Monday 27th February

(Cont from Page 9).....A young computer engineer who unusually has good English works beaverishly into the evening reinstalling the o/s only to establish there is a hardware fault (RAM disc - operating memory). He thinks he can fix it by morning. At present the installed programs are unstable or unresponsive including the internet connection software. As I sit around in the computer shop I start to experience flu-like symtoms. Dark days lay ahead but this evening is a question of survival in the hot and cold environment. I become all but bedridden fearing the conditions outside.

Tuesday 28th February

In Search of Better weather........By mid -morning I have to venture out to visit the cash machine and to retrieve my laptop only to be greeted with further bad news; the shop has no compatible parts for my machine: And so it will have to stay for some time to come. In the afternoon I establish that the weather in Dien Bien Phu is much better than here; much warmer. I purchase a ticket for departure in the morning at 7.40 am. I decide to take in some food as I haven’t eaten anything to speak of since leaving Cat Ba city. I huddle near a log fire but while this likely provides comfort to others to me it may as well be torchlight. I start to shiver and shake uncontrollably. I head back to my room with best haste. Within the hour the food I consumed reappears where it entered less than 1 hour before. It’s useless as I face another difficult night.

Wednesday 29th February

Signs of improvement........The night has passed with a little less discomfort and I am up at 6 am packing and preparing for the 8 hour journey to Dien Bien Phu. I don an extra layer of clothes and make my way to check-out. As I make my way to the bus station less than 100 metres down the street mercy of all mercies the fog is lifting. It knows I am leaving and there is no need to torment me further. (Cont on Page 11)