Burglary

We start work at 7.30am, even when we aren't teaching. Most people outside the English department don't seem to have much to do, because they keep coming into our staffroom - only T3 and me there at the moment - to chat. And so it was with resignation that we noted HD's entry there before 8 on Thursday morning. He looked serious, however, and asked if he could have a word. We realised it was something perhaps significant when all three managers were there, (HD, L&M manager, and "Rick" - the whole population of Fraggle Rock, sans DoS, who is still mysteriously in England).

As all of the available ex-pat staff assembled in one of the classrooms, I looked at the serious faces of Fraggle Rock and could only conclude that DoS had indeed fallen on his sword at last.

But no. Rick, who lives in a big house in the country, had been burgled the night before, and was telling us "in the spirit of openness". The intruder came in the middle of the night, using some tools left lying around "by the men I've got in to do some work". Rick encountered him as he was trying to have it away with his laptop. He says he punched him, and he "rattled a bit". To my eyes, Rick was the one looking rattled. He's to move into The Bungalows with the proletariat. Nobody has told the police, that's being left to Mr Fix It.

Somebody asked if HD and L&M manager would be moving into the bungalows too, but HD said "we pay for security".

And that was that. PTI, as we were leaving the room said he'd be visiting a sports shop that night and mimicked the action of a baseball batsman, (are they called "batsmen"?)

So that was that.

Later I learned from LM that HD and L&M Manager have houses with a shared perimeter wall, a swimming pool each, and the gardener has to sleep by the gate - he's the "security". Also, when the project was being set up, Fraggle Rock were strongly urged to find accommodation in the City's only posh suburb, where the Embassies are situated, but ignored the advice and decided to live out in the countryside.

Sleep well, chaps.