Please read the previous blog before this one. The gremlins are well and truly about - only half my afternoon's work saved and it doesn't make much sense (it might not even when I've written it again).

I survived Saturday, thanks to football and a good book (can't remember which one, I've read several this week)and Sunday I was down at reception at 7.10 am all ready to go up to the Pacific. 'Sorry madam, curfew started 10 minutes ago!' Not the best of days - 7am to 8pm, but despite watching Aston Villa when the other sports channel went off it was OK - the few other guests all came up to the roof terrace and had a chat, particularly a guy from Bangladesh who had come to start a managerial job at the airport and hadn't been able to get there. As it was the day Bangladesh were doing well against the Aussies at cricket he was happier about that than 'this terrible country'.

Anyway I thought you might like to read what came into my head that day as I was thinking about the song title 'Another Day in Paradise'(hotel name is Paradise Plaza - keep up!) (Phil Collins -1980s?)so I've put it at the end. Strangely I had an e-mail from Roz in Pokhara today - she included her musings while undergoing curfew -so many similarities it's uncanny - obviously VSO mind-set.

Since MOnday I've been to the Pacific during daytime curfew hours. They are not a happy group - should have been going to post this weekend, but the two education volunteers have been given new placements because of security issues and two volunteers gong to the east have been told to wait for up to three weeks to continue assessing the situation. There has been talk of evacuating the volunteers on their own (both in the east)and the FCO advice to Britons in Nepal is to consider if their stay is vital. This is one of the danger signals for our programmes, so you will understand why we are really unsure about the future. I am particulaly concerned about the future of the education programme as it is based in government offices - even though we are neutral when it comes to the political situation.

Can't worry too much now as I'm in KTM until the 'indefinite' strike
ends-doesn't feel like a strike today, and no curfew, but still no road travel from the airport to Hetauda, so I'm under orders frombig boss Danny.

We must be the only people who are ssupposed to be impartial at the moment, because during the week the number of protestors has grown - not just the students who hog the limelight on TV, but also the doctors, journalists, writers, bank workers and civil servants. Teachers in Makwanpur want to keep schools closed indefinitely. The news today is that the Nepal Bar Association (lawyers, not publicans!)has been demonstrating. The news from Hetauda is that there have been twice daly demonstrtions, and parades, rubber bulets, injuries and plenty of arests. Kamal Thapa's other house in town has been stoned. This is not going to have an easy ending - perhaps we'll know more tomorrow with the King's New Year message.

Yes today is New Year's Eve, though we shalln't be celebrating because of curfew, so we can't go to see Bouddha lit up or watch the chariot tug-of-war at Bakhtapur.

I've found this really nice courtyard restaurant where they have wireless internet access, so I've been here all afternonn and think I've drunk enough lemon sodas, so I'll be closing.

Subra naya barsa (Happy new year)for 2063 (still don't know what we count from)and happy Easter (I'm missing the church picnic in Hetauda too)

Enjoy feeling safe.

Palm Sunday 2006 - 'Another Day in Paradise'

Give me barking dogs, roaring motor bikes and blaring
taxi horns, but not this eerie stillness. Kathmandu was never meant to be so quiet. Thank goodness for crows, sparrows and pigeons for breaking the silence and kites for soaring gently on the thermals to show that something is still moving in the valley.

A sudden rumble on Kantipath-three army personnel carriers pass the end of the alley, deserted toda even by the Arme Police Force. Perhaps they're needed elsewhere.

The day is pleasantly warm and a slight breeze rustles the leaves on the pot plants here on the roof of 'Paradise'. The sky is overcast, no chance of a glimpse of the mountains, which has been possible after previous bandhs and holidays thanks to the reduced levels of pollution. There may be rain later. Even the weather has caught the mood of uncertainty.

To the northwest, someewhere over Thamel dark smoking is curling upwards, but quickly vanishes.

Escape! A small plane is heading westwards - don't think I'd want to go to Pokhara just now, but Jomsum would be good.

12 o'clock-the bell tower clock is stiking. It looks very near, but always seem a distance to walk - probably because of the time taken crossing roads and avoiding market produce spread over the pavement, but now Durbar Marg and Kantipath are as empty of people as Rani Pokhari is of water.

Action in the alley-an APF jeep on a tour of inspection - nothing to report here sir - just a hotel guest on his balcony across the way and a large relaxed nan staring at the sky - from an advert probably for cigarettes!

Peace and quiet - do the two always go together? It's quiet here, but peaceful? Certainly not-you can almost taste the tension in the air. A child is yelling - probably with frustration - I feel like joining in. What's the point of this curfew?

It's just shaking up the Pepsi bottle-when the top comes off - stand very well clear. We volunteers may be covered in spray and then it will all go flat or we may be sent flying with the bubbles. But whatever the outcome we've been in the bottle and I'm very grateful for that.