JaJaJeEv

We’re glad it’s not just us.

Even this morning’s Nashik Times bemoans the fact that it’s hotter than it ought to be. “The mercury is pushing 40°” as they scientifically explain. The lows this year are the same as the highs in previous years, and with at least 2-3 months to go until the relief of the monsoon, it could be a trial of stamina.

We’re so far managing without air-conditioning in our apartment. We have ceiling fans that helpfully circulate the warm air – but at least keep it ventilated.

The trick is to open the windows as soon as the outside air temperature drops below that inside (which is about 10pm) and then close them when it rises again (about 8am) – whilst trying to avoid having to listen to the wailing stray dogs and horn-tooting drivers in between. We’re becoming expert at this hysteresis.

But we’re holding up fine so far. The heat doesn’t seem to affect the kids at all. (Athletically running around caves after having climbed up a sun-parched mountain, above, for example).

Suffering most seems to be James’ computer. Apple clearly never test their equipment outside of pleasant air-conditioned offices. We need to have a huge desk fan pointed at the back of it to keep him productive, and even then its rubber feet have melted to the desk.

Ah! The joys of the Indian Summer.

The girls are slowly going native.

Evie’s gaining her Hindi teacher’s accent, Jayne’s wearing salwar kameez to work.

And now, matching hers’n'hers henna.

But this is no rebelliousness. In fact Evie is pleased now that she finally has hands like the rest of the girls in her class.

Now, if they could just do it in pink…

A couple of Saturdays ago we managed to grab the last of the harvests – in this case it was the die-hard Cabernet Sauvignon.

As both J and E were keen to find out what Mummy does exactly at Sula Vineyards besides drinking wine all day, I took them on a bite-sized tour. It started off with some grape crushing, a lot of tank fermenting, a bit of barrel ageing and sparkling wine production and finally the area they got very excited about – the bottling room.

They were captivated and I’m a proud Mum.  Maybe Sula should consider “The Sula Summer Camp” (age 4 – 94) by way of diversification…

These caves are a strenuous hike up one of the many steep mountains around Nashik.  Be warned – if you ever plan on visiting us Jex and Evie have already put these amazing series of architecturally excavated caves at the top of the list of things to show you.

Fortunately, there’s a very inviting waterpark at the bottom. Phew.

Our ‘Real Mango’ Cornflakes reveal something interesting about Indian culture. Whereas in the US or Europe, such marketing would be about your health, physical well-being, and probably an outdoors lifestyle, the spin here is very different.

After all, who wouldn’t want to eat a breakfast cereal that helps you think smarter and improve your mental abilities? Boost adults’ performance at work and their children’s at school?

Certainly not a society that considers educational success above all else as India’s does!