T.F.C. Thai Fried chicken

Sat 28th p.m.

We are back home and it is only 9,30 p.m., and we are told we are away again at 7,30 a.m.

We were taken back to a Thai restaurant for a very nice meal and then the show, however it was literally identical to the show we had in Bangkok - it just went on and on -with announcers giving us a commentary in four languages between each dance !! There were about three hundred in the hall, many bored so the dancing and music was drowned out by the noise – so we left early and waited on the bus where it was peaceful.

The town was just coming to life and we were supposed to next head off to see the night market but age appears to be taking its toll.

Not C C Blooms but !!!

Saturday 28th Feb.

Day with a difference so far, the Legend Hotel, is certainly top class, and breakfast was excellent – however as we were eating in an open sided building it was rather chilly , down to 20C and the staff were wearing their anoracks but the food was lovely, although less of a choice than we have had most mornings

Onto the bus and away at 7.30 a.m. heading north again to stop at a big service area and transfer over into small jeep type buses which were going to take us up into the mountains, Off we went at the toot, roads were still very good but down to two lanes and then turned into a camp used by some of the minority groups who live here. All very colourful in their costumes which some wear all the time – Granny was sitting smoking her pipe, and in one house we went into there was a youth lying in bed watching the TV, a couple of mobile phones on the wall being charged, but a wood fire in a bucket in the kitchen and the dog having a pee in the corner on the mud floor – bit contrasting !! There was a communal outside toilet and shower cabin in the middle of the village. The kids were selling trinkets and we were giving them 40 p a time and later discovered that they would have accepted 20 p. One little girl, about six years, was wandering about with a little pack on her back and we discovered there was a new born baby sound asleep, just peeking out - some babysitter, taking the bairn out to work with her.

Back into the jeep and up into the mountains, it was like the Big dipper at Blackpool, up and down, climbing and twisting for about 45 minutes until we reached a very large settlement of Chinese immigrants at Maisalon., about 3000 ft above sea level.
We stopped at a shop and the lady started to give us samples of various teas, thy were lovely and she was pleased that we were able to use our Chinese phrases with her.
It was then back into he “mini buses” for a hair raising trip back down the mountains to the main road and the bus.

Our sandwich man, turns out to be very much an intrepid traveller taking up to seven trips a year and has been all over the world, but has a hectic schedule all pencilled in for the next two years – very interesting gent.

So now we are heading south again , via a ten mile detour back to the hotel to uplift a jacket which one of the others had left behind.
Now we have a run of about one hundred and fifty miles to Chaing Mai, where we do stop for three nights. There should be a lunch stop and then a dinner and karaoke organised for this evening.

Will miss the rugby on the TV – so might need to catch up on the results later, then 1st march , Sandra and William’s 40th Wedding Anniversary.

C.C. Blooms take care, there is opposition in the form of a range of C. & C.’s in Thailand, but it stands for Cabbage and Condoms !! The stop we had was at one of them at Chiangrai, complete with the Rubber Triangle, sign, Condom Cottages, and all customers got a free condom with their final bill. Place was opened by one of the government ministers who was trying to promote birth control, so whenever folks came in for their meal, normally cabbage, they got a condom!! easy.

Back on the road we stopped for twenty minutes to soak our feet in the warm waters of the hot springs, which was very soothing, with one person on the bus not doing so we soon found out whose feet were smelling.

On the road again we were soon to run the gauntlet at the silver factory and then the massive gems factory, have to say that their stuff was beautiful, very expensive, but definite tourist traps.
The Empress Hotel, home for the next tree nights is lovely, in the centre of the town, so tonight we are off to have a banquet dinner followed by a show and then into the night market , for a foot massage and somewhere supposedly for a karaoke.

Tomorrow we head out to the elephant sanctuary where we are going to have an hours ride out , something different for a wedding anniversary treat for William and Sandra’s 40th.

Friday 27th and we has been having fun

So much for the plans for the night, the hotel is on the outskirts of the town so we are really a captive audience, like “birds in a guilded cage” so to speak. However, despite the high standards, William and Sandra spent half an hour killing “mossies @ B52’s” before the Staff arrived with the spray cans – having been called by half of our group.

At this stage we had discovered an alternative method of opening a can of beer other than using a banana !! which was verging on the near impossible - so with chilled cans of Heineken , gins with Tango, back here in the room we are happy as wee porkers in the mire !!

We feel it a bit for the singles in the group, apart form the sandwich man , who is probably sitting watching TV , drinking his complimentary tea and coffee and munching though a half loaf and ham, with butter from the Lampang Lodge.

Last night they had no TV , etc, lots of mossies on the walls, things dropping off the trees onto the roof of the chalets, - but tonight it is the opposite.

We are not too amused with the tour Company, the rep keeps sticking in optional tours which you have to pay to him – so obviously someone is at the lash - today’s short boat trip cost us £10 each, so in this place £140 for two hours work is just something different !!
Tomorrow – he has added in an elephant ride, which if we take will benefit the elephant orphanage; and a trip on a river raft !! probably run by his cousin. His other comment was that we might well stop off to visit shops where we could buy trinkets and gifts. But we still have four days of the official tour to go and then a week in Phuket – so additional shops to look at mass produced “Tat” is not really an option.
Unfortunately – so far, this trip organised by Travelsphere / Cosmos / Archers does not compare favourably with our last trip to China.

In one of the Comment Books we saw during the trip, someone wrote “ The people are very nice but they only tolerate us for our money” - a comment which I agree with. BUT , then again , we still have time to go.

Question - does anyone know if sparky is off the mountain - or has he met another woman ?

Andy F @ tattie peel keeps sending me jokes - where was he when I needed a laugh.

Report needed on Shrek and claire is he being good and has she recovered.
Byr

Started with an early Friday 27th
call, having survived the night without the TV, we had a good laugh.

So breakfast overlooking a misty river, bit of a change in the air a it is a couple of degrees cooler, down to about 35 C.

Left at 7.30 a,m, for a long run north to the border at the Golden triangle, where Burma, Laos and Thailand all meet on the River Meekong. The run took us up through some really rugged mountains, wild forests and jungle, through all sorts of plantation, rubber, tobacco, rice, etc, but once again the roads were superb.

We arrived at our lunch time stop at 12.45 pm. and had a lovely buffet lunch washed down with beer, before heading along to get on a boat which took us on a short trip along the river to see a massive Casino on the Burmese shore, used by all the locals here as gambling is forbidden in Thailand. About turned and headed along the other shore and landed in Laos at a small village where we were able to get our passports stamped. The vender was doing a whisky tasting!!!! With a difference, jars full of whiskey but each one was being flavoured by the contents . Tigers Penis; scorpion; cobra snake ; turtle, and a few other odd creatures. A bit different to say the least, but we tried them and two hours later am still standing.
Bought a postcard and then a hat to protect the old bald bit !! and back onto the boat . On the Loas side they are building an even bigger casino than the Burmese one and setting up in competition. They should do better becase there are problems when the Thai police set up roadblocks and disrupt their business.
The river is very low at the moment, and on the Loas side where they have no infrastructure or irrigation system like the Thai’s the land is already very dry and there are no more crops till the rains come..

Now heading for the most northerly point of Thailand, about 900km north of Bangkok, before heading back southwards to Chiangrai, for another single nights stop over.

We stopped at the Thailand and Burma border, place was just moving with people passing back and forth over the border, very colourful, market stalls everywhere, and no one really getting into your face - other than the Burmese beggars who had crossed over for the day to have a go at the tourists. Bit late in the day when we found a lady doing 40 minutes of foot massage for about £1.50p.

Now at the Legend Chiang Rai, this place is beautiful, facilities superb but the prices obviously reflect this. Spa for a foot massage is now £8 for twenty minutes, and everything else proportionate.

Willie the immigrant bricklayerThursday 26th Feb.

Thursday 26th Feb.

Slept like a log, probably as a result of the ninety minute massage last, superb, and probably one of the best Spa’s I have seen.
My bitten feet feel better after a coating of tiger balm.
So, at breakfast, sandwich man, was bit upset as all the butter was in little balls on a plate, he had been waning some packs for his bread and ham !!

Outside the hotel, on our way to the bus I saw our second “Lady Boy” who was a bit more obvious than the one we saw last night, who was pretty good looking.

So northwards again, past lots more paddy fields, many now ripening and nearly ready to harvest , and on to the ancient / modern city of Sukhothai. The ancient past of the city is now a World Heritage Site and all the residents were moved out and relocated in the new city which was built, although they are still allowed to farm with the city area.

Here we had a tour round the site on an open tram, stopping off to look at specific areas,

At one part where a tree had fallen and damaged the ancient wall workmen were restoring it, so never stuck, our resident bricklayer, William, stopped and lent a hand – the locals were mega impressed with his handiwork.

From that site we travelled just a short distance to the outside of the city moat to another Buddha temple, where teams of experts from Tokyo University are experimenting on methods to prevent the plaster on the monuments from deteriorating and discolouring - it was a bit like the work being done to protect Rosslyn Chapel.

One vendor had small cages with tiny birds in them, you paid for the box, released the bird to heaven, then she no doubt went out and caught it again, for the next punter to buy and release!!! Good business if you can get it.

