Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Flickr
In true procrastination mode (I really should be devoting more time to sorting out the piles of junk I have collected over the nearly nearly 25 years of my life)... I have upgraded my flickr account to a pro one. Its really cheap and worth doing if, like me you are annoyed by the fact that with the free account you are only allowed 3 photo sets. The upgrade also allows me a larger upload limit per month etc... Anyways I have posted a few more photos of various bits and bobs. Possibly not that exciting, but you can have a look if you want.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
mooncup???
I think perhaps this blog entry is only of direct relevance to ladies...
I have been a convert to the mooncup for nearly 4 years and in that time I think have only successfully managed to convert 2.5 people to the ways of the mooncup… most people seem to be grossed out by the thought of it, although theyre all missing out bigtime in my opinion… when flicking through the guardian today I read an article in the ethical living section: Is it OK to ... use tampons?
I then remembered all about my loverly mooncup and thought perhaps I could do a bit of online promotion for this most useful of items… The guardian article linked above mentioned a recent article in the Times extolling the virtues of the mooncup, so I found it and have decided that it is far more eloquent than I am about these matters.. I think I’ll paste it below. Not sure if that violates some sort of copywrite but im not claiming that theyre my words… it’s a bit long I suppose… but in summary, the mooncup is the safe, environmentally friendly and cheap alternative to tampons or sanitary towels… and in my opinion everyone should have one.
The Times. August 12th 2006
One small step for women
Serena Mackesy landed on an alternative to tampons and is now a happy devotee
Eighteen months ago, I was in a supermarket loo. The usual hell-hole of overflowing sanitary bins. Looking up, I saw a sticker on the back of the door. “You can stop using tampons!” it said. “Mooncup reusable menstrual cup. Safer. Greener. Cheaper”. It had a website and telephone number. I checked it out and came away £18 lighter in the wallet. The stickers come with the cup when you buy one. And there can be fewer higher recommendations than a satisfied user guerrilla-sticking your ads.
If you can cope only with references to “wings” and being able to ride/swim/dance at that time of the month, stop reading here. Because menstruation is a messy subject. And the usual methods for dealing with periods have significant drawbacks.
Tampons and towels leak, no matter what the advertisements say. The sticky strip on the underside of sanitary towels is either too sticky or not sticky enough, and you’re perpetually aware that you are wearing them. Tampons have been known to cause toxic shock syndrome, a rare and occasionally deadly Staphylococcus aureus infection. There are only 40 cases a year in the UK, two to three of which are fatal, but half of those are associated with tampon use, which gives pause for thought.
In addition, unless you hunt down organic tampons, you are putting chlorine-bleached, deodorised (Tampax advertises one of its products on the strength of its deodorant content) rayon inside your body. As tampons soak up moisture, they dry out your vagina’s natural self-cleaning mechanisms, leaving it prone to thrush and vaginosis, a smelly bacterial infection. Vaginosis is treated with antibiotics (which can also result in thrush) and if left untreated can lead to infection during and after childbirth.
Then there’s the discomfort. In the first couple of days of a period you can be changing the tampons every couple of hours; by the latter days, insertion and removal can feel like rubbing yourself with sandpaper.
Furthermore there’s the environmental impact. The average woman uses nearly 17,000 disposable pads and tampons in a lifetime. An estimated eight billion of these end up in Britain’s sewage system, causing 70 per cent of blockages in the system. And once fished out, what’s not incinerated becomes landfill. Or ends up on our beaches. Nice.
And then, there is the Mooncup. Menstrual cups, made of latex, have been around since the 1930s, but this one, made of the same medical-grade nonallergic silicone used in, among other things, replacement heart valves, initially hit the market four years ago. It is not dissimilar to a diaphragm. Roughly 5cm (2in) long, it forms a light seal with your vaginal walls and can hold up to 30ml of fluid at a time, roughly a third of the entire average menstrual flow and three times the quantity that a tampon can hold.
And it’s reusable. A Mooncup lasts for years, just like a heart valve. As long as your hands are clean, you just empty it, flush it out (or wipe it round if you haven’t any water handy) and reinsert it as often as you would a tampon. And give it the odd boiling, in the manner of sterilising baby bottles. That’s it. Yes, I know. Most people’s initial reaction is “Yuk!” But think about it. A body is only a body and though we’ve become squeamish about menstruation, not helped by the you-need-an-applicator school of tampon marketing, menstruation is not going to go away. There’s a certain skill involved in getting something as pliable and bouncy as a Mooncup to fold neatly into four and to go up inside you without it shooting across the room. But in my case it took only three goes, and if you remember the grim horror of the first onset of your periods, three goes is nothing.
Much has been written on women’s chatroom pages on the internet extolling the virtues of the Mooncup and, if you trawl hard enough, there is the odd negative story to be found, such as the odd complaint of leakage. However, this is simple to sort out: the cup has a stem at the bottom that needs to be trimmed with scissors to fit the individual user. One user — who admits that she has an unusually narrow, long, vaginal canal — found that her Mooncup formed such a tight seal that she ended up in casualty getting it removed the first time she used it. But even she recommends it. I can’t think of another product that seems to have inspired such affectionate enthusiasm in its users.
I have become a proselytiser since I got my own. As well as its being a healthy option — associate specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist at Dumfries Royal Infirmary, Heather Currie, says it is a good thing — the practical advantages of using a Mooncup are manifold. No leakages. None of those panic moments when you realise that your tampon needs changing and you have to find a loo, right now. And not only does your handbag become a tampon-free zone but you can also go travelling for months at a time without carting supplies around (and if you’ve ever looked for tampons in a third-world country, you’ll know what I mean).
And you save money. For example, if you use just one box of 30 Tampax tampons a month at £4.50, that’s £54 a year, as against £18 for several years’ use — and there’s no environmental pollution. I wish that someone had told me about the Mooncup years ago. I wouldn’t say that periods have suddenly become a pleasure, but they’re no longer the pain they once were.
