So there's another month gone. Only 8 more to go - not that we're counting, well maybe a little bit, but it does feel like time is running away from us here. We only have to get through the monsoon then it will be a mass of visitors from home, then Christmas and then we're off. Bit scary really, having the real world looming up at us again. We've been having all the heavy conversations about what on earth to do when we get back. But fortunately we can still put that off for a bit as we're going to come back the long way round stopping in the Antipodes and Canada at least, so be warned.

Anyway, don't expect an exciting installment this month as things are all a bit routine now.

In May we had the volunteer conference, went to a "beach party" of all things at the army camp and managed to have one exciting weekend each, but unfortunately when we weren't together!

That was last weekend when Gordon went rafting on the Trisulli river while I went off to a 5 star hotel with a girlfriend for a spa weekend - think I got the better deal. It was a bit like when we went to the Hyatt with the lovely hotel room with power shower, enormous flat screen TV and of course the luxury of non-stop electricity and water. Lots of nice smellies too - its amazing what seems really exciting when you haven't had it for ages! We were on a package where all our meals were included but were extra lucky as the hotel has a really good golf course attached where they have tournaments etc and the Saturday we were there was its 10th anniversary with a celebration lunch. I think they were a bit short of guests so we got to gatecrash and the food was fantastic - smoked salmon and parma ham canapés and champagne cocktails, it was like being at the Gurkha ball again!

The hotel is set in a forest so we went for a walk as well and saw loads of deer and monkeys - in fact the monkeys were the main entertainment, trying to steal food from the outside dining areas - and, unfortunately, rather a lot of leeches so this year I have beaten Gordon to be the first to get leeched! But the swimming pool and Jacuzzi helped me get over it and I definitely think I had the better deal as while I was luxuriating G was getting thrown into the river and spending the night on the ground in a small tent, in the rain! But if he ever gets round to adding some thoughts to this blog he can let you know for himself!

The volunteer conference was better than expected. This is once a year when all the vols for the districts come to KTM and we get together to try to discuss something useful for 3 days. This year the topic was "Youth" as this is quite a big political area here - although pretty much everything seems to be political in Nepal. Anyway, we discovered that in Nepal youth is officially defined as being between 16 and 40. Does that make anyone feel better? Personally, I think this is just so the Political Party youth wings can have more members as they are the ones who always go out to do the street protests, but maybe I'm just a cynic. Anyway, we heard from a number of political people and found that bandh and vandalism/violence are still the only ways to get the message across here - a bit depressing - but also from some quite inspiring civil society people which was better. On the last night there was a party which G organized with the theme of VSO's got talent so a number of brave groups got up and did turns. Gordon with the volunteer training committee did the thriller dance which was a real laugh - see the video for a clip! I'm afraid I was very lazy and just watched, but then someone's got to be the audience.

Talking of politics it's been all change here with Prachanda resigning as PM and the Maoists being outside government again. All a bit depressing as the leadership is now all right wing and they are saying all the right things and doing nothing. The UN view - although of course they can't get involved - is that the government will try to provoke the Maoists into violence again and then try to wipe them out, together with all opposition - in fact, they are apparently talking about a Sri Lanka solution for Nepal! They have already said that they won't renew the license for OHCHR and UNMIN are expecting to not be here after July so we'll see. But no one thinks the leaders particularly care about the peace agreement or the constitution-writing, so its back to how it was with the King, just a different dynasty! I know politics have been pretty farcical in the UK recently but, believe me, it's a lot better there than here!

Anyway, on a brighter note we joined Sean and Rowena at the British Camp for a Beach party. The camp reminds me a bit of a University Union or boarding school where everyone is stuck together in this alien environment and making sure they have a good time. Real efforts had been made to make it look beachy with palm fronds everywhere and cocktails in coconut shells. We were all in sarongs and loud shorts and G and Rowena made use of the swimming pool as it was so hot. It must have all seemed a bit weird to the Nepalis most of whom have never seen the sea!

So that was it for May. Temperatures are soaring now and the monsoon is due to start on 10th June officially so wait (Ed note - no rain on 10th - so much for Nepali predictions!) and see what entertaining things have happened to us next month, if we have any energy in this heat!