Happy New Year

Hi guys - I know, I know almost a month since I've updated the blog. Forgive me.


I hope you guys have all had a lovely Christmas and New Year - I'm sure it seems like ages ago now but I couldn't start the first update of the year without saying a big Happy New Year to you all... I hope it's a good one for you.


Well as usual lots to report. Christmas and New Year were great - we had a lovely time - loads of Christmasy things and loads of chill out time.


New Year we had a pirate party, first off for the kids (about 20 land lubbers and scally wags) and then in the evening we had a pirate themed murder mystery which turned out great craic.


Just after new year we took off to the Terrai for a spot of jungle action. We stayed in a great lodge and pulled our best tourist moves for a few days - checking out elephant safaris in the jungle, elephant washing in the river and lots of other elephant type things. Brilliant fun. Check out the video of Toby washing the elephant - Dph! After days of trying to get it uploaded I've decided you'll have to wait until our electricity supply improves... v frustrating! Hopefully photos will suffice.

What a laugh - don't try it at home - Toby nearly got trodden on and Ollie wasn't convinced at all.

After Chitwan we headed up to the hills to visit Tansen Hospital - the place where it all started for UMN over 50 years ago. It was lovely, a vibrant little town in the foothills of the Himalayas. In 1954, some missionaries entered Nepal on an ornothology expedition when the borders opened and while they were there they got the opportunity to do some medical work for a local dignatory and the rest as they say is history... UMN opened a hostpital and have been working in Nepal ever since.

Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves there - totally relaxing, no pollution and nothing to do but get up, read, play with the kids and go for a walk. Great.

We got back to Kathmandu without too much trouble, only to find that elelctricity load shedding has gone up to 16 hours a day. What? Well we now have only 8 hours of electricity a day, 4 hours of which are in the middle of the night...

What does that mean? Well here are some examples:

1) All the lights are on low energy bulbs

2) Our stove-top kettle is constantly on stand-by for a quick cuppa

3) We are now dead happy when we get electricity in the morning as we can have toast for breakfast.

4) The fridge has a 'Do not disturb sign' so we don't open it when the electricity is off.

5) The electric blankets George brought back from Ireland? Well they only work 2 nights a week and the rest of the time it's wooly socks and 5 layers of thermals!

Some wider implications very evident around Kathmandu include:

1) Factories and shops closing because there is no power.

2) Noticably fewer vehicles on the roads as most of the electric 'tempos' or auto rickshaws are out of action as there isn't enough energy to recharge them.

3) The Kathmandu valley water supply has dropped as there isn't enough electricity to run the pumping system.

4) Hospitals are struggling to pprovide emergency care and patients are dying.

Meanwhile, Nepali VIPs are on a robust 24 hour electrical supply ring and remain fairly isolated from the discomfort of sporadic electricity...

But before I start sounding like a grumpy old man, despite all the hardships we're still loving it.

I moved into my office last week and have had a big smile ever since as this is easily the best job I've ever had and exactly what I've been looking for I'd say for the last 5 years. The kids are back at school and are full of it - Lulu is the cutest thing ever right now. George is in good form and has restarted her Nepali language at UMN. All in all, things are good. God rocks.

Anyway, enough of my ranting - hope things are good and remember when it's cold, at least you have central heating to go back to...