Today is my bits and bobs day as I have to get ready to leave for Ho Chi Minh City tomorrow. The flight isn't until 5pm so I'll have time to do odd jobs before I leave home. I always forget something so I just hope it's something that's not so important or can be purchased in Vietnam. I'm glad Messrs Trump and Kim are north in Hanoi and won't be bothering me in Saigon.
It was lovely being able to sleep until I felt like getting up, with no Chinese music blaring away. I washed the floor yesterday but the water was dark brown when I washed it today; there must be more dust in the air for some reason. It's very hot nowadays but I was told it'll be even hotter in March and April, getting up to 50C.
I was in the kitchen, staring out of the window, and there seemed to be something different about my live mouse trap; I'd caught a mouse. I have no idea when he decided to move into the trap but he was well and truly dead. I don't mind because he was caught on the balcony and I think I'm mouse proof and almost bullet proof as far as the kitchen's concerned.
I sat on the balcony, having breakfast, for a while and then I thought I'd better get down to putting together the two page report on the exchange programme. I really don't want work to do while I'm on holiday. When that was finished, I tackled my ironing. The shirts didn't go back into the wardrobe but ended up in the suitcase again. I know I'm supposed to take warm clothing to Vietnam, but I'm a bit confused because cold weather in Vietnam is not what I'd call cold weather.
Friend Syden, who is a tour guide in Siem Reap, posted photos on Facebook of his son's birthday. Syden's nickname is "Tiger", so naturally the boy's nickname is "Tiger cub". Instead of having what we'd call a traditional child's birthday party, Syden took his wife and son to a pagoda and the boy gave gifts of food, drink and money to five monks. I thought it was a great idea; learning to give instead of receiving.
I heard on the news that there's a movement around the world to get major companies to make items that can be fixed by the owner or by a local person. So many items are made that have to be returned to the manufacturer to fix; sometimes it's a simple matter of not being able to get the back off something as it's glued rather than screwed on. The BBC tried to contact Apple and other major manufacturers but they didn't respond. A major culprit in the agricultural sector is John Deere. At some point the computer in the tractor will say, "Check engine". The farmer can't do it, nor can a local repairman; instead the farmer has to call out a John Deere mechanic. Even if the mechanic has only to reset the computer the bill will be US$15,000. It reminded me of the day last year when a nice lady drove too closely and removed my side mirror. Honda wanted $450 to put on a new one. I ended up paying $75 for one from a wreckers' yard that looked new and, after looking at a video on YouTube, John was able to replace it in five minutes.
I waited for Phearak and Srun to come for their English class but they didn't appear. Later Phearak wrote and apologised because he was outside delivering travel documents to someone. It's amazing the services we get here - so many things are delivered without my leaving home.
I went out for a walk this evening, mainly to take out my rubbish. I always separate the things for recycling but nobody else does. It makes it difficult for those going through the rubbish every evening looking for plastic, glass and metal. They carry a metal bar, with a hook on the end, and they test the bag and then rip it open. This means that rubbish is all over the place, which makes it difficult for the garbage workers who have to pick up the rubbish every evening.
It's going to be a long day tomorrow, once I start travelling. Friend Ngan will meet me at the airport in Ho Chi Minh around 6pm and at 8pm I'm on a bus for an overnight drive into the blue (or should I say 'dark'?) yonder. I hope that Saturday is a day or rest!
I'm not sure about internet while I'm away so things may be a bit hit and miss until I get back on the 8th. I hope I'm missed!
