Man, monkey and dog.

Just had one horrendous tropical downpour. Five minutes of wind and thunderous rain that seemed to be bouncing off the road about a foot. All hell broke lose for a few minutes and then nothing. Now calm and cool. Most of the roads are flooded as the drains can't cope with this kind of input but the air is a lot cooler. Just as the rain stopped I realised I'd missed a great photo opp.

Been trying to get someone to collect a parcel to send to the UK. DHL, Fed EX - load of crap. Fed Ex turned-up and after a great deal of arguing told them to sling their hook - increased the price when they got here and were less than apologetic. Finally it's gone with UPS. First rate service.

The daughter's had a school friend here this afternoon and between them they've managed to wreck the house. Good to see them having fun though. New school term and new season of kids' parties. Can't help feeling that there is a lot of snobbery and competitiveness involved. Who has the most guests, biggest bouncy castle, best circus act, most exepensive whatever! Etc etc etc. The daughter's b'day is in the summer, out of term time. This leaves us with dilema, to party or not.

Here's a picture of a man, a dog, and a monkey taking a stroll in the sea. No reason for it just something we saw on an island.




Here's something I found in my mailbox:

A Short Story

"A son and his father went for a walk in the mountains.Suddenly, the son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh! !!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh! !!"

Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!" The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Copycat ... Coward!"He receives the answer: "Copycat ... Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on Dad?"The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
The father screams: "You are a champion!"The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand. Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.It gives you back everything you say or do.Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;Life will give you back everything you have given to it."

Man, monkey and dog

The Flora Marathon

Taking my daily pounding on the treadmill this morning, drenched in sweat and hot enough to cook an egg on, I had this mad thought about running a marathon. There's just over seven months until the next Flora Marathon in London. Is that enough time to get trained and fit enough to make a serious effort?

I'm new to this exercise gig. This time last year (about March time actually)I was just shy of 18 stone and broke into a sweat just walking up the stairs. Since then I've shed the weight and got down to about 15 stone (it was 14.5 but an extended stay in the UK over the summer packed a bit back on). I'm something like 6'2" so I don't really look as obese as I should do. This year I gave up meat and cut down heavily on junk food, artificial ingredients and dairy products.

For the last few months I've been exercising daily and can now manage about 3 miles a day. So what's the verdict? Is it worth me trying to enter?

Thailand Update

There was a bomb aimed at the PM. It wasn't a bomb, just a bit of a laugh. It was deadly and could have wiped out an area of one square km. It was nothing and wouldn't have damaged more than 50 square metres. The PM was behind it. Ya-de-ya-de-ya. This is the on going bullshit from the Land of Smiles. The general who has been arrested for the this crime (or maybe not a crime) claims he couldn't have done it as the PM would be dead if he had. Ooohhh! He claims that he's fought wars (not sure what wars Thailand has been engaged in in recent years) and has been in the assassination squad so he would know what to do. I seem to be the only person who is surprised that there are official assassination squads in this 'peace loving' country!

A senior monk has been released without charge after being found guilty of embezzlement and various other crimes. It seems that it wouldn't be right to prosecute such a member of the community (though such a member of the community is ok to go embezzle). Funny old country.

Garden is looking good. Pics to follow soon.

The Flora Marathon

Creating a Garden

The house we bought had been empty for three years. It was new but had never been lived in. The garden was nothing short of an overgrown jungle, complete with snakes and various other forms of wildlife. We had it cleared before moving in so we were left with just a mess, but manageable.

First stage was turfing and adding some plants and we were left with this, below.

Next stage was to rip out some hedges, to be replaced by more manageable plants in pots and a few trees. Some of the hedges were proving to be a draw to snakes, which we are trying not to encourage. When we found a deadly krait in the garden my daughter wanted to give it a cuddle. Needles to say we want the garden as un-inviting to snakes as possible.

On Saturday I was busily digging in some wide brick to make a pathway from one side to another and to the swinging seat.

On Sunday we had a team of guys here stripping and painting the wall. Three women and a man and they managed to get the job done in a day. Hedges out, wall cleaned, treated and the new 'orange' paint applied. Here's the team in action, or at least preparing for action.

The 'orange' has chaged the way it looks completely. Pics coming soon.

