I spent another day at Jana Jyoti school today. I love the assembly where the teacher blows his whistle repeatedly at regular intervals and the students do physical exercises accordingly, they then sing the national anthem before one young pupil speaks out loud that classes are to begin. I did a little Maths with the first year primary class doing 'carry over' additions! And then observed some science and Maths again with a year 6 class which is the largest in th...

If you have never been to Nepal, your image would probably be of mountaineers on snow clad Himalayan peaks or trekkers on valleys or mountain passes. Here in central Nepal, in what is the now the 'pre monsoon' season, the picture is somewhat different. Yesterday, according to Shankar, was a staggering 42 degrees Celsius and it zaps your energy. By 7.30 last night, I was in a deep sleep and had to be woken for my evening meal. Today is equally hot. I spent the mor...

I was up early this morning for my lesson in milking Shankar's cow. It produces two litres each evening and three litres in the morning. As the golden ball of the sun rose across the road, I marvelled at this simple, hard, yet satisfying life here in the village. It was surprisingly easy to pull on the udders and for the milk to squirt into the bucket. An hour from now, it will have been boiled and ready for my breakfast. What a great way to start the day. My ver...

I had only been walking for a few minutes on the way to school when I was beckoned over to join in a dance to the very loud music played on drums and horns at a local wedding party. A young man I had never met before offered me a lift on his motorbike to go the school which I accepted. I am getting into the swing of life here in the village and I had a nice welcome at the school from children and teachers alike. I did a bit of research in the school library and t...

After the busy, noisy and dusty previous couple of days, it was good today to relax and chill at my home in Daldale. There are always visitors and this morning a family friend who's 82 years of age and who is fit as a fiddle, popped over. I was told its a combination of no alcohol or tobacco, lots of fresh food, exercise and laughing a lot. Life is so simple sometimes! It's the final day of the Holi holiday today and it's peaceful where I am but there is still th...