June 3rd

Hi I've found a  few minutes to post a blog while three of them are learning to tune the instruments. Their task to tune all 32.

Time has flown past and i am in the last week of my present stay. Still lots to do!!

But here are some photos from over the last few weeks.

This is Easter Sunday morning, my musicians dress in red as its a celebration and Sanjay, Papu and Rohan - with a broken arm he did the day before dressed in white for their baptisms.

The baptisms were done by the Bishop and were the first in the Cathedral. They were done with the font at the back of the church.

A hot day and no power - off for six hours, so no fans. Luckily it was a day where there was a little breeze so we are sat outside the offices both with laptops on our knees and as usual children interested in what we are doing.

The weekend after Easter 13 of them took dance exams so for over six weeeks with different events happening I supervised dance practices when ever we could fit them in and especially in the evenings.

Practising the routines for the exam they had a lot of moves to learn and just some are chosen.

All dressed and ready to go to the dance exam, I went with them and then Raja met us there as it was nearer his house. Five did the first exam and eight there second exam.

The older girls doing their dance exam, just to a wood block beat. They all passed and Manju with outstanding.

The younger ones including Shyamol who also all passed and Priyanka with outstanding.

May 1st is Foundation Day for the Durgapur Child Study and Development Centre so even though it was hot we did a big programme on the basketball court. Here all the hostel children along with three of us on the guitar are singing the opening song, From the rising of the sun.

Some of the Diocesan staff and day students during the opening prayer.

The older girls doing a Bengali dance and as you can see they have decorated for the occasion.

Some of them did a drama.

Some recited poetry in Bengali.

Sanjay was a student here when the centre opened eight years ago and told about what a difference it had made to his life. He has just had his board exam results and passed with 2nd division. Anita and Jamuna alos passsed but with 3rd Divisiion. All have enrolled now for Class 11. Iswar has passed his Class 12 exams and is preparing to go to college.

Got to go now will try and do some more this week but now centre time - 80 children running around outside my room.