31 March 2008

Today was a late start. It was 11am before we got to the office. Yay, there was my favourite couch waiting for me. Smiling for a bum to come sit on it. And, … wait. (I’m starting to get used to it now) We had another look at the lab. Things had changed, a little. There were a few more bulbs in sockets; some of the painting looks finished; there are more glass panels. Not sure how they are going to clean up after themselves. There’s paint splashes everywhere and the floor is covered in plaster droppings.
We went to Khilandeep’s house for lunch. It was lovely to see his wife and mother again. His mother came in after we arrived. She had been to a kitty gathering. We keep seeing this word kitty all over the place, especially in hotels. Sue discovered that wives and mothers put money together over a period and one of the wives chooses a venue and organises a party or gathering. Today his mum was at a party playing housey and gossiping. (That’s Khilandeep’s words)
After lunch we visited another agent and showed them the programme we are promoting. I think the councillors were interested but the manager seemed to be interested in stealing the concept from Khilandeep rather than cooperating with him. At the conclusion of the meeting, we were driven back to the hotel by the manager and one of his councillors. You don’t want to be a nervous passenger over here. This guy was driving like a madman.
Later in the evening Sue and I went for a walk. We tried to retrace our steps back to the office. I think we got most of the way there. It was getting a bit dark so we chose to come back. We saw some really fancy houses along the route. Its interesting that you see these houses right next to broken down wrecks and rubble. We went into a few shops. Its really unusual being the subject of attention as you walk around. You get the impression that you are wearing a neon sign on your head flashing bright red or something. I suppose it shouldn’t be so surprising. In most of the tourist books on India they say that Ludhiana has nothing to offer a sightseer.