pat a cake, pat a cake

These 'patties' (my name for them as Christopher didn't have a ready translation) are made from buffalo dung and are used as fuel for cooking. They are being stockpiled now before the monsoon when it is too wet to bake them dry in the sun. A couple of them are broken up and put in a hearth made of three stones and are used to cook outside only as they smoke a lot. Christopher did say that most people use gas now, wood is expensive and these are for the poor.

We spotted them on our way to my dentist appointment at Margao. I was really impressed with the dentist. His waiting room looks onto his consulting room which is behind a glass screen and further treatment rooms, a hygenist and today a visiting gum specialist are behind the receptionist who is his wife. He came up with a good plan for me - one implant and several crowns, no work on my lower teeth just whitening all for a fraction of the price in the UK. I could have had the implant started today but I wasn't mentally prepared for it and as we leave here on Monday it would be all rather rushed; his wife advised to leave it and come first thing next time and there was no charge for the consultation - he looked at my teeth and knew I'd be back!