The weather has finally cooled down from the endless summer onslaught. It's amazing how quickly it happens – one minute we are sweating profusely from the heat and humidity and then suddenly almost overnight in October the weather freshens and the temperature drops.. Out come the scarves, shawls and hats in the early mornings and evenings and the whirring of ceiling fans stop. However with the cooler weather ( now mid twenties) has come the smog. A mist has settled over the city made up of smoke from fires burning at night, fire ctackers from the continual festivals and weddings there are at this time of year and the general city pollution . Everywhere you go people are coughing ( us included)and spitting ( a disgusting habit !!!)
This time of year is wonderful though for walking in the parks and visiting the old tombs, towers, forts and mosques/ temples that are scattered around the city. Delhi is amazing for its old history which is evident in the most surprising of places. You can be just walking down a road or in a park or field and come across and old tomb sticking out of the undergrowth, totally neglected – a reminder of a vibrant history of powerful moghul kings and invading armies.Back in October some of us started a kids club at the church centre for street kids and poor kids living in the local area. The idea is to enable children just to have a time where they can play and be children as many of them have to work long hours and have no real childhood. . We provide painting, craft, skipping, lego, cars, books etc and we play group games, provide some hot food and watch a cartoon at the end. The club has proved so popular as word has spread around the community that we've had to do two different age groups with about 50 coming to each and with a waiting list for the groups. After Christmas I hope to start some English classes for the children at the clubs who can't read and write in English.. Through the clubs we're getting to know so many more of the local mums and dads which is brilliant.
