No new photos sorry, I forgot to bring the camera with me to the internet shack. To be honest we haven't took many photos recently.

We've moved into a new house (I'll put some photos next time) which used to be a water tower. It's probably the best room we've had apart from hotels, it's got a little kitchenette and a balcony with deck chairs. However it's the noisiest place we've stayed yet - even though it's tucked behind the main road in a little hamlet. Between the crows cackling; unknown things rustling in the roof; water-buffalo bellowing; sellers on bikes calling their wares from 5am; local families talking at the top of their voices ALL THE TIME; and Matt stealing my bedding even though I had a sleeping bag and I was inside it at the time - it's not the most restful night. It's a bit of a shock after the Utopia where we woke up to the sounds of yoga music!

The sad news is that the restaurant hasn't done very well at all. All the restaurants in Palolem are struggling and this week is seeing some of them start to pack up. There were visa issues earlier in the year and so there just aren't enough tourists, it's very disheartening when we've come back from flier-ing with most the fliers still as there just isn't anyone to give them to. Looking at the costs and profits of the restaurant has made it clear that we aren't making money this year! Prakash our Indian partner has decided to keep the restaurant open, I believe as he'll loose face from shutting early. Personally I'd worry about meeting the wage bills but that's down to him!

Matt has been going down to the Utopia every day to keep an eye on things and I've been busy trying to organise some relevant nursing experience for myself! I've finally succeeded in making arrangements to visit a community project next Tuesday. I'm waiting for the hospital in Panjim and a Drug Re-hab place to get back to me but so far they're ignoring me! We're actually flying home on 4th Feb so it looks like I'll only have time for one visit anyway.

Other than that we've been spending some time on the beach which is a novelty as we've been busy with the restaurant up until now. Matt's determined on getting the best possible tan whereas I'm still slapping on my factor 4. Irritatingly enough I'm a little sore today and he's fine! The past few days we've been taking advantage of the DVD library in the Smugglers Arms, (a Brit Pub) where a DVD is 50R/s or 60p so we've watched a few films on the laptop. Last night for our film session (Contract w Morgan Freeman) I got us a tiffin of maasala chai, carott cake and strudel! Not a bad life eh, you can't really complain...

Writing all this has exhausted me, I'd better go and lie on the beach for a bit.

xxx