Day 109 - Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday!

This is the usual editing set up

Day 109 - 10th October

So it's Saturday. Yes, the WEEKEND!

The norm really, getting up for breakfast, no swimming though and getting ready to do the final stages of edit three of my novel. Fifty pages and that baby is finished.

I like trying to tell myself I'll only spend a few hours on it, knowing full well it will consume most of my day and once again this proved to be the case. I sat for eight hours, chopping and changing and re-reading old parts to make sure no detail was missed in the main story. 

Lunch happened somewhere in between and I did a half hour pit stop to watch the first part of Hitchcock's Psycho. I felt like Norman Bates after editing straight for four hours (no I didn't put on a wig and a dress and start slashing at people in the showers). I was thinking more about my brain reading the same paragraphs over and over and him saying, 'We all go a little mad sometimes.' Yes, Norman, I can concur.

The usual weekly Skype session with home went well, this time my adorable little niece, Emmy made an appearance and smiled a number of times at the camera (it could've been Pepper Pig on the TV behind but I'm going with me). Nanna also came down and constantly asked if I could see and hear her - bloody love her.

The noticeable absence of my second oldest brother and his wife was evident. There was no insults flying my way. But I'll catch up with them again soon.

The best part of the conversation was telling them I needed a chest X-Ray in Phomn Penh next Friday. The sense of panic rose but I quickly told them it was part of my Australian visa requirements. But it's nice to known I'm loved! (Either that or they thought they're souvenirs might not make it back - I joke of course...)

Love that chicken.

The evening saw me head out for some chicken and bok choy and then a few beers before bed.

Jay on the left.

And just before he gets away with it, my older brother, Jay celebrated his birthday today. Happy Birthday brother. Enjoy with Holz and Emmy x

Day 108 - End of week and then vacation time!

Time to teach again!

Day 108 - 09th October

So the final day of the working week before the Pchum Ben festival begins.

The day was hot but I was looking forward to teaching our last day of volleyball. We headed to Project D and set up our first few lessons with lots of free playing, games and just good fun. The kids were tired by the end so we knew we were doing something right.

Huok (sounds like Hulk), one of the teachers was talking to me about the differences in Cambodia compared to England. He was curious to know what we do, how we study at university (hadn't a clue, I've never been) and how we live our social lives. One thing I have learned here in Cambodia and that's that the people are very family orientated. Everything they do is for the good of their parents and siblings, which is always great to see. Sometimes though it makes me feel a little sympathy because so many don't dare to dream or try something for their own good. I totally respect what they do for family but it makes me wonder how unfulfilled they might be deep down.

Anyway, as things were going well, we taught our final two lessons of the morning in the same fashion as the previous two. They kids whacked volleyballs about and whacked each other if they did something wrong in the group (in a playful way of course).

At lunch, I tucked into a noodle soup before heading back to the office for pick up to go to our four afternoon sessions. And then it happened, again. Everytime DK and I get together in the afternoons, it rains! Without fail!

So the rest of the afternoon was spent teaching on and off and mostly standing beneath a shelter talking to Huok. Again we covered ground on social differences between our countries, his plans for Pchum Ben and teaching techniques (don't ask why he asked me, he must have thought I knew what I was doing).

By the evening, I'd settled in with a curry and Meet the Fockers on Fox Movies. To be honest, I was knackered after the day so didn't want anything heavy.

By the time it finished, I was face down in a pillow, gone to the world! I am getting old.

Day 107 - Quiet before the storm

Why not?

Day 107 - 08th October

Just another Thursday but this one came with a hangover! Yeah, I'd had one to many beerios last night but had fun in spite of my morning tiredness and burning in the stomach!

I headed down for breakfast and then relaxed, organising my visa for Australia and just reading up on news. Good to hear that something is finally being done with the crooks at FIFA. Better late than never!

At 1pm, the sports for social impact meeting had been cancelled so I had a Khmer language lesson with Vith. We exchanged words before I gave him some English tips for his university dissertation. He's a great guy, always willing to learn and be constructive. As with DK, he has a bright future ahead of him!

