Happy New Year...again....

So, that is three New Years done...just 2 more to go, unless I have forgotten a few. "Our" Happy New Year has become a big affair here now, a real  change from only 5 or 6 years ago. Unlike Christmas, which remains a total mystery to most Lao people and is really only marked by Hotels, Cafes and Shops for commercial reasons, Happy New Year now seem a genuine festival (like we needed another !), with schools, banks and government offices closed for a day and families organising their own noisy parties over 4 days.

I have never really celebrated New Year, supposing that should I be fortunate enough to wake up on 1 January each year, I will not find the world a changed place, unless it simply appears worse because of a hangover.   Last week's Blog finished with Chris heading back to London. His timing was awesome ! For the very next day I had one of my major culinary disasters ; not just embarrassing, but heath threatening. I shall not keep "fresh" spring  rolls  in the fridge for 5 or 6 days in future. Their condition, followed by my condition, would have prevented my attendance at any New Year revels even had I wanted to participate. Instead,  I have spent the best part of 3 days in bed, not eating...and have not touched alcohol for 3 days, which is something of a record.

But whilst I have lain in bed listening to non stop Mozart (which is not such a bad way to spend one's time) teams of men have been at work in the house. I rose from my bed long enough to take these exciting photos;

Yes, I have water !  Thanks to friends in moderately high places and they payment of a an additional "fee" that looks not totally different from a "bribe" I am now connected to the water supply. It required a shallow trench to be dug across the lane, maybe 8 metres at most, and that was about it. One wonders why it posed so many problems for so long. I was not the only person to be excited. The scenes recalled the UK 30 or 40 years ago when the sight of men digging  a hole or a trench would bring streets  to a halt as we all gazed in wonder at the scenes of men wielding, but mostly leaning on picks and shovels.

And of course as soon as the trench was left unguarded 2 very small boys realised that it looked  like a perfect urinal and had a good long pee.

However, all was not rosy in the garden. even after the little boys' wee wee. After the water company came 2 plumbers, after the plumbers the electrician, then the electrician again given that as soon as the shower was switched on all the electrics failed, then down to the shops to buy a larger circuit breaker and some more piping, then 2 builders to bury to external piping, and then the electrician once more to fit the circuit breaker. As yet I am still to enjoy the delights of a shower. Is anyone else old enough to remember Flanders and Swann singing their cheerful little song..."Oh it all makes work for the working man to do"?

This may have deprived me of one of my regular topics, and along with the total absence of  the goat may leave me a little short of material in the future. However, for the moment I still have copulating dogs to dwell upon, so to speak. I say  "for the moment", as I have decided as a New Year's Resolution to launch the Lao League to Encourage Canine Chastity. It is not their constant coupling in itself that I find irritating, though I wish they would avoid my front doorstep for their  amorous activities, it's the bloody noise they make doing it that gets to me. The bitches seem to be worse, constantly complaining it seems about some some aspect of their partner's performance. In the short term I have piled up stones and prepared buckets of water (now not such a luxury,) as agents to discourage sexual activity,but  in the future I shall be launching an appeal for the purchase of as many Canine Chastity belts as possible.....see   http://www.pabsforpets.com/ .

The weather is the same as last week; distinctly chilly mornings and evenings and warm, but not too hot in thee afternoons. It does mean that its is desirable to equip yourself with a change of clothing when going out, as the difference in temperature through the day is very marked. Meanwhile, the poinsettias have done their Christmas duty and are on the wane but the town is still full of wonderful bougainvillea in full bloom.

I had a further meeting this week with the Provincial Minister of Education which did not result in huge new developments beyond the news that he is building on a vacant plot of land near me and will become my next door neighbour but one. I expect he will have few problems getting water connected. I am hopeful that he might be  slight restraining influence on those neighbours who like to entertain the whole village with late night karaoke.

I have found an online guide to negotiating in Laos. Two of the gems are a) Aways remember that the person you are negotiating with has no power to conclude a deal; and b) Yes means either Maybe  or,No, Maybe, means No, while No, will never be said.
As even the least discerning of you will have observed, today's blog is a little thin, so maybe it is time to put you out of your misery and sign off.

ALAN

PS   I just had a shower.....oh what luxury!