Its Hot and getting Hotter.
on Pam Kerruish (Tajikistan), 23/Jun/2010 15:14, 34 days ago
These two were doing what I would have liked to do today - playing in the big water drains they have here . ( aren't they a lovely colour ?)There were a lot of kids in the water all over the place. This was an especially good place as there was a good current and a bit of a drop. Just as good as a log flume ride , I reckoned. It is continuing hot but we have has some storms which are a blessing.On Monday Nathan - the wonderful OT I have told you about ,asked a gang of us out on his last night .We went to a restaurant on the river when a storm blew up . We were a motley crew , Dutch, American, Swedish and Korean plus me and some Tajiks , but we were all thrilled with the rain which pelted down . For a short time it has a really good cooling effect. The light was wonderful too.These pictures make Khojand look better than it really does as you cant see the ugly blocks of flats - but it is nice down by the river.We had a really nice evening and I met a Tajik lady who comes here to Dom Invalide every Saturday - to chat and socialise with the oldies. ( when she came this week she gave me a wedding invitation - which I can't read but I think its in July. )It was a nice day in Degmai today . There was a Subotnik, which is the compulsory work party I have told you about , and I knew it would be hard work for me as I would have to take all the children out by myself, but I met two parents ( separate families ) who were really grateful for what I'd done for the children so I felt pretty good.To be fair, much of what has improved life for one child was done by Nathan , but I didn't have Mirzo with me to explain - and I will take some credit as I have been ensuring what he taught us is carried on.Her mum was astonished that she could sit up as she has always been a lying down child. She has Hydrochephalis and a bent spine so its extra hard for her to hold her head up.But she has a lovely smile and really enjoys seeing the world from her new upright position so is smiling a lot. If you look closely halfway up her left arm you will see the scar she got from being tied in bed - which she was 24/7 when I came .So you'll understand why this picture gives me a lot of pleasure.Subotnik again. At a rough count there are about 20 staff out on today 's Subotnik. As you know I rant and rave about the staff but when they are pulled off their jobs like this (3 times in the last three days)it must be hard for them to believe that what they do matters very much. and if it doesn't matter why bother?re Mirzo being off. He has been feeling very unwell lately and as one of the Nurses has got Hepatitis I think we were both worried about him.Luckily he just had food poisoning and will be back to work tomorrow. Its a big relief as, as you know, he is my right hand man.Sunday 27thI am listening to the World Cup as I write.England is losing and the commentators are being very wise.( after the event) They are certainly fair weather friends.Its still very hot. (8.30pm)Its strange as I dont feel particularly hot but I'm dripping in sweat. I had thought I was weathering the heat quite well but I went to Philips air-conditioned flat today and in 18 degrees it felt as if I was waking up after being doped for a few weeks. He has a washing machine and I was able to take my "big" washing - winter blankets and duvet- and do it in the machine . Great.Philip came out to Degmai with me yesterday but unfortunately we were a bit late and the children were in bed so he didn't see any of the joy in the Cherubs. I could see it through his eyes and actually it was a bit grim as we only seemed to see the saddest children.However we had a walk around and saw apricots drying and the nice setting of Degmai. I noticed that the pomegranates are beginning to grow. I am fascinated as they grow on quite puny hawthorn like bushes which dont look as if they could support the weight.They grow very big here.From Degmai looking across the river towards the nearby mountainsAs you can imagine the cherubs love picking the fruit and always nick a few apricots when we walk. No-one seems to mind and it is nice for them. When Mirzo was trying to teach me Tajik there were a lot of references to fruit in my very juvenile book and one of the words I had to learn meant "not ripe".I see the relevance now as only the most inner city townies dont have a few fruit trees and a very direct relationship with growing things.Its been one of the nice suprises of the placement actually -picking fruit from the trees.I've had to smile as Farouk , of "good boy Farouk" fame , has now started to say "inaminute ,inaminute" which would appear to be the thing I say second most frequently. I have mentioned the summer houses quite a lot I think, so I'll end with a picture to show you what they're like.Quite big open sided garden sheds ,I suppose , which the children can get some fresh air in in the summer. They have enough space to run about in too.All for now. Pam