Stuffed

Hi guys,


Well it's now officially 2 months since we've been in Kathmandu and there are certainly some signs that things are settling down...


1) The kids know not to wash their teeth with tap water

2) The nights that we do have electricity seem like a bonus rather than it being annoying when we don't have it

3) Dahl Baht (rice and dahl) seems like a good option on a menu

4) Taking our shoes off to go into someone's house seems normal

5) Cylcing out into rushing traffic and dodging buses/taxis/motorbikes etc is commonplace

6) There's no rush - things can always be done tomorrow

7) Seatbelts?

8) The kids actually ask for water at meal times

9) 7.00am is a lie in - prayer bells and dogs at 5.30am is less of an issue

10) Chocolate spread is a treat


However there are some things that we will just have to miss - chocolate... decent coffee... real croisants... walking down to ballyholme beach...


Ah well - dry yer eyes!


Things this week continue to be good and we feel really blessed for the house we've got and the friends we've met here.


Some folk have asked for photos of school etc so here are a few shots of us cycling to school - the roads are pretty quiet in the mornings but the pick up and cycle home is jaw dropping! Good job everyone goes a bit slower and are more aware of what is happening on the road.

This week we got caught out... we've got lovely Christian neighbours next door and we've been meaning to invite them over for coffee or something and then this week it caught up with us... On Monday George bought a momo cooker... (a what?) ok its like a big steamer that cooks the local delicacy called momo - dumpling like things stuffed with chicken, veg or something --- as per the photo.
Anyway we thought we'd try it out but double up tea time in case the kids didn't like them so we had a slap up feast of pasta followed by momos (about 20 of them as they come in packs of 10 and we wanted to try 2 flavours) and then topped off with carrot cake and ice cream... We were stuffed and just getting the kids up for bath time and bed etc when we got a knock on the door and an invite over to the neighbours for a spot of birthday cake. Sounded great - very kind and we couldn't possibly say no. So unwittingly we headed over next door, took our shoes off, tried to remember not to point our feet at folk in the room, sat down on the only chairs in the room, smiled and tried our best Nepali. (I had just learnt to say China is to the north of Nepal!!!) Very useful in these situations - NOT. Anyway we oohhed and aahhed at the cake appropriately, prayed, sang this is the day in Nepali and English and then tucked into the cake. Then as we were trying to figure out how to say thanks and make a sharp exit we caugtht sight of the platter of food that had been prepared...

In came a full on feast - not just Dhal Baht, but rice, dhal, meat, chicken doing something, potatoes doing something else (aloo), spinach salad, vegetable curry, popadoms and chipatis!!!

George and I looked at each other and both decided we couldn't refuse it so we put on brave faces and chomped our way through the lot trying to make as many appreciative noises as possible... I couldn't sleep because my tummy was soooo full!

Ah well.

Hope you're all in good form and it's great hearing from you.