Settling into the new house

Hi all - Apologies - I'm getting really bad at keeping you all updated with the happenings here in Kathmandu.

Life continues to be frantic. We've just had a couple of weeks off during the major Hindu festival of Dashain. Lots of nervous goats were hanging around before the holidays and now they have all been slaughtered and eaten by everyone... Meanwhile we went of trekking.

Wow. We went to Langtang which is a few hours drive from Kathmandu. It is largely Tibetan and Tamang people groups there so the Dashian goat slaughtering was missed. Thankfully. We had an amazing trek, we travelled with our new found friends the Kemptons from Sheffield duck and it was brilliant fun. Kids got on like a house on fire and the grown ups managed to get some free time. Fantastic. Lulu walked the whole way right to 4100m altitude. Toby was the hero and Tanka out guide reckoned he is the strongest 8 year old he's been trekking with. Always at the front and the first to get to the days destination. Good work fella. Ollie was fantastic but came down with altitude sickness at 3500m so I had to escort him down the mountain while he was throwing up and suffering from bad headaches. Poor guy. Amazing though that the sickness disappeared as soon as we got down below 2000m. George and everyone battled on to the top where they got to see a glacier lake, lots of mountains and a yak cheese factory.

Photos are on facebook - and hopefully showing as a slideshow at the side...

We've moved into a new house (or apartment) it is very snazzy with lots of extra space. Snazzy in a Nepali sense before we get carried away with ourselves... we've run out of water about a dozen times since we moved in so I'm constantly downstairs in the landlord's sitting room asking him to pump water into the rooftop tanks. We are also being patient with the workmen constantly traipsing (that's probably a Norn Iron word which some of you will not understand) through the house as they work on connecting hot water, solar panels, cementing stuff etc. It's getting a bit tideous. I asked for a phone line to be put in the other day and was given a roll of 20 meters of cable and asked to take as much as I wanted!!! Where was BT when I needed them! Tomorrow we're getting a garden! Up until now it has been a derelict parking space but tomorrow we're getting turf. Should be great.

The place is brilliant but we're sorting out a lot of teething problems as it is all new to the landlord and it's the first time we've lived with our Nepali landlords underneath. Thankfully it means great security though and we were happy to return to Kathmandu having NOT been burgled. Things to be thankful for!

Other family news... Ollie and Lulu need to go to the dentist...

Curries has opened down the road...

Tescos have opened a superstore just round the corner...

Work is going well - we had a great 'learning review' before the holidays where 120 field staff got together to discuss UMN strategy stuff and help us think through some of the issues relating to the strategic planning. Very helpful.

George is in good form. She's joined the Kathmandu chorale and is rehearsing for a Christmas carol concert. I'll be doing the sound so watch this space for a snippet after the gig.

Kids are great - just back to school today so tired out but excited to catch up with friends. Now we have a garden I'd imagine there will be more friends round after school and lots of running around. Great stuff.

OK - sorry for getting slack with the posts I'll try to keep them coming. Cheers.

Much too long

Hi guys - sorry it's been way too long since my last blog post.

It's been busy... I'll try to keep this all short and maybe I can then update more often. Good in theory but not sure how it will work.

Anyway news here is that we have found a new 'house'. It is peculiar but it looks to be in a quieter place, will be more secure and has better outdoor space so we're looking forward to moving in. On the downside, it is wacko inside with the Kitchen on the 3rd floor at the back of the house and the stairs aren't really connected to the main living space so you feel like you're going into another flat when you go from one floor to the next. Ah well. We'll see what happens

Other news, George has dyed her hair pink / red. Good ol' Nepali hair dye has meant that a few towels have been wrecked as every time she gets her hair wet (which is a lot at the minute because the monsoon rain is still here) pink / red splodges end up on clothes and everywhere. It looks good though and she's enjoying the new look.

The kids are doing great. Toby was in a swimming gala today and has done really well in the last few weeks. Ollie has taken up gymnastics - he can actually point his toes and has an incredible body for it - not like his dad! Lulu has started ballet and is killing us with her floaty arms and constant tutu changing ability!

Loadshed is continuing to rock the nation. We're now a 6 piece as the previous guitarist has returned and they've decided to keep me too! Yippee. We are rocking and preparing for a gig at the end of October. Can't wait.

Work is frantic at the minute - we're right into the thick of the strategic planning process. Lots of meetings / discussions and we're preparing for a big 'conference' type event in the coming weeks. It's busy but great.

