ART Excel Acton Town 31st May – 4th June 2010

31st May Monday – Wake up one last time at the ‘Animal House’. Pack, hoover, reconcile with BK and move. See BK had taken my cash and bag and promised to return it one a certain day and it was way past that day so the previous night when I really needed the bag he was a no show and I kinda unleashed Landlords issues on him too. Anyway so move, new Landlord sorts out my room key, unpack, worry about my deposit from old place but Landlord comes through. Take a nap before my journey. Tube to Gunnersbury, buses to Ram and Vita’s place. Meet Lil Vikram, Josh and Sonali. Su, Carolina, Joanathan, etc… come over. We do some fun and crazy yoga. It was jokes when Jonathan led it coz he’s tall and there was jumping and it was just funny. Long Kriya after ages. Vita’s amazing man… I think the only Lithuanian that speaks Hindi too. She knows how to make proper Indian food and every thing. And she’s been taking care of us and baby Vikram and still so peaceful. Don’t know how she does it. Oh and coz I was sleeping on the floor I could hear the guys watching TV downstairs through the tempura mattress and pillow.

1st June Tuesday – I gotta wake up first, at 4.30, for the shower coz I need 30 mins just to wake up before the shower. Yes the power of snooze to the power of 3. Do padma sadhna and then have a disturbing short Kriya with people burping and jumping and alarms and baby Vikram. Get to the school and it’s usual, get the kids to write their name tags and make their ART Excel books. This time they were much younger so some needed help with reading. Already spotted the problem kid (Robert) and like the previous one (Egli) he’s from Albania too. This time it’s pretty mixed, Polish, Russian, Afghani, Iranian, Iraqi, Somali, West Indian, etc. Don’t know whats up with me but when it was time for kids to lie down I knocked out too. Lunch. Game time was funny, football with no rules. Abdulrahim didn’t wanna play right from the start and then he came and told me he’s better and analysing the situation than being in it so I’m like ok you be referee then. Robert wanted attention which he wont getting from me. Just when we had to get back in I hear the coach on the other field shouting Egli’s name and making Egli do a lap. Was good seeing him, he looked so different but it was just a hairstyle change. Anyway… usual games and this and that and I fall asleep again and get caught by the kids. After a long debriefing we come back and do a meditation that felt like a week of bliss. Eat some amazing food Vita made, shopping, get locked out and watch Zeitgeist part 1.

2nd June Wednesday – Wake same as yesterday. Vita didn’t get any sleep coz Vikram was up all night coz of the chicken pox. Weird bit is, when I was locked outside I went through my phone to delete numbers I wont call and came across this one number that got me thinking about the person… and today morning I get a friend request from the person. One of them thangs. We hit traffic so we knocked out while Debbie sang us lullaby. Games. Kids walking off… don’t know what that means. They learn Victory/Ujjay breath and Happy breath. Poor Wiktoria looked miserable she had tummy issues so her mom picked her up. She’s def the Prima Donna in the group. Painting meditation. Debrief. Come back Tesco shop with Carolina. Walk into Su and Debbie and all doing pranayam and I was like … what again? So I half did mine and after the meditation there was gonna be satsang and I was dying for some alone time so thought I’d go read for a few minutes and join them but the lady downstairs got hold of me and bless her heart she talked my ears off. She’s like her name is Prince… I was like what? Then she pulled a James Bond on me and went Dorothy Prince. It went like this… I was at the entrance of the building near her window so she opens the window and asks me ‘don’t you have any gardens where you come from’. I was like no I’m trying to get in but the people upstairs are singing and it’s so loud they can’t hear the doorbell. She thought I said something else and that’s how the pattern followed. So instead I just listened to her as she took me around the building showing me all the problems thinking I stay in the building and will help her with her issues. The bins were empty but the rubbish was out in the corridor. Cleaners don’t come and cameras and do you think I should also complain about so and so… let me show you where the offices are. She even caught this other dude but he escaped early. And if I haven’t mentioned already these buildings are like posh projects just high rises all over and on the first day I took an early turn and started in the 400s when I was meant to be around 30s. By the time I finished and got back to the crew satsang was over but at least food was next. And some great food, everyone made or brought something. Dry potato and yogurt followed by fruit salad and ice cream did it for me. The Magic Tree system AOL have in the South is amazing with all these activities… much better than forcing folks. Josh was so so wired it was fun and funny. After finishing the washing I was so ready for sleep but we find Vikram asleep face down, butt in the air. And coz he’s been training to peepee he’s usually not wearing any pants so it was a sight to see this little creature look like a drunk frog and chicken pokie skin. I was just happy he didn’t wet the duvet or anything. Get my read on and knockout.(Grrrr… was promised pics with me in them but I promise I was there!)

