Good News!

Today I have several pieces of good news to report. This will help me to forget the enormous black spider which emerged slowly from behind the bathroom cistern to terrify me in the middle of the night. Fortunately Roger rescued me quickly but the humane spider catcher which I had brought from the UK was completely inadequate since this creature was much too large to fit into the suction tube!
So, back to the good news: firstly we now have plenty of water since our landlady arranged for a tanker to deliver some to refill the well which was running dry. Secondly I have now parted company with my plaster cast after five long weeks and it is wonderful to be able to get around with just a trekking pole instead of crutches. I am doing the physiotherapy exercises and improving every day.

Also, the government has distributed free textbooks to hundreds of schools and although there have been some issues with quality, this should have a positive impact on the progress of many very poor students. The government schools are free but the cost of uniforms, textbooks, exercise books, pens and school bags can be prohibitive for these pupils.  Scholarships are available, both from the government and N.G.O's ( non government organisations) but there are never enough to meet all the needs. 
In addition, the post earthquake reconstruction of individual houses has now begun in earnest, our project had already trained workers in earthquake resistant building methods using local materials and now that the government permissions have been granted, work is proceeding quickly.