Health and Safety? Well we might have gone mad in the UK but take a look at this building site nd see how many you can spot.

Yes, it's women with the baskets on their backs, yes the men are lifting the cement to the top of the building, yes its bamboo scaffolding... comments welcome as to how many H&S issues there are.

I'll post more later. Take it easy.

Cheers

Ding ding... round 2!

Hi guys,

Apologies that it has been like ages since I last blogged, I've just been having too much fun and besides I felt guilty sitting outside the Jumpin' Jack Cafe for their free wi-fi!

Yep well our trip to Bangor was a lovely surprise and sadly it just flew in. Thanks so much for all those who we saw - you are all amazing and we miss you loads. We had such a great time catching up with everyone and despite the business of trying to unpack a 5 bedroom house and prepare to leave again we had a blast. Thanks.

You all might have heard the saga of our planned return. The plan was for us all to fly to Manchester and then George was to stay in England to see my brother and his lot and her Aunt etc while I was to fly on to Kathmandu but things didn't quite work out that way. While I was packing them into the hire car I put my back pack down and when I went to get it a few minutes later it had gone... along with my passport... and my 3 day old Apple Mac Book pro... and my 3 day old itouch... and my other laptop. What a mare!!! That sinking feeling... stomach dropping... gut wrenching... blood rushing panic... I couldn't even leave my big luggage with someone for a few minutes while I ran around looking for help so I ended up having quite a work out running from one terminal to another trying to figure out what and happened etc. I stuck it out for 4 hours and then cancelled my flight to Nepal and took 4 trains to my brothers house (with 50kg of luggage!)

Ah well. It turned out well in the end. We had a nice bonus week in the UK while I got my passport replaced. I have gone and replaced the apple mac book pro too - it is soooo fantastic. Back lit keyboard and just lovely looking... mmm.

Photos of our trip are showing at the side... you can double click it and it goes full screen. Best boys day out was to HMS Belfast in London. Brilliant.

Anyway, now the bell has gone and we're back for round 2. Getting back to KTM has actually been better than I thought it might. It all feels more familiar than before and coming back to our house is nice (despite the fact that there was a 2nd attempted burglary while we were away!)

George and the kids are in the final week of holidays so they're having nice days out and then swimming in the afternoon.

I'm back at work which has been good... it's taken me a little while to get back in the swing of things and I've had to go through emails etc to recover some of my lost files but I'm getting there.

Anyway, things are good. Kids are great and George is in good form. Take it easy and I'll hopefully update this more regularly again.

Cheers

Homeward Bound...

Woohoo!!! I'm in the Orynx lounge in Doha airport and it rocks!

It's soo clean... the chairs are soo comfy... there's free snacks.

Oh yes. It's ace.

It's the little things like San Pelligrino, bree & bacon sandwiches, quality coffee, toilets that flush without making me feel guilty, clean showers.

Man going home is going to be good!

Well, what's happened since the last post? Last Friday 'Loadshed' took the Kathmandu Soltee Crowne Plaza by storm. We had a quick practice at the studio, headed off to don the glitter costumes and then took the jeep over to the hotel. We spent a good half hour walking round the place pretending to be real rock stars and then after our meal we rocked out!!! It was brilliant fun. Check out the photos for some top silver pant action. Man I loved it. And my pants didn't rip which was a definite possibility as I'd borrowed them from Lulu's teacher at school. I got a recording of the gig too. Next stop itunes!

Saturday, George and I were treated to a leisurely breakfast coz the kids were on a sleep over. Bliss. Then we headed off to the British Embassey for a leaving do for our friends the Darlings. Very sad :(

This past week has suddenly sped up as I've been away on a retreat for the UMN Leadership - trying to help us think through strategy and George has been trying to get us ready to go home for a few weeks. The kids have had a blast as it was creative arts week last week and then sports stuff this week. Ollie won sportsman of the year which we're all dead chuffed about - especially as he went up a year at Easter!!! Maybe he'll be playing for the Lions next... but I'll not talk about the Lions.

Yesterday we had an early birthday party for Ollie so he could invite his friends from here. It seems to be party season as Toby was off rock climbing at another friends party and Ollie was out today at another!

Anyway, right now we're enroute home for 3 weeks r&r. We can't wait. Bangor here we come!

