Hi everyone! Here’s what we’ve been up to in our last week in Nepal. Thurs 22nd June Had a lazy morning then had another wander to Patan Durbar Square. We explored a few more side streets we hadn’t ventured down before and had a drink in the museum café. In the evening the Nepali staff at the school cooked traditional food for everyone. There was a bit of a presentation for people who were leaving Nepal now the school year is at an end. The Nepalis performed a couple of songs for us and did a bit of dancing whilst we attempted to sing along using word sheets! Friday 23rd June We had a walk down Pulchowk (main road near us) with Kate (Hellys mum) as there are lots of cool fair-trade shops. They make some amazing things from paper, clothes, woven things, straw dolls, wooden things it’s cool. I got a scarf which cost just less than £1!! We then went to Thamel and made Kate go on a minibus as she doesn’t normally use public transport tee hee! Went straight to K Toos for a long lunch and then shopped yet again (it’s so cheap it would be rude not to, we won’t be able to afford it anywhere else!) We all got various items of clothing and got a taxi home around 5pm. Best tailors rang to say the top/dress we had ordered were ready for fitting yay! We designed our own things and got him to make them, just a few adjustments to be done so will get in a few days. Watched yet more LOTR’s in preparation for NZ! Saturday 24th June Set off for a walk with Andrew and Kate at around 10.30am and headed for Choba Hill, we went through little villages, past a quarries, the river and over wobbly suspension bridges (which were made in Aberdeen!) and stopped for a drink in the village at the top before heading back. Was a very humid day so hard work climbing all the stairs and hills! We practised our Nepali on the local kids on the way around! Arrived back at 1.30pm just in time for the skies to open and cool everything down. There has been a nine day sermon on in the field across the road with a big stage and loud speakers. Lots of annoying music and chanting from 5am until 10pm everyday! It’s the last day today wooooohooooo!!!! We went to Sabinas house for tea. She is a local Nepali lady who goes to the same church as the Kohns. Her children cooked us Daal Bhaat and we chatted about her work. She is a widow and like many others was treated really badly when her husband died. She is trying to set up a business/charity in which to train widows new skills in order to look after themselves, earn a living and be more self sufficient. It’s such a good cause and is just getting started. Her daughter was designing various bowls made from recycled materials to sell and teach the women how to make. It also helps to promote recycling and looking after the environment which is practically non existent here! We have enjoyed seeing the local life, and meeting local people and seeing what really goes on as well as all the touristy stuff. Watched the last of the LOTR! Sunday 25th June Went to the International Church service over at KISC (Kathmandu International Study Centre – where Kate and Andrew teach) this morn. Then we went to the British Embassy for Lunch, there is a sort of society where all the Badeshis (westerners) can meet up and get to know each other. We had a roast beef dinner wow it was amazing! We didn’t stay too long, just got a taxi straight to Baktaphur which is a town on the outskirts of KTM. It was like a giant Durbar Sq, with lots of adjoining squares, shops, temples and ponds etc.. We saw the locals making and firing pots and weaving. Picked up our top/dress from best tailors on the way back yay they look cool!! Liz Russel came round to take us out for dinner. She works for BMS and is Kate and Andrews line manager, she was in Nepal for meetings and to check that all the BMS workers are doing fine. Hels and I left them to their serious chat after lunch and went to the bakery café for a few beers (Ja Zoo was shut nooooooooooooooo!!). On the way back I practised my Nepali which after a couple of beers and in a loud northern accent just confused the locals!! Tapaiko Nam Kay Ho? What is your name? And for anyone whos interested Pakhala means Diarrhoea which we now thankfully don’t have!! (Don’t worry didn’t shout that out loud!). We actually got back before Kate and Andrew and locked them out oooops! Had to get Santos the Harry Potter boy to come and un-padlock the gate bless him! 26/6/06 Me and dad went on the motorbike to pick up frannie (my sister) from the airport this morning but on the way had an accident. A girl stepped out onto the road in front of us looking the other way and we only had a short time to react. Dad swerved so we just clipped the girl (she is totally fine) but the motorbike then just flipped and skidded along the road and crashed into a tuktuk. im fine just a grazed toe (miraculous) and dad in fine now, although his helmet smashed so he got a bad looking head injury and has lots of stitches on his scalp and a broken bone above his eye so has a nice shiner, but it looks much worse than it is - not life threatening and superficial, and should heal fine, though he may have a bit of a scar on his bald head!!!. We call him ork features now. he is staying in hospital for a few days just to make sure hes fine and heals properly etc. BMS (mum and dads organisation) have supplied a 24hour nurse which is great. Claire and Liz Russell picked up Fran at the airport and she slept most of the day because of jet lag. Claire accidently fell asleep on the roof and got sunburnt - doh!!! We went into see dad in the evening and the swelling had gone down loads and he was sitting up and much happier which was great. We brought him round lots of supplies to stop him being bored. 27/6/06 Today we took Fran to Thamel. We went to K-Toos for the last time boohoo and had a huge steak which was yum!! Fran bought loads of stuff and me and claire both bought a skirt. Fran seemed to like it although i think she is still a bit shell shocked about being in another country and so on. We went to see dad again in the evening - he has to stay for another night to make sure. Lots of people had visited him - his pupils etc. They want him to still go to the end of term party which they have to dress up nice for - we reckon he should go as a pirate!!! went home Zoe had made us tea packed a bit and bed!! 28/6/06 Claire felt really sick lastr night and it turns out she has Gardia, an amoeba that makes her have eggy burps and trumping!! Lets hope she doesnt puke on the plane again!!! eek!!! did lots of poo packing and said goodbye to everybody at school. Dad is on his way home hurrah!!!!!!! We leave today our flights at 4.00 to very sweaty mumbai we will let you know when we get there.