A week later...

Its the last day in Pakistan - been an interesting time. Finally met up with James and Rob who have just come back from their climb in Skardu - looking a bit thinner and certainly didn’t object to the beer put in front of them! Good boys.

On Saturday we went to see the Special Forces in training at their base high up on a peak south of Peshawar. We had to leave at 6.00 and when I woke up my kidneys felt like they had been put through a mincer. The 4 hour drive their wasn’t much fun and bythe time we started shooting their display at midday I wasn’t well at all. I saw their Doctor breifly who said drink water and I’ll give you some pills - well drank the water and promptly threw up on the parade gound so they carted me off to the hospital. first attept to give me a drip didn’t work too well - wrong vein - half way down my arm.

A sleep, and a couple hours later and two litres of saline solution my temperature was down from 100F and feeling much better started on the 4 hour coach drive home!! One way to get us noticed with General Sultan as everytime I have seen any of his staff since they have asked if I was OK.

Yesterday had a mad dash running around doing a live with the General which dropped out after the first question - damn technology - and then one later outside the presidential palace that worked faultlessly. Typical.

Need to test the DVD’s I bought earlier for a song - including box set of the Office - both series - for £3!! Definately need to have more luggage space when we come back. Off to take the boys for dinner when they get back from the pool, then early to bed as we have a 5 hour drive to Lahore in the morning to catch our flight back to Delhi. Photos to follow.

Unexpected

This is the truth and not just because we are here, but Pakistan is a much nicer place than India. It is cleaner tidier - it is not as scuzzy at all, there is pride in what people do which is all so lacking in India - which looks like a bomb site.

There again it is very diffrent in other respects as we went to a gun market yesterday inMardan near Peshawar and met a 13 year old boy selling AK47’s!!

Back in Islamabad - which is a very pleasant city- though very dull if you live here - it just works better than its southern neighbour. Best thing is that they eat beef - had a wonderful pepper steak last night and I think we are going to the French Club for lunch or dinner today. Got to eat good food while its available.

Have photo’s which I will post when I get back to Delhi. As for the next few days, will be going out with army over the weekend which should be interesting.

Servers Down

Just a quick note to say that the promised pictures will have to wait as my server was down yesterday so I couldn’t upload the photos. (Left them in Delhi too!!)

As I’m in Pakistan I’ll pen a few words whilst here and add photos when I get back. May get to see James - though not sure yet.

It could be Wales - or Cornwall

Monsoon has finally come.

Its nice to have warm rain for a change. Aaron and I played football for about 20 mins in torrential down pour earlier - then in for a hot shower. Nothing better. If the water system / showers worked properly then there wouldn’t be anything better - but you have to make do!!

Not sure if this counts but the drive is almost as bad as Boscastle. Half an hour ago it was dry.

Ben's Birthday

Ben’s Birthday party - the family affair - a day early…

All of us…

House Captain

Aaron having become House Captain - was sworn in in a special ceremony - or as he put it - ‘Coronation’!!

Not a bad do - with tea afterwards - the responsiblity as far as Aaron is concerned is to make sure everyone gets a turn in house matches!!

Ben watching on…

Peace and Quiet

Its only taken 10 odd years but finally I get to play my stereo as I want. Not just loud but LOUD.

Theres nothing like Bat Out of Hell first thing in the morning to get you going… Kathy taking the kids to school, no neighbours to worry about - a whole hour of self indulgent LOUD music - can’t hear the phone but what the heck - I’m in a good mood!!

Peace on my terms - bliss!!

Thoughts - don't read if squeemish

Black clouds have once more decended over the city as the smell of death is in the air.

Dramatic, overstated - I don’t think so. At 04.30 not 200 yards from where I was a man was hanged today. We heard nothing - which was just as well as the media and on lookers would have had something to talk about.

The man had killed a young girl and spent 14 years in prison for his crime - no pardon though. Just a waste of life - 2 of them.

What it does bring home though is the thought that your brain must go into overload if you know that you will die at a particular time by a particular method. Just thinking about it is scary. No wonder many people turn to God or go mad.

From what we are told, the process is very barbaric - first hung - you are supposed to be dead within 4 seconds, then for good measure your ankles are cut so you bleed out and next stay there for 30 mins just to make sure. Having a drunk exocutioner must help things along nicely - and no one here has a problem with any of this!

China Town

Finished work - we decide to head on down to China town as it is fabled to be quiet extraordinary.

No Kidding its not like anything Richard or I thought it would be. Mainly its made up of tanneries with their filthy uutput running down open sewers - god knows if this can be treated - not that I think it is.