The Mooncup costs £17.99 (www.mooncup.co.uk), inc p&p, 01273 673845; or from Boots (www.boots.com)
I have been a convert to the mooncup for nearly 4 years and in that time I think have only successfully managed to convert 2.5 people to the ways of the mooncup… most people seem to be grossed out by the thought of it, although theyre all missing out bigtime in my opinion… when flicking through the guardian today I read an article in the ethical living section: Is it OK to ... use tampons?
I then remembered all about my loverly mooncup and thought perhaps I could do a bit of online promotion for this most useful of items… The guardian article linked above mentioned a recent article in the Times extolling the virtues of the mooncup, so I found it and have decided that it is far more eloquent than I am about these matters.. I think I’ll paste it below. Not sure if that violates some sort of copywrite but im not claiming that theyre my words… it’s a bit long I suppose… but in summary, the mooncup is the safe, environmentally friendly and cheap alternative to tampons or sanitary towels… and in my opinion everyone should have one.
The Times. August 12th 2006
One small step for women
Serena Mackesy landed on an alternative to tampons and is now a happy devotee
Eighteen months ago, I was in a supermarket loo. The usual hell-hole of overflowing sanitary bins. Looking up, I saw a sticker on the back of the door. “You can stop using tampons!” it said. “Mooncup reusable menstrual cup. Safer. Greener. Cheaper”. It had a website and telephone number. I checked it out and came away £18 lighter in the wallet. The stickers come with the cup when you buy one. And there can be fewer higher recommendations than a satisfied user guerrilla-sticking your ads.
If you can cope only with references to “wings” and being able to ride/swim/dance at that time of the month, stop reading here. Because menstruation is a messy subject. And the usual methods for dealing with periods have significant drawbacks.
Tampons and towels leak, no matter what the advertisements say. The sticky strip on the underside of sanitary towels is either too sticky or not sticky enough, and you’re perpetually aware that you are wearing them. Tampons have been known to cause toxic shock syndrome, a rare and occasionally deadly Staphylococcus aureus infection. There are only 40 cases a year in the UK, two to three of which are fatal, but half of those are associated with tampon use, which gives pause for thought.
In addition, unless you hunt down organic tampons, you are putting chlorine-bleached, deodorised (Tampax advertises one of its products on the strength of its deodorant content) rayon inside your body. As tampons soak up moisture, they dry out your vagina’s natural self-cleaning mechanisms, leaving it prone to thrush and vaginosis, a smelly bacterial infection. Vaginosis is treated with antibiotics (which can also result in thrush) and if left untreated can lead to infection during and after childbirth.
Then there’s the discomfort. In the first couple of days of a period you can be changing the tampons every couple of hours; by the latter days, insertion and removal can feel like rubbing yourself with sandpaper.
Furthermore there’s the environmental impact. The average woman uses nearly 17,000 disposable pads and tampons in a lifetime. An estimated eight billion of these end up in Britain’s sewage system, causing 70 per cent of blockages in the system. And once fished out, what’s not incinerated becomes landfill. Or ends up on our beaches. Nice.
And then, there is the Mooncup. Menstrual cups, made of latex, have been around since the 1930s, but this one, made of the same medical-grade nonallergic silicone used in, among other things, replacement heart valves, initially hit the market four years ago. It is not dissimilar to a diaphragm. Roughly 5cm (2in) long, it forms a light seal with your vaginal walls and can hold up to 30ml of fluid at a time, roughly a third of the entire average menstrual flow and three times the quantity that a tampon can hold.
And it’s reusable. A Mooncup lasts for years, just like a heart valve. As long as your hands are clean, you just empty it, flush it out (or wipe it round if you haven’t any water handy) and reinsert it as often as you would a tampon. And give it the odd boiling, in the manner of sterilising baby bottles. That’s it. Yes, I know. Most people’s initial reaction is “Yuk!” But think about it. A body is only a body and though we’ve become squeamish about menstruation, not helped by the you-need-an-applicator school of tampon marketing, menstruation is not going to go away. There’s a certain skill involved in getting something as pliable and bouncy as a Mooncup to fold neatly into four and to go up inside you without it shooting across the room. But in my case it took only three goes, and if you remember the grim horror of the first onset of your periods, three goes is nothing.
Much has been written on women’s chatroom pages on the internet extolling the virtues of the Mooncup and, if you trawl hard enough, there is the odd negative story to be found, such as the odd complaint of leakage. However, this is simple to sort out: the cup has a stem at the bottom that needs to be trimmed with scissors to fit the individual user. One user — who admits that she has an unusually narrow, long, vaginal canal — found that her Mooncup formed such a tight seal that she ended up in casualty getting it removed the first time she used it. But even she recommends it. I can’t think of another product that seems to have inspired such affectionate enthusiasm in its users.
I have become a proselytiser since I got my own. As well as its being a healthy option — associate specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist at Dumfries Royal Infirmary, Heather Currie, says it is a good thing — the practical advantages of using a Mooncup are manifold. No leakages. None of those panic moments when you realise that your tampon needs changing and you have to find a loo, right now. And not only does your handbag become a tampon-free zone but you can also go travelling for months at a time without carting supplies around (and if you’ve ever looked for tampons in a third-world country, you’ll know what I mean).
And you save money. For example, if you use just one box of 30 Tampax tampons a month at £4.50, that’s £54 a year, as against £18 for several years’ use — and there’s no environmental pollution. I wish that someone had told me about the Mooncup years ago. I wouldn’t say that periods have suddenly become a pleasure, but they’re no longer the pain they once were.
