Povey Prattle

There is neighbour A, neighbour B, and Neighbour C They live side by side   in a single story triplex condominium unit.  B has had her moments – in which she has variously described A as a “m-f”, or as an  “s-0-b”.  But then again she’s also said this about a fair number of other residents. Earlier this year A and B began to have some simple and civilised chats after not having spoken to each other for close to two years. In more recent months B has had various health problems. At one time she was close to death.  A wishes that he could help B but it ain’t that simple. B returned yesterday from yet another hospital stay.  She chatted for a wee while in the driveway with A and C.   Then  C helped A her into the house.  But A, just out of the hospital, could not get into bed, so in due course A and C had to call the EMT’s .  B refused any treatment, but they did manage to lift her into her bed. The EMT’s were ba...

Ta Phin village, Sapa Vietnam Written by a villager, Ly May Chan. "My name is Ly May Chan and I want to welcome you to our village. Our people are working together independently to create a place of cultural tourism where the visitor can learn about our cultures and people, the way we live without being troubled by money making travel agents." "We want visitors to stay with us in our homes. We have set up comfortable but simple beds in separate rooms. Please come and eat with us and join us in our everyday life." "Also we can lead you on tours around our village, explaining everything about how we live. If you want to stay a little longer with us you can work alongside us, teaching English, maybe work in the fields or help decorate our cultural house so we can give more information to visitors about our culture." Ta Phin is a picturesque thirty minute drive North of Sapa. Set within a valley with a towering mountain peak at one end, this vill...

1. I was wakened at about 3:30 a.m. today (Dec 31st 2012) by the sound of a moped just outside my bedroom.  I thought “what the heck”. As I emerged into consciousness I realised that there was no moped.  What I had heard (and what had awakened me) was the sound of one of my long and drawn out snores. Pity my roommates when I go to Vietnam. 2. The internet is not perfect.  I know this because I’ve had problems when trying to log on to my e-mail account at Comcast.net.  My user name and password works well on my desktop, but they are always rejected on my tablet. This afternoon I trundled off to the local Comcast office to try to resolve the problem.  That office was mobbed. Folks all around me were grumbling on account of the long waits. I decided to be patient on the grounds of “fake it until you make it”.  That “faking it” worked well: so I was in a good frame of mood when my number was called after a one hour wait. My clerk was Phyllis. She li...

Tropical Storm Isaac is heading our way, or maybe it is not heading our way. Tropical Storm Isaac may develop into hurricane, or perhaps it won’t.. A hurricane? Heading our way? Who knows? We'll  have to wait and see. We’ll have to wait and see, but we can also be prepared. I began the  preparations today. 1,  The Coleman campers stove is working and I have a back up propane gas canister. 2, I have candles and matches. 3,  I’ve checked the batteries in a big flashlight, they are good, 4. And in an emergency lantern – it  works 5.  Finally  in the little flashlight which I can strap to my head  -  (.it’s modeled on a miner’s lamp) –  it  will be a useful tool should  ( for example) I need to use both hands to open a can of tuna or sardines for  food in an emergency. 6. I bought four gallons of spring water this morning –to make coffee and to cook veggies if the s...