Next stop was for lunch , again a buffet out in the wilds, but not as god as yesterday – soup, curry, noodles, chicken and beanshoots.
Onto the bus for a long run northwards to Lampang River Lodge, at Lampang - up through the mountains which took us off the coastal plains with elevations of up to 1000ft to over 3000 ft - not quite as high as Sparky who should by now have reached the top of Killimanjaro by now.

Big change in the scenery , but still lots of rice fields, sugar cane and now vegetables - BUT – amazed at the standards of the roads, the cleanliness of the villages and towns we are passing through. Shrines and small temples everywhere as these people really take Buddha to heart.

Our final temple of the day was the Partart Ampangluang Temple , here in Lampang - it is a bit different as the Buddha statue is only seven inches high, of emerald and behind a heavy steel fence. The wooden buildings on site are seven hundred years old and the oldest of their type still standing in Thailand.

Reached our hotel at 4.30 p.m., great panic, no TV and no refrigerator, for us we are struggling to cope with warm drinks !! but should we survive tonight we will be in a good hotel for the next three nights, before we head south .

Our rooms here are little chalets, so turns out we are next door to the Johnston’s of Egham , bit of a coincidence. We can knock through the wall, but they seem to be paying no attention. Is it us or what are they up to.?

We have had to cover ourselves in anti mosquito cream as this place is within a jungle setting and next to the river.

Just a bit disappointed with Travelsphere / Cosmos / Archers , on this trip compared to China as some of our accommodation and stop offs have been well below those we can now see are readily available. Sandra is “gutted” , no hair drier - . Me also, no wi-fi. So perhaps no “blog”.

Tonight , three full body massages and a foot massage all done in “Ayuravedic” style, different to Swedish and Thai, but still painful at times, however our skins are now beginning to benefit , just unfortunate they cannot rub away my stomach.. The staff were excellent and even William who had a male therapist was really impressed. He now knows how I felt when I had eight days of treatment under the caring hands of our friend Chandana in both Sri Lanka and latterly Prague. The staff were delighted to pose for a team photo.

Wed 25th , long bus trip and a jaunt on a bike

Now one week since we left, been hectic and will get worse before it gets better.
Sleepless night due to bad bites and swollen ankles, but, so have some of the other.
Early call again, suitcases out and then down for breakfast, this has been the worst of the three hotels so far - ..

Off we set, short run to the site of the Ruined Grand Palace which was sacked and destroyed by the Burmese many years ago. The site is immense, even bigger than the new Palace site in Bangkok. In its time it must have been amazing. When the main buildings were set on fire they burned for a month – and in the centre was a bronze Buddha which was later taken away and re guilded. It was a nice time for a walk, not too hot - as it has been reaching 37C and very humid..

Next stop was yet another Buddha , then the next one was to see a footprint of Buddha, which the devotees were lining with gold leaf..
We walked through a couple of markets and Mrs.B, bought what she thought was toffee strips, but turned out to be wafer thin cooked fish – Yuk, but the drivers liked it. Next stop was Chinese temple where we found vendors in the market selling coconut sweeties and little samosa type pastries which were stuffed with various fruit filling, lovely.

It was on next to Lop Puri @ Monkey City, where the centre of the old town has been overrun by hundreds of monkeys, so much so that buildings around the Three Pagoda Temple have been vacated and lie empty as the monkeys ransack them.
They even hop on and off the local train and get a “free ride” down the line to the next station, then jump the returning train. There are secondary guides who go round the sites with you to keep the monkeys from stealing your possessions.
Now back in our air conditioned cocoon heading north stopping for lunch and then onwards again – about a four hour drive to the next hotel.
We have a CD of Frank Sinatra playing, just to keep us calm.

Ann is yackking as usual and giving me a load of crap – It may well be that I have a divorce her and come back with a Thai bride, however having suffered at the tongue of a woman for the past 38 years, who wants another woman.

Stopped for lunch at a beautiful restaurant way out in the country, surrounded by banana trees, lakes, and, compared to yesterday’s lunch this was just a real treat, soup, a selection of main dishes , banana and pineapple sweets – what a difference.

Back onto the coach for another two and a half hours, heading north through one city which is a World Heritage site, four lane motorway each direction through the city - this is by no means a poor country, they have brilliant infrastructure – mobiles work everywhere, and beside absolute poverty there is a range of degrees of wealth.

For the past 160 miles we have seen miles and miles of paddy fields, with total mechanisation, combined harvesters to cut the rice , and large processing factories. Sugar cane plantation, banana plantations, and next to them tiny little farms with cows , goats and pigs . In fact a couple of days ago we passed the biggest pig farm in Thailand which has tens of thousands of pigs.

