Author Archives: walkingonthrough

kcohS erutluC esreveR

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kcohS erutluC esreveR

Having not managed to blog during our time in India, thinking about some post return issues.

One of the issues which was highlighted at the training days and as we were getting ready to come home was “kcohS erutluC esreveR” . How would it affect us, what would we identify?

Landing at Heathrow, walking into the terminal, clean, quiet, but most overwhelming was the feeling of calm, which has still not left me; sitting in the passenger seat of the car driving back to Stafford, smooth roads, no horns, no (well little) undertaking, and the tranquillity of our green and pleasant land – everywhere looks finished not half built and being lived in.

Sat and talked for hours with Lynn, about all that has gone on, and catching up with what has happened while I was away. Facebook and Twitter, email all dealt with between trips to the loo! Throat is still sore, but getting better, and certainly not stopping me working, much to my boss’ relief.

Today is Tuesday 21st and life is getting back to normal, back to work this morning, to plough through 250 emails after throwing out the spam and in the pauses catching myself reflecting on an amazing trip away even with illness.

For me there has been little shock returning home so far, but how much of that was due to me having been to India before, and also Lynn being aware of my needs in those first few hours at home, having been out with CC a couple of years ago. Starting to pick up the threads of my life here, but at the moment do not want to allow it to get back to fever pitch where it was before we left. Reading other tweets and posts from all the team has certainly been a help as well – feeling we are still in touch. I hope all my new daughters and nieces are behaving!

As the last of the washing goes in, I know I won’t wash it out of me as easily as we wash it out of our clothes, a part of me will always be in Boys Town and Yellagiri. As one of the older lads said to me on Friday night “Thank you for good times” Les

Good Puddings – sorry Beaudesert

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Well three days on and I have almost caught up on sleep.

There are a number of thankyou’s I want to share:

Cathy, Rob, Isaac, thanks for having such an amazing vision and following through to actually make a difference for others, both here and in Chennai.

Cathy – thanks for the food – nom nom nom!

Then also thanks, or should that be apologies, to all my coworkers on the team this year who have put up with my warped sense of humour, and are still willing to go to India with me – WHY? Just think, Lynn married me and has had to put up with it for more than thirty years – she is a patient lady.

So what else? The weekend was amazing so much information – just feel really embarassed that I haven’t mastered even the most basic words in Tamil – will try harder! Working alonside you all has been great, and after the weekend I am getting excited about going!

We all have different gifts and working as a team we can do so much more than we can individually. We will all have good days and bad days, so those on a good day support those on a bad day – it will swap later!

Don’t bottle your feelings up, they will eat away inside you until you pop like a champagne cork – the champagne goes all over everyone – and its definitely not a blessing. Talk to someone either one of the leaders, or your mentor, get it in the light early, deal with it, then enjoy the next bit in peace. Do you remember any of the warning signs we talked about during the training in London? If you think I am pointing a finger, think of a hand pointing, one finger points forward, three point back toward me – I’m not good at this either, but I’m working at it.

Emma K – my partner in coffee – I am relying on you to feed my addiction – especially in the first few days!

Amy, thanks for giving me a rude comment back – I needed you to, we are working together on the project and I am not MRS Godden – your RE teacher at school! ;-)

Finally, 23rd June at Rising Brook Baptist Church – The Paul Poulton Project – Chennai Challenge Concert 7:30pm all welcome, Tickets are £5 or 2.50 for 12 and unders.

Les

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