Gin and Tonic
Fruit Fly, stay away from that lime,
Fruit Fly, stay away from that lime,
'Cause that lime is for my Gin and Tonic.
That lime is for my Gin and Tonic.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Review: Mum's trip
Grace, Jonathans and Sonya.
Mater will be nearly home by now, and it's a time to reflect.
It was a great duration. A short stay but busy and also very lucky. Due to the Thai protests, Oi and I both had most of the time off work.
Jonathan and Sonya were awesome. I do remember them from Ireland and seemed lovely then. This time was the same, but for longer, and I got to know a bit about them.
Blessed with devine luck we took off for an island. Koh Payam off Ranong in the Anderman Sea. A beautiful island. A long pier at a small settlement that reminded me of a pirates locale. It was tiny and bustling. Bars, food shops, hippy clothes shops, a gang of motorcycle taxi drivers looking suitably wrinkled under the all-day sun. The odd farand hobbling around on crutches, and a few with white slings or plasters. Our ride to our residence is worthy of note. Four or five motorcycles carried us across the island. First on a narrow concrete slab road that took us to the other side, I'd say for about 4 or 5 kilometers. It was all very scenic, winding and up and down. As we approached the resort the road became a dirt track and went suddenly uphill. It hit a slight crest with magnificent primary jungle trees and lush scrub, then dropped steeply down the other side, that makes for hairy riding.
Our Bungalow
The Restaurant, Koh Payam.
When you arrive after parking the bikes halfway down the hill and proceeding on foot, the beach is laid out to your left as you walk in to a shady, spacious restaurant with a long open bar, perfect for drinks, breakfast and a late lunch.
Part 2 later....
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
Mother
Mum arrived with family friends, Jonathan and Sonya.
By lucky chance with all the protesting Oi and I have had time off work. There was a window when we could get to an island. We headed for Koh Payam in nearby Ranong by the Andaman Sea. What a gorgeous place.
We had 4 days in island paradise. I got so fit from all the walking about, along jungle paths and up into the hills, that all my aches and pains have vanished, if but for a short time. We spent time in the sea, riding kayaks, exploring the island on motorbikes and plenty of eating in restaurants. It has to be one of the best islands I've been to, and the first in a very long time. I am hoping we can return there very soon.
Jonathan and Sonya had an amazing time and its nice to see just how stunned they were, never having expereinced anything quite like this before. I was stunned. It's what Thailand's all about - island living.
Back at home now and more protests means more time off work. Oi has so whole week off which is super lucky as she can spend time with Mum.
Grace has been having a ball with grandma here and two new friends to annoy.
Last night I showed them the movie, Dean Spanley, as an appertizer. I also let Jonno listen to Alan Watts for a space.
Gamewise, I have been enjoying the oh so classic Panzer Corps. A table top, traditional wargame, only for the great thinkers and strategists of our time.
By lucky chance with all the protesting Oi and I have had time off work. There was a window when we could get to an island. We headed for Koh Payam in nearby Ranong by the Andaman Sea. What a gorgeous place.
We had 4 days in island paradise. I got so fit from all the walking about, along jungle paths and up into the hills, that all my aches and pains have vanished, if but for a short time. We spent time in the sea, riding kayaks, exploring the island on motorbikes and plenty of eating in restaurants. It has to be one of the best islands I've been to, and the first in a very long time. I am hoping we can return there very soon.
Jonathan and Sonya had an amazing time and its nice to see just how stunned they were, never having expereinced anything quite like this before. I was stunned. It's what Thailand's all about - island living.
Back at home now and more protests means more time off work. Oi has so whole week off which is super lucky as she can spend time with Mum.
Grace has been having a ball with grandma here and two new friends to annoy.
Last night I showed them the movie, Dean Spanley, as an appertizer. I also let Jonno listen to Alan Watts for a space.
Gamewise, I have been enjoying the oh so classic Panzer Corps. A table top, traditional wargame, only for the great thinkers and strategists of our time.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Waiting for Mater
Here I am, Saturday morning waiting for the arrival of Mater. She apparently arrived in Bangkok yesterday at three in the afternoon but has not yet called. I am a tad worried.
Last night I had some ciders, as some of you may have realised by my activity on Facebook. I lovingly had handed over my paycheck to my lovely wife who then announced I had to go go to watch Grace dance on a stage at 8:30 in the morning. My glee instantly vanished. 8:30 in the frigging morning!
I really didn't want to go. Thais also have a nasty habit of dressing up children to look like prostitutes. Something most Westeners have a real problem with.
