We woke to another beautiful, hot and still morning on the river at Colvale, and after breakfast in the company of a kingfisher, some monkeys and the silence, we headed into the village for Mass at 10am.     The little Chapel had been especially decorated for a feast day and a small

  We climbed this morning into a somewhat precarious wooden narrow boat (our seats were two plastic garden chairs facing each other) and glided on the water through the omni present mangroves on the backwaters of the Chapora river, brightened by the blue reflection of the kingfisher, the whiteness of the big crackers, the black

All the chores seem to take us such a long time. Just to give you an example C. went yesterday to find a bedside light for Ruthie and Jenny coming this weekend, and was told none were available. Caetano went to the same shop and came back with one which he is using to control

If  I thought the work was diminishing, not a bit of it. Every day new pieces seem to materialize from the students, all of them fascinating but in the most precarious state such as a head of Christ eaten by termites among other things (the fascinating part is this head is hollow because there was

The day started with mass at 07:00 where the nuns celebrated Venetia’s birthday by inviting one of us to read the lesson – Christopher got the short straw and thank goodness read slowly and clearly for all to understand! With the exception of Joseph who is up in Bombay today for a 3 day wedding,

  Republic day started with the flag raising ceremony at the college where we are staying. The students paraded followed by the hoisting of the flag with  petals fluttering down and the pledging of the alliance to the Republic.   A new student arrived on the course – Father Mansueto who has an artistic background.

Last night was not good. There is some different sort of music every night and boy do they play it loud. If it wasn’t for the fact that we have ferocious guard dogs who are let loose at 10pm, i would have gone to a hotel. Monday morning bright eyed and bushy tailed we arrived

  Today Sunday, we went to the House first thing to check that Anna had everything she needed for the morning. I found Father Loiola in the studio organizing fresh biscuits and water for her, which was a lovely thoughtful gesture. C. and I headed to Bogmalo near Vasco Da Gama to enjoy the almost

Exploring the South of Goa’s coast and then meandering back up through the very dry and still extremely green inner land was simply breath taking. On the way back Saturday mid- morning, having missed the turning for a Christian Monastery (we shall get there at some stage) we ended literally climbing a mountain as Joanna and

 Friday is a non-teaching day to give time for the students to write estimates, start writing up their projects, do some research on the pieces they are restoring and go through their notes. There is a huge amount for them to take in, not to mention that this also gives us time to think about