How do our diarists spend their time?
We record all the transactions our Diarists make, but you might also be interested in knowing how they spend their time. To give you a vivid sense of this, we have selected two Diarists and we are posting a short report on their activities every day for the Bengalii month of Agrahayan, which starts on 15th November 2022 in Bangladesh (in the Indian State of West Bengal they use a slightly different calendar and Agrahayan starts on 18th November).
Our two Diarists for the month of Agrahayan 1429 (starts November 15th 2022) are Ani and Alf
(they both feature in a recent post on our 'MFI Loans' page)
(they both feature in a recent post on our 'MFI Loans' page)
Diarist 17ATF: we call her 'Ani'
Hardworking, conscientious, but illiterate, Ani is the money-manager of her four-person household. Her husband grows and sells vegetables, but is much older than her and is somewhat work-shy. Her son is a pipe-fitter and her daughter tutors local children.
Diarist 10AFM: we call him 'Alf'
Alf is a much more relaxed character than Ani. He breaks bricks by hand (to create aggregate for concrete on building sites) and also does some spiritual faith-healing. He lives in part of his inlaws' home with his wife, daughter and two grandchildren.
Agrahayan 1st (15th November): Ani
"We are all at home at present. I spent the day looking after the cows, and cooking. I sorted garlic and onions from our garden and my husband took them to market . We went to the temple to enjoy a kirton (a Hindu religious function). My son was supposed to work but he went fishing instead. My daughter tutored some children and did puja (prayer) duty at the temple, as usual.
I was very shocked because one of my neighbours, a girl, committed suicide today. She was angry with her mother.
My health is poor today, after our cow hurt my leg a few days ago. The leg is now infected and painful so I took some medicine.
Today was a very bad day."
[Today, they sold 500 taka of garlic and coriander, and spent 70 taka on lentils. (At market rates of exchange, US$1 = 100 taka)]
Agrahayan 1st (15th November): Alf
"One of the grandsons is at his great grandfather's house and the rest of us are at home. I didn't do any brickbreaking today as I was busy feeding my cows and cleaning the cowhouse.
My wife can't work because she had a stroke about three months back so my daughter cooked and looked after her mother. But my daughter fell over today and has hurt herself.
Today was a bad day."
[Today, Alf's household made no money transactions]
Click on the player below to hear Alf talking about brick-breaking, his home, his family and his dreams: recorded soon after we started tracking him, autumn 2015 (English starts after a little Bengali)
Alf, 24th Sep 2015.m4aAgrahayan 2nd (16th November): Ani
"I did my usual housework - cared for the cows and the goat, cooked rice and vegetables, and helped my daughter's dressmaking work. My husband weeded in the garden and planted some arum seedlings.
My daughter did her usual puja work, tutored some kids who came, helped a young girl who wants to become a beautician, and did some dressmaking. My son went out on sanitary-fitting work.
Nothing unusual happened nor did I hear any big news. But my infected leg still hurts and I'm still taking medicine.
Today was, I'd say, an average day."
[Today her household made no money transactions]
Agrahayan 2nd (16th November): Alf
"I went brick-breaking today plus I cut grass for my cows and cleaned the cowhouse.
I had to go to a neighbour and ask him to lend me 1,050 taka so as to be able to make our weekly MFI loan repayment [at Grameen Bank].
My daughter cooked and cleaned the house for us and today my wife was strong enough to help her a bit.
It was quite an ordinary day and I heard no big news, good or bad."
[Today he got 300 taka paid in arrears for past brickbreaking, and paid Grameen Bank a 1,250 taka loan repayment plus 100 taka savings. He borrowed 1,050 taka from a neighbour for this]
Agrahayan 3rd (17th November): Ani
"Today as well as my usual work with the livestock, I prepared special food for the Kartik Puja (a major Hindu date) that falls today. I also went to the wedding of a neighbour.
I went to the MFI BURO weekly meeting and made my loan repayment and savings OK.
My husband did some shopping and sowed some garlic in our garden, my son went for pipe-fitting work and my daughter did her usual tutoring and puja work. She came with me to the wedding.
Nothing unusual happened and everyone's in OK health except me. It was a good day."
[Today she made a 500 taka repayment at BURO and saved 50 taka there. Her husband bought 120 taka of fish, 40 taka puja sweets and 20 taka tea leaves, and a small clay lamp for 20 taka]
Agrahayan 3rd (17th November): Alf
"I went and did some brickbreaking today as well as looking after the livestock. One grandson is still with his great-grandfather and today the other one went to study at the madrassa.
My daughter has fever today so I helped her cook, but she was able to take care of her mother.
