13/12/07
I have just been covered in dust cloud from hell! The road I bike to work on has become so dry now that any car flying over it creates this giant dust cloud of such fine dust it seems to permeate every available surface and orifice! Yesterday I was talking to my colleague and become conscious of not being able to see him clearly. I took of my specs to discover a thick layer of superfine dust! No wonder! Still at least I’m not in Mondulkiri, where not only is it incredibly dusty, it’s also red dust – thankful for small mercies eh? Cough, cough…
P.S. can someone explain the English grammar rules of when to use a/an. I get the general concept of consonant and vowel sounding words – but uniform sounds like it begins with a vowel to me – but still we say a uniform not an uniform! WHY??!!! Jeez why does English have to be so difficult? There are so many rules, just when you think have got your head around them you come to this extensive list of exceptions! Why have the rules if there are going to be exceptions – could we not just bugger the rules and make it up as we go along?

10/12/07
Oh dear god; someone remind me never, ever to travel to Mondulkiri again in a 4x4 car. That was simply THE worst journey I have ever taken, in the whole history of everness. I still feel sick and that’s after 36 hours rest! Urrrggh. The road is bad, but when I came on the bus last time – although the journey was long, it was reasonably comfortable. This time however, I got a lift in the back seat of a 4x4. I was being thrown around like a bingo ball in the National Lottery machine. The chassis of the car was so high it seemed to magnify every single bump in the road tenfold. This wouldn’t normally be a problem except that the road to Mondulkiri is not so much bumpy but cavernous. Ooh – you know I can’t even write about it, making me feel sick just thinking about it!

07/12/07
If you watch out for them, I am convinced that nearly everyday, something funny will happen. When I came to Mondulkiri last time I recall sitting down to dinner with my colleagues, everyone is chatting about languages and asking me what different things are in English. One of the guys says to me “there’s one word I keep hearing in films and I don’t know what it means – can you tell me?” “Sure” says me, trying to be helpful. “What is it?” “Shit!” (You see Mum; even now I am turning the conversation to shit!)
Well crikey, what would you do in that situation? I was nearly doubled up and crying real tears at that point; so unexpected was the question! Somehow I managed to get through this, but not convinced he really understood why I was laughing so much!
I was travelling down to Kampong Cham this morning on the bus to do a presentation for the new volunteers (hark at me! I'm no longer a newbie!), just trying to mind my own business and catch up on some work reading – to find I’m being distracted by people retching from both ends of the bus. Anyone who has spent some time on buses in Cambodia will realise this is not an isolated incident! The business of hacking up and spewing up is one of the familiar sounds of Cambodia! Sitting in the bus listening to it all going on just made me grin though as it was just like that bit in “The Goonies” – where Chunk is telling his life story to the villains, including the time he faked vomiting in the theatre. Oh yes, there are certainly some strange and wonderful memories I will be taking back from here 

Where’s the central heating in this wooden house of mine???
30/11/07
You’re probably getting sick and tired of me complaining about the cold here – but get comfy or stop ready coz I’m about to do it again! It’s 6.15am and I’m sooooo cold. In fact I’ve been cold since going to bed. Last night was the coldest I’ve been yet in Stung Treng. The first time I’ve dragged out the winter jammies (I’m talking fleeced winter, cover everything PJs here) and wore socks to bed. And I was still cold. The first time I’ve realised the jumpers I’ve brought with me are not sufficient. The first time I’ve wished I brought a scarf with me! Holy cow, who knew 18°C could feel so flippin’ cold. First chance I get I am nippin down to the market to buy some warm jumpers +++