DAY 9 (Friday 29 July 2011)

Today, what happened today, ah yes this is what happened.  As today was my last day to take over my job I thought that I would be really busy, however, I was, but not in the office.  I got to work early as there was still plenty to do, but not only was I to work today was the day I go shopping for a Sari, more of that later though.

I had a fitting at the beginning of the week for my Summer Mess Dress and was told that it wouldn’t be ready until Monday, anyway my office phone was ringing like crazy but I was in a meeting down the corridor, it turned out (when the caller eventually got me) that is was the tailor telling me that my Summer Mess Dress was ready and that I could pick it up, so off I went.  After that it was the daily ritual of tea on the balcony at 1000hrs, then no sooner had we had that I  managed to corner Neil long enough in the office to get him to hand over some more work, (not much though) as he has a habit of digressing and forgetting what he is supposed to be doing.  Well come 1130hrs I had to go again as I had a welcoming interview with my top boss who I really work for, but as he said he is only in office for a day and a half each week as he works at the Embassy too, which is over the river in THAMEL, anyway as my interview took longer than expected I had about 15 mins with Neil before I had to disappear to go and get changed into civvies (look at me talking about changing into civvies, I wear civvies to work so I should really say into smart scruffs) to meet Nicky and Susan so that we could go Sari shopping.

After saying farewell to Neil, I rushed off home to get changed as I only had 15 mins in the end to get home, change and back to the office to meet the girls.  Susan was at the office but we waited for Nicky to arrive before we left by taxi (another experience) to go to the area of where we were to buy our Sari’s.  When we got to the shop we had to take off our shoes (as it is customary) and sit on the mats as the shop workers were doing, but both Nicky and I couldn’t sit how they sat so they gave us some small stools to sit on.  We looked at the different red Sari’s with beautiful patterns on and gems, I ended up going for a deep red with a blue stone which for some reason seemed to suit my skin tone.  We were in that shop for quite a while as we had to wait for the tailor to come and measure us for our tops and underskirts to go with the Sari.  Fortunately I really only have to have one Sari as I need it for the Teej that happens one a year for women.  Mine definitely had to be red with me being a married woman (again tradition).

After we paid for our Saris (Susan managed to get Nicky and me some discount with us both working at the HQ of the British Gurkhas), we get to collect them next week, we went around the corner to go and buy the bangles that are worn with the Saris and Tika’s (Tika’s are the little jewels that are worn on the forehead), for this I went for a blue gem to match the gems in my Sari, my bangles are a mixture of red and blue and I have enough to either wear on one arm or split them to wear on both, (I think I shall be wearing them on both as there are lots).  You can have any different style of necklace for wearing with the Sari, so off we went again to another stall where they actually make your necklace (in beads) there and then if they do not have the colouring that you want, fortunately for me though the bloke at the shop had already had a blue one made that matched my Sari so I bought it from him.

After Nicky and I had finished getting what we wanted we went looking for some sparkly type shoes for me to wear with my Sari, but at the moment I still haven’t found anything that I like, at least I have got some time to still have a look around as the Teej isn’t until the end of August.  Nicky managed to buy 2 pairs of normal sandals before we headed back for home.  We got in a taxi (again a different experience as we were taking down loads of back roads to get away from the mad rush on the roads, but the roads we went down were full of bumps and holes so I really don’t know what would have been the lesser of 2 evils).  When we got back to where we wanted to be, Susan got out and headed home and me and Nicky got out and headed for back to camp, but not before we went to KEELERS (the doughnut shop), in there we had a doughnut each with a coke (which was really needed), before I bought 2 more doughnuts to take home for me and Charlie after tea.

Charlie had the BUWO Brigade Unit Welfare Officer) come round to the house for a visit and also with him were Kim Thorpe and Laxmi, they are part of the Partners Club and they came to welcome him to Nepal, this is where he received anoher KATA.

Charlie receiving his KATA from Kim Thorpe (my RAO's wife)

Charlie with Kim and Laxmi

That was all that happened today.  With tomorrow being Saturday Charlie and I are going to go out for a look around and take photos of the streets just so you can see how hectic life can be, but saying that, with it being Saturday tomorrow, it will be quieter as Saturdays around here usually are, so until tomorrow, I shall bid you a goodnight.