This morning I was alone in the office. Bunthorn has gone off training and the boys, for some strange reason that I will come to later, failed to turn up for work. I sat there thinking about the last 4 months and came to the conclusion that the good has definitely outweighed the bad and that I will really miss this little town on the edge of the world.

As you approach the town from Battambang the first things you see are three very large monuments on the top of the hill actually within the town. Ever since I came here I have said I must climb up there for a closer look. As you all know I leave tomorrow and although everyone has said come back and visit I don't know for sure I will, so after work yesterday I climbed the hill. It was magical, I shared it with the resident monks and a few dogs. I have put photos, some out of focus, in the album called Pailin. I think they say it all better than I ever could.

After that I rushed home to change as I was taking the boys out for a thank you meal - it was supposed to be me thanking them but it seemed to end up the other way round. It was lovely. The setting would have been top class wherever you were - a private platform over water. Of the 8 people I invited 15 turned up - which is usual in Cambodia. The menu could not have been more Cambodian - included frogs, snails and local specialties. Everything (except the snails) was delicious. I was thanked by all and sundry including the governor of the province who just happened to be passing, in fact he very nearly fell over with his thanks.

There were two females there and we both stuck at 2 beers and left at about 10.30. The others didn't, now I wonder why I was alone in the office this morning.

Packed the house up during lunch, took all of 10 minutes but my possessions have doubled since I arrived. I will take a suitcase, backpack and sports bag with me on the bus. I will be leaving Sidney, boxes, containers and another backpack to be sent on.

Taking the girls out this evening then leaving early tomorrow morning.