There was no bad news but because of sickness in the house this was a bad day."
[Today there were no money transactions in the household]
Agrahayan 4th (18th November): Ani
"It was a domestic day - I cooked, cut grass for the livestock and took care of them, and helped my husband cut grass in our garden. He went to the market to buy pulau rice and vegetables.
It was a holiday today so my daughter didn't do any tutoring but she did her puja work and she read some religious books. My son went for pipe fitting and he gave me 1,500 taka that he has earned recently.
Nothing unusual happened, there was no bad news, and though I am still in poor health the others are OK.
It was an average day."
[Today 1,500 taka came in from the son's work. Out went 330 taka for 3kg of pulau rice and 170 taka on vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage, potal, potato and tomato) and 20 taka on a rickshaw ride]
Agrahayan 4th (18th November): Alf
"Today was similar to yesterday. but a bit better as my daughter is feeling better. One grandson went to the madrassa even though today is a holiday. I did brick breaking. My daughter cooked and she got water ready for her mother's bath, and my wife was able to cut some grass and feed it to the cows.
There was no bad news or bad things happening.
Today was an average day."
[Today he spent 20 taka on rickshaw travel to his workplace]
Agrahayan 5th (19th November): Ani
"Today I did my usual household chores like cooking and cleaning and looking after the cows and I went to the temple and donated 100 taka for the kirton.
My husband went to market to buy seedlings and fruit and medicine, then he sowed the seedlings. My son went pipe fitting and my daughter tutored some children.
My leg is still not better from the blow from the cow and I'm not feeling good. Also my husband and daughter are feverish today.
It was a bad day."
[Her husband spent 110 taka for bananas, and 120 for chilli seedlings; then 200 taka for medicine for himself and another 50 for his daughter; he used a rickshaw, 20 taka. Ani gave 100 to the temple for kirton. There was no inflow]
Agrahayan 5th (19th November): Alf
"One of my grandsons has now been at his great grandfather's house for 9 days. The other one attended madrassa today. I went for brick breaking and back home I fed grass to the cows and cleaned the cowhouse.
My daughter cooked and she is feeling better but my wife's condition is a bit worse today.
Though nothing really bad happened and there was no bad news, today felt like a bad day".
[Like yesterday, the only money spent today was 20 taka for rickshaws: there was no inflow]
Agrahayan 6th (20th November): Ani
"I did my usual housework and went to the market and bought two eggs. My husband weeded in our garden and planted some garlic seedlings. My son went for pipe fitting and my daughter did her puja work, tutored some children, and washed her clothes.
My leg still hurts but my husband's and daughter's health is improved.
So it was an avergae day."
[The 25 taka she spent on eggs was their only transaction today]
Agrahayan 6th (20th November): Alf
"Today when I went for brick breaking I got 1,500 taka pay from earlier work. So I went to the market and bought 300 taka of fish plus some vegetables and treated myself to pan supari (betel leaf and nut mix) and tea.
My daughter did the cooking and my wife helped a bit feeding the cows. Though my wife is sick, the rest of us are OK.
This was a good day."
[He earned 1,500 taka, spent 300 on fish, 80 on cauliflower, then 70 on pan supari and tea and 20 on rickshaws]
Agrahayan 7th (21st November): Ani
A few days before this page started, Ani was shocked by getting a visit from two Loan Officers of a Government-run MFI (BRDB) who told her that she needed to pay 14,000 taka on a very old 7,000 taka loan her husband had taken and failed to repay (not unusual - corruption and inefficiency meant that many BRDB loans went unpaid). Ani told us at the time: "they do not behave well with us rather harsh and rude, we are very shocked for it". We wondered how this would turn out, and today we found that they had borrowed 20,000 taka from another MFI, Pidim, in order to repay this BRDB loan. This comes at a time when, as we report on the MFI Loans page, Ani was trying to wean her household off MFI loans.
Today Ani reports taking the Pidim loan and also says: "Today I did my usual duties, cooking, caring for the cows, and cleaning the yard. My husband bought medicine for himself as he has been bitten by leeches. My daughter did her puja and tutoring work. My son went pipe-fitting and treated himself to some spicy puffed rice.
My leg remains painful. Still, it was an average day. "
[She got the 20,000 taka Pidim loan less 155 in revenue and insurance fees. They had to photocopy a document (30 taka), buy 30 taka of medicine, and a 20 taka rickshaw ride]
Agrahayan 7th (21st November): Alf
"I went brick breaking. At home I cleaned the cow house, fed the cows, and carried straw. My daughter cooked. My wife was well enough to cook breakfast and cut grass for the cows and give them water.
