Day 15 (or so)

We were just getting ready to go out as soon as the curfew ended last night when we got a call that it had been extended from 8pm to 3am, so 25 hours continuous curfew. As expected, and as usual at short notice, they announced curfew for today - 9am to 8pm (unless of course they extend again). We did get out for a walk around before 9 and it was amazing how busy it was. Most of the small shops were open and had a reasonable stock of fruit & veg etc. We were going to buy some bananas until we found that they were NRs 70/dozen, up from NRs 30/dozen on Tuesday. I did buy the Himalayan Times and Kathmandu Post newspapers. Apart from the journalists and photographers risking life and limb at the front line of the demonstrations, it beats me how they managed to print and distribute these (both English & Nepali versions) in the short time they had this morning.

 

A moment of excitement yesterday afternoon when Josie sent an e-mail saying BBC Newsround Online might do a bit on kids' reactions to whats going on and set us the challenge of interviewing the landlord's children (who live above us). They patiently answered our questions and I e-mailed them off so we'll see whether Kripa, Kriti and Bijay get to see their names on the Beeb site. Eat your heart out Charles Haviland.

 

I started a mind boggling hard Sudoko (as I think these are strictly for nerds, I had avoided them until recently but these are trying times) this morning which at the rate I'm going should keep me busy until the curfew ends if I don't lose patience first. A slightly more useful activity I'll swing into later is taking some photos of the flat and posting them here. As you are not going to see any photos of the demos from me, here is a link to one of the local news site's gallery:

 

http://www.kantipuronline.com/morephoto/day14/1.html

 

You'll be pleased to know that, as evidenced by the following e-mail received this morning, the British embassy is hard at work looking after us UK citizens.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Giles.Clapp@fco.gov.uk [mailto:Giles.Clapp@fco.gov.uk]
Sent: 21 April 2006 09:49
Subject: ST GEORGE'S DAY - CANCELLATION

DEAR ALL

WELL, IT SEEMS THAT ALTHOUGH THE BIG FELLA MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ON A DRAGON AND WIN, EVENTS WITHIN THE KATHMANDU VALLEY HAVE PROVEN TOO MUCH FOR THIS HUMBLE MEMBER OF THE 'ISLAND BREED'.

THUS, ALTHOUGH I HAVE SWORD, SHIELD AND SPUNK IN ABUNDANCE, ALAS, I HAVE NO PIGS, SPIT-ROASTING STANDS OR WOOD AND SO HAVE RELUCTANTLY TAKEN THE DECISION TO CANCEL THE EVENT.

WE'LL PICK ANOTHER DATE WHEN THINGS HAVE CALMED DOWN A LITTLE AND HAVE A HOG-ROAST THEN.

GILES

Bye for now

Roshan