Protest outside of government office in Kathmandu.

Looking North from the roof you can see the Himalayas on a clear day.

Looking to the South West from the roof top of our flat in Kathmandu.

Well, we are back in Kathmandu. It feels good to have escaped the harsh British winter, though we did enjoy the snow for a bit. It is warming up here, with the sun getting hotter day by day. As is the political situation, though everyone must be tired of hearing about the ‘political stalemate’ that has been going on since last May. Now there is less than 100 days until the deadline for writing the new constitution everyone is suddenly energised around that, despite having had two years to do it. Now more than every it seems less likely that it will get done as political parties dig their heels in on their pet issues. There will no doubt be tears before bedtime. Most urbanites are more concerned with WET (water, electricity and transport) plus crime (but that doesn’t make a cool acronym. Corruption in the Education Ministry and administrative meltdown are driving donors to despair as they withdraw or stall funding in an attempt to focus minds. The most heartening I have heard since being back is Garu’s story of seeing an innovative entrepreneur setting up a cappuccino stall on the streets of Butwal using a modified pressure cooker to froth the milk! Cafe society coming to a Terai truck stop near you soon!

Cold but not a Balamory child tourist in sight!

Small fishing village on the east coast of Scotland at dusk.

Surely, as far from Kathmandu as I could get? Snow, sea and peace on a visit to the island of Mull, Scotland in December 2009.