Everyone is well except my wife. Nothing exceptional happened.
It was an average day".
[Today there was no money inflow but he bought betel nut and leaf and tea for 30 taka, green chilli for 25, and a rickshaw ride for 20]
Agrahayan 8th (22nd November): Ani
"Today again I did my normal work - cut grass and fed the cows and goat, cooked, cleaned the verandah and the yard, and sorted garlic. My husband then sold the garlic in the market. My son went to work in the afternoon only and took puffed rice and tea. My daughter tutored, did her puja work, and read the Gita (religious book).
My leg still hurts and my husband and daughter are a bit poorly. Otherwise it was an average day".
[their only money transaction today was 240 taka sale of garlic; the puffed rice and tea were taken on credit]
Agrahayan 8th (22nd November): Alf
"I went to buy some subsidised-price rice and got 30kg at 15 taka per kg [he has a card that entitles him to this: the rice is usually of very poor quality]. Then I went on to brick breaking work by rickshaw.
My daughter cooked and did other house work, my wife gave water to the cows, though she is still sick.
It was an average day".
[they bought 450 taka of low-quality subsidised-price rice; he paid two rickshaw fares of 20 (one to work, one to carry the rice) and treated himself to betel, 30 taka]
Agrahayan 9th (23rd November): Ani
"I was busy today. Went to the market wirh my daughter. We bought vegetables, went to the kirton, and bought medicince for her: I also treated her to spicy puffed rice. We returned by rickshaw. Then I did my usual daily work with the cows, and cleaning, and cooking, and my daughter did her tutoring and puja work.
My son brought back 2,000 taka pay from his pipe fitting work. My husband didn't do much, just fed grass to the cows.
My leg still hurts from the blow from the cow, so I'd say this was a bad day even though there was no bad news or very bad happenings".
[We recorded the 2,000 taka income from the son, and expense of 20 for rickshaw, 270 for medicine, 170 for cauliflower, potato, beans, eggs, and 40 for puffed rice]
Agrahayan 9th (23rd November): Alf
"Today was bad because I couldn't pay our Grameen Bank loan instalment. After I repaid part of the interest-free loan I took last week from a neighbour, we had no money in the house. My wife [she is the Grameen Bank client] did not go to the Grameen meeting in the village. The Grameen Loan Officer came to our house. He was not angry but he made me promise to pay tomorrow and in the meantime I think he paid my instalment out of his own pocket.
At home I did some repairs to our house and my wife helped despite being sick. I didn't get any brick breaking work today, but I got some pay in arrears. As usual I fed and watered and cleaned my cows. My grandson is still with his great grandfather".
[He got 600 late pay for brickbeaking and then repaid 1,000 taka of the interest-free loan he took last week: then his cash balance went to zero]
Agrahayan 10th (24th November): Ani
"Today I went to the BRDB office and by paying them 10,000 taka was able to have that old loan recorded as fully repaid. Then I went on to the BURO MFI meeting and made my savings and my loan repayment there [see earlier days for more on BRDB and BURO].
My husband fed the cows then went to buy vegetables and my daughter did her usual puja and tutoring work. But my son stayed at home without going out to work.
I'm still sick from my injured leg. I suppose it was an average day".
[We recored the 10,000 taka paid at BRDB and 500 loan repayment plus 50 savings at BURO. They spent 320 on fish and 220 on vegetables and fruit. There was no inflow, but we noted that she has over 14,000 taka stored at home in reserve]
Agrahayan 10th (24th November): Alf
"Today was a horrible day because I had a big quarrel with my wife. For this reason we didn't eat any lunch and we wanted to die [see below for the issue they quarreled about].
But I went brick breaking and earned 1,200 taka, and by also borrowing 150 interest-free from a neighbour I was able to pay yesterday's Grameen dues in full [1,250 loan repayment and 100 savings] when their Loan Officer called.
Other than that my daughter cooked dinner and looked after her mother".
[We recorded the outflow of payments to Grameen and the inflow of the brick breaking pay and the loan from a neighbour]
Why Alf quarelled with his wife on Agrayan 10th (24th November 2022)
Alf is an outgoing type and when a friend was in trouble over a land deal, he offered to help, but failed. It happened as follows.
A Muslim householder wanted to sell a bit of land he owned just outside the Hindu settlement of Hrishipara. A young barber, a Hindu from Hrishipara, wanted to buy the land and build a house on it but, month after month, the owner refused to sell to him. Then a friend of the barber, a Muslim youngster, offered to help by buying the land on the barber's behalf and passing it on to him. The barber paid his Muslim friend 600,000 taka, but the Muslim boy paid only 500,000 taka to the landowner. The landowner then discovered what had happened and was angry with the barber and abused him, and of course the barber felt sore that his Muslim friend seemed to have cheated him out of 100,000.
