Home sweet home!

I am back home!

l have kept contacts with the other artists.

What blissful experiences we all had at the Sanskriti!

Wait, I will definitely keep up with the posting!

Cheers!

31th March 2009 (THE DEPARTURE)

I came out earlier this morning. I wanted to join them for the breakfast. Since today is my last day at the residence. I enjoyed the discussion we had over the meal. I went on to collect my ironed clothes and paid for job.

When I got back to the studio, I edited some video clips and posted them unto my blogs. It was really interesting with all the response that followed this video from my friends on Facebook. To view this video, click on this link;

I went through filling the Sanskriti comment form. Devena and I stayed together until she left home with her son. Mr. Mullinar was busy rounding up the financial account for last year 2008. In India, the 31st of March is the day everybody round up the last year financial account.

There were lot of problems with this account today as some of the artists still owe especially one artist who hasn’t paid for her residency and she’d been here for the past six weeks.

Oh God, I wonder how some people can be so inconsiderate with their dealings with other people. Mr. Mullinar was disturbed about this. Without the respected dues and payment, his job is on the life-line. I hope he will get out of it, amen.

Immediately after lunch meal; I went back to my room and started packing. Jane came and we went to take some pictures of the art-work inside the residence. We stayed together for a while then I went back to complete the packing.

I had a surprise send-off party tonight. I had not expected it. The staff had prepared the table as such that one would think there will be a party tonight. Everything was set just the four of us, Katherine, Jane, Ingvild and me. Heather hasn’t return from her trip. A table was set for her but she did not turn up. She was expected back tonight according to Mr. Mullinar.

I thanked the staff for their hospitality. There were happy to be sending off this way and in their personal arrangement. Jane was impressed about this. She stated the staff organised this evening for me because I have been good to them throughout my stay at the residence. That got me thinking, you know. She is right. It is good to be nice to others.

Yes, I deserve this nice treat tonight.

We all moved and sat in front of Jane’s door. We had a short drink for my send-off. Katherine and Ingvild opted for lemon juice while Jane and I took the wine. We shared our contacts.
It was touching to go away after all these weeks. We hugged, we promised and we laughed. Katherine and Ingvild went to bed. I stayed with Jane for a while. It is nice getting to know Jane. She is lovely! At 71 years old, Jane is a gem!

We parted with lots of promises to keep contact. Jane, I would like to say that I’m grateful for advises you gave me tonight.

Thank you so much Jane. May God bless you and fulfil your dreams of completing your autobiography.

30th March 2009

Jane, Katherine, Anna Kubinyi (Hungarian Artist) and I went out at 9:30pm.We planned a long day ahead of us. First we went to the Hungarian Embassy where Anna went to drop her back. Then we all went to the Kali Bari temple, which was not too far from the embassy. We stayed there a while before we headed for the bigger temple nearby.

We never stay long. We went on to Connaught circus and did lots of shopping. Katherine bought so much for her sons, her daughter-in-laws and grandchildren. Jane was glad she bought another back. Anna got some scarves for summer. What about me?

Well, I didn’t buy anything. I already got all I want within the week. I just love to go out with them today. Sometimes, it’s boring to stay indoors. What do you think?

When we were done, we went to for lunch. We kind of queued up a bit before we were allowed in to quick lunch. It is the best vegetarian restaurant in Connaught.

After lunch, we went back to the Hungarian embassy and dropped Anna. Our next stop was at Haus-Khaus market. Katherine and Jane bought some art materials. We bought three bottles of fresh lemon juice. While we were there, Mullinar called the driver who handed me to phone to speak to him.

He instructed me to stop at the Headquarter to pick up my certificate. We headed for the Sanskriti headquarters and collected my certificate of participation. I met Niriti at the office. We said goodbye to each other. I am already missing her, believe me.

Katherine wanted to buy a big tin box, which she will use to ship home some of her art-works. We went to Audrey more. We got it for 350 Rupees.

