Bill's mother's

Well, I'm back in Phnom Penh and it's a bit black over Bill's mother's, as my Dad would say.

Got back last night.

Just to say that on Friday I went back to the villages further up the river to see how they were doing after all the rain. From what I could tell, the waters looked about the same level as last week. So I guess they must be draining OK.

I was going to take some pictures but my camera battery was dead. Which almost made me abort the trip. But then I felt crap. Realised I was more motivated about taking pictures of people than really seeing people. More interested in reporting about them than just being among them.

So I made myself stay. And notice things like the chicken who'd found a little mud-island where she was fussing over her chicks, trying to keep them dry. The boy solemnly wading through the brown water, going deeper with each step until finally breaking into a swim. The old woman with the shaved head, staring from the steps of her home. And the dragonflies swirling around her and skip-skimming the small waves below.