IMG_3195To day is an  important day because we have been invited (Joanna, Anna, Christopher and I) to the Archbishops' birthday party. Three Archbishops; the Archbishop Emeritus Raul Gonçalves, a visiting Canadian, Richard Smith Archbishop of Emonton and His Grace The Patriarch of the East Indies Filipe Neri were all present for the celebration of His Grace's birthday. Many songs, much local food, a huge snapper poached and covered with a tomato curry sauce and other small bite size prawns, beef croquette and chicken in what seemed honey glazed as appetizers. A true curry feast followed. The Archbishop had invited all those who work with him and who look after him and we were invited as well. We were described as the only white people at the party and had to stand up so all the participant could see us. We even tried to sing Happy Birthday in Konkani with very little success. We all felt very much part of the extended family. The tradition is to work only half day on such occasion but we went back to work as our students were waiting and we had much work to do.Class plus archbishop The team is really becoming united as they all help each other and also I can really see how much the work has progressed in 4 working days: We started surface cleaning by two groups of students the Number 1 and 3 Archbishops on Friday, and that initial task was completed on Monday morning. We then proceeded to remove the oxidized mastic varnish (we know what it is by the solvent it responds to and by the colour of the dirty swab). That treatment was more or less completed on Tuesday. Yesterday the students also surface cleaned 5 polychrome statues, the treatment was completed this morning and the consolidation followed using natural glues. After the birthday party we made some gesso and we started to fill the losses on the statues. We also found some local wood called shuan and covered small pieces with 8 coats of gesso. Anna has finished the cleaning treatment of Archbishop 5 which has been removed from the original stretcher and flattened, while she is waiting for the canvas to stabilize she has started the cleaning of another painting. Joanna has cleaned Archbishop 4 and consolidated the flaking paint and has started on Archbishop 6. I will give them their right title instead of numbers by tomorrow. We have so far achieved a huge amount of work in a short space of time. Can we keep up this pace? Time will tell. Our main problem today was to find some putty similar to ours in UK (incredibly the students understand immediately what I am talking about and produce something similar within hours) and wood glue. The shops are very small (size 6 X 9 feet) and the street are narrow, and thanks to Christopher who seems to have an uncanny sense of direction we manage to find the right shops. Although it has to be said that more than once we have taken a one way street in the wrong direction not on a scooter but in a car - not very advisable! Now in bed the dogs have started, the geckos are coming out ...