More interesting than some of the others days...
First, the usual routine of waking up at stupid hour (7am), getting dressed, and going downstairs to sit at the front of the building for a while with a cup of tea that magically appears (amazing staff!!). This time, Mark was there with me to keep me company. Then, breakfast at 8 - Bikash, one of the older boys, always comes down at 8, greets me then says it's time for breakfast. Breakfast disappears within 10 minutes, after all the children have had 1sts, 2nds, and sometimes 3rds of rice!! They eat so much it's crazy!! Huge appetites!!
Then it's upstairs to help the kids get ready for school. Sabina (the girl in the wheelchair with paralysed legs, who I found out today, fell from a tree when she was younger which caused a spinal cord injury) has taken a liking to me so always wants me to push her upstairs and help her get ready for school. The school bus comes at about 9ish (it varies a lot!!) and then I go upstairs, brush my teeth etc.
Today there were 4 kids off school. The usual troublesome 3 - little Kumar (who I thought was a girl oops!!), Subash (he has a lot of trouble walking but stumbles around confidently and constantly falls over but seems happy still), and Ayog (the little boy with a cast on his leg who I think I mentioned yesterday) - and the new girl, Parmisha (I think that's how you spell her name). Parmisha kept to herself for a while, so I sat around watching the boys fight over a football and get into some sort of violent wrestling (not great but it keeps them busy...). Mark and I then walked up to Thali, either a district of ktm or a village/town, to get some supplies. It was a 5 or 10 minute walk uphill in 11am heat (it was so hot today!!!!) but it was worth it. At the top there were little shops everywhere, but we chose a small supermarket. I found so much food!! Chocopies, chocofun bars, more Parle-G, and...... WAI WAI NOODLES!!!!!! Finally!! I bought so much food and it only came to 315 - about £2. Very good!! We then walked back down to DNC where the boys were still fighting.
Parmisha and I sat down in a quiet spot away from the boys and did some drawing and games together. Then the boys thundered and crashed in disturbing the peace. But THANKFULLY they found some jigsaw which kept them happy and quietish for at least an hour or so!! I must remember that!!
Then it was lunch. Pani Puri and takari!! Amazing food!!
I then took Parmisha, Ayog, and Kumar into the library to read them a few books. Managed to get through 1 and 1/2, then they wanted to do some colouring. So I got that out, and Ayog found a Scooby-Do book which he loved!! If I paused for even a second, he would tap my arm and point to the book and say "here". This is the kid who runs around noisily with a casted leg, shouting and singing at the top of his voice. They also seemed to love the Where's Wally books, arguing over who found him first on each page.
We then had a go at some bowling in the physio room, with plastic balls and skittles. That somehow managed to get violent so we turned to the keyboard. That also got violent!! But by the time it did, the other children had got home from school and a few were waiting for the physio to arrive so joined us and broke up the shouting. The physio finally turned up and I helped a little, by holding Sabina's legs in place, or by watching Parmisha try walk in a straight line.
I then helped Sabina with her homework, and she tried teaching me some Nepali. She also taught me how to write my name. Very different from how I originally learnt, but they complimented me on my Nepali handwriting which brought a smile to my face. I've never been good at handwriting!! Those of you who've seen it will know that I write like a 10 year old boy!! Supper came quickly (which was good as I was so hungry!!) and we all ate our dal bhat speedily again, then went back upstairs.
Muna(lisa) did an amazing drawing and poem (which she wrote!!) which you can see in the picture. She said she wants to be an artist when she grows up. She'll be an amazing one!! And she writes beautiful poems (like the one in the picture) but she says she refers writing Nepali poems because she doesn't like writing in English much and she dislikes English literature, especially poems. I think I agree with her!!
After she finished her drawing and poem, it was time for bed for the younger ones (and for me!!), so I had a (quick) cold shower, write this and now going to bed!!