Day one - Penrith UK to Delhi

We escaped the UK with just hours to spare. Winter arrived with a vengeance - the south came to a standstill after just 10 cms of snow, while back at home in the hardier north Matt was snowed in for the morning, but still managed a trip up Helvellyn in the afternoon, to experience the best winter climbing conditions for years. After an arduous 22 hours which had taken us from the Lake District via Manchester, via Abu Dhabi we arrived in Delhi late Sunday afternoon. First impressions - Cultural point of interest no.1 : the car horn. The car horn seems to be the universal language of India. On the 25 minute trip from the airport to the outskirts of Delhi the many meanings of the beep became apparent.......... "I'm one metre from your bumper and closing........I am now swerving into the next lane ........I am overtaking you on the wrong side.....Although we are both hurtling towards the same very small gap in the traffic I truly believe that I have the right of way..... and finally of course because India is such a populous nation and they all try to be accommodating to each other...of course I will graciously give way to you as you swerve in from the right. The Sanskriti Kendra centre which is home for the next 2 days is set well back from one of the main routes out of Delhi and is a haven of tranquillity in the chaos of its surroundings. Its an art foundation that hosts residencies for artists, sculptors, writers, dancers and potters from all over the world. After being allotted our cottages, briefly unpacking, having a wonderful dinner, the Potfest potters crashed out to bed in the hopes of resetting their body clocks. So ends the first day


Our home for 2 days in Delhi

Bollywood - List of characters:
Pollie & Garry Uttley - foolhardy enough to rise to the suggestion that this trip could be feasible. Organisers extraordinaire, and barterers in chief for the group
Chris & Geoff Cox - Delegators in chief. After coming up with the idea we nimbly passed it all over to Pollie to sort out. G.C - captain of Potfest overseas touring Cricket Team - C.C. main blogger.
Willy & Else van Bussel - imported from Holland at no extra expense to exercise for the rest of the group - tennis, swimming, table-tennis - everything but cricket
Rog & Jo Lewis - Rog has been delegated to worry for the rest of us. Jo accompanies him to tell him what he likes to eat
Eddie & Margaret Curtis - Brought in to raise the sartorial tone of the party - but that was before we saw Eddie in his home made turbans
Kevin Green - Our token southern potter brought along to prove we're not prejudiced up north. We have employed an Indian interpreter to tell us what he's saying.
Nigel Edmondson - Sahib Edmondson, Maharaja of S. Cumbria - weaver of tales - recently awarded the orders of panama hat, walking stick and bar ( and always hoping the latter comes with a nicely chilled Pinot Grigio )
Harrison ( Nigel mark 2) - was brought along as decoy. Harrison is lowered from the coach like chum into shark-infested waters to attract encircling traders - thus leaving the way free for the rest of us to proceed in peace. Hats, shirts, chess sets, trousers, postcards, the Taj Mahal in a snowstorm, maps, books - Harrison has it all. A new motto is now rife amongst the traders of Asia - " Here comes Harrison - good times follow"