Revolutionary Days

So, at home on Friday as the mob invade the government buildings.

For me, it meant, a day with Grace. Her school is flooded, meaning OI must go to clean up and Grace stays home with me.

Early on, she's getting bored so we went to the town park and fed the fish. For the briefest time I didn't have enough money to buy some bread to feed the fish, but then the pay cheque was in the bank as we made our way into town and I am flush again for a few days. Feeding the fish was fun, though the park is very soggy and waterlogged. Cloudy skies reminded me of an estate outside Leeds or somewhere, teenage kids pissing about and old men sitting on benches.

Then we were of to Tesco. Christams has arrived and we both got caught up in the fever and bought a few trinkets for the big day. I acquired my main objective of a 5 litre box of red wine, coffee and cereal.

Grace insisted on KFC against my better judgement. Every time is turns into a thoroughly depressing experience; mangey old, dark red meat, a tiny, likewarn packet of stale fries and a splash of concentrated Coke mix.

Then a family of enormous, miserable looking people came and sat opposite with huge plates of chicken. I had to leave asap. For a moment I thought I was in Commercial road. I need some free time to get down to flooded Makro and acquire a bag of veg to juice and guzzle.

At home now,  with a bundle of cool tunes and wine and battling off a very demanding Grace who cannot stop for even a second.

Oh Boy!

Crazy Days

Mad times here in Thailand.

Mass protests and demonstrations, the country is polarized. Been sent home from school twice now as students are rallied and sent off to protest outside the government offices in the town.

Life is busy and quite stressful. I take solice in cheap beer and nights playing World of Tanks with Lesley, my new friend. He's a treasure, and I have noticed how he won't enter into conflict or dirty talk with other people, though he does take out any arse in WOTs who fires off a random shot at him.

Grace is racing, talking non-stop and play, play, play. It's great fun but very tiring. Oi and I are both feeling the strain, and we are both working pretty hard for meagre wages.

Good Times

Rise of Nationalism

Scary times in the world right now.

A chap at work was commenting on the rise of nationalism and stating how the same thing happened back in the 30s in the global economic downturn. I quizzed him on the prospect of future wars, but he didn't think that would happen. There would be a different kind of reaction which he could not determine. But I thought his prognosis seemed true.

Hard Times for Thailand

Right now tons of shit is going down in Thailand. Well, two big fat turds anyway.

One is the amnesty bill that the government, headed by Thaksin's sister put in place to get Thaksin back into the country. This has meet massive opposition and the streets of Bangkok are heaving with protesters. They have abandoned the bill and things are still on tenderhooks as to what happens next. The students at my school have called a strike for 3 days to join in the protest, which means I am on holiday!

Second, is the International court ruling on a border dispute with Cambodia circulating around an ancient temple that just got World Heritage status, whatever the fuck that means, which of course meant millions of dollars from dumb tourists, so a fight broke out. On Monday the court came down on the side of Cambodia leaving Thailand fuming at lost dollars. Oh well.

As well as this Thailand has also waking up to reality of bailing out rice farmers in giant subsidies and a growing crisis of personal debt, which has been snapped up by the populus.

Yes, its all coming to a head.

For me, life has been about working and resting and playing with Grace. Not much else. I sneak some ciders in with Les from school, but will have to kerb that, a recent hike on tax on booze makes imported beer unreachable. It will have to be a couple of Leos.

I went out on my bike last night, first time since I got bitten by a dog. I will just keep to main roads now and run the risk of being hit by a car instead. It felt great to get some exercise, and it is a lovely bicycle.

Gaming gets most attention as it is cheap. Still battling ahead on World of Tanks, and a couple of new games, XCOM and King Arthur's Gold which are indie and a hoot.

In Our Time dominates my nighttime, and musicwise I have been picking up Paul Simon albums.

A Glimpse of the Devil

Last night, and for the second, consecutive Friday, I went round to see Les. Les is wonderfully chilled, friendly and humourous as Northern English tend to be. He recommended listening to Pink Floyd's The Division Bell in bed on headphones, which I duly did, an experience well worth carrying out and, indeed, repeated. Les has also been offering me bottles of South African cider, which are quite intoxicating and so very sweet. I love cider.

Anyway, last night I rode over to Les's. I had had a bottle of Leo already and some coffee. I guess I must have been aggitated by something, and very possibly still am, as I found myself talking in a negative fashion and teasing Les in a cruel manner. I instantly recognized the characteristic in myself and immediately dispelled it. I was quite shocked that this devil inside of me had made a reappearance after so many years absence.

I phoned him today, and apologized. He said he didn't see anything and was his usual humourous self.

I saw it though, and I knew what it was.

Other than that I gave Les a few pointers in the shape of Nick Drake, Alan Watts and Robert Altman.

Grace is buzzing right now. It's difficult to keep up with her sometimes.