We are coming to the end of another week, and another year here in Nepal, as Saturday is New Years day. The Nepali year has 12 months, but they are about two weeks out of phase with the Roman calendar, and new year comes around the middle of April. This system was developed in India 2063 (now 2064 years ago) years ago, but I think Nepal is the only country that uses it.

Photo shows a spectacular lightening storm over Pokhara.




It has been another busy week and time is flying by. Elle has taught English to two groups of ladies from church who really appreciate her. She is also a temporary 'Expat team coordinator' and has been busy preparing accomodation for a new nurse arriving over the w/e. I have been trying to write a paper outlining INF's approach to 'community based rehabilitation' for a potential new donor and struggling to review the first half year's financial reports – not the most inspiring, but a good way to learn about what is going on around the organisation.






Easter was a great time – the Pokhara chuches got together and had a massive rally through the town. Then a group of us stayed the night at a viewpoint overlooking Pokhara and saw a fantastic Easter morning sunrise. Hope all of you had a peaceful break.

(photo: part of the crowd at the Easter rally)




By her own exemplary standards Evie has had a troubled week, sometimes waking at night and not wanting to eat anything but bread. She is still great fun though – we have a long bookshelf and her favorite pastime at the moment is rearranging all the books onto the floor. She can currently reach the bottom two shelves, and it won't be long before no-where is safe. In a failed attempt at an April fool gag I left some large plastic insects at strategic points around the house, and woebetide any real snakes or scorpions that got inside as Evie would now head straight for it and try to eat it.

A mulbery tree outside our house has been causing great excitement over the last week. As its fruit started to ripen it attracted kids from all over the neighbourhood and nearly gave our landlord a heart attack – whenever he saw them he would run out of his house waving a stick throwing stones at the kids who would run off shrieking with laughter. One time I went out and thinking I could reason with them in my broken Nepali respectfully asked them if they knew they were stealing. One pulled a moonie at me while the others made monkey noises - I think they knew who was boss. Lack of respect is clearly a global phenomena – and they haven't even got hoodies here!

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