Hi, we have just had a tremendous thunder storm, fortunately I could see it coming and cycled backe very quickly to avoid it. Whenever there is going to be one you see the clouds gathering and the sky turns black, but you know you are safe until the winds blow and then all hell let's lose. We have had impressive lightning and thunder overhead. Lightning kills many people in this country - particularly out in the villages.

I saw two impressive sights cycling to school this am - the first was a motorbike with two passengers, but the pillion was holding and pulling along a wheelbarrow full of building equipment. That was followed immediately by a motorbike with four people on towing a little trailor with 6 young children in, but none wearing clothes. Yesterday I rode three on a motorbike, piseth was taking a boy home and I went along too for the ride and to see his home. Then hurrying home I was overtaken by bikes loaded with quacking ducks, presumably on their way to market or for the evening pots.

On Monday am a village elder came to school saying that boy had been taken to the hospital with a very high fever. She was told we would help if there were further problems so off she went. At lunchtime both she and the Chang appeared walking, she carrying his drip on a forked branch held above his head and him attached by tubes into his arm. It was well over 30 degrees and they had walked quite a long way. Again after discussion she was told we could not do anymore so they had to go home, but a lift was offered and the three plus drip got onto the motorbike and home they went. You do not go a day without seeing people walking or riding on bikes/motos/tuk tuks with a drip attached. Everyone has to pay for medical treatment here and their relatives have to do all their caring and take in food and miss work so nobody stays in unless it is unavoidable.

The weather is slightly cooler this week and at times nearly pleasant, but still not as much rain as they would expect for the season.

There will be one very exciting entry after Friday. I am going with another school, ABC@s Rice on an outing to a temple. Lindy, the Oz girl I am friendly with was given some money by an Oz friend to spend on the children and the visit is it. I have invited myself along as an extra helper. Approx 100 kids will be going in 3 trucks on a 4 hr journey - the kids will never have been out before. I do worry about the organisation of lack of it and I'm sure they won't understand stay with your teacher. There Khymer teachers don't seem anywhere near a sgood as ours. So a very interesting day in prospect. Wait for the millions of pics that I hope I will be able to load.

We are going at 3am on Sat to the temple to experience the Buddhist festival of Pchum Ben - it is when you take gifts of food to appease your deceased ancestors and to ensure you have a good coming 12 months. The spirits only come out during the dark, and balls of sticky rice are thrown for them. Gifts of food are also taken for the monks. This festival lasts 15 days and culminates on 8th Oct with big family and village parties. I don't know what we'll see. I may try and get M and J up early one morning to witness the pagoda bit.

Jo, I have been trying to take more photos of my friend dog to prove that I am not exaggerating - hopefully I can upload them to show you.

Need to plan my Art, Thurs has come around again!

Have a good, J x