Paul and Rach Elliston

Contact from Chincha

Chincha, PAUL, RACH, Volunteers No Responses »

Jul 292011

At last, after a very long period of silence, both husband and wife (the couple we had been couselling) in Chincha have made contact again. Wife M sent Rachel and email apologising for their silence – not really giving a reason, but nevermind. Husband A, having been finally asked to not come home because of his continued unfaithfulness, made contact again and seems to have a renewed desire to sort out his personal problems. Whether this will last we don’t know. Two days ago Rachel gave him a task to do, (generally tasks put him off as he seems to want answers given to him on a plate), and we haven’t heard from him since, but we are now on national holidays so we probably won’t hear anything until next week if he does make contact again.

Paul has to go to Lima next week to take Francesca to the airport and so he will take the opportunity to go down to Chincha for the day to catch up in person and also say goodbye to folk down there.

Not long before we leave now!!

Retirement Moves Stoves To The Backburner

Families, PAUL, PCT, Smokeless Stoves No Responses »

Jul 282011

Yesterday, my boss and the President of the charity here, announced his decision to retire. He’ll be around to help smooth the transition, but has relinquished control with immediate effect. This means that I have suddenly got very, very busy and helping sort of the future of the work here has to take precedence over the stove project. I’ll still try and get out occasionally to a finish a few off, but I won’t be able to do them all myself before I leave as well.

Take a look at a map where we live

General Life Here, PAUL, RACH No Responses »

Jul 232011

Click to see where we live and work. Be sure to zoom in around the flagged areas to take a closer look. You must have it set to satellite in order to see the real image as opposed to a digital map!!!

Progress With Stoves

Families, PAUL, PCT, Smokeless Stoves, Volunteers No Responses »

Jul 222011

Three times this week Francesca and I have been out to build stoves and so I thought I’d share some of the snaps

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Cooking English

PAUL, PCT, RACH, Training Centre, Volunteers No Responses »

Jul 192011

With Francesca, our short-term volunteer, here at the moment with her passion for cooking, we decided to introduce the gastronomy students at the Training Centre to a feast of English cuisine (shepherd’s pie – pye de pastores; apple crumble – crocante de manzana; bread and butter pudding – postre de pan y mantequilla) for the day. While Francesca managed the main course, we took turns to teach the desserts, which we reckon are the best bit of British cuisine. It was occasionally pandemonium, but many students valued the opportunity to be introduced to new foods and new ways of cooking.

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We were wrong..!

Challenges, PAUL, RACH 3 Responses »

Jul 152011

The party in the park, which we thought happened elsewhere (thus saving us from sleepness nights) a couple of weeks ago, was obviously something else. The party in the park we were hoping to avoid this year, is now being set up in front of our house as I write! This means we are in for 3 nights of very loud (terrible) music.

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This challenges our patience and especially our ability to maintain patience and a smiling face despite a lack of sleep… not to mention the people dancing (form of: trying to fly) and getting incredibly drunk outside our front door!

Oh joy!

Francesca Gets Up To Speed And Then It All Goes Pear-Shaped

Families, PAUL, PCT, Smokeless Stoves, Volunteers No Responses »

Jul 092011

Francesca came out with me yesterday. We left bright and early to go to Aco for the famous lamb soup and to pick up the remaining batch of combustion chambers. Then, in the afternoon she had her first taste of stove building, which was great since my other volunteers didn’t turn up again. However, last night, she spent all of it being sick and unable to shut her eye. Thankfully the doctor doesn’t think that she has an allergy to stove building, but has picked up a stomach infection (from eating poorly reheated food we think) and conjunctivitis. She’s feeling grotty and will be out of action for a few days and has come to stay with us for a bit of R&R.

Meanwhile, my day hasn’t been that great either. Firstly, my transport turned up half an hour late to pick me and building materials up, which meant that the volunteer I’d arranged for the morning probably decided we weren’t coming and went home (I’m being generous; the track record suggests that they probably didn’t even arrive) and then when we finally made it to the house to build the stove we found that the family had gone out and it was deserted. Still, their loss….

Another Day, Another Stove

Business Start-Up, Families, PAUL, PCT, Smokeless Stoves, Training Centre, Volunteers No Responses »

Jul 082011

Had to work by myself today as my volunteers didn’t turn up and Francesca was too tired after travelling, so it was a late one, but I did manage to get the base done and return in time to do my teaching at the Training Centre.

The Joy Of Lima

Community Drama, Families, PAUL, PCT, Smokeless Stoves, Volunteers No Responses »

Jul 062011

Hot-footed it down to Lima yesterday in order to pick up Francesca, a volunteer who has come over for 5 weeks to help with the smokeless stoves, but also do some community-based drama workshops with children over their winter break. No problems at the airport and we spent the night and the next morning staying with friends in Surco, but thankfully we have now returned to Huancayo – Lima doesn’t get any better with the passing of time.

Finished!! – 1 Down 18 To Go!!!

Families, PAUL, PCT, Smokeless Stoves 1 Response »

Jul 052011

Returned to the family to finish off their stove today, but cementing on the metal griddle where the cooking will take place and then smothering it all in clay (which helps maintain the heat). I think it looks quite good, even if I do say so myself!