3rd June Thursday – Another day can’t believe we already half way. Skip padma. Most of us were kinda late for that anyway or not feeling it… think it was coz of one of the members distracting the rest during Kriya. While waiting Carolina had stuff to sort out and Josh brought up the burping during Kriya issue. Dorothy Prince starts again but not for long this time she was just like ‘did you see him come in (the cleaner)’. And I was like um no. It was my turn to do the day chart with some kids. Then trust games… Mudasa and Wiktoria looked the cutest during the blindfold game. Animal yoga and my team sucked… Abdulrahim had his ‘I’m always right tantrum’. Then Muna followed and… well it was crack day. Breathing. Lunch. Painting as our service project. Now I’d brought rough clothes but didn’t know it was gonna be like paint that would be hard to take off so I’d bought cling film and tied carry bags on my shoes. And just as I look like a clown a hottie decides to join us for painting. Games. Get Mustafa in trouble he punched me enough and was being difficult. Today the F bomb was dropped by Ahmed too. It was funny coz 3 kids were like ‘he just said Fuck off’. Carolina had to get away but something made her stay… we do yoga and meditation before pizza and debriefing at Franka Manka. Note for later: Had extra chilli oil on mine and as usual stole their serviettes. Get dropped and Vita had given me keys so let the guys in and nip off to Tesco to negotiate the release of some brown hostages… man we’ve been eating so much we’re full of gas and the Tesco dump was a memorable one. Even thought of buying myself a gift. Back to Vita’s and even our patience is being tested. One’s asking too many questions, anothers hogging the couch, net and TV, I don’t know what I’m doing. So Vikram and parents get back and they spot this helicopter toy Sonali got for Vikram and what bad timing coz Carolina was going to sleep and Sonali was about to while Josh and I were listening to the siren go off in the living room. Oh well, last time we’re gonna see the brat so make the most of it. Note for later: Had ice cream to counter the chilli oil and drink lots and lots of water before sleeping.

4th June Friday – Now everyday my wake up time would start at 4.15 but the mix of chili oil, ice cream and water made me need to GO at 3.30 but someone was inside. And I REALLY had to go. I’m in bed thinking I’m gonna explode, then I remembered tissue was finished too… see how the notes for later are adding up. The serviettes came in handy. Catch a few minutes of sleep, shower and watch the new Naruto… he’s back and he’s graduated to Sage Mode. My eyes were welling up at 5am watching this kid turn from brat to gangsta ninja. Pack… really wanted to say bye to Vita but she was sleeping and just as we leave she comes out… the sweetest thing man. Yo all our tummies were funked up. Sign cards for Su coz she’s leaving for Italy, cards for the school and cards for the caterers who were not AOL but still nice enough to seva with the food. Trust games. Lunch. Short game time today coz we had to prepare for a presentation for the guests and parents. Guests come, sun salutation, singing, etc. Cake and the girl that silenced the world vid. Pack, byes. Confide in Josh about being in love with a married woman. I’ve converted him into discussing bowel movements like the way we do with the cousins. Sleep the rest of the journey home. Squeeze in an hour of running at the gym… wow Friday evenings is packed. While doing my alternate nostril breathing after yoga this dude got curious so explain stuff to him… skip steam room coz it was boiling as it was. Get home and meet the Albanian roomie… Ella… soooo my type man! Short and voluptuous and naughty but her boyfriend Max came by and ruined my game! Order a late pizza… oh and met the Bangla housemate too … Shahid… man he’s like studying law and the way he talks is the same… so we’re all chilling and he’s ‘presenting his case’. And before sleeping teach him a lil about picking convos with girls and ploughing. Fall asleep watching a DVD I got from the gym. Spend my first night in the new place.

Notes: Terrell was a playa, Madiy was on top of things, Shabnam was very open and warm, Mustafa was a problem, Shannon has potential.