~{nilheadimage~=132658~}
So far, this week in Kuching has included a visit to the dentist and a visit to the oncologist. Still to come: a tax return, and vaccinations. Fun-packed...

We've also had to swap hotel rooms for various reasons. No fewer than three times.

But Kuching always soothes...

The riverside ~{purplepost~=778~;text~=mosque~;target~=mosque~}, whose progress we have been tracking ~{link~= http://nilaligned.net/image/?m=i&i=127762 ~;text~=for a while now~;target~=mosquebuilding~}, has lost its scaffolding, and is looking really lovely:

~{nilimage~=132666~;dir~=H~;alt~=mosquefromroad~}
~{nilimage~=132644~;dir~=V~;alt~=mosquefrombank~}
~{nilimage~=132647~;dir~=V~;alt~=mosqueatnight~}
The Hornbill Fountain now seems to be regularly provisioned with water:

~{nilimage~=132641~;dir~=V~;alt~=hornbill1~}
~{nilimage~=132643~;dir~=H~;alt~=hornbill2~}
The Cat Museum is much bigger, I think, than when I first visited back in 2006, but it's just as whimsically delightful. (I'd completely forgotten Thomas Hardy's ~{link~= https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/last-words-to-a-dumb-friend/ ~;text~=immensely moving tribute~;target~=hardy~} to his departed cat. Anyone who's loved and lost a cat will empathize with all those sentiments.)

~{nilimage~=132652~;dir~=H~;alt~=catpurses~}
~{nilimage~=132653~;dir~=V~;alt~=strays~}
~{nilimage~=132655~;dir~=V~;alt~=japanesecat~}
~{nilimage~=132654~;dir~=H~;alt~=babycarrier~}
There are always compensations.