A very big thanks you to those of you who have sent parcels – they have been very gratefully received. I know more are on the way so we shall be looking out for them. David has just about enough equipment now to manage 3 days a week. The little treats have been so nice - please keep them coming if at all possible.


I am also sorry that I have been so lax in writing my blog but January has been really busy and I have had so many experiences it is impossible to write about them all – here’s a few of the exciting moments –

Christmas in Stung Treng

Lucy visiting for New Year

Going to S'reydens engagement party ( which began at 7.30am)

3 day Study tour with Khymer teachers to Kampong Cham

David starting a Frisbee Club at the stadium here in Ban Lung

Going to Siem Reap for a workshop for 3 days and taking 4 days to get there and back!

Holding a training day for School Directors on how to improve their management skills.

And finally, succumbing at last to the inevitable “tummy upset” but better now.

So, I shall say a little about one or two of the above.

Christmas was really nice to stay with friends, but as Christmas itself it felt so different we did not miss anything other than family and friends. On Christmas Day we went for a bicycle ride and to visit a silk worm factory which made the most beautiful silk garments. We also had lunch there and Dave had fish and chips. Or as the menu suggested fish and ships.

This is me on my way - 150k on dirt roads -we were filthy!
We had an amazing time with Lucy and Joe which went far too quickly. I learnt to carry her on the back of my motorbike . I never thought I would be taking my daughter out on a motorbike! However, after a few days she was on her own hired bike at the huge cost of $6 per day.

On the boat trip going to an indigenous village far away in the north of the province -a brilliant day.

Lucy drinking the iced coffee at the village shop while we waited till Joe had his puncture fixed.

 I really want to tell you about my bus trip to Siem Reap. I went with my VA Narin and the journey was not too bad as he acted as a buffer really. We had to spend the night in a guesthouse halfway and arrived in SR at mid afternoon the next day. However, the journey back I had to make by myself as he wanted to spend the weekend in SR. So here goes, I was told to wait outside the guesthouse at 7am and a minibus would take me to the bus station on the outskirts of SR. At 7.15 I was getting anxious as the bus was meant to leave at 7.30, so in faltering Khymer and lots of looking at my watch and pointing I explain. The boy picks up my bag and I follow him 500m down the road to a pick up point for the bus service. 2 people checked my ticket and told me to sit down. At 7.30 a mini bus stops and I am told to get on. The last man on has no seat -after checking tickets again I am told to get off! After a telephone call from the man who told me to sit, a mini bus arrives, I get on -we drive 500m to the corner and am told to get on the big bus which is late as its waiting for me! I then demand to sit in the seat I booked -seat 1. No luck so I go to the back crestfallen as my language was not understood this time. We set off and 10 mins later arrive at the big bus station in SR and I have to find the right one for my journey. Luck is with me as someone realises it might be me holding up the 7.30 to Kampong Cham and I get on the right bus and my seat is vacant. We set off at 8.55am and the bus is full.
The young man next to me is hot and sweaty and he sleeps on my shoulder all the way. the seat behind me is occupied by a grandmother, mother and her 3 children, in the seat opposite them  is an older man who gives himself a manicure and pedicure with nail clippers and the nails clipped off are flying over us all. The man sitting across the aisle insists on trying to practice his faltering English/French whilst wearing a hat, sunglasses and a mask ( very common here to keep out the dust). After an hour or so the air-con packs up and we drive along with the bus door open, forgot to tell you about the 3 men sitting in the steps by the bus door. It was so hot and dusty. When we arrived in Kampong Cham I had a cold shower for ages and then fell asleep. So no chance of getting up to no good whilst on my own!
The next day up again for the 7 hour mini-bus ride home, at least this was very uneventful.