It's been a weird 24 hours. A giant shit storm has gone down at my former employment and there are many casualties. Hopefully I can escape the cloud of impending doom and survive the next month. Others, who did not fight, may not be so lucky.

On top of this, Oi's brother Om, is joining the army and folks have gathered for a party, that I opted out of. Thai parties are are awful affairs for non-Thais.

I filled my free day with online games of Might and Magic Duel of Champions, episodes of Pie in the Sky with my new found dead hero Richard Griffith and a couple more episodes of Kevin Spacy in House of Cards. Wow! What quality viewing. I knew TV could be good, but this has been delightful. I got through 4 bottles of Leo beer and an array of snacks.

I have to go to my new school on Wednesday for some sort of pre-lim meeting, so I took the opportunity to indulge in short lived freedom. It has been good.

I encourage anyone to play MMDOC and join me in combat. The TV shows also come highly recommended, if any soul has any free time in this driven world.

Meanwhile World Party plays in the background

The River

Around Home

Holiday Fun Time

We've really been enjoying ourselves this Summer. The house is very comfortable and with plenty of space. The three of us are all doing our hobbies and activities in this happy abode.

I've done a bunch of cooking. I made Hummus the other day. The first batch was way too salty but I did it again the next day and it turned out scrummy. I made my kidney bean chili and I've done lots of jacket spuds with fried onions, garlic and chili and tuna. I'm becoming a dab hand with olive oil and the frying pan. I splashed out on a new knife, a new wooden spatchela and extra large chopping board. I just need to find my knife sharpening stone that got lost in the move.

Grace and I go swimming most days and aswell as going to the playground twice a day, she now also enjoys riding around the estate looking for the plethora of pussy cats that live here. We talk together all the time and I always make a note of introducing new words for her to practice. Right now, I have started using the word "different" and we saw a smashed up car, a regular sight in Thailand, so I started talking about that too, aswell as "mechanic", "damage", "fixing" and "thief" when she wants to leave her stuff lying around.

Might and Magic Duel of Champions still occupies my game time. I have crafted a wicked deck of cards using heavy magic to paralysis the opponent. I got some furious responses from the enemy as they found themselves unable to move or attack for most of the game as I waited and build up my forces for a killer final assault. One French chap called me a whore (putain)!

It's hot again after rain during Songkran. I spoke to Kyle today which was the first time in a long while. He's heading back Stateside at the end of the year. He is a wonderful chap and excellent at conversation.

TV. I have been watching the series, "Vikings" which is gripping and bloody.

Music. I am still listening to World Party's catalogue. Awesome band.

Haven - Wolf Duchy

The legendary Wolf Duchy. Four cards. I own three. Tragically I am missing the renown Wolf Captain.

I really like this guy with the crossbow.

Vikings

Became aware and finally just watched the first episode of this series, Vikings. It appears to be quite excellent. I would recommend it. It's engaging, realistic, gritty and with humour. These TV chaps are making some good quality stuff at the moment.

If you need a little adventure in your life, check it out.

Hummus

Don came over for the Songkran weekend which was nice. I hadn't seen him in a few months when he visited Hat Yai very briefly. He was in good health and we exchanged tips on balanced living. He always has some new tip to improve one's health.

The weather was fairly appalling, but being Canadian he didn't mind a long ride to the beach in the rain at all. I had flashbacks of mountain biking as we wormed our way around puddles on the dirt track.

The beach was great, but there were preparations being made for the Songkran water festival insanity. Police were everywhere. After a coffee in a beach front rock bar we headed home along the coast rode. Again, I thought of childhood holidays in Scotland as the rain lashed down and the smell of mussels and seawater permeated the air. It was great fun.

We got through some beers and some gin. I showed him Kick Ass and he tried to show me a new documentary called Chasing Ice. Unfortunately the copy I downloaded was bogus, so we'll have to wait on that one.

He headed home on Monday and was back within three hours. He's looking for a job for the new term.

Life returns to normal and I took Grace to the supermarket and I stocked up on potatoes.

I have been completely hooked on Might and Magic Duel of Champions card game, and have foolishly parted with some cash to get some, oh so cool and powerful cards. It's ridiculous how exciting it is to open a newly purchased pack of cards and see what you're gonna get. I did quite well and got some special Wolf Marksmen and Wolf Praetorian cards. I can now officially kick ass. I have been homing my skills with one deck of cards and slowly learning every dirty trick to win the duel.