The Mooncup costs £17.99 (www.mooncup.co.uk), inc p&p, 01273 673845; or from Boots (www.boots.com)
Friday, August 18, 2006
Cycling in london: Lessons learnt
Possibly because my name is Sarah Telford, I managed to make a complete mission out of cycling the 2 miles from London Waterloo to Euston. I attach a map of my route below, admittedly the detour to London Bridge was intentional.
Lessons learnt:
1. Do not cycle along the southbank at lunchtime, during the school holidays, unless a) you prefer to walk your bike or b) you wish to reduce the numbers of tourists, children and/or joggers in London.
2. Do not cycle in London without a map (preferably an A-Z)
3. Do not rely on direction from maps attached to bus stops (they seem to be very vague)
4. Do not cycle through Parliament square unless you like traffic lights, huge volumes of traffic, security cordons, being shouted at by police, tourists etc… getting lost and going in totally the wrong direction is preferable to prolonging the agony that is Parliament Square.
5. Passing through Pimilco (on the way to Euston) it would be wise to stop and seek directions from tourists on the pavement clearly studying an A-Z. The unwise decision is to take a random side road and see where it goes.
6. Sighting Battersea Power station does not mean one is close to Euston.
7. Neither does passing by Chelsea Pensioners Hospital.
8. Remember that many busses and taxis would prefer cyclists to be small squashed speed bumps rather than annoyances in the bus lane. As such be on guard, and possibly invest in a wing mirror.
9. If, on fearing for ones life or sanity, one decides to walk along the pavement with bike, do not expect pedestrian members of the public to greet you with smiles or appreciation for the excess space you are taking up… this is of particular note at traffic lights.
10. Interestingly despite Cambodians hardly ever obeying any traffic rules they are far more considerate towards cyclists than people in London town.
Lessons learnt:
1. Do not cycle along the southbank at lunchtime, during the school holidays, unless a) you prefer to walk your bike or b) you wish to reduce the numbers of tourists, children and/or joggers in London.
2. Do not cycle in London without a map (preferably an A-Z)
3. Do not rely on direction from maps attached to bus stops (they seem to be very vague)
4. Do not cycle through Parliament square unless you like traffic lights, huge volumes of traffic, security cordons, being shouted at by police, tourists etc… getting lost and going in totally the wrong direction is preferable to prolonging the agony that is Parliament Square.
5. Passing through Pimilco (on the way to Euston) it would be wise to stop and seek directions from tourists on the pavement clearly studying an A-Z. The unwise decision is to take a random side road and see where it goes.
6. Sighting Battersea Power station does not mean one is close to Euston.
7. Neither does passing by Chelsea Pensioners Hospital.
8. Remember that many busses and taxis would prefer cyclists to be small squashed speed bumps rather than annoyances in the bus lane. As such be on guard, and possibly invest in a wing mirror.
9. If, on fearing for ones life or sanity, one decides to walk along the pavement with bike, do not expect pedestrian members of the public to greet you with smiles or appreciation for the excess space you are taking up… this is of particular note at traffic lights.
10. Interestingly despite Cambodians hardly ever obeying any traffic rules they are far more considerate towards cyclists than people in London town.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Rather lax
I think I have been rather lax on the old blogging front of late... I've now made it back from Ausland... it was a really lovely holiday... at somepoint i might sort out my flickr account and upload some photos in an organised manner... Jack was highly entertaining. He taught me many things, one of which being that in Pirate language 'Hairy Willy' means dried fish... he has the book to prove it... I'm sure you can imagine many incredibly mature conversations about hairy willies...
aside from that I watched Valient - a kids cartoon about carrier pidgeons in WWII - on repeat (yar, Herr General)... did lots of cycling up and down hills, found the cheese factory, found the distillery, was entertained by primary school sports day, was locked in a chicken house, went on some loverly walks, made and ate cakes and pizzas, spoke to a class of 7 year olds about Cambodia (this mainly revolved around eating flys and burning poo as a means of reducing the numbers of trees cut down)... etc...
Then home via Singapore and a Sushi with Markyboy back to Heathrow with no trouble on the airport security front. In fact Singapore airlines didn't seem to object to my 3 pieces of handluggae weighing over 20kg, which was most most fortunate.
Spent the last weekend in the Lake district with Anthony, feeling as if I was in Swallows and Amazons. Seriously that is a legendary film... must dig out the video... When we went sailing I had to restrain myself from trying to land on an island and start exploring and setting up camp... (un?)fortunately my sailing skills would not really have allowed it I rather think...
Lake district was tres nice... I forget how nice England is...
Now back in the big Winch... considering doing something constructive with my time... current thought is sort out the many boxes of junk (can I purge myself of any possessions???) I posses and perhaps redecorate (read pollyfill the holes) in my bedroom walls...
Not sure what I'm doing in October... Laos, Nepal, Timbucktu... who knoweth.... in the meantime I shall become practiced at being a lady at leisure... perhaps I should join the WI?
tumdiddlium
I will try and think of more unexciting events to write about. In the meantime overandout!
x x x x x
aside from that I watched Valient - a kids cartoon about carrier pidgeons in WWII - on repeat (yar, Herr General)... did lots of cycling up and down hills, found the cheese factory, found the distillery, was entertained by primary school sports day, was locked in a chicken house, went on some loverly walks, made and ate cakes and pizzas, spoke to a class of 7 year olds about Cambodia (this mainly revolved around eating flys and burning poo as a means of reducing the numbers of trees cut down)... etc...
Then home via Singapore and a Sushi with Markyboy back to Heathrow with no trouble on the airport security front. In fact Singapore airlines didn't seem to object to my 3 pieces of handluggae weighing over 20kg, which was most most fortunate.
Spent the last weekend in the Lake district with Anthony, feeling as if I was in Swallows and Amazons. Seriously that is a legendary film... must dig out the video... When we went sailing I had to restrain myself from trying to land on an island and start exploring and setting up camp... (un?)fortunately my sailing skills would not really have allowed it I rather think...