After trying to crack the password to my sitcom for the thousandth time, and failing AGAIN, I headed back to Bou Savy and psyched myself up for the big game. I had nerves, I don't know why but I wanted to win this game so badly so we could reach the playoffs.

When we first started playing my legs were like jelly and I felt light headed but once I settled, it was just wave of adrenaline after wave of adrenaline. All my flicks were coming off, my passes were making the man and my shots were on target.

We ended up winning 11-0. Charlie and I scored three each whilst Nico shifted 4. All round it was a faultless performance and great to be a part of. Up the Willies!

As The Four Seasons said, 'Oh What A Night!'

Find out more about Globalteer Sports Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalteerSportsProject

Day 106 - It's all about stamina on Wednesday and Don's birthday

Ah, the fun and games!

Day 106 - 07th October

Wednesday means all day at Project C. It's such a great place, an hour away from Siem Reap and I love going out to volunteer with these kids. Of course all the kids are great but this project has a real village vibe to it and I like that.

The morning consisted of only one session so by 10:30 we had a two and a half hour slot to feel. Of course I did some editing whilst DK learned some more English. You could say it's two guys working on their passions, or not! It depends how you think really.

My lunch and writing.

DK's fish was tasty.

DK and one of the teachers took a nap whilst I continued to walk and be badged by the local dogs. They saw my leg as a licking post which had me gently shooing them away before we did the whole act all of over again three minutes later.

Somewhere in there is a teacher!

The afternoon saw us really testing the older kids, having them keep the volleyball off the ground in every game. Any dropping was penalised with ten squats or push-ups. They don't tend to push up and down with their arms, instead opting to push their pelvises into the ground and back up again. It's quite comical to say the least.

On the hour's journey back, DK and I were sitting in silence, tired and worn out from a long day in the sun.

But night was just beginning. It was Don's birthday (Don being a volunteer from Project B). He'd kindly invited me along to his 50th at the Triangle Club and I met some old faces from Project B, a team mate of mine from Big Willy F.C and some new faces from Australia and The Netherlands.

We sat for a good five hours, enjoying beers, eating cake and helping Don celebrate in style. He bought all the beer and wine and everyone dinner so it was so cheap! Thanks Don.

We all gravitated to Pub Street and The Temple Club for dancing. By then, Don was done and dusted but he kept up the celebrations to the end. Top man.

I made my way back to Bou Savy, walking I might add, doing the fifteen minute journey with 15 or so beers inside me and crashed out.

Find out more about Globalteer Sports Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalteerSportsProject

Day 105 - Fail does not appear in my vocabulary!

DK's on a roll!

Day 105 - 06th October

So day two in the week sees us go out to Project B for the day, only coming away from it for a few hours at lunch.

As always, this is a fun environment to be in and the kids always work hard and enjoy our games. I warmed them up with cone related games before DK and Srey Mom taught the lesson and recapped on the last five weeks.

Organising the teams.

The sun came out to play too and I chose to embrace it rather than complain about it. First time for everything aye? 

By lunchtime I was dripping with sweat but I enjoyed a chilled out noodle lunch before heading over to teach DK some more English. This time he was on the money again, ready to learn new vocabulary and pronunciations. I could tell he was nervous about his upcoming exam on Thursday I took to fixing his Skype for him so he didn't have something else to worry about.

He's going to do great, I know he will. He just needs to focus!

In the afternoon, we had a merged session and replayed the same games as we had before with the morning class. Once again, I was left panting and sweating but I never get sick of it.

By the evening, a friendly had been arranged with some Khmers at Samkee. It was a spiky affair, with a couple of the other team members putting in late tackles and elbows to our faces. Dave and I got a little riled and refused to back down but in the end we were narrowly defeated by some lucky deflected goals.

Ah, Big Willy F.C. - like the Tottenham of the Khmer league!

Find out more about Globalteer Sports Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalteerSportsProject