The British Ambo is madder than a hornet with a Tequila Sunrise hangover-and with

good reason too. During the England vs Wales World Cup Rugby Match on Nov 9, watched

by an effervescent crowd at the FCC, he helped organize a traditional Buy-a-Poppy

mini-fundraiser in honor of war veterans. There was around $130 in the pot just before

some low-life worm nicked it.

** Taking a larger, more wizened view, one aging armchair pundit described the local

economy as follows: "There is no Adam Smith here. It's a totally visible hand,

and it's in the cash register."

** But don't forget the good news. Dr Toby Cosgrove, described by his host Dr Alain

Deloche as "one of the great heart surgeons in the US," visited Phnom Penh

Nov 14 to check out the Phnom Penh Heart Center. Cosgrove said he was stunned by

the Center's accomplishments in such a short time and that "the quality of the

surgery [at the Center] is very first class."

The Center's main mission is to provide free heart operations to poor Cambodian kids,

which they are currently doing at the rate of 25 per month. But they will also treat

expats at a cost of around one-tenth of that available in the West.

Feeling like the on-going government stalemate could give you a heart attack? The

Phnom Penh Heart Center is the place for you.

** Friends and colleagues saluted David Mead on Nov 18 as he wrapped up his four-year

stint with Conservation International (CI). Tree-hugger Mead, a thirty-year veteran

of the Australian army who built up CI's program to protect the Cardamoms from scratch,

said "I now know more about creepy-crawlies." He plans to head home to

Brisbane where he will pursue a life of leisure and contemplation, but warned: "All

I have to say to CI is if you stuff it up I'll come back and #%&*ing haunt you."

Best wishes to David and Carol as they head back to OZ.

** If you've got $2,000 to spend on seeing cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, whom the

London Times called "the greatest living musician," play at Angkor Wat

on December 14, then email [email protected] for tickets. Proceeds will go to

help villagers in Siem Reap province.