Lake district was tres nice... I forget how nice England is...
Now back in the big Winch... considering doing something constructive with my time... current thought is sort out the many boxes of junk (can I purge myself of any possessions???) I posses and perhaps redecorate (read pollyfill the holes) in my bedroom walls...
Not sure what I'm doing in October... Laos, Nepal, Timbucktu... who knoweth.... in the meantime I shall become practiced at being a lady at leisure... perhaps I should join the WI?
tumdiddlium
I will try and think of more unexciting events to write about. In the meantime overandout!
x x x x x
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Mt Tambourine
I have arrived on the mountain of Tambourines and all is well.
cousin Jack is tall and goes to school and can read books and has a penknief! He is most grown up... but still entertaining!
I am trying to stop myself taking my shoes off before entering buildings, enjoying the tap water, trying not to be too distressed at the cost of everything... loving the total peace and tranquility there is in this place - no more building noises at 5 in the morning... no more crazy traffic... just the smell of trees and the noise of birds...
oh and its cold... i swear there was frost on the ground this morning... but apparently its only dew... oh I just love snuggling under 2 duvets and a blanket mmmm
more excitingly I bought the Guardian weekly today... the guardian... how i missed it... at last we are reunited in paper form, the internet just isnt quite the same.
by the way is britney spears pregnant again?
cousin Jack is tall and goes to school and can read books and has a penknief! He is most grown up... but still entertaining!
I am trying to stop myself taking my shoes off before entering buildings, enjoying the tap water, trying not to be too distressed at the cost of everything... loving the total peace and tranquility there is in this place - no more building noises at 5 in the morning... no more crazy traffic... just the smell of trees and the noise of birds...
oh and its cold... i swear there was frost on the ground this morning... but apparently its only dew... oh I just love snuggling under 2 duvets and a blanket mmmm
more excitingly I bought the Guardian weekly today... the guardian... how i missed it... at last we are reunited in paper form, the internet just isnt quite the same.
by the way is britney spears pregnant again?
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
gone... singapore
well i have made it to singapore quite nicely... aside from sitting across the isle from a vomiting woman and next to a very sweet, but slightly trying (if it had been a long haul flight) man called Kok (pronounced Coke)... I think he had a learning difficaulty (not sure if that is PC way to say it) and possibly something else as he seemed to be frothing at the mouth! Anyway we had a very long conversation, which started with him asking me if i was sleeping - my eyes were closed... he told me about Toys R Us (he loved the place), Barbara Streisand (he hadnt heard her music but knew she was a singer) about how he had completed an adult education course... about living in Cambodia for 4 months where his relatives had sent him to work on the farm but as he had lived in the US all his life this was a shock... about food... about how he thought singaporiajn women looked nice.. about the lack of toothpaste on the plane... it went on and on... but he was well meaning!
so now have been enjoying singapore airport which is lovely.. free foot massage machines... subway sandwhiches, a sunflower garden (which if you got rid of the smokers) was the perfect place to laze in the sun and watch the planes take off.. lots of shops to look at... actually i think a combination of being tierd and sad at leaving the bodge and being in transit makes me feel slightly bamboozeled by al, of the gliter, and shiny products and organisedness of it all. PP was nice, but chaotic. so reverse culture shock or something... im glad i have my mp3 player...
oh yes.. the luggage... by the time i got to the airport my checked bagage was 10kg over and hand luggae was about 20kg (all 3 pieces of it).. managed to get away with the handluggage and negotiated with them to only pay 50% of the excess cost they wanted to whack me for... which was about 25 squids so not too tragic...
half the luggage is left here in left luggae now, so i should be ok to and from ausland... its just the flight to londres!
ok must run think theyre calling my flight..
xxxxxxx
so now have been enjoying singapore airport which is lovely.. free foot massage machines... subway sandwhiches, a sunflower garden (which if you got rid of the smokers) was the perfect place to laze in the sun and watch the planes take off.. lots of shops to look at... actually i think a combination of being tierd and sad at leaving the bodge and being in transit makes me feel slightly bamboozeled by al, of the gliter, and shiny products and organisedness of it all. PP was nice, but chaotic. so reverse culture shock or something... im glad i have my mp3 player...
oh yes.. the luggage... by the time i got to the airport my checked bagage was 10kg over and hand luggae was about 20kg (all 3 pieces of it).. managed to get away with the handluggage and negotiated with them to only pay 50% of the excess cost they wanted to whack me for... which was about 25 squids so not too tragic...
half the luggage is left here in left luggae now, so i should be ok to and from ausland... its just the flight to londres!
ok must run think theyre calling my flight..
xxxxxxx
going going...
so...
1 hour till the taxi comes to take me to the airport... considering its not yet 9am I have been very busy.. final packing... cycling round town to take photos.. feeding my friends kitten... eating musli and yoghurt at the traiditional pre-flight cafe - ive eaten musli at the same place before Anthony, Clari and Dad left... oh how i love routene?!
All that is left is for me to convince the check in staff that 15kg of hand luggage and 8kg over on my checked baggage allowance is perfectly ok and that i should not, under any circumstances be charged excess... ho hum
actually I packed in a rush last night and I have a feeling I may be wandering round australia half naked as hardly anything would fit in the backpack for aus apart from the vast volumes of gifts... the other heavier backpack will have to stay in Singapore left luggage as I have even less luggage allowwance for the Aus part of my flights
last day at work yesterday was really sad... oh my team are so lovely... I shall miss them muchly... now must dash and put on my sweater and jacket... hmm thats a good point I wont be running round Aus half naked as i'm wearing more clothes than I've worn in 6 months... who needs a sauna thats what I say...
over and out
1 hour till the taxi comes to take me to the airport... considering its not yet 9am I have been very busy.. final packing... cycling round town to take photos.. feeding my friends kitten... eating musli and yoghurt at the traiditional pre-flight cafe - ive eaten musli at the same place before Anthony, Clari and Dad left... oh how i love routene?!
