Just thought I would drop you a line, 26th Nov 08. Its been some time since last writing, and a lot has happened, Poppy is making great progress, and looks lovely in all her photos. I have not received so much mail this last month, I guess with the cold weather and an even colder economic climate it does not lend itself to writing.
Well the rainy season is over and we are now living up in the village, and it's cool season - it happens so quickly - one day we opened the french doors, the wind was blowing and it was overcast, and Pan said, "it's cold season now". I just said: "don’t be silly it will be just as it was". Wrong. Anyway having had the rent for the house run out, it was time to up sticks and bus it home to the village. The house was most welcoming, and now it’s the rural life. The silence and stillness is breathtaking, it's hot in the day like a good summer's day for the UK - there is a constant cool wind - night time its cool enough to drink outside without a jacket.
It gets dark around 6pm and the sun goes down fast. It's December now, and thankfully the political mayhem has subsided in Bangkok, and the airports are open again. It was the King's birthday yesterday - 81 years - a truly great King who is adored by all his subjects but he is not well and was unable to read his birthday speech to the nation. Lord knows what will happen when he passes over.
We went to a party at the school last night, fireworks and all. Good fun but no drinking on the kings birthday, all bars closed (not that we have one in the village). Everyone is given a candle and we finish with a procession past the King's statue, and I mean everyone: heads of the village, teachers, children, grandparents and even security men on duty. Life is almost timeless here, there is only one person speaks English, plus Brosky an Italian, who's great fun with his pidgeon English, always talking about cooking and Italian food, which of course he can't get, so we tease him a bit.
There are a few odd jobs to do like putting running water in the kitchen and running the waste out through the wall to the garden where it serves to moisten the soil, its all cold water of course and showering is a hose pipe attached to the mains - if you wait till around 5pm the pipes underground will have been warmed by the sun so the water comes out warm, you get cunning in the village, but I do have a fully plumbed in english toilet which is a true delight, such treats.
I usually take a walk in the morning for an hour or two, subject to the heat, and as I have arranged for the Bankok Post to be delivered every day, (costs me a pound and has to come via the town 40 klicks away and is delivered by the bus driver on his return daily). I stroll along in my bright blue straw hat doing the crossword, and waving to the folks working in the fields and the lorry drivers on the highway, a truly english ecentric, or as close as the villagers will ever get to one. When people talk to me I just smile and doff my cap, it seems to work for most times - they burst out laughing. One more thing on that note, Pan's children don’t speak or understand any English, can you imagine how many problems that solves, so far no stress there. Well that’s it for now there's lots more to tell next time. Dingo.I do enjoy the wayfarers updates,and this might be something different, sorry about the grammar and spelling (somewhat edited to fix, Ed). If i can help any wayfarers who might be considering a trip out this way or are considering a retirement package, or holiday: let me know. If you want to forward this note to any who might remember me (and even those who don't!) feel free.
Good luck to you all Dingo, Gerry Hulbert.
Author: Pete