It was then that Alf stepped in: he was friendly with the barber and he offered to try to get the 100,000 taka back from the Muslim boy (Alf is a Muslim himself). But he failed. Indeed it made things worse, for then the landowner started coming to Alf's house and shouting at him. Alf's wife didn't like that and told Alf off, so they quarelled.
Agrahayan 11th (25th November): Ani
"Today my son didn't work but he went to collect some back pay. My husband and I went to the temple and made a contribution for the kirton. My daughter did her usual puja work and then read the Gita.
Nothing bad happened and there was no bad news, but my leg still hurts from the cow wound.
I'd say it was an average day".
[The son brought home 1,000 taka of pay and gave it to his mother. Ani made a 1,000 taka contribution to the kirton at the temple]
Agrahayan 11th (25th November): Alf
"Today was much better, in fact it was a good day, because my daughter-in-law and her two children - a boy and a girl - came to visit us.
Before that I went to break bricks but had a fever and had to come home after half a day's work. My daughter looked after most of housework and my wife helped with feeding and watering the cows".
[There were no money transactions today]
Agrahayan 12th (26th November): Ani
"Last night my son enjoyed World Cup football on a local TV, and today he was at work doing pipe fitting for about 5 hours. My daughter did tutoring for about 4 hours and she also did her puja work and Gita reading.
My husband and I spent about 4 hours sowing garlic seed and cutting grass for the cows. As well as that I did my normal household chores and also went to MFI Pidim's office to collect my passbook [after recently taking a loan] and paid in savings.
Though my leg still hurts this was an average day".
[she saved 1,575 at MFI PIdim, then bought 40 taka of puffed rice and took a 20 taka rickshaw ride back home]
Agrahayan 12th (26th November): Alf
"Today I was sick and weak and did almost nothing. The guests that came yesterday have now left. My daughter cooked and cleaned and my wife fed and watered the cows despite her illness.
The guests talked to me and my wife and I now realize we were silly to get so cross and to stop eating. I made it up with my wife. I found out that is why the guests came - to help us make up our quarrel. So that was one very good thing today. I am talking to my wife again.
It was therefore a good day".
[there were no money transactions today]
Agrahayan 13th (27th November): Ani
"I went to the market to buy rice at the subsidised rice but I failed as there was a huge crowd of customers. I returned empty-handed. My husband spent 2 hours sowing garlic then we had a late luch then one by one all of us went to the kirton. I was there with my daughter just after sunset and stayed for 3 hours: there were many groups of singers and they took turns to sing and dance. My husband spent 5 hours there, later on. My son also went and enjoyed it.
Of course I also did my usual housework and my daughter did her tutoring and puja work".
[they spent 20 taka on puffed rice and 20 on bel (a fruit)]
Agrahayan 13th (27th November): Alf
"I went for brick breaking very early in the morning and worked for 4 hours and earned 500 taka. The place isn't far from my home. Then I took a late lunch, cooked by my daughter after she collected water from the tubewell and brought firewood. It takes her about 2 hours to cook a meal.
My wife cut grass for the cows and she also repaired our mud stove.
My health is better though my wife is still poorly. It was a good day".
[he got 500 taka from work, and spent 20 on radish, 10 on corinader, and 30 on tea with betel]
Agrahayan 14th (28th November): Ani
"I went again to the Union Parishad [the local authority] and this time I was able to buy 30kg of rice at 15 taka per kg. I had to wait for an hour, though. I also went to the Electricity office to pay our bill, but that was quick as I pay through a local bank who give good service.
The good news is that my leg is beginning to heal and I'm feeling better. My husband sowed garlic again, and my son went pipe fitting for a couple of hours then he went to the shop to enjoy tea and puffed rice. My daughter did her usual tutoring for 4 hours and her puja work.
It was a good day".
[she spent 450 taka on the rice and 492 on the electricty bill; also she saved 50 taka at MFI Pidim, and paid 30 for rickshaw rides]
Agrahayan 14th (28th November): Alf
"Again I went early to break bricks, for 5 hours. I carried my lunch with me and ate it there. Before going I cleaned the cowhouse.
My wife collected grass for the cows for 2 hours and then she went fishing with rod and line and caught some telapia fish.
One of the grandsons is still away with his great grandfather - it is 18 days now. My daughter did the cooking and other housework.
It was an average day".
