Today we slept in till the wonderful hour of nine am and felt so much better for it... We leisurely strolled down to the beach and sat at the coffee temple for breakfast of which I enjoyed a scrummy beans on toast with egg and Steven a cheese and tomato omelette... I also savoured the most amazing cup of earl grey since arriving in India. This morning it was more cloudy but felt warm so we wandered down to the beach to relax for a short while. We swam a bit and read some of our books and just generally lazed in the warmth. The clouds made the sun hide so it wasn't unbearably hot and this pleased Steven no end.

As usual we couldn't lie for long so headed for a walk around the north cliff before headed to the juice shake for a chai... Steven wanted to check out hotels on their free wifi and I was quite happy reading my book and enjoying a cup of tea. We sat upstairs in the shack and enjoyed the splendid views of the beach. We were feeling so lazy today and my nausea was still intermittently rearing its head so after sitting for an hour or so we took a slow walk back to the hotel.

Once we were back I tried to get my head down with not much luck and Steven happily sought hotel rooms in Mumbai and Hong Kong... Before long however his stomach was rumbling and he was getting peckish so we headed back to the beach... We sat in a small cafe and he ordered some Tibetan food which was really tasty and then a small potato curry, which we shared... We tried chatting with Lacey via Skype but the network was pretty rubbish so we gave up, not before we showed her the view and such though so that was nice. We sat for a while enjoying the view and chatting together ...then after we thought we had probably outstayed our welcome we went for a walk.

Once we had reached the hotel I headed for a shower... Was still feeling a bit sick and drained and wanted to have a nice hot shower. For once there was plenty of hot water, unfortunately there was no cold along side it so it was impossible to shower lol... I asked the owner about it and she came and had a look, said she would be back in a minute then never reappeared. I gave up on the shower and instead filled the big bucket (which every shower in India seems to have) with scolding water and waited for it to cool enough and washed in that. It was lovely and warm and I did feel a little more refreshed after. I sat on the balcony and read my book and enjoyed the peace.

Later Steve felt peckish so we decided to head in for food. We needed to find a ATM machine so we we could draw money so took a walk to temple junction ....about ten mins or so from the beach front. On arrival it appeared that it wasn't working.... So we took an auto rickshaw into Varkala town to draw money then came back. We found it quite bizarre that a place as touristy as the north cliff doesn't have an ATM and only one restaurant accepts credit cards ....but your minimum spend is a thousand rupees, which is about thirteen pounds! We have only spent that in about two and a half days lol.

Anyway we got the cash so headed to a place on the smaller beach called "The Marine Palace" which we had heard great reviews about. It's a lovely little place and its truly in the most stunning setting. It's spread over three or four floors... All open, like terraces and covered in fairy lights and lanterns and sits right on the beach. As you enter there is a massive tray of fresh fish ....everything you could think of tuna, small white fish, red snapper, swordfish, tiger prawns lobster... Everything! And you can chose your fillet and they cook it on the BBQ in front of you. We sat on the first terrace so we cold feel the sand in between our toes and were the nearest to the incredible sound of the waves hitting the beach. We ordered our food and as it took a while to come we had a good chat. I never mind food taking its time as you know its cooked fresh and it gives you plenty of time to enjoy the setting and have a yarn, plus the meal is only a part of an evening out.

We sat chatting and contemplating the day, for it was the eighteenth of December and a year to the day that Granddad Abel had sadly passed away. It was strange to sit and think of where the past year has gone and to think of what we were doing a year ago. We still remember the day so clearly, waking to hear the horrid news we had been dreading and being too far away to really offer any comfort. I remember being horribly upset and having to do a late shift at work and Steven being so quiet and bottling everything up. It was such a sad time especially in the run up to Christmas and we felt so far away... despite only being in Milton Keynes. Thankfully as it was Christmas we had some time off and could head home to Norfolk as soon as my nightshift was over on Christmas day morning.

I also remember one of my friends had given birth to a son on the day Granddad Jack had died and she.... Without knowing of what had happened had called her son Jack. It was so weird... As one Jack leaves this world, another enters. Even to this day when ever I see an update on facebook about her little ones progress... His first walk, his first word, His first birthday... I can't help but think of grandad.

We sat reminiscing for a while about Granddad and home and thinking how much has happened in the three hundred and sixty five days since. it had been quite a year! at that time we never thought we would get to actually go travelling... And yet here we were sitting on a beach in Southern India, having already been on the road for a month. Hopefully Granddad was enjoying our travels and smiling down on us. Tonight we felt a little further away from home than usual and it made us a little quiet...

Once our food arrived we found we had a little visitor... A small Jack Russell type dog who was lying next to us on the sand... We named him Jack and much to Stevens dismay I spent most of my meal feeling him chips and rice. He was such a sweetheart with a kind face and a wagging tale... He never once begged and it was so sad to see him hold and eat a chip the way our dogs at home tuck in to a meaty bone. My dog would eat a chip so quickly that it wouldn't even touch the sides, yet this little fellow took his time and savoured every mouthful. Once we had run out of food the guys a the front had thrown some fish or something out to the stray dogs.... There was another two dogs loitering around the beach. Jacks ears pricked up and he headed over as Steven was willing him on. However he was a lot smaller than the other two and patiently sat and waited, there was nothing left so I felt better then for feeding the little guy up.

After we had finished our meal we paid our bill and took a slow walk home. We were hoping to face time the family and ensure they were all okay after such an emotional day. We couldn't get through to mum but Steven got hold of Auntie Pat and had a chat... I suggested after that we arrange a time when Gran is at Pats so we can have a chat with her ...maybe over Christmas. It wasn't long after we fell into a slumber.