Engagement and engaging

Today we returned from Ermakulam in time for the engagement of our neighbours grand daughter. I was expecting to post a picture of the girl and her fiancee and she did look beautiful but the highlight of the time was the chat and laughs I had with these girl/ladies .. (the one in the middle is 38!). I love their sociability they laugh so much and ask such direct questions ... and say such direct thing .. the man in the opticians yesterday (who we know from visits previous years) commented on Mr A's new hairstyle .. "Or is it just falling out?!" he said with no embarrassment whatsoever.

They even then looked me up on facebook on their phone!! We watched the ceremony which was short and rather nervously attended by the girl and boy who had met each other just once before. And then we were feasted .. with a lunch for all the neighbourhood served on palm leaves (well they were plastic ones this time). What an honour to be invited here. Sadly we will have left here by the time of the wedding in March ..

and here are a few more photos of the engagement .. the ring exchange , the girl, and the girl with onlooker!

And it is Republic Day in India today.