smaller of the two) as really cant cope too well with a house full of children AND two puppies (whats the diference.....Hmmm!!)

Joking apart, life is good, Pongal is noisey and colourful, and......yes, life IS good.
Love to all, hoping you are all ok, sorry I dont get to post much but hoping that will be sorted out soon. Miss "talking" to you all very much.

God bless

sudheer poppa

Great to hear from you Shanthi.... Could you give directions on how to reach your place from Bangalore ? We may try to do an adventure trip and hence, any directions would be welcome.. And if posted here, it would be great for other IM'rs planning a visit as well.

__________________
We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools - MLK

Pic Page 1
Pic Page 2
When my life changed over a week

john.sw

Krishnagiri is on the main North-South Corridor road - the NH7 - about 90km (56 miles) from Bangalore.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
www.nilgiris.asia your guide to the Nilgiris, Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Gudalur