Week one draws to an end.....already!!

So I finally think I am getting somewhere and getting the hang of this, which is just as well, as week one is drawing to a close.  Unfortunately, the only reason I think I am getting the hang of it is because I am finding out what is not happening that should be happening, which is good for me, and lets me know I am here for a reason, but not so good for the Lake Clinic.  Initial views that all was well on the surface are not so when you delve deeper in to the actual processes.  As with all these small charities, there is lots of room for improvement, and fortunately lots of quick wins that can be put in place to strengthen their processes and controls.  Hopefully AfID will be sending out a second accountant quite soon, which will enable them to get the changes in place quite quickly.  Language continues to be a problem, so I have now taken to miming, but this has only served to confirm the fact that I should not give up my day job any time soon for a career on the stage!   Language aside, Chantha is good and has enough grasp of accountancy to understand the need for the changes and to implement them efficiently.   

Of course the other thing that must happen is that the managers and directors need to pay more attention to the numbers, rather than holding an idea in their head of what they have to spend and what they need to spend it on.  But hey, how many times have I had that discussion with managers and directors in the huge global organisations I have worked for.  Why should NGO’s in the third

I am suddenly aware of how little time I have left to make an impact, especially as the work I can do will be limited when I am out on the lake itself.  But hey, I am only the advance party, and between me and the accountants that follow we will get this charity whipped in to financial shape and then all that needs to happen is for them to find some nice new big donors!  Which given that I have an e-mail from the Euro Lotto saying they have news for me about my ticket could be me!!  The lotto won’t let me log on from abroad (isn’t it scary how they can even tell where you are!!) so I have no idea what I have won, but I am not making any plans to spend my millions as likelihood is I have won something like £2.43!!  I can but dream until I get back to the UK!

It’s 3.30 pm here and as ever I am flagging in the heat!! No wonder they have siestas in hot countries!

Sightseeing tomorrow at Angkor, with my own special tour guide, Sothat from the charity.  Should be good.  Sunday I will try and chill, before packing to check out and head off to the lake. Packing, packing, packing, my life is ruled by packing!!  L