I did my morning exercise and left Ponleu sleeping for a while while I paced up and down. He came out of the bedroom, looking groggy. Suddenly, the BBC programme changed to really bad music. I knew what had happened - Ponleu had picked up my phone and was playing a game. I pounced on him; he knows I don't like him playing games here - he does enough of that in his own home.
The power went off before we had chance for breakfast so we had to have glasses of something cold plus a sandwich. Ponleu always wants toast. I offered milk but he said it was bland - he's got attached to my sour cherry juice. I enjoy his company as he's a smart lad and very warm hearted. There wasn't much he could do as he knew he couldn't play games. He ended up using the lego bricks for a while which I thought was good as he got them out without my having to pressure him. Later on I took him home and I was asked to stay for lunch. I couldn't as I was dining out.
At noon Luc and Sokha arrived. I told him we could park the car and walk down the road to a place we'd been to before. Luc thought of another place so we set off in the car. There's always construction or renovation going on so parking's a nightmare. Luc and I went inside and left Sokha to sort things out. I pointed out that this particular restaurant is the twin of the place I'd mentioned - even the menu was the same. I ordered a chicken dish which turned out to be a couple of boneless pieces with a cheese and mushroom sauce, along with fries and a bit of a salad - it was very good. I was enjoying chatting when they saw Sotheary walking along the road - they shouted at her. She rents a room at Peaceful Children's Home where Luc is based.
They got up and chased after her and brought her back. She sat with us while we ate and she talked and talked in a rather loud and excitable voice. I noticed a man at the next table. He kept ordering a drink in a small glass, which he quickly downed. He'd also got a glass with a slice of lime in it. It seemed to me that he was having a gin and tonic but the gin went down separately and very quickly. I think he eventually got fed up of listening to Sotheary so he moved to another table.
She went on about the road that's planned to go through the land where the children's home is located and how Soubert should stand up and fight. He knows everyone who is anyone in the country but he's a gentleman and doesn't like getting his hands dirty; he'd told me earlier that people were looking after it for him. It's a serious situation as the road is six lanes wide and the children will have to cross it to go to school. The huge stupa to his father will end up on the other side of the road, half the football field will disappear and some of the buildings. A house is being built for Soubert by some of the boys he raised and, if the road is completed, he'll be in an isolated situation as the children will be moved to another home they have in Battambang. Now the news is that someone has started an archeological dig on the land owned by Soubert; they've found parts of a 7th century structure. So now that may help to detour the road. I wouldn't mind seeing a dig, so I'll keep it in mind for when I return to Cambodia.
I had promised the three boys I'd take them for a fruit shake by the river. When I went to pick them up their parents and youngest daughter, Cheata, also came along. We settle down to order the drinks and then Samnang (14) decided to order a pizza, Oudom and Ponleu a burger, mother Cina another pizza and Cheata a crispy bun with some meat inside - all of the dishes had loads of chips and salad. I stuck to what I'd planned in the first place which was a 75 cents glass of draft beer - nice and cold. I was being watched! Oudom pointed upwards and I saw one of the cooks, on an upper floor, looking down on me. I waved and he smiled. Later on I waved at him to say goodbye.
I'd only planned on having a drink but I was told I had to have some of the two pizzas; Oudom made me try some of his burger. After eating we set off for the riverside. Samnang raced ahead and we knew he'd go home on his own. The rest of us sauntered along and went to the exercise area where we enjoyed using the equipment for a while. It's always busy in the evenings so we had to wait for people to leave before we could use something. It was a good way to end the evening.
