How are you? Hope you are all fine and none of all of our bugs have found their way over to you! Little Manish had another week in hospital having oxygen and antibiotics after his first case of pneumonia (which we thought had been cured) degenerated into "serious" pneumonia. Krishna and Bishnu were back to sleeping in the hospital every night, while a stream of friends and relatives and I looked after everything at Shangri-La. Then at the end of the week as Manish was having his final check up scan they found a hole in his heart and a valve that wasn't pumping properly. A horrible shock for K & B who flew him down to a special children's and heart hosp in Kathmandu right away. Apparently it is a "weak heart" and he might be ok with medicines and possibly no surgery... Nothing we can do but wait and see what the medicine does it seems. Now they are all stuck in Kathmandu with strikes (on everything - shops, transport, schools etc) at least for the next couple of days.
Benjamin has had chickenpox for the last week at the envy of all the others - none of whom have caught it (yet). He has been incredibly brave about it and cheerfuly accepting everything coming his way - new "den" up on the first floor where he is being quarantined, leopard-spot cream for his scabs (which little mate Abishek comes to admire and laugh at from the doorway) endless games and treats of biscuits, fruit, yoghurt, juice to help the medicines go down. Just a few scabs left between him going to school now. Fingers crossed everyone else will be fine.
The first floor is fast becoming a hospital with Rupak up there as well being treated for fever... though looking much better already. Krishna says the hosps are busy with fever sufferers at the mo with the monsoon rains starting and muggy heat. Paradise for viruses.... I couldn't escape them either and was in bed for last 2 days. Fine now.Sangita (K's niece) doing an amazing job, staying nights at Shangri-La and cooking all the meals. Children fantastic at helping out with everything. Still no housemother after usual one left suddenly saying her pay wasn't enough to get her son through college and 2 more came and went one day after another. It's not hard work compared with what many do and the pay isn't bad.... Hopefully we'll find someone soon.
Sangita, Dipa and I making dahl batt
Washing the little ones
Dipa, again, helping hang up all the bed sheets after washing them all. Dipa, you are amazing! In any spare time she looks after Krishna's daughter Manashee and even volunteered to say off school to help me and Sangita out until we knew what we were doing!The kids were off school with the first strike here in a while yesterday (its all about the new constitution coming in 2 weeks) and will be off tomorrow too. Then its uncertain... They're lucky to have their new classroom kitted out in the extension where they like to spend most of their free time and Dipak comes along ever evening for some extra coaching... (see Benjamin poking his head out of his den?!)
Getting new books a couple of weeks ago for the start of the new school year. Feeling very smart with new uniforms, shoes and stationary too...
Preparing their first whole fish the other night, freshly caught from the lake
Constructing a frame in the veg garden for marrows
This was massive queue waiting for hours for petrol after strikes stopped it coming for days
This was massive queue waiting for hours for petrol after strikes stopped it coming for daysEaster celebrations:
Sunrise on Sarangot with Krishna early that morning. Little foggy but beautiful colours, views over the misty valleys and faint outlines of snowy peaks. Would have loved to have taken children but difficult getting everyone there for 4: 30am!
Choc hunt in the garden...
Attempting to make their first ever chocolate egg. It needed some drastic surgery after both halves got stuck in their dahl bowls but in the end resembled something of an egg and tasted good!
Japanese dinner one evening with Alexander (Dutch) who was staying with a host family beside Shangri-La for a few days, while teaching English. Rosanne, he studied at Utrecht until January - you don't recognize him do you??
Wedding extravaganzas in Lakeside...
Lovely Tibetan refugee lady selling jewelry at the roadside (she was making me a pair of earrings). She has lived in a camp in Pokhara for 30 years, has most of her family here but still not allowed citizenship and stuck with selling jewelry on the pavement from beads carried over the Himalayas from Tibet. Himalayan coral, fresh water pearls and turquoise, all exquisitely crafted and selling for a few pounds each.
Sooo refreshing
Last photo of today after collecting water with Manju and Bimala from Shangri-La - even though we have our own system they prefer spring water for drinking...!
All for now, sending you all lots of love,Esther xxx
