Another belated update

Hello All,

So much to tell you.... We have moved house, been followed around town by our ex-landlord, Rachel has submitted her dissertation!!!!!!!!!! nearly been on a plane coming home, had worms, Rachel having suspected Malaria, Tarantula in the kitchen sink, 3 baby snakes found in the house, spent two weeks back in Phnom Penh completing our language training, been to a Khmer "Karaoke" House and we now have internet at home so we can skype more often!!!!! So we apologise for not updating you sooner but we have been a bit busy!!!!

Firstly our new house is one that we originally looked at in April (seems like a very long time ago) and we discarded it as it wasn't a wooded house on stilts!!! Our new home is a concrete house with 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom and AIR CON!!!!!!! although we can't afford to switch it on as electricity is so bloody expensive here. Our new landlord and his family are wonderful, they can't do enough for us. His 10 yrs old daughter always comes to see us and she has started practicing Yoga with Rachel!!!!

Along with the new house we have had 3 baby snakes that have somehow managed to find their way here - they were all captured and released back in to the wild (thrown over next doors concrete wall). The Tarantula was captured and lets just say it won't be coming back!!!!!

Rachel continues with her work at Stung Treng PHD and is finding it a challenge. She is getting to know here Khmer colleagues slowly (everything in the country is done at a snails pace!!), she has her 3 month review coming up and she will be putting forward her ideas of what work she wants to do with the community. After 3 weeks out of the office (language training in PP) she was summoned by her boss to attend a very important lunchtime event that the Governor (we have already met him for drinks previoulsy!! more below) was attending. It transpired that Rachel was placed on the top table with the Governor (her boss was on a lower table and sat on a plastic chair!!). After several "bottoms up" Rachel was told by her boss to forget about that meeting this afternoon and stay and drink more red wine (with ice)... Rachel also spent some time dancing with the Governor!!!!!

We originally met the Governor as Anthony's boss (Mr Chan) invited us for afternoon drinks one hot Sunday afternoon.. It transpired that the drinks were being held at the Governors farm estate and many "influential" local businessmen/politicians were in attendance. These lunches turn out to be a 1 hour drinking binge... Anthony had to share a bottle of 35yrs old Johnny Walker Black Label with another guest as the gentleman had never had the opportunity to speak to let alone drink with a native Englishman!!!! Needless to say I didn't let the side down and drank what was put in front of me!!!!

Anthony is going to work most days at the silk weaving centre (the beauty of being a true volunteer is he can work when he wants and for as long as he wants!!!). The centre and in particular the women continue to amaze him. He had to interview them last week (a funder from USA wanted some background knowledge on the women) and to hear their stories of terrible childhood memories to what they still dream to be is inspiring.

The local people here are wonderful. We have a veg woman who shouts at us as soon as she sees us entering the market and then she tells us what we want!!!! Brilliant - the quality of the veg is good and she now throws in a freebie (a whole egg plant the other day!!!). The local supermarket, Grumpies, (as the owner is such a miserable sod) now offers discount on crates of beer!!!! The baguette woman laughs at our Khmer pronunciation - no freebies off her yet so might have to try another bread person! The head monk of the Pagoada (where we teach English every Friday) has a soft spot for Anthony and always holds his hand when talking to him... something he would NOT accept back in UK..

We have now been in Cambodia just under 6 months and only have 10 months to go.. Time has flown by, partly beacuase we are having so much fun and life is never dull here in Stung Treng or as we like to call it "Trengers". We are now planning a holiday to Vietnam (10 day trip in October) and just trying to find a good place to stay on the coast.

Over and out from Cambodia and hopefully we will be able to speak to you soon via skype...