Finally we came back to Sanskriti, and glad that we made the day.

29th March 2009

Ofra was gone by the time I woke up. Jane, Katherine and Anna had gone to a museum in the morning. I was alone.

I don’t want to talk about Ingvild. Do you know that she did not come out last night for the Open House? She was in her studio. She locked herself in. The unbelievable is happening with some of the artists. She claims to be a writer, and last night was our Open House BUT she hid away!
What a world!

There was heavy rain today, to heavy and very dark cloud.

28th March 2009

I was busy writing the five-page experience I had in this studio with the house lizards when the housekeepers came. I was not disturbed by their presence. I am to read this evening at the Open House for the writers and dancer. Everybody suggested I should writer about my experiences with the lizards. I knew it was going to be fun tonight.

After lunch, Jane and I printed out our script from Devena’s printer. Jane refused to use the desktop computer in the computer room downstairs. She complained that the machine is loaded with virus that nearly damaged her laptop the last time she insert her USB key, which she’d previously used on the desktop.

Mulinar had no choice than to allow us to print from Devena’s printer. O.P Jain met us there. He sat in the corner. He was so quiet that one can feel uncomfortable with his presence. Quickly Jane left me there. I guess she could not stand the man.

It’s fun, seeing how two old people behave, really?

A man came in. He sat with O.P Jain and they started a heat discussion. I used that opportunity to print out my script. Jane came in too. We hurried up with her printing. Ofra came and complained to Mulinar about the sound system in the conference room. She will be dancing tonight and with the poor sound, she is not happy.

Everything was fixed before the night. O.P Jain and few friends came over to the hall at 6:15pm. Niriti was there as well. Ofra started first. She danced four times. She had the fifth to go but unfortunately, the CD refused to play.

Too bad for the DVD player!

Jane started reading her autobiography script. Maybe she took so long with the introduction and the length of the script because in the middle, O.P Jain stood up and went out.

I began to pray in my mind that Jane will not stay too long. In the beginning, Ofra had stayed longer than expected, with four dances. Believe me, the CD refused to work for our sake, the machine fought for us in order to save time.

What if the DVD player did not stop? Who knows, Ofra may danced until daybreak!

And now Jane, it seemed to be so long. I was about to give up about thinking of my own reading tonight when Jane, probably aware of the long script stopped and ended it with a quick speech.
Honestly I was glad that my reading came last. It was filled with humour since it has to do with me and the house lizards. It was impressing!

Everybody left the conference room, laughing.

What matters is that I ended the long stressful day well in their minds. We dined at O.P Jain’s house. It was well organised. Heavy rain forced us to stay indoors while eating.

We dispersed. All the artists with Anna Kubinyi, the Hungarian textile artist, we all went into Jane’s room. She brought out a bottle of wine she purchased from the village she went to during her last trip. We drank to our friendship. Ofra went back to her studio. Katherine accompanied her.

Remember, Ofra leaves tonight at 1am. Her flight will be at 5am Sunday morning. One after the other, we bid Ofra goodbye, before we went to sleep.

27th March 2009

Thank God it’s Friday!

At 10am, Heather and I set out for Dilli Haat. It took us forty-five minutes to get there. Our taxi-driver parked closer to the entrance. We bought the entrance ticket and went inside. It was a beautiful place. We are just arriving when the market was opening at 11am. Most of the shop owners were busied arranging their stalls.

We wandered round, examining the goods, the handcraft images of the various India demi-gods. We went to look at the cloths, the fancy bracelets, the handmade table mats, and of course the shawls. I bought few gifts that I will be taking back to France.

It took us longer than we planned because Heather kept changing her mind over what wanted to buy. She would price it, and then go away to another store. We would have gone to another store and buy something else. While we supposed to be heading forward, she would cry out that she needs to go back to that first store to recover the good she’d earlier rejected. It was like following a child who is uncertain about his choice of chocolate. By 1:28pm we were still at the store.