The road north was dual carriageway , nearly dead straight, and really well maintained..
Now at the Topland Hotel, Pitsanulok, and from the 14th floor of the hotel we can see the airport a few miles away, rail station, and lots of activity.

Took ourselves off on the tricycle bikes , four in a row – round part of the City – which this is most definitely. The place is buzzing , lots of good shops and within the hotel complex we have Tesco / lotus ; K f C ; Pizza Hut, etc

One of our group, a man after my own heart !! bought himself a loaf of bread and some cold meat for .25p so that was his evening meal today , and will do him till breakfast.

Tuesday 23 the day , family and friends

Tuesday 23rd

Hell Fire Pass,

Left the hotel early to go to the War Museum at Hell Fire Pass, named as such because the prisoners worked 24 hours a day, lit at night by torches, and in horrendous conditions laboured with hand tools to cut their way through the mountainside. About 100,000 soldiers and Asian workers died in the construction of the rail link which was built over a period of twenty months.
The Museum was built by funds donated from the Australian Government and it is a very fitting tribute. Visitors have to make their way down a very steep staircase to reach the rail track and walk along about 4km of track restored and safe for use, but this is not a trip for anyone who is not ambulant. Bob , whose brother died is seen here by the trackside at a plaque and memorial .

One of our group took himself off for a walk, split the group up and caused us to be an hour later than schedule in leaving – “plonker” is an understatement.

So off we set, for the next two hours doing what appeared to be going round in a circle, as we eventually ended up back on the main river at the Summer Palace about 60km north of Bangkok, so it took us two days to get here. The area we are in at the moment is covered in rice fields and in the wet season is usually under water and occasionally with bad flooding. They think they are in for a drought this year and will possibly get only two growing cycles instead of three.

For lunch we stopped at a so called Typically Thai meal, in an ever so run down place out in the sticks, it was obviously run by one of the family of the driver or Guide.

The Summer Palace at Bang Pa –In was beautiful, set in pristine grounds, but never ever used by the family now for anything other than formal visits.

We managed our Tesco stop, but in need of some of Mr Gordon’s best, we had to buy 10 litres minimum as we were out with the permitted hours. The shop was spotless, just like those at home and the staff taken aback by fourteen foreign folks.
4.15 p.m. and we have been on the road since 8 a.m., still got another Temple to visit before we get to the hotel.

Cont.

So we did go to another Temple, but were only there for 15 minutes , really to save doing it a.m. Wed., By this time we were shattered so we were happy to get on the bus, finish a beer and were soon at Krungsri River Hotel.
Very nice room, top of the house with views over the city, a wash, drink and out to explore!!
Headed along the street to the 7Eleven for more juice and postcards, next we tried some delicious pancake sweets from a vendor at the side of the road, then in to a local bar where we ordered food and beers – BUT – they served everyone in sight and we, after 30 mins decided to leave, best move so far. We spotted a tiny little bar / café on stilts over the river - well, it turned out to be a very local family run bar, with all members present, great choice of crocodile cartiladge , fried cow tongue, frogs , ostridge, snake head, etc , lovely - anyway, we had a brilliant time, the food we eventually got was tasty, freshly made, and a true taste of Thailand – and a real laugh with the whole family trying to talk to us.

On our way back we were offered a genuine Thai massage, but looking through the door there were several clients being walked upon and manipulated, etc, just a bit too much after our dinner.

So up early again tomorrow for another long day.

Tuesday a.m.

Using a wi fi connection this morning which is rubbish .
Now about to head off for another days bus journey, through Hell Fire Pass, a couple of temples and then find a another hotel for tonight.

The group is doing well, only 14 of us, four singles, three male and one lady, but everyone is good.

Ran out of our Duty Free supplies last night !! big panic , so we have told our guide to find a Tesco/Lotus store here for us. Surprised that the bus driver does not have soft drinks on the bus, obviously too much trouble for him - and he does have an assistant who could have helped.

So catch up later,

Monday 23rd and emotional

Have been in the road since early dawn, through the City of Bangkok, which, even at that early hour was busy with stop and go traffic all he way to the city limits, about twenty plus km north, Then we were able to make headway northwards, making for the River Kwai, and the city of Kanchanaburi, famous for the notorious Bridge over the River kwai, bombed by the allies during the war,

En route , the bus blew its exhaust and instead of purring along it sounded like a truck - BUT – at our next stop while we were away the drivers fixed the problem’

At the City we made for the Thailand Burma Railway Centre , home of one of the various museums dedicated to those killed during the war and the construction of the railway.

