Appreciating Things at Home

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Geo: 27.44, 83.4521

The other night Darren and I walked to one of the local restaurants for dinner as we were feeling a bit slack and did not want to cook. Take Away pizza has not got here yet. After our meal we went to leave the restaurant and much to our amazement discovered it was raining. It has not rained since we arrived in Bhairawha and this was not just rain but a complete downpour. We managed to edge our way under the over hangs up the street and round the corner but were trapped. We sheltered there for about 20 minutes along with an ever growing number of Nepalese. The Power decided to go off so then the street lights and everything else went dark so now we are sheltering in the Dark in the pouring rain. The streets are quickly filling with water and we amuse ourselves watching the bizarre items flowing down the open sewer drain. A motorcycle helmet being one of the more notable items. We both laughed and agreed that if we dropped our helmet into the drain there is no way we would put it back on our head so might as well leave it there. Eventually the downpour eased slightly so we picked our way gingerly in the ever flooding streets in the dark back home. Talk about unprepared for that one.

The following morning much to our surprise the rains had brought out the garden snails. Now to those of you annoyed with snails in your garden you can think yourselves quite fortunate as these suckers are going to do a serious amount of damage to the vegis. I never thought volunteering would make me appreciate my snails but hell I am glad I don't have anything like this at home.

Whilst we are on the subject of stuff in the garden we have worked out our night visitors are Mongoose or Mongeese not sure the correct plural. We have suspected rats and have occasionally seen brown furry critters scurrying off into the neighbouring vacant land. The little buggers bring food scraps and sit on our doorstep and eat god only knows what. It is quite feral really. The other morning I opened the front door to one on the doorstep which scared me half to death. These guys are a bit like meerkats with fluffy tails that sound like possums fighting in the trees in the back yard just outside our bedroom window. Lucky we have the Muslems chanting half the night to drown out the Mongoose so we can sleep.

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Photos

Our New Briquette Press
It was not exactly like the drawings but we were pleased anyway.

Testing the Press
This is very messy business

Waterbuffalo Poo
This job is best done with a head cold and sinus congestion which luckily I have hence Darren is standing back.

Madan & Darren Stove Testing
The Milk LUD we made from recycled stuff at the scrap steel centre

Sadu Dood
this is one serious Sadu, looks like King Neputne with his Shiva Staff, wanders down the main street near the temple where we assume he lives.

Garden Snails
A gardeners worst nightmare

Comments

[Lyn Leane]

Your blogs are great; they always make me laugh. I'm learning a lot about life in Bhairahawa, too, and sympathise about those big snails and the mongoose / geese. Hope you are staying well, and enjoying some cooler weather by now? Things ar
e gearing up to the usual Christmas madness here. We just watched a great programme of Q & A, and went for a walk in the nearby scrub. Had you heard that the carbon tax legislation has now been passed by the parliament?

[cousinbev]

Mongooses, but mongeese is Ok - just archaic ... like the electricity!

[Rick Drury]

Hmmmmm escargot on the dinner plate maybe?