Last month, housing expert Dave Hider swapped Hereford for Bangalore in southern India, along with wife Sarah and children Esme and Josh. For the next three and a half months, he is blogging for New Start about his work for the Fishermen Trust, an organisation that supports street children.

Morning all…...

Good day yesterday. Spent most of the morning with Raj planning the three and a half months and trying to get some kind of routines going for us. Not easy at times as it’s just not the culture to do that but Raj is very good at understanding our needs as well as India culture. We managed to get to the stage where we have come up with a typical week with the chance to spend good quality time on Fishermen Trust issues, family time, time for the family to go to other places

Went for a meal with Raj at a place I knew was not good when I saw a cockroach climbing on my plate! I ended up last night with the squits bad for the first time (sorry to be blunt but that’s the way it is out here) and had stomach cramps through the night but seem fine tonight.

It’s a good job I feel better as we (me and the kids – Sarah staying at home this one) are off tonight for a seven hour coach journey (grot coach with no space to move apparently) to the hills in Ooti.

We are going to a Scripture Union based outdoor pursuits centre called ‘Avalanche’ for a camp with slum kids and others. This camp is organised by The Fishermen Trust and ‘J Team’. Between 50 and 60 young people are going aged 15-25. There will be various activities in the day which the kids will love (canoeing, rock climbing, abseiling, gorge walking etc) and then I have to speak at four of the seven meetings.

We are home on the 12th so don’t expect much blogging till then (unless I can twist Sarah’s arm) but we will bring a good report home after…..

Sarah and kids are doing well. No stomach problems really at all. Sarah spends an hour each with the kids on school stuff. Josh has a session and Esme does some computer work/play and then they change.

Josh loves it and Es does too but gets bored quick if it’s not challenging enough (where does she get that from eh??).

Dave Hider is head of care and supported housing for Bromsgrove-based West Mercia Housing Group.

You can read more about Dave’s work in India at, www.thehiders.co.uk