Will add photos later whwn we get to somewhere with a better connection

One of our group, Bob Richardson was searching for the grave of his brother Harry C. Richardson, who had been captured in Singapore two weeks before the end of the war, shipped up to the railway and died on 19th July 1945 aged 30. He had been in the territorial army in the Royal Artillery.

With our help we scoured the graveyard as there was no central registry available, but believe or not it was Mrs. B. who found it. It was a really sad moment when we were able to let Bob see the grave and give him only a few minutes in private before we had to leave - but the contact had been made.

We then had a walk over the bridge, which is certainly not the one in the movie, and then took a ninety minute train journey to Tham Krasae Station where the prisoners had built a remarkable bridge round the side of the gorge. The train journey was a bit rattly and the three ticket collectors certainly were certainly efficient !!

We ate at the big restaurant at the Station , which was all local food and surprising good.
Back onto the bus and up to the River Kwai Hotel, in the middle of nowhere – and jammed full as it is an activity centre, lots to do and folks from all over the world.

Problem with the internet so this is being saved for later.

The Raddison Hotel Bangkok did us proud.

We really have nothing but priase for the staff here at The Raddison Hotel staff here at Rama Road, Bangkok.

They really helped make Sandra's 60th really memorable and it was all a surprise to her and William .

From the receptionists who had us meet with the Housekeeper and that got the room decorated; the young lady in the bakery who arranged for the cakes; the waiting staff in the dining room who sang to accompany the musicians.

Our evening meal was an International buffet which took a lot of beating , from salmon, prawns, steak, squid, etc, the selection was outstanding , with various styles of cooking by the different chef's in attendance - and to finish it off after wine and beer, we had a lovely cuppa.

So thanks a million.

So here are this evenings photo's.

The big 60 for Sandra

Well, it eventually had to happen, Mrs. J. @ Sandra has reached the ripe old age of being able to hold a bus pass - and is so looking forward to being able to flash it in the face of the local bus driver who giver her snash.

So what happened, well she managed to wake up on time for breakfast, without too much of a hangover, made it downstairs where we had umpteen cups of tea to recover.

Up to the pool and out to sunbathe while Willie and myself had our session in the spa, which for us was good - with William's lady walking up and down his back.

Girls arrived and had their feet done - they might have enjoyed it better if William had stopped yakking on , but after his yellow card he shut up. So there they were six feet in tandem as William even joined in and had a toe job !! toenails everywhere - and she never even bit once.

We popped down to the hospital next door for coffee - yes, the Hospital, the cafe and shops in it were absolutely superb, a 7 Eleven store and as graham would have said "cheap as chips".

Next, eight of us from the group boarded a mini bus and headed, at breakneck speed, girls in need of their incontinence pants !!!!!, into the city centre, where we had booked in for a river cruise, etc. had a walk around the art centre , managed a few photos, and on the way out discovered that photography was barred!!!

Next - onto a longboat for a tour around many of the canals and eventually onto a rice boat for a sail up the main river where we were fed fruits and drink. Have missed out on the photo with Sandra and both hands full of drink - but that is typical of a pensioner. So after a wonderful trip, we ended back at at the Art Centre and then onto the mini bus for a hilarious trip home

On arrival at the hotel we had to go in to the reception , and the resident band, on seeing Sandra gave her a rendition of "Happy Birthday to You - superb and caused her to get a real beemer.

In our absence the staff had decorated the bedroom so when Sandra entered there were banners and decorations in place, the bed was dressed with flowers, and a table had been set with flowers, fruit, a cake, cards and a bottle of bubble - so a tear stricken Mrs. J. opened her cards, cut the cake and poured the bubbly - just magic. A day to remember and lots of photos for later.

Sleep the sleep.

Slept like a log last night , best for yonks, totally out for the count for six plus hours, great.

Sandra now waiting to see if her bus pass has arrived, all excited - so now we are about to have a quiet morning then off on more boats for a look around Nangkok on the river.

catching up again

Had to dodge off earlier as the tailor had called about my suit, which despite everyones forebodings actually fits - so that is one problem resolved.

Photos are of William and sandra in the we boat on the canals, and the we foud this totally magnificent rocking cahir at the wood factory - their stuff is brilliant but excellent - had the price been in Bhats we might have thougt about it , but they were in US $ so the cost was 35 times what we thought.

We discovered that the "happy hour" was on the 24th floot of the Raddison Hotel tonight, absolutley brilliant views of the city, with an exellent restaurant.