All that is left is for me to convince the check in staff that 15kg of hand luggage and 8kg over on my checked baggage allowance is perfectly ok and that i should not, under any circumstances be charged excess... ho hum
actually I packed in a rush last night and I have a feeling I may be wandering round australia half naked as hardly anything would fit in the backpack for aus apart from the vast volumes of gifts... the other heavier backpack will have to stay in Singapore left luggage as I have even less luggage allowwance for the Aus part of my flights
last day at work yesterday was really sad... oh my team are so lovely... I shall miss them muchly... now must dash and put on my sweater and jacket... hmm thats a good point I wont be running round Aus half naked as i'm wearing more clothes than I've worn in 6 months... who needs a sauna thats what I say...
over and out
Sunday, July 23, 2006
tick tock
tickticktock
goes the time
it is dawning on me that i am leaving in about 36hours. I dont like to think about these things too much, or I get sad... best to stay in denial as long as possible.
This weekend has been lovely... spent Saturday on a mountain with beautiful lakes and waterfalls, having a BBQ with my team from work, and then today at the zoo with some friends. At the zoo i saw tigers and monkeys and otters and sun bears and crocodiles and other random animals... the enclosures are not really too bad, and the setting is lovely, with lots of trees. BUT you can get right next to the cages and despite signs telling you not to feed the animals it was possible to touch, stroke and feed all of the animals... in fact it was possible to buy a coconut from some kids hanging around and then they would throw the coconut into the bears cage and assuming it didnt knock the bear out you could watch it eat it... i'm not sure thats such a good thing!
so i am feeling sad about going. I thought because I was only here 6 months, and living somewhere that is more guest house than home, that I wouldnt let the Bodge get to me like Mongoland... cant be doing with pining for years over more countries... but you know I will miss so many lovely people - really I have the best team at work ever... the warm weather, the mentalist traffic, the chaos, the massages, the riding on the back of a motobike, the cheapness of everything, the yummy yummy food (I can see rice withdrawal being an issue)... the bike rides...
Tomorrow is the last day at work... which will be the sadest thing to leave i thinks... but i shall look forward to seeing the aussies... that should distract me... that and my fear of flying...
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkk 4 planes in the next 2.5 weeks sounds nasty to me
must dash... and pack possibley???
xxx
goes the time
it is dawning on me that i am leaving in about 36hours. I dont like to think about these things too much, or I get sad... best to stay in denial as long as possible.
This weekend has been lovely... spent Saturday on a mountain with beautiful lakes and waterfalls, having a BBQ with my team from work, and then today at the zoo with some friends. At the zoo i saw tigers and monkeys and otters and sun bears and crocodiles and other random animals... the enclosures are not really too bad, and the setting is lovely, with lots of trees. BUT you can get right next to the cages and despite signs telling you not to feed the animals it was possible to touch, stroke and feed all of the animals... in fact it was possible to buy a coconut from some kids hanging around and then they would throw the coconut into the bears cage and assuming it didnt knock the bear out you could watch it eat it... i'm not sure thats such a good thing!
so i am feeling sad about going. I thought because I was only here 6 months, and living somewhere that is more guest house than home, that I wouldnt let the Bodge get to me like Mongoland... cant be doing with pining for years over more countries... but you know I will miss so many lovely people - really I have the best team at work ever... the warm weather, the mentalist traffic, the chaos, the massages, the riding on the back of a motobike, the cheapness of everything, the yummy yummy food (I can see rice withdrawal being an issue)... the bike rides...
Tomorrow is the last day at work... which will be the sadest thing to leave i thinks... but i shall look forward to seeing the aussies... that should distract me... that and my fear of flying...
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkk 4 planes in the next 2.5 weeks sounds nasty to me
must dash... and pack possibley???
xxx
Thursday, July 20, 2006
more photos
just uploaded some more photos onto flickr just random round and about the place ones... also trying to add some of my better ankor ones as i think the ones up now arent the best!
Ammusements
The following story in the news here entertained me. My friend that works at USAID verified that it was absolutely correct!
The US Embassy in Cambodia mistakenly received a shipment of 140,000 bullets instead of the delivery of artworks it had ordered to decorate its new USAID offices.
The mix up was apparently caused by Thai Airways, which mislabelled the cargo… apparently the bullets were supposed to be going to Finland (why?… perhaps for moose shooting?)… anyways the bullets weren’t actually anything to do with the US government but they got them all the same.
Of course this event generated much comedy comment about bullets as art in testimony to the great Bush etc etc
Other amusements has been todays rain… cycling home and the water nearly covered my wheels. This wasn’t a problem in itself, however whenever a bally Lexus (I think perhaps I have issues with these machines) drove past the wake made me wobble… but I did not fall off. hoorah
The US Embassy in Cambodia mistakenly received a shipment of 140,000 bullets instead of the delivery of artworks it had ordered to decorate its new USAID offices.
The mix up was apparently caused by Thai Airways, which mislabelled the cargo… apparently the bullets were supposed to be going to Finland (why?… perhaps for moose shooting?)… anyways the bullets weren’t actually anything to do with the US government but they got them all the same.
Of course this event generated much comedy comment about bullets as art in testimony to the great Bush etc etc
Other amusements has been todays rain… cycling home and the water nearly covered my wheels. This wasn’t a problem in itself, however whenever a bally Lexus (I think perhaps I have issues with these machines) drove past the wake made me wobble… but I did not fall off. hoorah
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
bally corruption
This shall be a rant about the bally corruption that occurs at all levels in this country… Last week I went to the post office and there was a bit of a debacle when they tried to overcharge me lots and I made them re-weigh the envelope with the scales on the counter so that I could see exactly how much less than they claimed, the envelope really weighed (standard practice is the scales are under the counter)… anyways today I went to the post office again and after they told me some crazy price for a couple of large envelopes I again insisted they showed me the scales. Absolutely not, the bally woman refused and just turned her back on me when I tried to push the issue (Asian non-confrontation?)… Can you imagine if this sort of thing happened at home grrr… I really wished I spoke kick ass Khmer and then I would have let rip properly… so I just grabbed my post and stormed out… and was mad for a couple of minutes… but its hard to stay mad… I’m sure like every other public sector employee they’re woefully underpaid, and ripping off people over the price of their stamps is a means of survival… perhaps I would feel better if I scratched up a couple of Lexus and Mercedes owned by high ranking government officials?
Ok perhaps not… aside from not really being criminally minded, the prospect of extending my stay here… in a Cambodian prison is not a particularly thrilling one…
Ok perhaps not… aside from not really being criminally minded, the prospect of extending my stay here… in a Cambodian prison is not a particularly thrilling one…
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Dentist 2
Sooo i decided not to go for an appointment with the unqualified dentist. after asking around i heard of a Khmer dentist that had been trainned by german missionaries so thought i would give that a go... in the interests of saving fast quantities of cash...
i toodled in to a little dentist place which was considerably less glamourous than the place i went to last weekend. no appointment needed and i was shown out the back where there was a row of dentist chairs with low screens dividing it up. I was glad it was empty... hearing the screams of the next paitient might have been disconcerting.
So i told the very sweet english speaking dentist that i thought i needed a filling. he examined my teeth and said they were amazing. no fillings needed... they looked very strong yadda yadda. Not sure which 'dentist' was correct but i figure it would be in his interest to tell me i did need fillings cos then he could charge me lots of money, so im inclined to think i dont need fillings. I opted for a scale and polish (after asertaining all equipment was sterilised)... and he did a great job. much time was lavished on my little teeth, much better than bally england where dentists exist to extract vast volumes of cash from you for doing very little... Half way through the procedure, whilst i was rinsing my mouth i mentioned my wisdom teeth had been aching. ''oh'', said the dentist man, ''let me me help you''. He then proceeded to massage my jaws intermitedly whilst polishing my teeth. Very sureal especially as i felt his face was rather too close to mine durring this procedure. Anyways i escaped unscathed and unmarried and for $8 (they gave me $2 discount for some inexplicable reason) i was happy doo da...
other events this weekend have been cycling around the countryside, which is starting to look very lush and green... spending much money in the markets, and sorting sorting sorting out my junk and getting ready to fly fly fly high in the sky to australia. where i shall watch people stop at traffic lights, drink water from a tap, drink fresh milk and most excitingly go to a cheese factory near to where my auntie lives... mmmmmm think of all that cheese... yumyumyum so 1 week and 1 dayo left in the country. Time flies when youre having fun...
much love
me xxxx
i toodled in to a little dentist place which was considerably less glamourous than the place i went to last weekend. no appointment needed and i was shown out the back where there was a row of dentist chairs with low screens dividing it up. I was glad it was empty... hearing the screams of the next paitient might have been disconcerting.
So i told the very sweet english speaking dentist that i thought i needed a filling. he examined my teeth and said they were amazing. no fillings needed... they looked very strong yadda yadda. Not sure which 'dentist' was correct but i figure it would be in his interest to tell me i did need fillings cos then he could charge me lots of money, so im inclined to think i dont need fillings. I opted for a scale and polish (after asertaining all equipment was sterilised)... and he did a great job. much time was lavished on my little teeth, much better than bally england where dentists exist to extract vast volumes of cash from you for doing very little... Half way through the procedure, whilst i was rinsing my mouth i mentioned my wisdom teeth had been aching. ''oh'', said the dentist man, ''let me me help you''. He then proceeded to massage my jaws intermitedly whilst polishing my teeth. Very sureal especially as i felt his face was rather too close to mine durring this procedure. Anyways i escaped unscathed and unmarried and for $8 (they gave me $2 discount for some inexplicable reason) i was happy doo da...
other events this weekend have been cycling around the countryside, which is starting to look very lush and green... spending much money in the markets, and sorting sorting sorting out my junk and getting ready to fly fly fly high in the sky to australia. where i shall watch people stop at traffic lights, drink water from a tap, drink fresh milk and most excitingly go to a cheese factory near to where my auntie lives... mmmmmm think of all that cheese... yumyumyum so 1 week and 1 dayo left in the country. Time flies when youre having fun...
much love
me xxxx
Sunday, July 09, 2006
teeth
Today I decided to go to see the dentist, not because I have toothache, just because I havnt been to a dentist for 2 years and I thought it had to be cheaper here than at home. There is a very posh shiny new clean looking place near to where I swim so I thought id give it a try – no appointment necessary. The check up was free, which was surprising. They showed me in a mirror that 2 of my teeth have smallsmall holes in which it might be wise to fill. I’m not particularly surprised given the number of biscuits I have eaten in the 2 years since I last saw a dentist. So the question is do I have them filled in the bodge? Or do I wait till I come home? It will cost less than $US20 to do them both, with a composite filling. Apparently I could have mercury fillings if I wanted hahahaha… I was thinking I would go for it, but decided to just check with the ‘dentist’ that he was qualified. I felt embarrassed asking, but he laughed at me and said that oh no he wasn’t trained, he was doctor who had just been playing dentists for the last 10 years… hmmm so at this point I decided to leave and ponder the wisest move. I’m inclined to just get them filled but I don’t want to end up poisoned or with no teeth…
Ed – my cheapskate mentor what would you do? Would you get them done here to save some $$$?
Ed – my cheapskate mentor what would you do? Would you get them done here to save some $$$?
Saturday, July 08, 2006
A perm!!!!
This last week seems to have sped by and im steaming towards the end of my time here… pondering constantly how im going to make my luggage = 30kg. As per usual I’ve accumulated many things.
