Bike repair

I am now a long distance (3 -4 km which for me is long) bike commuter so it is getting more use than ever. Today, after going between offices on a particularly bumpy rough track (trying to keep up with a colleague on a motor bike!), a bolt fell off my chain guard. Not a major problem, I took the whole thing off and tucked it in my bag. I stopped off at our local bike repair shop and the guy had almost finished a quick and simple fix of it when BANG the front tyre exploded! No reason for it, but I was very happy it happened there not while I was riding it on a busy road. Given the noise, it was no great surprise that there was a 2 inch hole in the tyre with a matching pair on the inner tube. So new tube needed – but not so easy because all the shop had were some old ones (good recycling policy) none of which fitted. After explaining this to me (fortunately I understood a few words and the obvious signs) the guy hopped on his bike to get one from another shop. I did understand what he said when he got back "No electricity so the shop is closed. I will get a new tyre tomorrow". Now of course you would expect things to end at this stage but not in Nepal (or probably anywhere else apart from the "developed" world). An old tyre was cut up and stuck inside the burst one and the inner tube was patched with another recycled tube. I cycled the short distance home and it seemed OK so I'll ride it to work tomorrow hoping that it will last until I can get back to the repair shop in the evening. I'll let you know tomorrow whether this is a foolish decision resulting in a long walk pushing the bike.

Oh and the cost for about an hour's fiddling around – Rs20 (about 17 pence). I wonder whether the shop thinks that all bideshi's (foreigners) have exploding tyres? A friend literally blew his up at the same shop when inflating just a bit too much with a high pressure air hose.

I've posted it before but a long time ago so a reminder of what my faithful old push bike (christened Rosie by another vol who insisted on giving all bikes names - her's was called Barbie) looks like:

Cheers

Roshan

Apologies

I'm sorry that my last post selfishly focussed on the challenges Nepal faces with a severe power shortage. A friend in the UK has pointed out that you have crises there:

Cadbury switches chocolate Heroes amid credit crunch

Cadbury has cut two old favourites from its popular Heroes selection amid fears it is trying to costs. The changes have sparked a barrage of complaints from chocoholics, who accuse the company of wielding the cost cutting spatula a cut too far. Dreams and Crunchies have been dropped from the tins, to be replaced by Bournvilles and toffee Eclairs.

Sad to see Crunchies disappearing but give me Bournville over Dreams any day.

 

Happy Christmas chocolate eating.

Roshan

 

 

What I want for Christmas

… is some electricity! With talk about it in the papers ever since we got back, its finally happened, we have 63 hours a week load shedding starting tonight. The schedule (when power is off) for us is:

 

Sunday             0430 – 1030           1630 – 2030

Monday            0630 – 1230           1700 – 2100

Tuesday            0830 – 1430           1730 – 2130

Wednesday       1030 – 1630           2130 – 0130

Thursday           2000 – 2300  Yes, only 3 hours!

Friday               0030 – 0630           1600 – 2000

Saturday           0230 – 0830           1615 – 2015

 

In the last 3 years we haven't had load shedding with 6 hr off at a time, nor has it been so many hours per day at this time of year. Many businesses are really going to struggle with so few hours of power and I don't think the general population will be too happy so my guess is that there will be demonstrations soon. We'll manage but our laptop usage may be curtailed because even my nifty little Eee PC won't last 6 hours. I was thinking at least the electricity bill will be low next month but I fear our candle and torch battery bill will use up this saving and more.

 

Not really a whinge, just a gentle sigh.

Cheers

Roshan

 

P.S. Had our annual pig out on sausage rolls, mince pies and rum punch at the British Embassy last night. Oh and the garden was all lit up with fairy and spot lights and warmed by patio heaters – I say, Your Excellency, did you know there was an energy shortage?

BBC Sports Personality of the Year

I can't resist a quick blog to plug BBC Sports Personality of the Year which both our kids are involved in, Josie is a researcher and Ben apparently is guarding the trophies! It's on live from 1900 – 2100 GMT tomorrow (Sunday) night so make sure you watch. And if you don't know who to vote for, go for Ben Ainslie, a sailor has never won it before.

 

Cheers

Roshan

Beauty & Brains

As I'd been involved in the original concept, my friends at Blue Diamond Society invited me to the

The journey to Pokhara was a bit of an ordeal - 6 of us in a car about the size of a Peugeot 306, 4 of us on the back seat. Allowing for a couple of stops (including travel sickness related ones - me included) it took about 6 hours. Quite cloudy when we got there but the next morning ........



..... spectacular views of the mountains (Annapurna range)












The contestants' aptly named hotel. That's Macchapucchre (Fishtail Mountain) in the background.











Contestants getting made up

There were15 contestants who had come through 5 regional heats to get to the final.

A bit of traditional dancing whilst the contestants changed costumes (evening dress and saris, no bathing suits!)

It may not be very clear but that is a bicycle wheel which she spun and then placed on her head like a gyroscope. It didn't look like a lightweight racing wheel either. I'm not sure how traditional this is or whether it was her own innovation.

The winner (3rd from left) and the 5 runners-up:

The winner will spend the next year as a National Ambassador spreading the word about HIV & AIDS and human rights. The 5 runners-up will carry out similar work in their local regions.

It was great to be part of this final event in the program and fantastic to see the confidence of the girls when they walked out on stage - apart from the HIV & AIDS message, that was what it was about. A moist eye moment.

Cheers
Roshan

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