A week that began with flooding and school being closed, but then saw water levels subsiding and road surfaces disintegrating and becoming very dangerous, deep craters. Monday although I was prepared for school I was very excited with the phone call that said that school would remain closed as the road was too dangerous to travel along. and that the Khymer staffs homes were flooded. This was the case too for most of the children we teach and also the bridges across the river were under water too. As you can imagine I wasn't too disheartened by an unexpected day off, so began to plan my day. Fortunately, if you choose your route into town it was possible to get there and I wanted to visit the Anjali House project too. It was arranged for Ian and I to go in the afternoon so I decided to spend the morning in town. It ended up with me in 'The Cherry Blossom' shop being measured for my clothes for Richard's wedding. The skirt I love but I'm not too sure about the top and jacket, and of course, what looks good here when it is 30 degrees plus will look foolish on a cold, wet Nov day! This pm (Sat) I need to go in for another fitting, after yesterday's one I think it may be money wasted, but who knows how I'll feel when I see it all together and finished. However, I have had made two dresses come tops and am very pleased with those.

Anjali is a short bike ride from here but you do need to go along two llanes with paddy fields and water buffalo and cows tethered to the side. Anjali is a house that has been filled in and provides for children who used to survive by begging in town. Every day as soon as they arrive at school they have to shower and put on their uniform (it never goes home) and then they are given breakfast and lunch with a variety of different lessons in between. Their focus is more on the Arts than ours, but English is the language. There numbers are lower than ours, but their space is limited. They have a small kitchen garden which the children help run and the produce grown is cooked on site for lunch.

On my return from there I met Jeanmarie who persuaded me to go for a Fish Massage with her, it was her last day and it was something she was very keen to try before leaving. The sensation was really weird as the hundreds of fish attached themselves to your foot and began chewwing and nibbling asway with their sharp teeth. Once I got over the ticklish bit, it was sort of enjoyable, but I don't think much of the dry, hard skin on my feet was removed. That is the fishes only form of food, apparently they come from Turkey. later that night it was her leaving dinner before her very long flight back to the East coast of the US. She certainly went back a much different person to the one thast had arrived 5 weeks earlier. Much more worldly wise and very keen to explore the world again, either in a professional of volunteering role.

Tuesday began with the call to say school was open again, but that it was unsafe for us to cycle there, Alan was unable to collect us so we arranged our tuktuk. Although the water hadn't started to recede at that point, with care things were getting through, although many tuks and motos were breaking down. Everywhere people were walking, fishing and swimming - even in the road, there was quite a carnival atmosphere, but it was distressing to see the flooded homes and poor people struggling in and around them. The water was rushing along and all the bridges were under it too. Apparently the powers that be can control the water and they choose to protect the town for the tourists and flood the poor locals. It was an interesting but scary ride as many of the potholes were hidden. Helpful locals had put palm branches and sticks into others as a warning. Only the children who were not affected by the flooding came to school, and even those were tired as their homes leaked and sleep had been in short supply. At lunchtime, Sitha, our Globalteer housekeeper, came to school and was giving out her wedding invites to the khymer staff and Bridget and then to my amazement she gave one to me too. The invite is to a flower parade at 7:30am on 1 Nov and then to a reception at 4:30pm on that day, I'm not sure what is involved as yet, but I feel privileged to have been invited. She is marrying Sam, the manager of the Anjali House project. Twenty five members of his English famiuly are coming over for it. What to wear is another problem, but I have got a white top and pair of trousers that have never been worn - hope they will do. Footwear - fancy flip-flops!? The wedding is over 2 days and the bride and groom will have eight changes of clothing, the cost is phenominal and noone can afford it but neither can they lose face. I do think every guest is supposed to give a sizeable donation!

This week has seen a few new vols arrive, Kathleen and Nick from Middlesborough, she for 8 weeks, him 3 weeks, Peta from Brisbane, Natasha from Washington State and Flick from Melbourne, the latter two both 18yr olds on gap years. Every volunteer has been lovely, keen to mix, hard working and good to spend time with.

Wednesday we ventured out on our bikes again, not an easy or safe journey, and at times we had to walk around the giant craters, as the up ended bricks, rough stones and depth would have critically injured our bikes. As it was I had a damaged valve and flat tyre on Thurs and had to borrow a bike. The warning signs have grown more impressive, but so have to holes. Still enough water to swim in the road, but the smells are getting stronger. Amazingly, the locals balme swimming for their problems, not the polluted water they do it in.

By Friday most surface water had gone, but land surrounding homes is deep mud, revolting! The journey is still dangerous and you cannot lose concentration for a minute, but now it's back to its usual dust bowl. During the flooding many of the food stalls couldn't be reached, so afraid of losing the smallest amount of income many of the vendors moved on to higher, drier ground. Also most of the children have now returned to school, but some have missed so much for various reasons it's hard to know where to pitch a lesson.

Wednesday for my class was a very exciting day as they got to see and use a computer for the first time. Grace has been given 7 laptops - various ages and types, but they all work. Alan gas been able to set up an adequate electrical supply and with wires everywhere we had a successful lesson. The morning session was better as there were only two people to a machine but by the afternoon that ratio had changed 1:4 nowhere near satisfactory. It is exhausting teaching in a language the children do not understand, but I think now they know how to use enter, the spacebar and shift for cap letters. I hope everything will continue working ok and at some point they'll be able to get some educational software.

This is supposed to be the cooler season, but everyday is in excess of 30 and the nights are hardly any cooler, but the locals keep themselves well covered as they desperately want white skin and so don't understand us who bare all at every opportunity. I am sitting here now at 9:45pm covered in running sweat under two enormous fans.

This afternoon I went for my final fitting and am now the owner of a skirt, top and jacket - I love the skirt but the same cannot be said of the other pieces. Who knows if they'll have to be worn. Later an Australian lady cut my hair very well so that looks and feels better, just the grey ones need colouring now. We have been to the Foreign Correspondents Club for a drink tonight and then to Ankgor famous for a very pleasant cheap meal - the oldies have come back and the yyoungsters have gone to drink the night away. Alcohol is very cheap and large amounts of strange mixtures are drunk by the western backpacking fraternity. I cannot believe that I have the sense not to get involved!

The sights, sounds and stories about Cambodia continually amaze, excite and frustrate me, but one cannot see any improvement in the near future and unfortunately the people themselves do seem to be able to affect the changes that are needed for progress to be made for this beautiful country and its very hard working people, Unfortunately, any money that is being made is made by the Koreans and as soon as they have made it it leaves the country. Corruption rules the country and most people are too poor and under educated to do anything. Voluntary help from Non Government organisations will still be essential for many years. Hopefully the young children we work with now may be the ones who can and will do something. Given the opportunity they learn quickly and are very keen, but they are held back becuase they cannot afford to pay the bribes to teachers etc.

May visit some more temples tomorrow, but also need to plan next week's work and do my washing - decide in the morning.

Hope you are all well, take care and love to all, J

PS I will finish Battembang tomorrow.