HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE MY LAST ENTRY

I JUST LOOKED AT MY LAST ENTRY IN THIS BLOG SITE AND I WAS SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT IT'S BEEN ALMOST A FULL YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.  EVEN MORE DEPRESSING IS THAT ANOTHER BIRTHDAY IS LURKING AROUND THE CORNER.  THERE IS WORSE THINGS THAN BEING OLDER, EXCEPT WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY FEELING OLD. 

I SUSPECT THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF LAZINESS IN THAT SELF PITY  SO I PROMISE TO KEEP THIS  BLOG MORE UP TO DATE.  THE FAMILIAR SIGNS OF DRY DEASON ABOUND, THE MANGO TREES ARE PREPARING TO BLOSSOM,  THE STICKS OF CHILDREN'S KITES HANG FROM THE ELECTRICAL LINES IN A FLAPPING PARODY OF OF THEIR ONCE LOFTY ACHIEVEMENTS, AND THE DOG'S PREGNANT AGAIN.

LIFE IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE  IN RURAL CAMBODIA  AND WORK IS HARD  TO FIND  AT THIS  TIME OF YEAR.   BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL PROBLEMS WTIH THAILAND, MANY OF THE LOCALS WHO USED TO WORK THERE ILLEGALLY ARE AFRAID TO DO SO.

BUT, ON THE BRIGHTER-AND LOUDER SIDE-THE  VILLAGERS  ALWAYS  SEEM  TO FIND ENOUGH MONEY FOR DRY SEASON WEDDINGS.  THERE'VE BEEN PLENTY LATELYAND THE VILLAGE WILL NOT SUFFER A POPULATION DRAIN. 

EVERYWHERE PEOPLE ARE FISHING, IT'S THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN FISH CALLED TREY RIEL ARE COMMING DOWNSTREAM.  MANY WOODEN BOATS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE BRIDGE AT KOMPONG CHAM, WORKING BOTH SINGLY AND TOGETHER IN ORDER TO CATCH THE FISH FROM WHICH TRADITIONAL PRAHOK (FISH PASTE) IS MADE.   IT IS AN ACQUIRED TASTE REMINDING MORE OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE A NUTRIENT FOR CORN.