[to sustain himself through 5 hours of work he 3 times bought betel, once with tea, for a total of 70 taka]
Agrahayan 15th (29th November): Ani
"Today I had a long phone chat with my elder daughter and was pleased to hear that her family are all well.
My husband didn't do any work today, he just watched TV and gossipped with friends in a tea stall. But my son went to work and got 300 taka for pipe fitting and he bought some fish and veg at the market. Later he went out for spicy puffed rice and tea. My daughter did her tutoring work for 4 hours and did her puja work.
I am better physically now and did lots of housework and caring for the cows. I washed clothes and washed the verandah and cooked and so on.
It was a good day".
[her son gave 300 of his earnings to his mother and then out of that spent 200 on fish, 20 on green chilli, and 35 on salt for the cow]
Agrahayan 15th (29th November): Alf
"Today I worked at brick breaking even longer, 7 hours starting early in the morning. I got 500 taka [pay is on a 'by volume of bricks broken' basis]. I took my lunch to work and ate it there.
I sold some old roofing tin, some glass medicine bottles and some plastic drink bottles to the recyclers and got 380 taka.
My daughter did almost all the housework and cared for the cows, though my wife cut grass for them. My wife also went to the Union Parishad [local authority] and was able to get subsidised rations but it took her 2 hours as there was a big crowd there.
She is a bit better.
It was an average day".
[his wife got soyabean oil at 160 for 2 litres, dal at 160 for 2 kg, and sugar at 65 for 1 kg, all subsidised prices. She went by rickshaw, 30 taka. Alf spent 30 on tea and betel and earned 500; he sold some old stuff for 380]
Agrahayan 16th (30th November): Ani
"Today the Diary worker Mrs Nilufa paid me my 400 taka monthly participation reward. That was all that we got today because again my husband didn't do any work and my son didn't go to work either.
I and my daughter though did our usual daily tasks like caring for the cow, cooking, cleaning and so on and she also did her tutoring work and read the Gita. I went out and collected firewood, it took me about an hour and half to pick up and carry home.
I suppose it was an average day".
[the only tranasaction we recorded was the 400 taka monthly Diary reward]
Agrahayan 16th (30th November): Alf
"I again went for 7 hours work but before that I got the Diary monthly reward from their worker Ms Asma. Today I was able to bring home 1,500 taka pay for brick breaking. I carried my lunch to work.
My wife went to the weekly Grameen Bank [MFI] meeting and this time she paid the loan and the savings in full.
I bought some vegetables for the home and also several lots of betel to help me through my work.
In the afternoon my younger daughter visited us for about 2 hours then went back home.
The daughter who lives with us did the cooking and so on, helped a bit by my wife despite her illness. Actually she may be a bit better today and the rest of us are well. So it was a good day".
[we recorded the Diary payment and the brickbreaking wage, and the Grameen loan repayment (1,250) and saving (500); then cauliflower, spinach and green chilli (70) and betel (or 'pan supari') for 200 and tea for 30]
Agrahayan 17th (1st December): Ani
"My husband did an hour's work today, cutting grass for the cow and goats, then he went out to gossip over tea at the shop. My daughter tutored for about 3 hours and my son went and did some pipe-fitter's work then he too went off for tea and spicy puffed rice.
I did my usual housework including cooking and also I went to the BURO [MFI] weekly meeting and deposited savings.
My bad leg is almost completely cured now and everyone else is OK. It was an average day".
[she saved 50 taka at BURO and spent 40 on puffed rice; we noted that she has reserves of 11,500 taka at home]
Agrahayan 17th (1st December): Alf
"I was in bed all day and ate only a very little food as I had a bad fever and a headache.
My daughter did the housework, cooking and so on, like fetching water, preparing water for her mother's bath, cleaning the yard and washing clothes, and tending to the cow. It took her a long time. Then she went fishing in the pond outside our house and got a few small fish.
My wife's a bit better and others are OK, but for me it was a bad day".
[there were no transactions to be recorded today: they have just over 1,000 taka reserves in the house (about $10)]
Agrahayan 18th (2nd December): Ani
"Today as well as my own housework I went and helped a neighbour cook food: she is 7 months pregnant and we have a rule that at that stage she should be especially well cared for. I ate my own lunch with her.
My husband went to the market to get medicine for himself and on the way back went to a funeral house. A man from the main market area had died. He was not a friend of my husband but my husband likes to help at the funeral house and enjoy the alcohol provided there. He was there 2 hours then later also went to drink tea in the market.
My son went to his pipe fitting work and brought back 2,050 taka in wages. My daughter didn't tutor today as it is Friday [the national weekly holiday] but she read the Gita and so on.
So it was a slightly unusual day".
[her husband spent 240 taka on medicine, and 20 went for rickshaw rides. We also recorded the son's 2,050 wages]
Agrahayan 18th (2nd December): Alf
"I am not yet better and was in bed all day again, not taking much food. My daughter did most of the housework. My wife is sick too but she went to the medicine shop to get medicine for me.
It was not a good day".
[the 60 taka his wife spent on the medicines for him was the only transaction today]
Agrahayan 19th (3rd December): Ani
"We were busy today. I went to a neighbour's house to pay for some straw for the cows that I took from her a few days ago. Back home, I repaired our mud stove as well as doing all my usual household jobs.
My husband is a committee member of the temple and he is responsible for accounts so he went to the temple to present accounts, it took about two hours then he went for tea with the other members.
A visiting health worker came to the house and measured my daughter's blood pressure: it's a free service and she got some free medicine too.
My son didn't go to his pipe fitting work, instead he fished with rod and line in the river and caught a katal fish [a type of carp] then after dinner went out for biscuits and tea.
It was an average day but a bit busy".
[the only money transaction today was the 3,000 taka she paid her neighbour for the straw]
Agrahayan 19th (3rd December): Alf
"I was well enough to get up but not to go brick breaking. Instead, I harvested some dal [lentil] from our land that I planted about 3 months ago. In the afternoon I relaxed at the tea stall.
My wife and daughter did the housework and my wife helped me cleaning the cow shed.
Though my health is a bit better this was still a bad day".
[we recorded only the 30 taka he spent on tea]
Agrahayan 20th (4th December): Ani
"As today is the Hindu day of Akadashi we are obliged to take milk and fruit so I cooked food only for my son. He brought back pay from his pipe fitting work and my daughter got paid by her pupils for last month, so we had some income.
I went to the market to buy warm clothes for my son and some medicine for myself.
One of our neighbours died today, but otherwise it was an average day".
[We recorded 1,500 taka pay from the son and 2,000 back pay from the daughter. Ani spent 1,200 on her son's clothes, 300 on her medicine and 350 on medicine for the cow. Then she bought guava, banana, date and cucumber for 340, and 20 for a rickshaw ride]
Agrahayan 20th (4th December): Alf
"I am recovered but I didn't go for brick breaking as I wanted to catch up on looking after and cleaning my cows.
But my wife was more sickly today and spent most of the day in bed.
So my daughter did almost all the cooking and fetching water and looking after her mother.
Nothing else special happened, it was a bad day".
[he bought 5 kg of salt for his cow for 120 taka and then spent 30 on tea and betel]
Agrahayan 21st (5th December): Ani
"Today I went to the Pidim [MFI] weekly meeting to pay my loan instalment and savings. There were not many people at the meeting, which is not far from my house, so it didn't take long - barely 15 minutes.
I had a 20-minute phone chat with my elder daughter. I bought some fish from a seller who came to our door.
My husband tended to the cows then he went off to enjoy tea and gossip with his friends. My son went pipe-fitting from about 9am to 3pm then he had a late lunch and went out to his friends at the tea stall. My daughter as usual tutored some children and helped me with the housework and read the Gita. It was an average day".
[she spent 250 taka on the fish and at Pidim made a 100 taka loan repayment and saved 50]
Agrahayan 21st (5th December): Alf
"It is now 25 days that one of my grandson's is at his great-grandfather's place. The other one went to the madrassa as usual.
I took my cows grazing to the fields for about an hour then went and repaid 50 taka to a neighbour who lent me it some days back.
In the evening at the tea stall I enjoyed watching the football.
My daughter did the cooking and other housework. After she helped me with the cows, my wife went angling.
Nothing unusual happened and I'd say it was an average day".
[apart fron the 50 taka repayment to his neighbour he spent 20 on tea]
Agrahayan 22nd (6th December): Ani
"Today my daughter and I went to the Kapasia Pilot High School and got our 3rd dose of Corona vaccine. Then I went to a field near our house and collected some rice straw.
I did some puja work as my daughter was unable to do so, though she did do her tutoring work. My husband collected grass for the cows then went to the market to buy some manure and then fertilised some arum with it, then as usual he went off to drink tea with his friends. My son helped me cut the straw and he didn't go pipe-fitting.
This was an average day".
[she paid 1,500 taka for the straw and her husband 450 for the manure: they also paid 40 for rickshaw rides[
Agrahayan 22nd (6th December): Alf
"The madrassa exams are over and it is closed for a week starting today so my younger grandson didn't go.
I went to the main market to sell some chickens that belonged to my sister-in-law. I didn't go brick breaking but I mended the bamboo handle of the hammer I use for brick breaking.