Then she became worried that Devena will not wait for her because the latter want to go to Rajasthan and Heather wants her to give her a lift. She pleaded with the stall owner if she can use his handset. The man gave it gladly. She called Devena and informed her that we are on our way back to the residence. She equally told Devena to keep our lunch for us.

I guess Devena was not happy that Heather might delay her trip. She insisted that she will leave earlier than she previewed. Heather begged her further. We hurried off to the taxi-driver. I was expecting us to go straight to Sanskriti but on our way, Heather ordered the taxi driver to pause to Haus-Khaus market. She stated she needs to pick a tailor made trouser that she gave for sewing.

I gave in anyway. After all, I am not the one in a hurry nor am I the one going to Rajasthan with Devena that afternoon. Well, she came out of Haus-Khaus on time. We reached the residence by 3:24pm.

We deposited the bags in our respective studios. We went for the lunch. Devena was still there, waiting for Heather as well as her family to come and pick her. She did not sound angry as Heather described her before.

I was busied wanting to recharge my credit on my phone when I heard Heather talking on the office phone to Niriti who works at the Sanskriti Headquarter. There seemed to be a problem because by the time Heather replaced the handset, she was boiling with anger and desperation.
I wish I can find out the entire detail. Devena’s family arrived. Heather had not finished packing her small bag for Rajasthan and also resolved the problem she’d had with Niriti over the phone. Devena was a patient though she tried to make Heather understand that her husband and children are waiting in the car.

Heather ran to her room. She returned and came to Mr. Mullinar. She gave him a piece of paper, explaining what he will do with it. The man was not happy. Devena stood at the door, now impatiently waiting. Heather ran back to her studio. She came back to the office, bearing her haversack, an unfold towel and blanket. We helped her to fold the towel and blanket. She and Devena left us.

I said goodbye to Heather because she return on Wednesday and it is that same day, as earlier as dawn that I will be on my way back to France. We had exchanged contacts earlier in the afternoon.

Well, the problem between Heather and Mullinar still stay on until Heather returns from her short trip. She must return to Australia next week Friday. So I hope she will be able to resolve this situation before she leaves.

I pray for her!

26th March 2009

There is nothing much going on today. Majority of the artists were not around. Charles went out for his teaching class.

Oh gosh, so boring!

25th March 2009

Early this morning, Jane, Katherine and Heather travelled out of New Delhi for the Himalayas Mountain. Heather said she will be back in the evening with the last train to Delhi. The other two will be coming back on Friday night.

Now, there is barely anyone in the residence. Ofra was busied preparing for her trip back to Israel. Ingvild rarely showed up as usual. This afternoon, I ate alone with Devena and Niriti.

Ofra joined u towards the end of the lunch time. Niriti came for the school children’s little workshop.

I wanted to go to Dilli Haat today but Heather persuaded me to wait until Friday because she would love to go with me.
Devena and her husband worked on my second book’s sales page letter. He sent it to me on email. Devena and I corrected it before we emailed it back to him.

23rd March 2009

What happened today?

Nothing special. Everything is fine

22nd March 2009

Katherine informed me that Coco and Kris left as early as 6:30am this morning. You need to be there to see how boring lunch time was without the couple. Now, I am beginning to understand that no matter what; people are the best that ever happen to us.

Don’t think we the artists don’t disagree sometimes. Of course, we are human but we tried to understand one another. Coco and Kris were back to their home but their memories linger on.

The emptiness was terrible.

I had no choice than to go back to my studio and in quiet mood. No one cares anyway; Ingvild never shows up unless at dinner or when she wants. Katherine was so good with staying on her own. Jane did not want to be bothered. She complained about lack of time to write. Ofra went out as usual.

Heather? Honestly, she is yet to get out of the stomach pain. She refused to have her breakfast, neither lunch nor dinner. I am afraid.