Employed and Recovering

So I got the job at Angkor What? Bar and it's good to be thrown back into the swing of full-time employment and what a bar to be working in... Notoriously and rightly the coolest bar in the country, Me, Harry and Nicholas almost lived there for the 10 days we spent in this town last year, spending way way way too much money and allowing Harry to drink until he actually became allergic to the alcohol he was drinking. Good times. It's impossible not to have a great night in this town, and working behind the bar is no exception. A-bombs, buckets, drunken rabbits and beer towers are all in my domain now and drinking behind the bar is not a choice, it's a necessity. This may get slightly wearing, but I don't have a contract, I can leave whenever I want, it's paying the bills and they're all free... plus did I mention how much fun it is? Anyway drinking does seem to be a necessity in this country for westerners, its so fucking hot you can't fall asleep, you have to pass out! And you wake up in the morning, no hangover as you sweat to it all out - nasty I know :) It'll be a fun few months/weeks? I like my boss, not a huge fan of some of his expat friends, who seem to think that just because they get free drinks they're to be treated like royalty and I should drop everything to look after them... You would think you would be grateful right? I know one thing for sure, if there is one thing I do not want to do in life it is to own a bar out here, it leads to your nights becoming interchangeable... same music, same hours, same same, not different. Alright for some I suppose, Charlie (the boss) doesn't seem too bothered when he's pulling in close to $1000 on a good night - and this is Cambodia. One benefit, the tips are incredible, the 3 bar staff and I must have got $100 between us last night, it's collected at the end of the month and dished out depending on the number of shifts, my friend who works at Charlie's restaurant and used to work at the bar said she regularly paid her entire month's rent on those bonuses, can't wait... I need to move out of my place, it's the cheapest room possible and with no window, it's not very pleasant... It's not as hot as you'd expect it to be but it's irritating to have to sleep with my bathroom light on so i don't wake up in the dark!
The last few days really detached myself from the room as I came down with a 24-hour (and a bit) fever. Luckily I had had this one before in the summer otherwise I would have freaked out and thought I had some kind of tropical infestation as the flesh between my eyes and nose, below my eyes and the upper bit of my nose swelled up beautifully, so once again for the first time since August in Italy (much to Carpanini's and Arthur's amusement) I looked like this:

I wasn't blue, but I really should have been, at least I would have looked cool rather than scary... That really wasn't the worst of it as that was accompanied by a high fever, the first migraine I've had in years (I thought it strange that I didn't get the migraine in August) and of course my wonderful ability of fever-related delirium including lovely lovely want-to-kill-myself night terrors! Wow, so all in all a good 24-hours... I obviously didn't go to work, I just stayed in bed, watched movies, drank lemon juice and spoke to Harry on skype - Charlie was really nice about it and I could tell he was surprised that I came in last night, especially how the Avatar-face hadn't quite subsided! But he was pleased, I felt I did well last night... wasn't tired until the very end and kept everyone the other side of the bar happy and merry. The truth is, I didn't feel so great when I woke up yesterday, I just wanted to do something, I was bored sick in my room that is lighted like a casino, how can I tell if it's day or night, my watch might be lying? I also spent my first afternoon at the orphanage yesterday, it was great... the kids were just as approachable and curious as they were the first time I met them... constantly asking me questions, many times trying to ask how old I was... I learnt after Nepal never to tell kids you look after or teach that you are 19 (if you are 19 that is!)... they don't believe you, so you might as well dodge the question, and with kids dodging questions bring just as much amusement as ease. We spent the afternoon drawing and talking, some of the kids played badminton in the sweltering sun, something I think I'll have to wait a few weeks to be able to do, I have to siesta at the moment! I see people jogging here, it's madness!
Well that's me so far, I think things have worked out well... I have a job, i have something to do during the day, and free beer is readily available to me... what more could a 19 year old need right now? Well A/C would nice but beggars can't be choosers can they.


A few lines below I feel it important to change the tone.
It has now been a full year since our brother Adam Coombs passed away in India whilst volunteering with needy children. As much as a tragedy this is to all those who met him in his life, loved him and lived with him nothing could scratch the surface of how his wonderfully strong and loving family are coping. I think even those who had never heard of his name should send a thought to a wonderful life lost too soon and a brave, unexpected family who forever will remember their son, brother, cousin and nephew. I am certain that not a day goes by without thousands of thoughts of our lost friend from all around the world, he touched so many people in such a short time. I guess in that way he accomplished more in his 19 years than many do in a lifetime.
We love you Dez, keep on jamming with that bass guitar of yours so obviously unplugged...! xxx