In the end Oi said that if I didn't want to go, then I didn't have to. Good. I am glad about that, for various reasons. I don't want my life to be spend obeying the crap commands of a school. They take hours to do anything and you have to endure some windbag prattle on for hours and hours and hours.
Bloody Hell.
So that's out of the way.
Things have been getting quite fiery at work too. I have been kicking out up to half the class as they appear to have no knowledge about acceptable behavoir in class. Sleeping, chatting, playing with iphones, throwing water bottle at each other all seems perfectly normal to a Thai. But not to me. I have been playing hardball and doing quite well at it. I locked a bunch of them out before they even arrived the other day. When I enquire to my boss about the situation, I get told, "You're a professional. You can handle it." Ok. Don't worry, I never lose my temper. I just tap them on the shoulder and tell them to get out, which they duly do. We normally end up with about 8 or so students who have good manners.
Last night I had some ciders, as some of you may have realised by my activity on Facebook. I lovingly had handed over my paycheck to my lovely wife who then announced I had to go go to watch Grace dance on a stage at 8:30 in the morning. My glee instantly vanished. 8:30 in the frigging morning!
I really didn't want to go. Thais also have a nasty habit of dressing up children to look like prostitutes. Something most Westeners have a real problem with.
In the end Oi said that if I didn't want to go, then I didn't have to. Good. I am glad about that, for various reasons. I don't want my life to be spend obeying the crap commands of a school. They take hours to do anything and you have to endure some windbag prattle on for hours and hours and hours.
Bloody Hell.
So that's out of the way.
Things have been getting quite fiery at work too. I have been kicking out up to half the class as they appear to have no knowledge about acceptable behavoir in class. Sleeping, chatting, playing with iphones, throwing water bottle at each other all seems perfectly normal to a Thai. But not to me. I have been playing hardball and doing quite well at it. I locked a bunch of them out before they even arrived the other day. When I enquire to my boss about the situation, I get told, "You're a professional. You can handle it." Ok. Don't worry, I never lose my temper. I just tap them on the shoulder and tell them to get out, which they duly do. We normally end up with about 8 or so students who have good manners.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Beer Lao
Monday night and raced home, after perusing the aisles of Tescos for mayonaisse, spaghetti, baked beans and mushrooms. Then i picked up Grace from school and finally headed home.
Then, for reasons unknown I cracked open a bottle of the lovely Beer Lao, stuffed down a baked potato with mayo and beans (disgusting, I know) and settled down to finish off episode 1 of the final season of Morse, of which I am the proud owner of the entire series. And I just ticked the boxes on Bitcomet to complete my collection of Pie in the Sky with the ever loveable, the ever cuddly, Richard Griffiths.
Housemartins plays as I type and we are days away from the arrival of Mater. It is quite exciting and Oi has been getting the rooms ready. Grace is chattering away and demanding I chase her around the garden whilst pretending to be a giant, and these days we have to have swords too!
I procured Sim City 4 off Steam and is wonderfully addictive and definitely a game you want to keep on your hardrive.
I was chatting to my co-worker today, Karen from San Fransisco, and we started talking about French movies, and then I found out that she has never seen Jean De Florette. OMG! I am downloading it too as it's been a long time. But so glad to recommend such an incredible movie to someone who hasn't seen it.
She told me she is currently hooked on these UK period dramas, Downton Abbey and Lark Rise to Candleford. I had abandoned Downton after an appaling start to season 2, but I promised I would give it another go.
Then, for reasons unknown I cracked open a bottle of the lovely Beer Lao, stuffed down a baked potato with mayo and beans (disgusting, I know) and settled down to finish off episode 1 of the final season of Morse, of which I am the proud owner of the entire series. And I just ticked the boxes on Bitcomet to complete my collection of Pie in the Sky with the ever loveable, the ever cuddly, Richard Griffiths.
Housemartins plays as I type and we are days away from the arrival of Mater. It is quite exciting and Oi has been getting the rooms ready. Grace is chattering away and demanding I chase her around the garden whilst pretending to be a giant, and these days we have to have swords too!
I procured Sim City 4 off Steam and is wonderfully addictive and definitely a game you want to keep on your hardrive.
I was chatting to my co-worker today, Karen from San Fransisco, and we started talking about French movies, and then I found out that she has never seen Jean De Florette. OMG! I am downloading it too as it's been a long time. But so glad to recommend such an incredible movie to someone who hasn't seen it.
She told me she is currently hooked on these UK period dramas, Downton Abbey and Lark Rise to Candleford. I had abandoned Downton after an appaling start to season 2, but I promised I would give it another go.
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