I am a regular customer of apps for Grace too, and there are some corkers. The company Toca Hoca seem particularly excellent and they have a doctors, a kitchen, a tea party and a house cleaning app among their collection. Grace loves them and they make good reasons to converse and expand her vocabulary. Right now she is just bonkers about pussy cats and strangles every unfortunate moggie that happens to cross her path. She is a very happy little girl which brings joy to Oi and myself.

Two weeks left until I have to go to the school. I am looking forward to it actually as I won't be teaching little kids anymore.

I have a bunch of cooking to do before that however. Today I finally got some chick peas with which I intend to have a stab at making Hummus. Here's to that!

Dons Visit

Pulp Fiction

Right now I seem to be surrounded by all this fantasy comic book stuff.

I am about half way through the movie Kick Ass, which is really fun.

 Then on a quest to find some more movies for Grace, I came across Paranorman, which is also very sharp and funny.

Game of Thrones series 3 is proving high quality viewing. Of course it is all distraction from real life, a worrying trend in Mankind. Hawkings just stated we'll be extinct within 1000 years unless we kick start the space programme.

I love all this stuff, especially as it is the holidays. I have a bunch more I have downloaded and gaming on a great turn-based app called Battle Dungeon and playing the Might and Magic card game too.

I don't know where all this stuff comes from, USA presumably, but it sure makes for a fun holiday when funds and company are in short supply.

Don is due tomorrow so we will head to the beach at some point, and its the Songkran festival here in a couple of days where Thai people throw giant bins of water over people on motorcycles. Death toll from this weekend is typically over 500 fatalities and over 33,000 injuries. I do my best to avoid it.

Fantasy Cards

My days have been most pleasant, but not without headaches.

Here on this estate, named sadly, Sunny View (I think Hat Yai had a Garden View estate), is quite idyllic. Every morning at about 7 I take Grace to the playground to go on the swings. I always try to talk to her as much as possible to keep the language flowing and building.

Often, like today, we will go for a swim which is also extremely pleasant and refreshing. The pool is very clean right now and the old guy who looks after it wades about picking up stray leaves that have fallen in from the trees overhead. Grace loves it and is quite proficient at swimming across the pool, albeit in a swimming ring.

Besides this, my day is tailored around my morning coffee, cereal, cooking a tasty lunch (fried onions, garlic and peppers over a jacket potato), and multiple leisurely, though somewhat intense, duel matches of Might and Magic online card game. The first day I was so enthralled and the concentration levels, thus not looking away from the screen, high. This resulted in a nasty headache which simmers at the edge of my mind. Strange how addiction pushes one to carry on whilst enduring physical pain. Some great advise passed to me long ago, "If it hurts, stop doing it."

However, the game is great and free. I would encourage anyone to download it and have a blast.

Conflict in North Korea looms. China ever pushing its boundaries. Let's hope the region stays safe.

While pursuing the Guardian I came across a bunch of educated folks praising the soundtrack to Tron Legacy. It was from a panning review of the new Tom Cruise (the miniature mentalist) flick, Oblivion and some comments led to this topic. I searched it on Pirate Bay and found it. By a group called Daft Punk, its playing now, breaking my month long love affair with everything World Party, and am loving it. Very Blade Runner. Would recommend for those looking for something new, something deep, dark and sci-fi.

Don is coming here very soon for a couple of days. It will be good to see someone I know, or as Keith Richard said, "It's good to see anyone!" I hope we will have a few beers, some cool bike rides along the coast and some chat.

Game Time

As I am sure the fathers who read this will know finding time to yourself is hard work. I am lucky with Oi and will Grace that it ain't too bad. I think with relocating to Chum Pon and being friendless Oi is quite aware that I need some time away from the little princess. "Daddy. Come on!" is repeated several hundred times a day. I'm fine in the morning but but late afternoon I start to want my own time. All three of us fight over the ipad; Oi for Carcassonne, Grace for a number of kids games (research Hoca Poca (or something) for some great kid apps, and me for a number of board/card/fantasy games. I keep drooling over a bunch of great games sadly inaccessible to me, but the ipad does offer some hope of gems being made available.

I have just started playing a new free one called, "Might and Magic - Duel of Champions". I have cunningly downloaded it for the PC too for when the ipad is unavailable. It looks like quite an engaging game should anyone be interested or fancy a battle.