I also did the chores for the cows, helped a bit by my wife who also weeded some coriander plants. My daughter did the rest of the household work including cooking and also giving the grandson a shower.
An average day".
[he spent 40 taka on mosquito coils for the cows, and 30 on betel and tea]
Agrahayan 23rd (7th December): Ani
"Nothing unusual happened today. I did my usual household tasks. I took half an hour off to talk to my elder daughter on the phone and she told me everything is OK with them.
My husband did about two hours work in the fields with the cows and cutting grass then he went to drink tea and gossip. My son went pipe fitting for about four hours, came home for a late lunch and then he too went out to drink tea.
My daughter did some tutoring to children who came to our house".
[we recorded no transactions for Ani's household today]
Agrahayan 23rd (7th December): Alf
"It was the day for making Grameen Bank loan and savings payments today, so I went to their 'centre' in the village after calling at a neighbour's house to borrow enough money to make the payments. I went on to the market to buy green chilli and betel, and in the evening, I again watched football on the TV in the tea stall.
My wife helped a bit with the cows as well as collecting firewood and going angling in the pond. My daughter did most of the housework.
It was an average day".
[he borrowed 1,500 taka interest-free (a howlat) from his neighbour and paid 1,250 loan instalment and 100 savings at Grameen Bank. He bought tooth powder (40 taka), green chilli (25), tea and betel (50)]
Agrahayan 24th (8th December): Ani
"It was quite a normal day. As well as doing my work in the house and with the cows, I went to the BURO [MFI] weekly centre meeting and deposited my 50 taka into my savings account there. Back home I bought fish from a travelling seller.
My husband grazed the cows and weeded some garlic and arum plants in the morning and after lunch went out as usual to tea.
My son went to work pipe fitting, took a late lunch then he too went for tea and gossip. My daughter did her tutoring work".
[she saved 50 taka at BURO MFI, then bought mustard oil for 30 then at home bought 120 taka worth of fish from the salesman: her cash balance at home is 8,614 taka]
Agrahayan 24th (8th December): Alf
"Today I did only one piece of work, collecting grass for my cows, then I came by CNG [natural gas powered three-wheeled taxi] to my son's house 15 km away and I am going to spend the night here.
My wife and daughter did all the housework inlcluding cleaning the cow house and collecting leaves for use as firewood.
As I am with my son, it is a good day".
[the CNG costs him 80 taka and bought a snack for 20 to take to his son and he bought tea and betel for 40. His cash-at-home is only 607 taka]
Agrahayan 25th (9th December): Ani
"Today is Friday [the public weekly holiday] so my daughter did not do any tutoring, she helped me instead with the housework. We took care of the goat and cows, cooked, cleaned the verandah and the yard and so on. I also went to the nearby shop to get sugar and medicine.
My husband weeded the garlic and arum, baled some straw, then went for tea and gossip. My son went to do pipe fitting for a short while then helped me bale straw. He gave me money he had earned.
We are in good health generally though I am a bit sick. It was an average day".
[her son provided 1,000 taka of wages, and she spent 30 taka on 250 grams of sugar and 10 on medicine for herself]
Agrahayan 25th (9th December): Alf
"I came back home from my son's place early afternoon, paying 70 taka for the CNG and on the way I stopped to buy vegetables. After dinner I took tea and betel at the market.
My daughter cooked and cleaned and looked after her mother and showered my grandson. My wife cleaned the cow house and fed the cows.
This was not a good day as there was no income, only spending".
[as well as the 70 taka CNG ride he bought cauliflower (20), spinach (20), dry fish (20), airtime for his phone (30), betel (20), and tea and betel (50).
Agrahayan 26th (10th December): Ani
"Today my husband didn't do any work; he slept until noon then had his bath and his lunch then he rested again for two hours then went to the teastall and gossiped with friends until night. However my son did go out for some pipe fitting work.
I was busy with taking care of the cows and the housework, grazing the cows, and doing a bit of shopping at the neighbouring shop. My daughter did her tutoring work with children who came to the house and she helped prepare food.
I heard today that two people from nearby houses have died.
Still, I suppose this was an average day".
[the only transaction we recorded was her buying puffed rice for 40 taka]
Agrahayan 26th (10th December): Alf
"Again today I didn't go for brick breaking. I was at home caring for and feeding and grazing the cows.
I went to the market to buy bananas and to drink tea and chew betel. At night I watched World Cup football.
My daughter looked after her son who is a bit sick today and she did the cooking and other housework.
This was a bad day".
