- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
Arrived in Reno about 9:45 local last night. Great to go travellin' but so, so nice to come home. Yangdu in her typical fashion made arrangements with some traveller to stand behind him, out of my line of sight, so when I passed she could jump out at me and try to scare me. Unlike the rest of me my eyes still function well and I saw that black head peaking out around the man's shoulder while I was still way down the chute but I played the part and acted suprised which made her laugh and pleased her. In some ways Yangdu is still a child and in other ways she is a 90 year old woman -- the best of two worlds, I'd say.
Great reunion, chicken and dumplings and bed.
Today I go down for blood work. Thursday I have appointment with karma sent devout Hindu Doc Reddy and I'll get results of SFO biopsy. Either way, + or -, we will need to develop our short term plans for trying to stay alive.
Little news from Nepal -- typical but not what I wanted to hear. The "Make what you want" project turned to ****. The kamis decided they would rather make standard models than rakes, sickles, door locks, folders and slicers and that's what they did. They proudly announced they had produced 200 standard models which will be arriving soon, most of the 200 exactly what I don't want or need.
I sent over enough exotic wood and deer and elk antlers to handle perhaps 250 knives and asked that the supplies I sent be used immediately until used up. Of the 200 models I am getting one piece is made from an elk antler I sent over. What they are doing with the rest of this very nice handle material I sent I cannot fathom -- perhaps saving it for posterity.
It is sad but true, the only way I have ever been able to successfully deal with BirGorkha and the kamis is to be present, on the spot. When I see them doing what I don't want (making the standard models, for example) I say, "Who are you making that khukuri for?" They say, "Why for you, Bena." I say, "I told you I did not want standard khukuris. I won't buy any standard khukuris. I want you to make a knife I have never seen before." They grumble and argue but I stand my ground and I get knives I have never seen before. And if I've told them to use exotic wood for the handles it's the same. They hand me six khukuris with standard handles. I say, "that's not what I asked for" and give them the khukuris back. They say, "this is the way we always make them." I say, "I know but I want the exotic wood. Take the khukuris back. I don't want them." Grumble, swear, curse, spit, but the next day I get what I want.
Dealing from 12,000 miles distant is near impossible. They know I can't afford to send the knives back and incur another round trip of shipping cost. If I ever get back again I'm going to do some serious ear twisting and will show the kamis how well an old sailor can swear -- even in Nepali!
Great reunion, chicken and dumplings and bed.
Today I go down for blood work. Thursday I have appointment with karma sent devout Hindu Doc Reddy and I'll get results of SFO biopsy. Either way, + or -, we will need to develop our short term plans for trying to stay alive.
Little news from Nepal -- typical but not what I wanted to hear. The "Make what you want" project turned to ****. The kamis decided they would rather make standard models than rakes, sickles, door locks, folders and slicers and that's what they did. They proudly announced they had produced 200 standard models which will be arriving soon, most of the 200 exactly what I don't want or need.
I sent over enough exotic wood and deer and elk antlers to handle perhaps 250 knives and asked that the supplies I sent be used immediately until used up. Of the 200 models I am getting one piece is made from an elk antler I sent over. What they are doing with the rest of this very nice handle material I sent I cannot fathom -- perhaps saving it for posterity.
It is sad but true, the only way I have ever been able to successfully deal with BirGorkha and the kamis is to be present, on the spot. When I see them doing what I don't want (making the standard models, for example) I say, "Who are you making that khukuri for?" They say, "Why for you, Bena." I say, "I told you I did not want standard khukuris. I won't buy any standard khukuris. I want you to make a knife I have never seen before." They grumble and argue but I stand my ground and I get knives I have never seen before. And if I've told them to use exotic wood for the handles it's the same. They hand me six khukuris with standard handles. I say, "that's not what I asked for" and give them the khukuris back. They say, "this is the way we always make them." I say, "I know but I want the exotic wood. Take the khukuris back. I don't want them." Grumble, swear, curse, spit, but the next day I get what I want.
Dealing from 12,000 miles distant is near impossible. They know I can't afford to send the knives back and incur another round trip of shipping cost. If I ever get back again I'm going to do some serious ear twisting and will show the kamis how well an old sailor can swear -- even in Nepali!
She's been begging me to send her over anyway 
