Hello all,

I've just set some photos to upload but it looks like it's not going to work as the whole screen has frozen solid. [Tried a second and third time but still no good]

So news in text format only for now… Things are a bit mixed at the moment really. We're making progress on the physical set up as the floor will be dry tomorrow and two of our pagoda roofs have been fitted with material roofs to shade diners. The bar has been fitted with display shelves and storage and we have pretty lighting and the drink fridge in the right place. We've requisitioned the fridge and gas bottle from the house and so have been able to serve pancakes, omelets and toast in addition to the eternal fruit salad.

However there've been huge communication difficulties with the chef who speaks no English and therefore around him the kitchen reverts to Hindi which means we don't know what's going on, especially in terms of bills written in Hindi - makes it very hard to know what to charge people as we don't know what they've eaten. The chef is preparing us some dishes from his Indian repertoire today so we can fit them into the menu. Depending on how he does with them he might not get the boot! This guy is considered a top chef (arrogant enough with it too) so it might rock the boat to turf him out - but we have to be able to work with the chef so would be entirely justified. Mahesh has said he'll help us find a new chef if necessary so that's reassuring!

Other than that we're both completely knackered from early starts and physical work in the Indian heat but it's very rewarding to see things come together and to serve food that's appreciated. Our imagination and energy has been caught up with the potential of the place and one or the other of us is always chirping up with new ideas. One of the joys of India is how easy it is to meet people; just yesterday we met Stan who's a Poplar boy that's been spending half his year in India for more than a decade. He taught us some useful phrases to use when being accosted by beggars. We've eaten out a couple of times with Uma and Mahesh the yoga and yogini masters and have met a few of their friends which has made us feel really welcome. Mahesh took us to dinner even after we caused his little boy Jiva (aged 4) to break down into uncontrollable sobs. Nope, we hadn't been torturing the lad, Matt put the guitar inside so we could lock up the cottage and go for food, and the disappearance of the guitar caused Jiva's distress. (Normally the other way around with Matt's guitar - people cry when he gets it out!!! Matt, when you read this I'm just joking)

At the Utopia site I get bought a cup of chai whenever a brew is made and we all played cricket together night before last. Matt sustained a nasty hand sprain as a result of the cricket game, but his misfortune gains me a free sweet in the chemist along with anti-inflammatory cream once I explain it's a cricketing injury! I've been given a Sari to wear for opening night, and Shebange and Lena took me to the tailors to get a Sari top sown for it. We all popped into Chaudi after for a spot of clothes shopping (in a shop the size of the average English bathroom). I manage to get Matt the only plain pair of jeans in the shop after sifting through loads of gaudily embroidered and tasseled pairs. The jeans I get turn out to be too small but do give Lena & Prakash a good giggle at his skin-tight wiggle. Shebange changes them for us and he's now got a pair of not too gaudy jeans that fit properly.

I have to head back now and see what the chef has produced. If anyone can operate a restaurant kitchen, speak English, and want to live in India rent-free until March please do drop us a line!