Back to normal

OK, so I didn't really win any money. Just another one of those scams. At least now these guys from Nigeria have learned that we know about them and they are trying to pass themselves off as Chinese or some other kinda Asian.
Tony had the best response in his comment. Nothing like being scammed on a scam. Sorry I couldn't send the money Tone, Deeds has cut my allowance by 73% and I am struggling to have enough cash to buy pineapple on the street. Have to do all my drinking at home due to lack of folding money!!

Visitor update. We are soliciting more visitors for months as follows:
April - scheduled - none. Needed urgently as many as possible
May - scheduled - none. Needed urgently as many as possible
June - scheduled - none. Needed urgently one or two
July - scheduled - none. Needed urgently two and at least two relatives!
August - scheduled - daughter. Needed urgently one more relative. Otherwise could accommodate one or two
September - scheduled - none. Have a daughter now so request is not urgent but could accommodate one or two.

I will update the balance of the calendar year at a later date.

Cheryl, Mike and Ernie are here. They had their trip planned around Bangkok, north Thailand and Viet Nam. All was well until they went to VN. Them for some reason the weather turned funky on them. Cold like. Ernie and Mike had to buy a fleece to keep warm. It was only going up to 15 degrees in the daytime. This eventually caused them to cut the VN section of their vacation short and return to BKK three days early. So they have been kicking around here, typically underfoot as most guests are (just kidding, really! Just my sense of humour, or lack thereof. I enjoy the guests. As I have indicated above we need more. I am not sure if Deeds and I can cope without wondering what is going on in someones life. It has become so second nature to us! Strange but true.).
We will have a trip down the Chao Praya River tonight for dinner on the ole rice barge and then Wandee will make us a feast for Friday night, their last in BKK, before they head back to TO. We so enjoy these dinner parties that we have with guests. Fun for us for sure.


Work is going very well for Deeds, I have to tell you about this because she is to............. well, whatever, to blog herself. As was expected she has settled nicely into the role. Her changes, additions, influence, whatever you want to call it, have taken affect on the project. This of course means that she is a little less harried and a lot more comfortable these last few weeks. The project has taken on a rhythm. What needs to be done on a weekly basis to keep all informed of the progress of the project, etc is going according to Madame Brooks plan. There are a few irritants, like conference calls at 7 pm with Head Office and the team insisting that she participate from the office rather than call in from home. But these types of things are to be expected from time to time and you come to grips with it and move on as best you can. Which Deedles is doing. Very comfortable. Doing well, happy as she works. Not whistling, cause we all know she can't. But vely vely good madame. Good good.

It seems we now have our routines and adventures weaved into the fabric of our lives. Planning some trips out ahead of the day to day so we have them to look forward to.

In April we have a trip to Chiang Mai. This will be a hoot as it is scheduled on the Thai New Year (Lunar New Year I believe as the moon moves from Pisces to Aries!) and is dubbed Songkran. The "SONGKRAN" festival happens during the hot season in mid April. This festival happens in all Buddhist "THEREVADA" countries, i.e. Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Burma (Myanmar).
For Songkran festival, Thai people clean everything, i.e the house, the previous years bad actions, the Buddha statues, one's own spirit. Songkran festival is also known for its splashing water madness. Traditionally the ceremony was to pour water into the palm/hands in order that bad actions, bad thoughts flow away with the water. It was a way to purify oneself. Children show their respect to elders by performing this water ceremony. Scented water is also poured over the shoulder and slowly down the back of a person. While pouring the water in this manner, people say good wishes and words of blessing for the coming New Year.
This Thai New Year will usher in the year 2554 (as opposed to our 2011).
As times change however the Songkran festival has degenerated a bit into a time of foolishness. Apparently youths wander the streets of cities in pickup trucks throwing buckets of ice water at pedestrians and motorcyclists. Others stand on street corners shooting passers-by with high-pressure water guns or super soakers. A lot of this activity takes place up-country as the north of Thailand is called. Many people in BKK return to their home villages. It is probably the only time in BKK when you can make your way around and not worry about endless traffic jams.

The story of Songkran Day itself is shrouded in Buddhist legend and lore. That of having to deal with a Brahma and a wise man called Dhammabala. I will leave you to look up the details rather than repeat them here.

So we are back to a kind of normal.
Habs are losing 2 out of 3 just so that they can squeak into the playoffs in 8th place. That is kinda normal.
I am golfing, normal. Playing poorly I might add, normal. And I am blogging, which seems to be normal now as well. Thanks for following along, talk soon
Sawadee Krup