I am so busy at the moment and I'm very sorry for not having written for ages.As a result this missive is going to be random bullet points as I remember them and there will be no chronology to it at all…….so here goes.

1 - Halloween was a blast.My skeleton costume and scary make up went down a storm.We did a pub crawl going from bar to bar and were the subject of much gawping and many photographs from both locals and tourists alike.There were about 60 of us, including witches, Darth Vader, Vikings, Amy Winehouse, Borat in his swimming costume, fairies, Michael Jackson (of course) and many random others.My black all in one nylon outfit wasn't the coolest thing in the world, but it was infinitely better than the toothpaste that I originally smeared all over my face.I lasted about 1 minute before the stinging and eye watering became too much and I had to wash it off!Not my best idea ever.I also attempted to use fake snow on my hair but just ended up with it being sticky.

2 - We had a few days off school for the Water Festival, which was a big deal with locals coming in from the countryside by the thousands.The main attraction seemed to be the 2 white, blonde girls though.We felt like movie stars as they don't often see Westerners out there! We gave up and went home after Rosanne got dragged off down the street by a motorbike!The handle on her bag got caught round the handlebars on the bike.One minute she was next to me chatting and the next she had disappeared.Fortunately she remained standing and came away with only a badly bruised arm.

3 - We had another day off for the King's Day, which is the anniversary of the coronation of the king.It's hard to believe but it was 5 years ago and I was actually in Phnom Penh for it and saw it.

4 - Last week we had a family turn up at New Hope with a very sick woman who could not stand.Our doctor looked at her and said she needed to go to hospital.This involved Nang (Khmer driver) the 3 people and me hurtling to the hospital in the jeep with the horn on full blast……...no such thing as ambulances.I thought we were all going to die!Kerry had informed me that when we got to the hospital we had to queue with all the locals, but to try and get her straight into a ward.So I took her at her word and pulled up right outside the doors, grabbed a gurney and wheeled her straight into the ward and lifted her onto a bed, bypassing the queue and all the people lying around in the corridors.I think the blonde girl took them by surprise!I then found a doctor who spoke broken English and told him what she needed before heading off to the CHHRA (Cambodian Health & Human Rights) office to see if they would pay for her.When I got back, Kerry was amazed at how quick I'd beenand when I told her the story she laughed and told me that I was now on ambulance duty!!!I went back to visit a couple of days later and she was being treated for malaria and denghe fever, but was responding to drugs.I've seen cleaner mortuaries in the UK!!

5 - I'm now going to have a little rant about one of the volunteers, who shall remain nameless.She's Welsh and I love the Welsh accent, but I may have to kill her.She is one of those people who wants everyone to know where she's from and as such speaks really loudly and in the most over the top Welsh accent I have ever heard.The kids (and Rosanne) have no idea what she's saying and I even struggle at times……………..sorry dad.

I think that's enough for now…………………….I'll update you more soon!!!!S xx