Day 171

Things are a little better. My bank refunded the ATM error. My tenants are still paying. Rufus has recovered from his electric shock and the hoover is fixed. Fern's boil is healing (we've affectionately named it Susan, geddit?). But poor Leslie is still dead. We discovered the local climbing centre as part of my 'physical education programme' and Fern has taken to it like an inappropriately-dressed fish to water. She rocked up in pink knee length frilly socks and a polka dot playsuit, strapped herself in and ascended in minutes. She has the build, confidence, mentality, agility and strength to be a really good climber. I just need to get her some more suitable clothes. She has climbed before many times in the UK and shows real talent. She has now decided she wants to be the youngest Scottish girl up Everest - good for her, I had better start saving. She needs £65,000 - donations welcome. Clover is also very good but spends most of the time spinning upside down on the climbing wall, preferring to test the safety of her harness rather than actually climb anything.

The power cuts are horrendous now but at least the 'government' are kind enough to issue residents with schedules, so we can plan our candle lit vigils in advance. It is much more fun when you are eating out or shopping and suddenly are plunged into darkness. People actually just carry on, bumping into each other in the dark or spilling soup. And nobody seizes the chance to loot and rob, like they would in Glasgow. Even I took the opportunity in a Thai restaurant to shove the pretty flowery chopsticks into my bag when the lights went out, I just couldn't help it.

I went to the 'Christmas Bazaar' at the Hyatt hotel. It was a true obnoxious ex-pat event full of giggling Nepalese selling over-priced cashmere and fake Himalayan honey to uptight European women - who would then hand the bag to the nanny who walked slowly behind. These people seem unable to carry their own bags or their own children. Celia (my Aussie mate and another person who finds ex-pats hilarious) and I wandered about laughing, b****ing and trying to spend no money. Hari came with us too and he just wanders about, stunned and shocked at the wealth and rudeness of Westerners. We overheard one American woman saying to another, without any hint of embarrassment, 'Darling, I have just seen the most wonderful Tibetan yak soap, I'm going to get Sukriti to use it to clean the marble'. If I was Sukriti, I'd put the soap in the end of a long sock and hit her hard across the head with it while she slept. The issues with ex-pats are exactly the same as any group of immigrants coming into our country - the fears and social problems are the same - 'they don't mix, they live in insular communities, they dress differently, they disrespect local values and culture' - it is the same things ex-pats do abroad! I did end up buying some lovely locally-made felt Christmas tree decorations to please Fern and Clover- and a tree! We also bought all three girls a pony ride and a strawberry tart. How ex-pat is that?!!! The kids all played happily on the expansive lawns for hours and hours, running through sprinklers in the sun while Celia and I debated our lives and the choices we had made. I love her. She is funny and down-to-earth and wise. Caspian and Rufus (these names are even making ME laugh) returned from another day of rock climbing and joined us for a while.

We went home, made pom pom animals and flower fairies out of felt and put up the Christmas tree. The four of us sat in awe at the twinking fairy lights - until the power went off.