Along with this, and after many days scouring the Net I have acquired all of World Party's works, including last years "Arkeology" album which offers no less than 70 songs. Like The Stranglers, Karl Wallinger's lyrics seem even more relevant today as they did 20 years ago. Kinda sad things have gotten a whole lot worse and "avarice and greed" are dividing us all ever more potently.

That report, which included some Thai MPs, about the British Virgin island tax haven, housing, I think it was 32 trillion dollars, beggars belief. Funny how personnel corruption multiplied by several hundred thousand busy bodies can have just an effect on global welfare. I could ask you why anyone gets up to go to work at all, but that might be too much to bare. Feed the machine, feed the machine. As Zerzan said, no one really agrees with what's happening, but the inertia carries it on. And my other disappointing theory of how occupations involved in extraction pay the highest salaries.

Hello? Brother Rob is calling...

London Pride

Early this morning I headed out to the Macro Cash and Carry supermarket. We did a mean green yesterday, and it felt good. I am keen to keep this up and prolong this feeling of goodness and of health. I also bought some kidney beans to prepare my mean bean chili, that makes going to the toilet such a delight. I won't even tell you what the mean green juice does to the nether regions, other than to compare it to silky velvet. No more roids for me, that's for sure. Something that has seen me hospitalised in the distant past.

Anyway, there I was, leisurely perusing the aisles, observing everything and making mental records; an astonishing vegetable section in Macro, it must be said. And damn cheap, and rarely another soul around to annoy me.

I spied the booze section away away and promised myself a viewing later. After searching the pharmacy section for Aloe Vera gel for a nasty array of bites I received at Cabana beach, and finding nothing, I stopped to admire the grog. HOLY SHIT!!!!! There before me stood, like soldiers, a neat, little array of bottles of London Pride. Fuck, I couldn't believe it! Not only is it an ale, but an ale that only in recent years advanced to the ranks of the My Favourite Ales list, to which others, namely Spitfire, confirmed by Jimmy V had been unceremoniously dropped after years of careful analysis and supping.

I was so excited I didn't quite know what to do next. It was like finding gold, and in full view of all and sundry.

I wizzed away with my trolley and deliberated a course of action. Heading back, I discreetly enquired of the price of such a vessal of nectar. 89 Baht! Jesus! Is it my birthday? Stupid booze purchasing hours, introduced by uber capitalist and all round cunt, Taksin, scuppered by plans for immediate acquisition. I headed home.

Back at the abode, I announced to Oi of my discovery. Her frowning face just made me cringe. Why even try to explain? I headed back out with Grace and the promise of a trip to the infinitely more upmarket Tesco's with kids amusements. I secured four bottles. I dreamed of six, but figured that greedy.

I skipped about with Grace. We played air hockey, bought snacks and tonic water, now back in stock, ice cream and hurried home.

Bottles now cooling in the fridge and my second gin and tonic almost empty. I do love the holidays, and a one o'clock alcoholic refreshment. I also found some olives, actually in plentiful supply in Thailand. I don't know who else buys them but Oi and, especially Grace, love olives with avengence.

At some point today, I shall open the London Pride and sup as no other has ever supped before, indulgently relishing each greedy mouthful. What a miracle, and something I never thought I would see here.

Cabana Beach

Yesterday afternoon, after the pay came through we headed off to Cabana Beach for a long awaited break. Just one night but it was very well received. Grace was uber excited and swam and played the the sand for ages.

There was a cool bar on the beach where I had a couple of beers, some French fries and a burger.

The bungalow was pleasant, however the air con was freezing and I hardly slept. I did switch it off for a space until Grace complained and Oi turned it back on again. I listened all night to Joseph Campbell lecturers about the relevance of stories in our lives which was fascinating.

I got up very early and walked along the beach at dawn. I had left my shoes (my only pair) when I got on the sand, and much to my disgust, they were gone when I came back a bit later. I was really ticked off and complaining to Oi. We wandered around looking for them and asked in one of the roadside food stalls. They told us dogs take them. We wandered along the road and Oi suddenly spied them in another stall. She asked politely and a fat lady returned them saying first a dog brought them in and then that it was a little boy. Who knows?

We had some coffee in a beach side restaurant and took a walk up the shoreline. When it started to heat up we headed back home. There is little point in hanging about there in the blazing heat when we could be relaxing at home.

It was a welcome break.