Return to Ratanakiri

On seeing Becky off at the airport we hoped on an old aeroflot plane to Ratanakiri in the Northeast again (we were there last June for Catherine's birthday and a holiday).

Our mission to Ratanakiri this time was to spend timne with the young homeschooling families there; to enjoy being with other english speaking Mums, Dads and children. We have found it hard in Battambang where we have only really got to know one filippino family. Ratanakiri has three or four families living there at any one time what with home leave and other coming and goings etc.,

We also took Torika, our home-help, with us as a treat and working holiday, as a way to say thank you for all her hard work and patience.

We all really enjoyed alternating between: hanging out with the other families (playing and sharing our experiences); getting into nature (forest walks, swimming at the lake or waterfalls); visiting friends in Tampuen villages (one of the local tribes); and staying with Tim's hero Gordon (Eden has become a devotee too!).

Ratanakiri is a possible place to live and homeschool and work in the future, yet, we focused on enjoying each day just for itself, and, boy, was it enjoyable and well needed. We are all both refreshed and tired out by all the socialising and natural beauty.

Now we have a few days in Phnom Penh bfore heading back to Battambang to pack and say our goodbyes. We will store our belongings and furniture there pending a decision about what we are going to do next but we feel it is unlikely that we will return to live in Battamabang. Where ever we go next we need a few more english speaking homeschooling families around, that much is clear.

Becky Boo from Brighty, Blighty

What a delight and pleasure to have our dear friend Becky come to visit us for a couple of weeks. What a gift good friends are, especially when they turn up for your birthday!

Becky was there for Eden's birth, and sang Taize and ate breakfast with us so often in Brighton, how good to have her here to share in this adventure story too. How good to have someone who knows so much about you, including the dark and difficult and dubious, and yet still loves unconditionally. How good to have a friend who is so good with kids, we have missed her a lot this year and others like her.

It was precious to catch up with each other and find out about friends back in Brighton, and stay up too late telling stories about this and that. It is so helpful to have someone who connects our two lives, especially as we start to think and focus on our retun in mid-April.

None of us wanted her to leave, it was good to have Ratanakiri to look forward. Indeed, we all went to the airport together, Becky to go back to India and us to fly to Ratanakiri, it cushioned the blow.