So I’m leaving here in less than 3 weeks, and I’ve now got tickets sorted to go to Aus on the way home to see my auntie and uncle and the wonderful jackjack… who is now 7 years of age which is a shocking fact really. Then I should be back in englandos on the 11th August… and I believe Nadj is collecting me from the airport in a pink limousine with pink polar bear fur seats… so we can celebrate her birthday in style. Helicopters were also mentioned.
What next is unknownunknown… but I don’t think I will be unemployed… the question is more where I shall be employed. Ho hum didlium
So yes I thought I should write about my perm. I have been ruminating over whether to have one for some time… seems like such a comedy thing to do… so I went with my friend to the salon… all very nice. Many Lexus’ parked outside = indication that people of wealth used the establishment… however we got board of waiting so went somewhere else, which was probably nicer, albeit there were no cars parked outside.
Now I am a hairdresser novice. I was trying to count how many times I have been to a hairdresser in my life and it is honestly less than 7… I thought with a perm they might just rub some stuff in your hair and leave it to dry and that would be it… but apparently not. It was a 3 hour process involving a long hairwash… a hair cut… many pink curlers wrapped in my hair (see photo), much chemicals applied and then sitting around whilst it set and then another hair rinse, and then mousing… phew… the results are also depicted in the photo. I am not totally convinced, but it still isn’t dry yet… I also think putting bally mouse in my hair every 3 days will be a pain in the ass bone… and I cant believe it will last 6-12 months… surely not?! Also I think that a bit of my hair at the front isn’t permed properly and it looks odd so I might have to venture back there tomorrow and get them to fix it… anyways it cost US$20.. which apparently is expensive… but seemed like a bargain for me given it was 3hrs of 2 peoples time… now I am under strict instructions not to wash my hair for 3 days. YUK.
Also this week I met up with Gilb who was passing through on his south east asian tour. Was very nicenice to catch up and meet some of his travelling friends… made a change from expats and Khmers…
So I’m leaving here in less than 3 weeks, and I’ve now got tickets sorted to go to Aus on the way home to see my auntie and uncle and the wonderful jackjack… who is now 7 years of age which is a shocking fact really. Then I should be back in englandos on the 11th August… and I believe Nadj is collecting me from the airport in a pink limousine with pink polar bear fur seats… so we can celebrate her birthday in style. Helicopters were also mentioned.
What next is unknownunknown… but I don’t think I will be unemployed… the question is more where I shall be employed. Ho hum didlium
So yes I thought I should write about my perm. I have been ruminating over whether to have one for some time… seems like such a comedy thing to do… so I went with my friend to the salon… all very nice. Many Lexus’ parked outside = indication that people of wealth used the establishment… however we got board of waiting so went somewhere else, which was probably nicer, albeit there were no cars parked outside.
Now I am a hairdresser novice. I was trying to count how many times I have been to a hairdresser in my life and it is honestly less than 7… I thought with a perm they might just rub some stuff in your hair and leave it to dry and that would be it… but apparently not. It was a 3 hour process involving a long hairwash… a hair cut… many pink curlers wrapped in my hair (see photo), much chemicals applied and then sitting around whilst it set and then another hair rinse, and then mousing… phew… the results are also depicted in the photo. I am not totally convinced, but it still isn’t dry yet… I also think putting bally mouse in my hair every 3 days will be a pain in the ass bone… and I cant believe it will last 6-12 months… surely not?! Also I think that a bit of my hair at the front isn’t permed properly and it looks odd so I might have to venture back there tomorrow and get them to fix it… anyways it cost US$20.. which apparently is expensive… but seemed like a bargain for me given it was 3hrs of 2 peoples time… now I am under strict instructions not to wash my hair for 3 days. YUK.
Also this week I met up with Gilb who was passing through on his south east asian tour. Was very nicenice to catch up and meet some of his travelling friends… made a change from expats and Khmers…
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
drugs
Today I went to the chemist to buy some paracetamol. It was a surprisingly exciting trip. The shop smelt like I remember the vets smelling when we used to take our cats there when I was little. The shelves were stacked chocablock wall to ceiling with boxes and jars and sachets of potions.
I decided to do a little experiment and see what prescription drugs I could get over the counter. I can only conclude that really you can get whatever you want really… no hassles… what is more scary is that many of the drugs do not come in a packet and therefore have absolutely NO instructions, warnings etc… although you could argue many Cambodians wouldn’t be able to read instructions in English anyway. I have heard so many stories of the inadequate medical system here where people are prescribed the wrong drugs, conflicting drugs etc etc… people are undiagnosed, wrongly diagnosed etc… one of my friends was told she could only see the scan she had had done if she signed up for an operation (which she didn’t need)! These are the lucky people… the people who can afford drugs and health care. Most people cant.
Anyways back to the drug store (oh how American is that?)… I was actually thinking that despite the obvious draw backs and potential for serious serious disaster of an unregulated pharmaceutical market, there could be some positives, especially with the volume of information on the internet. For example it is possible to establish which drugs are licensed in the UK, and what they’re licensed for, it is possible to find out from both drugs companies, and users of drugs what are the benefits and negative side effects of different drugs, and of course there are many reputable self diagnostic sites. Sooo for people who are reasonably literate and sensible, one could by pass the need for a doctor for simple ailments or repeat prescriptions, which could be useful for those who cant access a doctor or cant afford doctors fees…
In balance tho, I think we are extremely fortunate and protected by the fact that we do have a regulated pharmaceutical market in the UK… however whilst im here… any orders for drugs ;o)
I decided to do a little experiment and see what prescription drugs I could get over the counter. I can only conclude that really you can get whatever you want really… no hassles… what is more scary is that many of the drugs do not come in a packet and therefore have absolutely NO instructions, warnings etc… although you could argue many Cambodians wouldn’t be able to read instructions in English anyway. I have heard so many stories of the inadequate medical system here where people are prescribed the wrong drugs, conflicting drugs etc etc… people are undiagnosed, wrongly diagnosed etc… one of my friends was told she could only see the scan she had had done if she signed up for an operation (which she didn’t need)! These are the lucky people… the people who can afford drugs and health care. Most people cant.