Shed Loads

Alright folks thought I'd better keep you posted about the highlights of my latest forray into the world of rock stars and Bollywood heros...

Since the last post a lot has happened...

I went to the band practice, I went to the party, I got a whole effects rack just for my guitar... I hadn't a clue how to use it but is pumped out some wick'd distortion... then it broke and I was back to square one... we played the gig, it was wild, the crowd were in a frenzy and we rocked the house!!! We left the crowd cheering for more and thought it would be smart to leave the stage, wait for the whoops and calls for encore to die down and then go back on... bad move... as soon as we left the stage the dj whacked on some brilliant funk music and the crowd quickly forgot who we were!!! I'll remember that next time!

Next morning I felt like I'd made official rock god status... George wasn't too convinced but it's been hard coming to terms with a new calling into the heady world of rock n roll. I'm ready for it though!

After the dizzy heights 2 band members have been off travelling so we've been brought down to earth with some pretty ordinary band practices. Next week is the big one though. The British School end of term ball. We're playing with 2 other bands - and we're not bottom of the play list! The teachers are up first, then the pro band for a short set, then us then the pro band and disco. I can't wait.

I've been on the search for some stage outfits... I was thinking of a shiny silver lammay suit - Bollywood hero style but so far it's been a hard one to find. I went to a few tradditional dress hire places today only to be told that 'your size too big, we no have that size...' It's not looking good.

Anyway, apart from all that stuff. George has amazingly started work!!! She started on Monday in the UMN marketing team and will focus on producing the calandar and Christmas Cards so watch this space. She's a bit nervous but will be great.

The kids are brilliant - Toby is book and sports mad. next week their having a 'creative arts' session in school so he's playing in a band... he might do well on the 12th as he's playing the recorder! Ollie is putting the finishing touches to his paper machier elephant and is excited about bringing it home. Lulu is is party season at the minute as all the parents of summer birthday kids are cramming parties in every spare mintue. It's great.

I've also made the TBS Board of Governers - obviously they saw the potential for major band fundraisers. All good.

Take it easy...

Get ready to Rok!

Hi guys,

Well what's the craic? Things here are great... the weather has changed in the past couple of weeks and we are now on the verge of monsoon. It gets really steamy hot and then there is a bit of a downpour, it's cool for a bit and then gets steamy hot again. Plus some great thunder and ligthening sometimes.

Last week I thought I was back in Norn Iron though as we had 2 days of grey fug. Wet, damp and soupy. Just like home - I must admit we haven't missed it.

We've had a great half term. We headed off to Shiva Puri - a lovely little out of the way sort of resort a couple of hours outside of Kathmandu. We went with some families from school. Great fun. Kids had a blast and the grown ups were enthralled with Scrabble - take 2 (thanks Roger Cook!) Brilliant fun. I won which was great too!!!

Sunday I managed a bit of 4 wheel driving which threw me back to Kenya. We now would like to get a car as it was great travelling independantly... Monday I was back into the office to welcome our new boss at UMN. Mark Galpin. He's great and everyone is looking forward to the changes that will come about.

After that we headed off again for an overnight in Khakini, again just outside Kathmandu, this time with 2 other families and loaded down with enough food to feed an army. We had 10 kids with us!! Weather was straight out of Bangor so we spent most of the time trying to engaged the kids indoors. Great fun though.

I've put up a few little things on the side of the blog - new photos of shiva puri, and a list of things I might see in the butchers.... we have one on the way to work which I pass everyday so I'll continue to put up the things I see... it is not for the faint hearted.

Hope you are all well.

Cheers,

PS Get ready to rok because tomorrow night 'Load Shed' has a gig, a first for me as the electric guitarist. It's great I fell like I'm 16, all I need now is a mullet and a leather jacket!

Bomb Blast

On Saturday morning there was a bomob blast at the Catholic Church close to where we live and virtually across the road from KICC - the church that we go to. 2 people died and about 15 people were injured. No-one is sure who did it or why.

See this link for more details:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gxHoFrLiSzB2EtM0TJLcpsQQRn5A


Please can you remember to pray for the people effected by the blast and our continued security?

George and I were not effected thankfully - we were 1 km away from the blast but didn't hear it. We were meeting friends on our way out of Kathmandu valley for a bit. However our church service was moved on Sunday and it is worrying to have something like this happen so close to where we live.

Thanks for the texts / emails etc asking about us.