And in tribute to Henri C-Bresson - man jumping puddle (of filth)

Now there are some Chinese restaurants around but all the food has been Indian-ised - similar to the Brit Chinese food. Luckily enough the Owner was having lunch when we walked in - and somehow we hat half her food - proper chinese stuff.

On the way back we picked up a new crew car which Richard is proudly showing off.

And for good measure one more photo for the back of catalogue…

The Captains Speech

Aaron’s wining speech before the school for the post of House Captain.

“My name is Aaron H. I am running for Green House Captain or Vice Captain. I am very good at sports - football, cricket and running are my strong points. I will include everyone in the game and make sure that nobody gets left out.

I won’t shout, and if I do it won’t be my fault. Honest.

Anyway, if anyone gets left out just tell me and I will make sure you will get a chance to take part in the game.

Thankyou.”

Kolkata

Having not gone to Pakistan and Bangladesh we are in Kolkata - Calcutta for a hanging. India’s first for 14 years or so. Not a fantastic reason to visit some where I must say.

One of the main reasons is that Natta Mullick - is the last in a long line of executioners and is supposed to be passing on his skill to his son and grandson. Nothing like keeping it in the family - Indian Style.

Moving swiftly on as the deed is not yet to be done I have decided to take the back of photos… like this -

which is the back of a bus!! Not sure what the Danger is for - the bus, other traffic you, or just life. As with most buses here they are just compartments put on old lorry chassis - half of them have a good 2ft of chassis sticking out the back - handy really.

Now thw ftrams really are amazing - reading the handbook the lines were electrified in 1902 - and the trams haven’t been replaced since then.

and then you get to ride on it too…

Driving through the city there are many wonderful buildings that are falling rapidly into decay - you know they will be torn down sometime soom and not repaired as the will and money is not there - such a disgrace.

Arun +1

Here is Arun, Richards driver with what will be my new car. Arun is fantastic - helping beyind the call of duty with both work and domestic stuff - a good egg indeed!

We are renting this particular one at the moment - a Ford Endeavour with manual gearbox and a 2.5l TD engine - not bad at all - though with an auto box 3.0l engine and decent rear suspension it would be great. Loads of room as its a 7 seater so plenty of space for visitors.

Lets be friends

Picked the kids up from school - 2nd day - and they were all telling me about their new freinds. Aaron told me about his new best friend “Rajn….d". (Full name to be determined). How did you become friends I asked?

“Well he was showing me around the school and I asked if he wanted to be freinds. He said “Yes” and we are".

Bak from Skool

All done and happy made some friends too.

Bak 2 Skool

Kids went back to school this morning - we only just made it - left the house at 7.30 and got to the school bang on time at 7.55 though Arun did have to drive agressively. Perhaps we will leave a bit earlier in future. Got told off by one of the teachers though for car queue jumping and parking on the wrong side of the road!!

In the car:

Outside the school:

Only one upset… Ben was put in year 5 - strange as originally they had put him in year 3 - we said 4 - they looked at his age and said 5 - didn’t bother to ask though. He IS in year 4 though and with Sam, Richards son.

Will have to see what they say when we pick them up this afternoon.

Best news today

Have got our PC up and running at home with internet connection via a wireless landline if that makes sense. Had to reformat the HDD - get rid of everything but at least it works and we don’t have that nasty pop up virus thingy!! Time for bed now as they kids are off to school in the morning - we have to leave at 7.15 as they start at 7.55!!

Mass Evaporation

I’m sure this isn’t correct as I think we must have big problems with the pool = like a hole in it. If we fill it up during the day, overnight the level goes down by a good foot or so . The landlord seems to think that that is evaportaion - but working it out that mean we loose 21,600 litres a night - which can’t be right. (Just to make you jealous the pool is a delicious 20′ x 40′ and will be lovely when its not leaking.)

Tough on the Feet

Two problems with having a big house made with marble floors… you have to walk miles to go anywhere - and its very hard on the heels walking in bare feet. Even worse if you absent minded - wonder where I get that from?

Frazzled but still coping

Last week or two has been non stop go what with the trip to Kalimpong, which another blog is still to be finished, geting the house ready and the family in - only to find that the house isn’t really ready - water pressure pump not installed so bathroom pressure is just a trickle - the generator to combat the power cuts that needs an auto start switch - cable TV guy hasn’t finished his installation so no TV and on and on and on… as Richards brother said its like “manjana” but with out the urgency!