The escalators, my goodness, those escalators, down to the platforms are massively long. Three minutes was the average riding time, very deep under the ground, think about that for a moment. Built this way for safety against enemy attack, a cold-war tactic. In the London underground tube system an average escalator ride would be less than one

eventually in my best Arabic with a dash of Gaelic I told her, “Salam, le do thoill, dhun dha ghob.” The silence became deafening.

Orange trees were in abundance, my first sight of the vitamin C fruit, growing.

official name is Dhading Boarding school, this may sound posh, but it was no Eton. Thirty students had sleeping quarters, they’re homes were a long distance for the daily commute. In total there were four hundred pupils.

Caterpillars, bought from an ex-workmate at wholesale price because of a slight defect, or so I thought until this guy got hold of them. What was supposed to be a quick polish job, developed into a renovation. Replacing stitching, shaving the oversized sole tip, cutting the tongue shorter and changing the shabby laces. But his fee kept increasing.

Kathmandu is 1300 meters above sea level. It’s actually in a valley surrounded by hills, a population of only five-hundred thousand in a country of 23 million inhabitants.

Everything was brown; the arm-chair, table, wardrobe, floor, cabinets, mats. Even the wallpaper, which was probably a nice beige at one time, black and white television.

bought chocolate for my hosts, this would be a massive mistake. Upon eating it, Svetlana, elegant and graceful, Kalynia, a slightly wilder touch, developed food poison. At 3a.m. a doctor was called, they receive injections for their stomach pains. I had slept through the drama, shamefully offering an apology the following morning. What would they

“No, they’re gonna come,” says Jimbob. “What do you mean, who’ll come?” I questioned. “You’ll see.” “Relax, chill-out” I enthused, as I stretched-out. Three minutes later about ten people were smothering us, all with their own agenda.