It's been a long, long time everyone, but I'm back. The main reason for my lack of contact is that I'm sick, hence I'm in on a Friday night and writing this.
Just before Christmas I got a new temporary job, managing a restaurant. Friends I've made here are both involved in a business comprising 5 restaurants and bars in town. Zoe is English and has been sick on and off for a fair few months and so decided to head back to the UK to see a doctor who knows something about medicine. A member of staff at the restaurant took his pregnant wife to a doctor who told her to come back in a month as she was only 10 months pregnant and had another month to go!!! Just an example of medical care Siem Reap style! Anyway, I digress........I was asked to cover at Cafe Central whilst Zoe is in the UK, which is likely to be 4-6 weeks. The staff are great and my role is just to oversee them, help out when busy and sort out any problems as all the staff are Khmer and their English is sometimes not quite good enough. Hours are to cover the lunch and dinner rush, which still leaves me free in the afternoons to continue getting the New Hope accounts up to date. As well as getting paid, 2 meals are included in the package, saving me money there......a great deal all round.
Christmas eve - There was a party at Angkor What? Bar which is run by Charlie (Zoe's boyfriend) and Rosanne and I saw in Christmas day in style, as always. Photos to follow.
Christmas Day - We were up pretty early considering we'd had a late one the night before. Rosanne and I went with Charlie, Jennifer, Alex and Lauren (owner of few places in town, his wife and daughter) and Jean (doctor working at one of the local hospitals) to the 5* Raffles Grand Hotel for an eat as much as you like buffet lunch. It was great food, but a strange mixed up combination of dishes. There was roast turkey and ham on a carvery, but no typical accompaniments, not even a roasted vegetable! There were salads, a breakfast bar, an entire sweet table and a superb sushi and sashimi section. I love sushi and the only places in town that serve it are incredibly expensive, so I made the most of it! Charlie was very upset that there was no Christmas pudding on the dessert section and so complained and we had one just for our table with brandy sauce. A little taste of home. Rosanne and I then had an afternoon snooze before heading to a party being hosted by one of New Hope's benefactors. It's funny to see the local kids running round with Santa hats on - for some reason Santa has a Parrot and a pig with him??!! The locals all wish you a Merry Happy Christmas as well, they don't quite get that it's one or the other, not both. It was certainlya unique Christmas experience and the first one I have ever had where I have had no presents to open! I would like to thank everyone who gave me cash for Christmas though - so needed and appreciated.
Christmas and Boxing Day nights I spent at a hotel in town, which was paid for with some of my Christmas gift money. I managed to get a great deal through the organisation I'm working with and it was fantastic to have a bath, with a drink and my book......heaven.
Watch this space as more to come!!