I've been so fixated on the US elections that I completely forgot about Guy Fawkes night. I've no idea if they still celebrate it in England? In the old days the build up to the big night was to push a cart, or old pushchair, around with a stuffed figure in it. Our family didn't do it because Dad used to buy us some fireworks so we didn't have to collect money from people. The kids used to stop people on the street; "Penny for the guy"! Dad would build an enormous (to us) bonfire with bits of wood he'd found lying around, broken down sheds etc. Our fireworks were simple spinning wheels and others that just went up into the air, fizzed a bit with colours and quickly went out. The best part was chucking potatoes into the ashes and cooking them. Guy would have been pleased to know we didn't burn him.
I bought a pair of Bose headphones. I was pleased to find them in a local market. I thought they'd come in handy when I'm moving around the apartment in the morning doing my exercises. They only cost $25 so I did wonder how much profit people were making on them; in Canada they are quite expensive. I soon realised they were another example of Chinese industry when I turned them on. A lady with a funny accent says, "The Bluetooth device, the Bluetooth device is connected a-successfully." Generally, they work quite well although yesterday a heavy metal band kept interrupting when I was listening to the BBC.
A few years ago I was in Phnom Penh when I decided I needed to buy a watch with numbers large enough to see without my reading glasses. I went to the market with Boroith and forgot to take my specs with me. I chose a watch with large numbers and paid $20. When I got home I saw "Longines" written on the watch. I was quite pleased with myself. I know, people are going to say I'm naive! The watch worked well but in Canada the strap broke. I went to Sears and bought a new one for $35 so already it's an expensive watch. I asked if they'd be able to install a new battery but the man said they weren't allowed to open expensive watches. I started to wonder if it was a real Longines. After a while it stopped working so I took it to a jewellers. The lady looked at it and said she wasn't allowed to open it. I said she could go ahead and fix it and I wouldn't hold her responsible. A few days later I returned to the farm and Phyllis told me the store had phoned to say the watch had been repaired. Then she said, "Oh, and the woman said it's not real!" That cost me $125. In India I accidentally knocked my arm against a wall and knocked off the winder. I decided to chuck it. My learning continues.
After yesterday's in and out day, today was peaceful. I started lunch early so I had an excuse not to go across the street if they called me - they didn't! Srun and Phearak came over for English lessons. There's a lot of material on the internet but often it's not appropriate for people here in Cambodia. American lessons use a lot of American jargon and, being British, I refuse to promote it. Today, I decided to play Solitaire with them. It meant choosing two cards which add up to 13. It was quite a job getting them to understand. Phearak constantly yawns; he's either doing that or giggling. It's funny how he picks up hardly any English but in card games he understands almost immediately. Srun has done accounting but he found the idea of totalling 13 a bit confusing. Eventually, they both caught on and we chatted while playing. They both go to university after a full day of work. Their classes are from 5 until 8.30 every Monday to Friday. I don't know how they do it.
My cook hasn't arrived yet. I wonder if he's coming. Sometimes I start to cook, thinking he's not coming, and then he shows up. Samnang gives me a rollocking. He wants to cook me fish and chips. I keep telling him I can't buy cod or haddock here but it's not putting him off. I'm trying to use things up in my fridge as I leave for Bali on the 7th.
