Maya is Free

Three years ago today, on a warm and sunny evening, Maya was born in our bedroom as Beethoven's Emperor Concerto was playing. Little did we know at the time how our lives were about to change or how, three years on, we'd be enjoying another sunny day with our two children on the other side of the planet. What a rollercoaster of a three years its been, with such tremendous highs and lows. But how amazing to have the opportunity to be here in India to celebrate our little girl's third birthday. I can hardly believe she is now three, or 'free' as she pronounces it. But I rather like hearing her declare 'I am free!', so certainly won't change her pronounciation.

Before you think the first picture above I've inserted incorrectly, I wanted to add a picture of Maya's second birthday in Godmanchester. I had a touch of nostalgia this morning, thinking about all the great parties we've had under the birthday tree back home, celebrated with lots of friends and family, so thought I'd include this photo as a happy memory. This year couldn't be more different, we just had our little family and I had a few moments of feeling bad for Maya, that she wasn't surrounded by lots of the people she loves on her birthday. But you know what, it didn't last long. Firstly, because this feeling would then be washed away by that surge of excitement that sometimes engulfs me and says We're in India. INDIA!!! And that takes some beating. The second reason is because, as the day wore on, I realised that (no offence to loved ones back home!), as long as presents and even more importantly, CAKE featured in her day, Maya really couldn't have cared less whether she celebrated her birthday with two or two hundred people. Perhaps this wouldn't be the case a few years on, but for a two year old turning three, she was happy as larry and I can say with confidence that she had a fabulous day.

The photos above tell the story...Maya woke up to a decoration-filled room and a be-ribboned chair on which she ate her breakfast and opened her presents. The sunglasses she has on her head (thank you Nanny & Grampa!), amongst many other gifts were a great hit and have rarely left her face all day. She even refused to take them off for bath time. After a trip to our local tailor to get some clothes altered (I am in love with the tailors here - it's such a lost art in the UK), we went to 'Monkey Maze' for an hour. Monkey Maze is a big play centre with plastic balls, slides, climbing equipment and lots of books, games and toys and it's been the perfect afternoon out for us and we go about once a week. It's actually pretty calm as has only recently opened and is run by Anita, one of the kindest, loveliest people I've met since being in Bangalore. (Oh, and Maya's wearing her chosen pink dress in this picture that I scorned in a previous blog...and okay, I admit she looks pretty sweet...)

After some family skyping and lunch back home we headed out to the Jayamahal Palace Hotel for a swim. Her school friend Aanya was meant to be joining us but was unwell so instead it was just lil old us and our French friend Jean-Francoise we met when we first came to Bangalore. The weather was perfect - warm, but not too hot with a lovely breeze and we had a great time swimming, eating cake (note the tiger theme - thought it was apt since it'll probably be the only birthday Maya will spend in India. Or maybe not....) and drinking copious amounts of chai. Maya was on fantastic form and was coming out with some brilliant comments this afternoon, my favourite being 'When I'm younger, I'm going to climb up to the clouds.' Good plan Maya, can I come too?

We finished the day off back home with naked musical statues (Maya, not us!!) as we all boogied round the apartment to Buena Vista Social Club and a few episodes of Charlie and Lola and she is now away with the fairies, fast asleep with her pink sunglasses wrapped firmly around her face. So, our little one is three. And she is also free. We have seen so many children here who have their childhood's taken away from them. We have so, so much to feel thankful for.