Thank Goodness for Mashed Potatoes!

Watermelon Stall on the Roadside

In order for Sandeep to collect his car from the smash repairers, he had to show the registration papers, which had been issued in Nizamabad, and were still with the agent there. So at 3:30am he caught the bus all the 180km, all the way to Nizamabad. They would not give these papers to his father to bring to Sandeep when he visited our new home… Such is the constant battle with bureaucracy in India. So Santosh came to check on Freya and I the morning and brought us some fresh cold milk. We quite enjoyed our quiet day at home, with Freya practising dance and doing schoolwork, and me cooking home cooked food, which is a bit of a treat for us nowadays.

Our Mattress Walla

Lunch was a real hit. We had found in the supermarket a packet of frozen chicken nuggets, and they were cooked up for lunch with the lovely Indian creamy potatoes, mashed of course, and steamed beans to go along. I wish all those friends of ours who we have stayed with (desperately trying to cook something Freya would eat), could have watched Freya lapping up everything to the last crumb on her plate. I too actually really enjoyed the plain flavour of potatoes and beans as well.

By the afternoon things were getting a little quiet, and as I hung some clothes on the line I spotted a sweet looking girl on the verandah across the road. She was keen to communicate, and after a while she said I’m coming over. So 12 year old Mounika was soon at the door, and within minutes she and Freya were striking up a conversation. The girls are now good friends and Freya showed Mounika how to play UNO, which they both enjoyed. Sandeep got back with his new car at 11:30pm exhausted.

The next day, after being house bound for quite some time, we celebrated by going out on the town to our favorite haunts, IMAX, and Hyderabad Central shopping centre. We checked out which movies were on, and then ate a lovely lunch in the fabulous food court – they make the best Bhav Bhaji there! After this onto the shopping centre, where a huge sale was on, and we hunted down some beautiful linen trousers and shirts for Sandeep and Guy. So many bargains it was hard to think. We ended our spree with Chinese dinner in one of the many restaurants… again feeling like we did not need to eat anything for a few days.

Sandeep visiting his best friend and trying on some police gear

Yesterday we met one of Sandeep’s best friends, who has just returned to Hyderabad. He went with us to negotiate for Sandeep over the installation of a new rear spoiler and brake light on his back windscreen. It was fitted within minutes while Freya and I watched from the back seat.

Whilst waiting we found some nice punjabi suit materials for Freya, the deal was buy one get 2 free – which was pretty good, even if the price of the one item was slightly inflated. I thought I might make them up myself, but after discovering their in-house tailor would do it all for $3 per outfit, we quickly went for that option. So Freya went to choose the all important necklines for her tops and in 2 days they will be ready for pick-up.

We had dinner at our local haunt, Hyderabad House which had just about run out of everything, but it was too late to try and find an alternative.

Freya had loads of fun trying on Sandeep’s friend’s glasses, and as we dropped him home Sandeep said he was keeping them – they make anyone look very intelligent. I told him it would be very bad for his eyes, and so I came to discover that they were only a fashion item with plain glass lenses….which was a relief as Sandeep was driving the car with them on!

Freya taking pictures of herself with Sandeep’s friend’s Fashion Glasses – now she wants a pair!