Anyways back to the drug store (oh how American is that?)… I was actually thinking that despite the obvious draw backs and potential for serious serious disaster of an unregulated pharmaceutical market, there could be some positives, especially with the volume of information on the internet. For example it is possible to establish which drugs are licensed in the UK, and what they’re licensed for, it is possible to find out from both drugs companies, and users of drugs what are the benefits and negative side effects of different drugs, and of course there are many reputable self diagnostic sites. Sooo for people who are reasonably literate and sensible, one could by pass the need for a doctor for simple ailments or repeat prescriptions, which could be useful for those who cant access a doctor or cant afford doctors fees…
In balance tho, I think we are extremely fortunate and protected by the fact that we do have a regulated pharmaceutical market in the UK… however whilst im here… any orders for drugs ;o)
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Psychology of grey weather…
I didn’t realise that living in England for the best part of 25years could give me such long term psychological damage… it is very grey outside and I don’t want to leave the office and go home because I am scared it will be nasty and cold… but actually I know that it is boiling hot… but that fact isn’t really conveying itself to the part of my brain that moves my feet…
Saturday, June 24, 2006
a life of leisure....
In the interests of trying out all possible combinations and permutations of massages before I leave this haven of massage-ness I have been deviating from the usual full body aromatherapy massage... and in recent weeks I have had a Thai massage where a midget Thai lady tried (unsuccessfully) to click every joint in my body. I can only conclude we Europeans are not as clicky as Asians... one of my colleagues at work can even click his neck whilst sitting looking at his computer (legend)... the Thai massage also involved her walking all over my back and feet and trying some strange maneuvre where she lifted and twisted me round... for a midget (well small person) she was rather strong...
today I went for an Indian head massage... lying on the cushions, under the aircon, listening to sounds of the forest (piped in over a posh sound system) was a nice was to laze away the hot lunch time hour... however I did wonder why on earth I was paying someone $10 to bore their fingers into my skull and pull at my hair (does anyone know how an Indian head massage for bald people works?)... I don’t think ill try another one of those... especially as they used this kind of massage oil/gel stuff and despite washing my hair 2x today it still looks greasy - as if I haven’t washed it for a month... nice...
oooo thoughts on hair... I’m thinking of getting a perm... which is comedy... in the sense that I’m really not a spend 5 hours in front of the mirror doing my hair and make up sort of girl... in fact I can safely say I have been to a hairdresser 3 times in the last 2 years... however I’ve never had curly hair and I thought it might be interesting... a one off experience... just to see what I look like... but I’m not totally convinced about the chemicals being poured all over my head mlarky...
we shall see... I shall keep you updated... if I start blogging from a hospital in
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
My elfname is....
quite by chance i have stumbled on a random website (blogthings.com)
which tells you all sorts of useless information about yourself...
so i thought i would enlighten you with some little known facts about me.
My elfname is: FURRY SNOWBALLER (do not ask me how this is calculated - I am certain its not scientific)....
My ''sexy Brazilian'' name is: Rafaela Peixe
The car I should drive is: Jaguar XK 4.2 (wont say no to one of them...)
I am 23% american (apparently this means pretty un-american.. good... no offence sadiebaksh)
I am not scarry
In my past 'animal life' i was a fox... edward???
My mind is 'a creative hotbed of artistic talent'.
I am 12% Psychopath...
I hope you now feel as enlightened as I do
which tells you all sorts of useless information about yourself...
so i thought i would enlighten you with some little known facts about me.
My elfname is: FURRY SNOWBALLER (do not ask me how this is calculated - I am certain its not scientific)....
My ''sexy Brazilian'' name is: Rafaela Peixe
The car I should drive is: Jaguar XK 4.2 (wont say no to one of them...)
I am 23% american (apparently this means pretty un-american.. good... no offence sadiebaksh)
I am not scarry
In my past 'animal life' i was a fox... edward???
My mind is 'a creative hotbed of artistic talent'.
I am 12% Psychopath...
I hope you now feel as enlightened as I do
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Change
you can always count on Tracy Chapman for some thought provoking lines....
Change
Tracy Chapman
If you knew that you would die today,
Saw the face of god and love,
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that love can break your heart
When you're down so low you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses? How much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around,
Makes you try to explain,
Makes you forgive and forget,
Makes you change?
Makes you change?
If you knew that you would be alone,
Knowing right, being wrong,
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings up pain that can't be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?
Are you so upright you can't be bent?
If it comes to blows are you so sure you won't be crawling?
If not for the good, why risk falling?
Why risk falling?
If everything you think you know,
Makes your life unbearable,
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you'd broken every rule and vow,
And hard times come to bring you down,
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you saw the face of God and love
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?
Change
Tracy Chapman
If you knew that you would die today,
Saw the face of god and love,
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that love can break your heart
When you're down so low you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad, how good does it need to get?
How many losses? How much regret?
What chain reaction would cause an effect?
Makes you turn around,
Makes you try to explain,
Makes you forgive and forget,
Makes you change?
Makes you change?
If you knew that you would be alone,
Knowing right, being wrong,
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings up pain that can't be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?
Are you so upright you can't be bent?
If it comes to blows are you so sure you won't be crawling?
If not for the good, why risk falling?
Why risk falling?
If everything you think you know,
Makes your life unbearable,
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you'd broken every rule and vow,
And hard times come to bring you down,
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you saw the face of God and love
If you saw the face of God and love
Would you change?
Would you change?
Monday, June 19, 2006
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