Last weekend saw Phil fulfilling his Springtime urge to slog along 26.1 miles of tarmac. As always he was 'not fit' and 'feeling very slow' and then proceeded to complete it in the amazing time of 3.05 hours coming 13th. Not quite London marathon organisation but very impressive. The race was run along largely main roads including the Kathmandhu road – so Tata trucks, buses, taxis, tractors and cows all charging past (well except the cows – those are obstacles to keep your mind alert). Officials at strategic points were trying to hold back the masses but every now and again they would lose the fight and traffic would pile across a junction whilst some poor runner tried to scramble through – does nothing for your PB time!

The last week has been frustrating. We were meant to be in the mid-west of Nepal just now visiting other INF projects but due to general strikes and a lot of unrest in that area it is impossible to travel and we have stayed put for now. Many people in the Terai, the strip of land to the south of Nepal along the boarder with India are feeling under-represented in the new governmental arrangements so are dealing with it in the only way they know how – blocking roads and threatening anyone who tries to travel. This quickly has a major impact: Nepal's gas and petrol come from India by road and blocking the roads quickly leads to shortages.

Evie is now crawling forwards in a kind of belly / commando style with associated grunts – not attractive but very effective. If sound effects are anything to go by, she'll make a great tennis player! It gets her where she wants to be amazingly quickly. She also makes her own way walking round a low table we have. She has put on a sudden growth spurt and I have now found it impossible to contain her quietly within a 2 foot square space at church.

The coming week will be our last in full time language learning. It has been a great four months, getting a basic understanding of Nepali, learning a whole new script, making friends and settling down to life in Nepal. There is a whole lot more to learn, we are happy here and really looking forward to starting work.

It is Sunday evening at the end of what has been a really busy week. Our language lessons have been in the afternoon, in theory meaning that we had plenty of time for homework and admin in the mornings, but it often didn't work out that way...

One morning we went to renew our visas. Due to the changing political situation here in Nepal, the government is delaying the issuing of free visas to INF staff, meaning that we are still here on tourist visas that have to be renewed every 30 days. This means a cycle ride across town and an hour of two in the immigration office - they are actually very friendly, although disappointed that Evie wasn't with us!

On Wednesday morning we helped a friend pack up her house before before heading home to Switzerland. Sabin has become a good friend over the last four months and has been great at introducing us to Nepali life and biking trails. She is leaving after achieving a huge amount working for INF here, and is finding it very hard to leave good friends. In the evening we went to our vicar's house for dinner – a great time with a very welcoming family.

On Thursday we went to another office picnic, this time with INF Nepal's staff from the Simpani office who oversee all INF programmes across the country. It was a good opportunity to meet future work colleagues, play some silly games and eat good food, all in glorious warm sunshine.
We are thinking of moving house and went to see a potential new place. We are torn between staying here in the south of Pokhara, where we have friends and a good church, or moving further north to reduce the commute to work. There seem to be plenty of places available to rent, so we will see a couple more before making a decision.

Friday was Shiva Ratri, a Hindu festival that is a bit like bonfire night in the UK. Bonfires are lit on every street corner, and sticks of sugar cane are put into the fires. The canes are then smacked on the ground and explode with a huge bang, exciting all the neighbourhood dogs, who join in the din.

Elle has been a bit unwell for the last few days with a bug that has left her feeling very drained, so she tried to relax on Saturday and I took Evie ~ 6 miles down the road to a lake where our church were holding a baptism service. A group of about 20 people were being baptised, and it was a very happy occasion welcoming them into the church family – we felt very privileged to be there (picture: baptism in Begnas lake).

Today (Sunday) has been flat out. The Pokhara marathon took place this morning in beautiful bright cool conditions with fantastic views of the mountains, starting from the running track just up the road from us here. I had entered last week and it gave me a good insight to Nepali bureaucracy. I had heard rumours of a marathon for a couple of months, but no-one knew where or when it would take place. Then last week banner appeared giving the date, but it still took a while to find out where I could enter. When I found the office, I was told I needed a medical examination (some would say anyone who wants to do a marathon needs their head checking...), but when I turned up at the appointed time, the Doctor wasn't there, and still wasn't an hour later. I then found out that it wasn't compulsory after all and left... (picture: Phil and Sabin before the races start)

At a cost of RS300 (~£2.50), including running vest and lots of drinks stations on route it was great value. I haven't been doing much running, but was fine until around mile 18, when it started to hurt. The last four miles were all slightly uphill. I was reduced to a stumbling wreck, but Elle and others gave great support and I finished eventually in 3hrs5mins. We then went to a picnic to see off Sabin and a couple of others who are leaving, before going to the monthly ex-pat service which was a great time of fellowship.

(picture: 3 hours and 26 miles later...)

We are all on great form here, generally staying fit and healthy. Evie had a bit if a fever a couple of weeks ago, but is now back on form and developing amazingly quickly. She is still putting on weight rapidly, eating anything within reach, and seems to be going on a bit of development spurt. She is becoming much more mobile but for the last three weeks, she has been unable to find forward gear, sliding backwards whenever she tried to reach out for something which was funny to watch, but she found it very frustrating! But then yesterday, she suddenly worked out how to go forwards, and I get the feeling life will never be the same again.... She is also developing more of a personality and becoming more individualistic – if looks could kill I would have died several painful deaths yesterday for trying to stop her sucking her thumb in between spoonfuls of breakfast.






The weather has been very English for the last few days - rain, then sun then rain again. We had our first proper downpour the other night, filling the ditches in minutes, and turning the roads into rivers. The picture to the left shows some kids making wading their way across what was a football pitch outside our house...

Language learning is going OK – we have another week and a half, before we head down to the south and west of the country for 10 days. This is where a lot of INF's projects are based and we are really looking forward to seeing more of the country. This area (called the Terai), is a strip that runs right along the southern edge of Nepal and is completely different to Pokhara in terms of geography, culture, even language said to be more like India than Nepal. It is also where there has been a lot of unrest recently, as the Madhesi's (people from that region) feel under represented in Nepal's new interim constitution, and protest in the only way that seems to get any attention here – blocking roads and rioting (search for Nepal on bbc website for more info). Following a speech from the prime minister last week it seems to have calmed down.



When we get back, we're taking a weeks holiday and thinking of going for a short trek, and then we start work.... Actually can't wait for this as the novelty of being back at school learning the language as worn off!

Namaste!



It is 6.30 in the morning, it is just getting light, Elle is feeding Evie, the kettle is warming up and it seems like a good time to start a blog. The aim being to record and share some of what we are up to here in Pokhara.



Up to now we have been keeping in sporadic contact through email, but it has been timeconsuming and unreliable, so hopefully a blog will prove more effective (and we will keep it up!?).



This morning has dawned cold and clear - a real bessing after nearly a week of (very English) cold, damp weather that meant that no clothes would dry. Evie was down to her very last nappy and we had wet clothes hanging from every possible spot around the house!



The pictures show a couple of views from our house this morning.

Let us know what you think/what you are up to - feedback much appreciated!




phil&elle&evie (pee)