The Tailor is in Town

It has been an eventful few days in Pheriche. We have had the tailor visit with his portable sewing machine and wads of cloth. He made cushion covers for the White Yak and fixed Jim?s salopettes and jeans. Jim thinks his jeans are very Top Gun with the holes in the legs. The locals are not so sure and wanted Jim to patch them, in the end the hole in the knee was made a little smaller so Jim would stop putting his foot through it. The tailor comes every month on his rounds through the Khumbu valley. He sets up shop on the floor or ground close to where he is doing business. Most convenient.

We have also bought a yak bell to cheer our cyclists on with after the raging success of the one we borrowed off Ian Calder in Trek G. We are no longer no frills with all our lab accessories, including Hawaiian dancing girls, an all blacks flag, palm trees and our blow up cactus. We are trying to make the lab look like somewhere hot because it definitely does not feel it currently. Our yak bell is definitely the new accessory for the tour de France this year!

We went for a scramble with Pemba from the White Yak up to 5150m up Taboche, the hill opposite the White Yak. We were rewarded with the most amazing panoramic views of the Imja valley, Pumori, Ama Dablam, and Lhotse. It was out of the wind too so almost tropical. We tried to persuade all the passing yaks to give up their bells but in the end bought one off Sering in the village. Bugs has become a yak whisperer, somewhat worryingly and spends a lot of time photographing and chatting to yaks.

Trek H has arrived, consisting mainly of anaesthetists. Apparently they have been shopping mad thus far and have won the prize for most pashminas bought. Unfortunately the shopping in Pheriche is less than ideal unless you want to buy baby yaks.

Ang Rita from the HRA has been madly carving more mani stones as the trekkers have been fabulous in buying all his stock. The proceeds go to Ang Rita and his family who are an integral part of the Pheriche population. Ang Rita is now an icon at the HRA.
Over and out

Amber