Lost The signal about 12 mn and then realised that Sandra now has her bus pass, !! seven hours ahead of Egahm , sofor Donna , Paula nd the kids , granny does not look any older

We then headed for dinner and William and I had a steak each, nice but spoiled by spiicy sauce, and he we had , of all things , strawberry jam and toast which took away the spicy taste

Rushed back for our appointment at the massage parlour, where again it was four feet and two backs - just superb - only thing was that William disturbed me with his snoring!!! when he dozed off.

Never mind - we have sandra's 60th brthday on Sunday, a long lie then we have a four fold foot job !! with drinkies, then off on a boat trip round the centre of Bangkok.

If we do not get on board tomorrow, then we are off from here, heading north to the River Kwi, through the war memorials, etc, but we hopefully will be able to maintain contact

Have just realised that we are now into Sandra's 60th birthday, seven hours agead of the the UK, so here they are, 12.15 a.m and William is now looking for a " young thing".

Bit puddled, bed time

late night last night , then about three hours sleep as we are still jety lagged, and wide awake before our 5.30 a.m. alarm call. breakfast and before we left I had an appointment with the tailor at 6.45 a.m.,

Into the bus and of for the Floating Market, about 60 miles away, stopping off to see them making cocanut sugar at one of their tourist traps, quick cuppa, and then on past the salt pans, where they make thousands of tons of salt a year but still have to import some.

made it to the floating market and into a longboat for a very hairy trip round the canals, his engine was knackered and going round bends nearly put us all in the water, but we survived. Then we had an hour and a half to run the gauntlet of the vendors, but the place is totally amazing , we had snacks from the boats, a good laugh, but it was hot.

Ned to stop , tailor waiting

Good old rub down

Well well well, tonight we were picked up by the bus, taken out onto the motorway and scooted round the City till we eventuall got to the Thai Restaurant where we were booked for a meal -

Drinks were obviously expensive - the meal not too bad but i think we got the lesser of the two menu's as others had spring rolls and prawns, etc., but we had soup, a mild curry, crispy little things , a fish dish and veg with rice.

The show was interesting , but compared to the shows we saw in China were a bit repetitous and ended up being boring so we were happy enough to leave.

Back at the hotel we had arranged to go to the massage salon , where the girls had an hour of work on their feet and William and I had a good full body worker over - these girls are good and had me contorted, hammerd hell out of my knots and certainly knew what they were doing. the girls are raving about their treatments and want us to get the same.

This afternoon William and I found this tiny little local "bar" / cafe" for want of any other description - 30p for a beer !! can't be bad, we were thinking of taking Sandra there for her 60th birthday party.

Our rep took us to a tailors shop, but we left, however there is one in the hotel so i have been measured up for a suit - girls have said there will be two zips, no pockets and the buttons will not line up !!! watch this space - i have a fitting at 6.45 a.m. - just before we leve for the days outing, Off to the floating market about 120 Km away , then somewhere for lunch and demonstration of Thai boxing, etc, Longish day ahead.

Good to see Grant at least is paying attention.

Had a couple of drinkies and ready for bed.

Cheers,

Temples and Palaces

Lovely sunny day, in fact it was so hot we were nearly rioting at the Grand Palace as we could not get any water and the vendor was loading with up with new stock - so seriously dehydrated, puggled and short tempered we made it back to our coach, the cool of the air conditioning , drinks and wet wipes.

This city is immense and the traffic is chaotic, with long hold ups at traffic lights, and worse still the main line train runs across a couple of the main roads so everyone stops for it.

We have been to see several temples, standing, sitting, reclining, and golden Buddhas - the proverbial A B T tour ( another bloody temple) and that is only on or first day here. BUT irrespective, the sites are just magnificent, the Grand Palace sits in a sixty acre site and realistically you could spend days just on one visit. so with us doing three we did well, plus you have to take your shoes off at every temple so it is a good idea to were sandles, etc.

The guide offered to take us for lunch but the others declined, so we came back to the hotel and hit the sunbeds by the pool and took in a few rays . There are fourteen in the group, one gent from Edinburgh, all seem to be quite nice, but as we have just met they are a bit awkward.
The bus is great, roomy , airconditioned and we have a guide, driver and drivers assistant with us from now for the next 9 days till we reach Ching Mai, and we get another bus and possibly another guide.

Hotel charges £3 for a can of beer which we can get outside for 75p, same with everything - BUT - the hotel is lovely, rooms are nice, William and Sandra have a great big room , so we go there to meet and drink beer, otherwise all you need is a bath and a bed.

There are two massage salons in the hotel, but we have not been for a rub down yet.

Now getting ready for a Thai banquet and dancing tonight, and William watching an old Manchester United and Fulham game on the TV.

