The lonely north western front

Oh, I can't begin to describe how lonely i felt confined to the Kolkata mission flat from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon all by myself with horrid asthma and my puffer run out.

These feelings were worsened by me thinking about all my friends meeting up at various gatherings over the Easter long weekend. I missed being at Glenlock oh so much!!

We had the most turbulent trip even flying back into Kolkata as a storm was making it's way down south, but we tried landing twice and only made it the third time. The turbulance began as we were handed out our meals which were all fatty fried veg cutlets, and i'd begun eating then felt ill and decided to wait for it to pass before I commenced again. But the turbulence didn't stop it just got worse. So I was eyes closed and praying, every 10 mins I'd open my eyes to see Hannah looking interestedly out of the window...and then after some time she also had her eyes shut.
I could hear noises of vomiting, and covered my nose and ears, trying not to let the smell penetrate, and just concentrated all my energy on not being sick myself.
We were an hour late landing, and Hannah had a flight to catch to Hyd which was leaving in 30 mins. We still had to get through customs...
We raced to the front of the line, and Hann left me to pick up her luggage and raced to the domestic terminal. It was there that she found me with her luggage 10 mins later trying to get a message through to her in the airport, as they don't let you through the doors unless you have an itinerary on you. If it was anywhere else in the world, the flight would've been closed and she would've had to rebook it trying to claim compensation for the late arrival. But in Kolkata, she left her bag at the counter and they were fine with her checking in later, as soon as she'd picked up her luggage from me.

Then Hannah was gone and I was left trying to find a taxi and find my way to the flat. Erina had informed me that she wouldn't be able to come because the next day was a Hindu festival, so that was fine. I assumed I'd catch up with her on Sat!
Friday was a bit dull, basically cleaned the flat as it was filthy. I kept wishing that I could get out on the streets to buy some things, but unfortunately I had no old clothes with me. The Hindu festival is called holi. The day was created for flirting! The idea being that you buy dry paint powder and water pistols and spray the opposite sex with different colours. When Hann and I were in Nepal, the lead up to holi was all about water bombs, and we got plenty of those thrown at us, so I was just imagining walking out on the street and being sprayed with all different colours. I was really just wishing that I had some old clothes with me that I could ruin!!

With not so many pressing things to do at the flat, I started to read The Fruit of the Spirit by Colin Attridge, and absolutely love it. I'd spent a while back home trying to get past the first few chapters, but I jumped straight into finding Peace, and I'm a fan. My Telegu letters book was also dusted off during my first couple of days there!

I realised when Erina came on Sunday that I really don't like being alone by myself for long periods of time with no proper communication with people! Thankfully she was well by then as well although she couldn't stay at the flat cause her mother isn't very well and needs help with lifting water buckets and washing and such like. All things that people with bad arthritis struggle to do.