Moving into my new house has been fun.

My landlady - whose name is Khatna - sent her daughter Vichka to pick me up from the guest house. We arrived at my purple house to find there was no electricity. As I have said my bedroom has no external window, I am really plesed to say I could see well enough to unpack. My lovely landlady had worked so hard and everything she had promised has materialised. I have a brand new fridge, a desk and a sofa with cushions. Everything else I think I should buy.

I loved my wooden house in Pailin but this could be a passion. It is too big but I just won't go upstairs - well I will but only to sit on the roof. I think I will love being able to sit with the doors open and listen to the kids at the front and back playing.

I made a list of things I need or want. Need comes first so off I trotted to buy a bucket, mop, floor shampoo, clothes rail (for drying clothes) and coat hangers. If there is something that is more of a local entertainment than an old fair-haired European woman walking along the main road is the same mentioned person walking back carrying a bucket..... . It was much easier second time round, my acting must be getting better.

I arrived back and decided that I would start by cleaning the table in the living room. It has been cleaned but keeping the house clean will be an uphill struggle. It is a brand new house - I can still smell new plaster. So I have local dust coming in from the road - that will only get worse as it gets drier, plaster dust and general dirt. (I can see me just accepting it and leaving it for as long as I can!!)

Anyway I turned the tap, filled my bucket, turned it off and it came off. I mean the whole thing came off in my hand. It also fell out through the grill (my open air kitchen is made secure with a grill). There I was standing watching a fountain where there should have been a tap. Mana (grand-daughter of my landlady) was sitting outside, so I called for help. She got her gran and then the child turned the water off. Half an hour later Khatna had mended my tap with Mana and I helping (well I was there). Mana - who can't be more than 10 - also connected the water to my bathroom.

I feel all this has only helped relationships between me and my landlady's family - oh and I never did clean the table!!