The lawn is looking a bit on the brown side as you can see. This is largely due to the daughter and me being back in the UK for nearly two months over the summer. The wife watered it about twice during that period! It shouldn't take long to get ack to its previous state but I need to do something to really green it up. Any suggestions for feeding a lawn in this part of the world, organically. I don't want to start throwing chemical down if I can help it.

Big is better, or so they say...

Just before christmas the Siam Paragon department store opened to much fanfare. It was Bangkok's flagship store and billed as the largest in SE Asia. Many a Thai was proud as punch and Bangkok's elite and well-heeled strutted their stuff along the walkways of what is a very grand store.

Last week saw the opening of the new Central World. Which is now the biggest store in SE Asia. As anyone who has been to Bangkok will know, the last f'ing thing it needs is more retail space. The owners of Siam Paragon must be pissed. They held the 'biggest' title for a matter of months. Maybe they could put in for an extentsion and just nose into the lead. We were heading down to Central World today but got side-tracked by the garden.

Spent virtually the whole day in the garden digging and ripping things out. I'm trying to make up for the neglect of not being here for nearly two months and also trying to limit the areas where our local snakes can hide. Yes, we have snakes in the garden. Pit vipers and kraits so far. Not kid freindly things really. My back is burn to buggery from not wearing a shirt all day. Got some extra help coming in tomorrow.

The prickly plant I was asking about has gone. Ripped it out slowly and managed to get several thorns in my hands in the process. Small finger of left hand now swollen and almost static, not to mention very painful. Just hope it wasn't too poisonous.

Might be going to Vietnam in November. Went earlier on in the year and loved it. Talk of going with a mate at the moment. Have to put that one to the wife soon and test the water.


Big is better, or so they say...

Another day in Paradise

Back from collecting the daughter from her school. Her new regime of 8 till 2 days which started on Monday when we got back from the UK is knackering her out. After some discussion with the staff we've decided to make it 8 till 2 three days a week and 8 till 12.30 the other two days. I keep getting reminded that she is only just three years old.

Being a dad and the parent who looks after the child is probably more difficult than it is for a mum. I've heard mums saying that they are never truly prepared for motherhood. Believe me, try being a dad in the same position. I knew bugger all when I started and people are generally more willing to step in and take over than offer help if you're a dad. Still, got the hang of it all now and we get on just fine. The teachers at her school are even starting to take me seriously now.

Thailand

Someone allegedly tried to assassinate the PM. A car packed full of explosives was found near his house. A general has been arrested. Feeling toward him has been splitting the country for months now. Large protests have often come close to violence and now it seems someone if upping the tempo.

Another Brit has been found dead. This one had the good fortune to have died in an accident whilst white water rafting, rather than being murdered by locals which is becoming more regular. She died some days ago but they've just found her body in the river, stuck under a rock. The number of Brits being killed for money or out of spite is almost into double figures annually but still Britain's FCO seems reluctant to warn people or even mention it, presumably for fear of upsetting the tourist industry.

Help

Can anyone tell me what this plant is? It grows to seven or eight feet, like a weed, flowers bright orange and has a very prickly stem that is about 1.5" diameter at the base. I'm just about to rip the wretched things from our garden and replace it with a Jasmine like tree. Just wondered what it is as non of the locals seem to have a clue.




















All the best from the 'Land of Smiles'

Life Out East blog and website.

Welcome! First post! Welcome to the thoughts, bitching and whining of a Brit and his family living overseas.

The overseas in question is Bangkok, Thailand and the family is a mixed bunch of three: me, the wife and the three year old daughter. I say mixed bunch as I'm a Brit (English/Welsh/Scottish mix with a hint of French and a smattering of Jewish blood) and the wife is a Thai/Chinese/Lao/Chinese mix. The daughter is a perfect blend of both of us.

The wife works for a multi-national, the daughter is in an international kindergarten and me, I ferry her around, take care of her when she's not hitting the sand with her pals at school and try desperately to make ends meet any way I can from home via the wonders of the internet.

One of the many things I'm doing whilst rapidly draining my financial resources is a freelance writing course online from London. I guess that's one of the reasons for the website and blog, good practice.

Anyway, that's it for this virgin of blog postings. I need to try and get this thing on the net and linked to the site and working and I haven't a clue what I'm doing so there's no point writing too much lest it goes arse up in my face.

Welcome and goodbye!


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