[he bought 50 taka of bananas for his grandson and spent 30 on tea and betel for himself]
Agrahayan 27th (11th December): Ani
"Today was the death anniversary of one of our neighbours so my whole family went to that house to eat three times. My husband and I helped them arrange the food.
Before that I looked after the cows and and I went to the shop to buy salt for the cow and for us. My daughter did her tutoring work and she also helped with cleaning and other household work.
It was on the whole a good day".
[she spent 45 taka on salt for the cows and 35 on salt for the home]
Agrahayan 27th (11th December): Alf
"My younger grandson didn't go to the madrassa because of being sick. We gave him more of the medicine I bought yesterday. My daughter was busy looking after him so she did not cook. My wife, though she is poorly, did the cooking today, and some other household jobs.
I didn't go for brick breaking and instead stayed at home and cleaned and fed and grazed the cows. Later on I went out to drink tea and chew betel in the market.
It was a bad day".
[we recorded no transactions for Alf today]
Agrahayan 28th (12th December): Ani
"My son didn't do anything today but my husband did some weeding of the garlic and arum. My daughter did her work as a tutor to some children who came and she also helped clean the house.
As for me, I did my usual jobs with the cows and with cooking, and I carried firewood from the yard to store it properly in the kitchen. I went to Pidim [MFI] to make my loan repayment and savings.
Nothing unusual happened and we are all more or less well. An average day".
[we recorded the Pidim loan instalment at 500 taka and the savings at 50]
Agrahayan 28th (12th December): Alf
"After some days I went brick breaking again today. That was after collecting grass for the cows and cleaning their house. In the evening I went to the market for tea and betel.
But late at night my daughter-in-law brought my son to us as my son has fallen ill. I took him to the hospital and spent two hours there and left my son there overnight.
My grandson also remains sick and his mother looked after him as well as cooking. My wife prepared breakfast and did some house cleaning.
So it was a bad day".
[by the evening we had recorded only 30 taka spent on tea and betel]
Agrahayan 29th (13th December): Ani
"Today was a very ordinary day with nothing exciting. Again my son didn't do anything all day, and my husband did a bit of weeding.
My daughter did her tutoring work and she cleaned the house.
I looked after the cows and the goat, grazed the cows in the field and cooked dinner for everyone, and performed some puja.
[we recorded no transactions for Ani's household today]
Agrahayan 29th (13th December): Alf
"Today was a terrible day, because I had to come back from brick breaking without doing any work because my son became much sicker. I borrowed some money [a howlat, interest-free] from a neighbour to give to my daughter-in-law for hospital expenses, and to hire an ambulance to take my son and his wife, and my wife, to the main District hospital in Gazipur town. One of my nieces went along too to help with the admission procedures.
My daughter did the housework as well as looking after her own son who is still sick.
In the evening I went to the market to take tea and betel with some guests who have come to see how my son is.
It was a sudden shock making this a very bad day".
[he borrowed 13,000 taka from a neighbour and gave 11,000 of it to his daughter-in-law and 800 for medicines for his son, and paid 1,000 for the ambulance hire; then he spent 100 entertaining guests with tea and betel]
Agrahayan 30th (14th December): Ani
"Today my son went out and did some pipe-fitting work and my husband did some weeding in our garden.
I did my usual jobs of looking after the cows and goat, grazing the cows, washing clothes, and cooking. My daughter did her tutorial work and some puja duties.
Nothing unusual happened and there was no bad news from the neighbourhood.
It was a good day".
[they bought 70 taka of detergent and 20 of biscuits]
Agrahayan 30th (14th December): Alf
"My younger grandson is a bit better and may start at the madrassa again from tomorrow. But my son is still in hospital in Gazipur and will need an operation so we will need money for his treatment so today my wife went to ask Grameen Bank [an MFI] to ask for a loan.
I didn't go for brick breaking but I did care for the cows. My daughter did the housework including cooking as my wife went on to the hospital.
The other grandson is still with his great grandfather - he's been there all this month.
This was a bad day again".
[we recorded only 30 taka spent on tea and betel for Alf]
and that concludes a month in the lives of Ani and Alf
Updates
15th December: Alf's wife got her Grameen Bank loan, of 50,000 taka: she in effect rolled over her existing Grameen loan by repaying the 7,100 that was still outstanding. They gave 30,000 of the loan to their son and daughter-in-law. The son had to be transferred to a Dhaka hospital for surgery.
19th December: Alf borrows a further 20,000 taka, this time from his sister-in-law, and passes 16,000 to his son for treatment.
22nd December: Alf's son is back in Alf's home from hospital after surgery on his gullet. Alf is buying lots of special food for him.