Will try photos in a

Made it in one piece

Long flight to bangkok, very tining and sore on the back, but OK - Arrived at airport and had a long wait through immigration and then we had lost one of the group. So then onto a bus and outb on the new five lane hjghway in towards the city. Our Hotel, The raddison is still about twnty minutes short of the town ,


Out for a walk, something to eat and fell asleep, but not for long as they are 7 hrs ahead of UK and body clocks all to hell. Never mind, up and fed, ready to go, but lap top not working yet,

Myst dash

Testing times at Heathrow

Made it to Edinburgh Airport and RGB announced that he is planning a trip to Oz in May - so be it. Good flight with BMI to London where we were bang on the button - cases arrived quickly and then we scooted at the toot along the moving walkways between T1 and T 3 where we found two odd characters from Egham loitering by the entrance. Lovely to see them , and being so early we were checked in with no waiting at all . Fun started as we had to go through passport copntrol, main search and then shoe search - but soon we had the Chanel bottles out to spray the feet, and sacred bits !!!

Sir Chris ' The laird of Drumshoogle" has sent a text saying that he is helping grandad to eat the easter egg - the dastardly swine - has the man no principles at all.

Donna has sent word to Sandra that she is now bathing three terribly dirty young children - Granny is happy to be away!!

Now in the Serviceair lounge for a couple of hours, compliments of Royalties Gold so I do not think that we will have much trouble sleeping on this flight.

Had a go at setting up the wee lap top but T mobile are looking for a registration, so it is back on the custom machine, therefore unable to seend any pictures.

So - here we go, here we go.

So the adventures begin

Here we are , all ready to rock and roll, seated in The Mercat waiting for a lift out to the airport. Feeling comfortable after a lovely steak, and Mrs. b.with the exceptional haddock.

Sparky and Dave alre already at the airport heading for London, nairobi and then Mount Killimanjaro - in his bag Sparky has a stone which belonged to his father and attached are five masonic peenies to be left on the summit of the mountain.

He had a near miss last night when he nearly injured his foot by dropping a food blender on it after making his fruit drink.

Jamie and Andy were hard pressed in the kitchen today as the place was very busy , and for a lot longer than usual this lunch time . Clair is quite poorly with an eye infection she picked up last week - not a happy cookie, but hopefully with recover quickly.

Tam and kathryn were in , so they had better not eat grandad's easter egg - or else.

Still not getting my taste back for red wine perhaps I need counselling !! anyway i will just have to keep trying.

So - time to head to Edinburgh Airport, then off to London with BMI to meet up with our fellow travellers for the long haul, eleven and a half hours out to Bangkok. Then once refreshed the fun should start.

Another bit of reminiscence

So, after leaving Livingston, and despite the fact there was frozen food in the boot of the car I turned off on the Calders road and headed up over the level crossing , through Kirknewton Village and up past the old airfield and army camp there. I can remember when the airfield, a former RAF fighter base during the war, was used by the U S airforce. They used to come down to Balerno and Currie at the weekends in the camp bus and take us up to play baseball with their families. The base camp then became an army camp for the Black Watch, and now the airfield is used by glider pilots.

I then turned off onto a single track road, over what used to be a ford in the stream where we often got stuck - Mrs. B. was losing the plot as she had no idea where we were or where we were going - so having made a wrong turning and had to turn at a field entrance near to Harperigg and Threipmuir reservoirs, I eventually arrived at Cockburn farm . This was where I was born and lived till we moved to Currie - Mrs. B. has never been there so she was quite surprised and interested to see the place. It brought back a lot of memories, but the house has changed a bit with alterations and there is a commercial garage on the plot of ground next door. I probably need to go back and take a walk around just to see how much I remember.

From there she saw how far I had to walk each day to and from the school at Balerno, just under two miles which was a long way for a wee tot. So down through Johnsburn , passed Johnsburn House where Sir Hugh Rose used to live - perhaps the family are still there.

The school has not changed any other than it is now an annex to the new primary school, but Balerno has, although I did not have time to get out and have a wander - frozen food in boot - so then we headed home, via Currie and the Police Tax collector hiding in his radar van.

Suitcase packed and ready to go, notes left for RGB and Go Jo to sort things out, and all arranged to meet William and Sandra some time after 6 p.m. tomorrow, but it will take us time to get through from T1 to T3 at Heathrow.

Sparky Mark also packed and ready to go, twisted sod is planning on taking his boots off on the plane which might well be mistaken as a gas escape, so if you hear of a flight making an emergency landing over southern Europe or North Africa , you will know the reason why.

So now doing a Sparky and chilling out. Tomorrow being a long day.

My trip to the shops.

