Well another year over and a new one just begun - I'm sure I've heard that somewhere before! Anyway, a fairly entertaining festive season was had by all, albeit in a low key sort of way. December started with a lighting the Xmas tree party which was good fun even with the rather obscure Jewish/Australian charades contributed by Leonie. This was followed by Carols at the embassy which was much the same as lest year apart from better singing but less mince pies! ...

So into our last 3 months in Nepal and I didn't think we'd have much going on. True enough at work - quiet at my office and G has given up completely at the Ministry now, spending cushy days at VSO instead! But looking back at my list we've done a fair amount of social stuff. Early in November our tour agent here took us out for dinner to one of these cultural evening places in a lovely old converted priests house. We thought it was just going to be us but ended...

So after 2 nights of austerity at home on our own we are inundated with visitors again. We'd had worries about S&M coming out as they'd both been in the wars before they came out: Marg had bruised her ribs and broken a finger on a hash while Stuart had cracked his shin bone on Nash Hash. I thought the Himalayan hash was dangerous so this was worrying! What else could befall them among all the opportunities in Nepal? So we kept them in KTM for the first 5 n...

Despite all our fears of her flying with Air India, Alison arrived safe and sound in Kathmandu after no problems with overflowing toilets on the planes, so first hurdle overcome! We started with dinner in the Summit and a gentle exploration of Patan the next day and acclimatisation was all going to plan. Unfortunately as we had realised from living here, nothing goes according to plan for very long in Nepal! Anyway, we decamped to Pokhara and the Fishtail lodge ...

Only in Nepal! G and I have got used to saying this about the ridiculous things that happen here on a day to day basis. For example the celebration , including felicitations from politicians, regarding the 4 year old boy who had driven his dad's car on the public roads. This was seen as a feat of enormous cleverness and clearly showed some incredible bravery and intelligence from such a young child. An interaction was held to allow him to demonstrate it again! M...