Just a wee bit tired today, ended up being a bit naughty last night by finishing off two bottles of white wine, it was like drinking sugar ally water – so easy. So perhaps I had better go back to the red stuff, which is apparently much better for my heart !!

Suitcases are nearly packed, only need to be checked and weighed to make sure they are within the prescribed 20 kilos. Really a bit of a nuisance as the cases themselves weigh so much before you start packing. We used to have a couple of old battered cases which were made of something like compressed cardboard, but at least they were light. Folks used to look at my case which was tied up with string and taped together – but did I care – not at all.
Sparky has the same problem but he has to take four bags for different part of his expedition, plus his sleeping bag, etc. He will just have to get on the plane with about four layers of clothes on, and his big boots.

Presently back over at Bathgate where Mrs B is visiting her friend, who has family over from Nashville, Tennessee, so I have had an interesting chat about American politics, the President and his idiot predecessor, Mr. Bush. Dave – was saying that despite living there all his life he has never been near the Grand old Oppree, he hears enough of it on the radio. His father owns two hundred acres of land on the outskirts of the City and has been approached on a number of occasions to sell it to developers but has refused, as they want to keep the land as a Conservation area in the future.

It reminded me of the time when we met George Bush Snr. and our Secretary of State while we were on a private conducted tour of the Capitol Building in Washington DC many years ago. We were on holiday and staying with T J Killkullen in Maryland, and he had organised visits to the White House and Capitol Building for us – fascinating.

Just had Sir Christopher on the phone with word that the missing phone has arrived at The Mercat, and that we have a relief chef, Andy (home on leave from his cruise ship) who is helping out as Claire is ill.

On the way home we stopped in at ASDA, Livingston, for some odds and ends - you need to be careful, a pack of 15 coke cans was £5 but two packs of eight cans was only £3, a kilo of butter in one tub was £4.60p but two 500gm packs were only £3 - so it pays to pay attention.

Quite pleased with myself, wrote this on one computer, saved it onto my memory stich and then popped it onto this machine.

Total contradictions

Eventually just collapsed and fell asleep in the chair after my tea - BUT - when I awoke and had a shower, back to life again, so in need of internal replenishment I decided to top up with WHITE WINE - which again is very much against my basic principles.



BUT we have

Jane Goody on TV now diagnosced with terminal cancer and raising money through Max Clifford and his publicity machine for her children - now I cannot blame her, and at her age it is so sad.



On the other hand we have all this publicity about the 12 year old boy who is the father of a child to a 15 year old - this is a criminal offence - so how come they are daily headlines - he would be reported inScotland and the child taken into care - no comment so far about the mothers part in the affair. The MEDIA are shit, there is no longer a sense of decency or propriotry, all that matters to the SUN or News of The World, is sensationalism. BUT this then raises a question about the mentality of the reader , what do they look for? It is like wrestling - the crowds only go to see blood and guts, not the finesse of true classic wrestling.



Mark @Sparky, is now in my presence, preserving his body ? temple for the forthcoming climb of Killimanjaro, so he takes six days to climb up the "hill" starting as of the 20th and for six days to the summmit, ( gets his Gold certificate) then two days back and off to Zanzibar for R & R.



Today I listened to a very interesting programme about John Logie Baird, the inventor of Television, but now there are all sorts of arguments as there is a statue in the Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D, C., USA, claiming that they were the inventors - load of crap.

It would appear that he also had a doing with the invention of RADAR but there is little to prove this.

Now needing a sleep.

Home at the toot - long night.

Well back in one piece, safe and sound but tired and sore.
Headed of at 1 a.m. , lovely clear night, roads nearly deserted and made it south with nary a problem. Around 4 a.m. the world stared to wake up and as I went through the area around Junction 22 to 18 the newly awakend fruitcakes seemed to come to life. At one point there were about four cars come off the M62 onto the M6 South and passed me inconvoy all doing around 100 mph. I thought theu were using the Thelmwell Viaduct over the Manchester Ship Canal as a launch pad to the moon.

But , arrived at Runcorn about 4.30 a.m. and the nightshift security let me onto the site where I parked up, then cooried under my trusty sleeping bag and dozed off till Mrs B. awoke me with a phone call at 7.30 a.m. - Feeling ever so rough I headed to the loo and then the canteen where Dicj Turopins Sister's were opening up, so I managed to get a cuppa and a breakfast - her description " nothing much to look at but it will fill a gap " which is certainly marketing with a different slant. however, Christine, having told be a rather blue joke, announced that she is 50 years young next week and hubby is treating her to a trip to Lanzarote as a present.

Jill was ready o reception but had been caught out as I was earlier than usual, howevcer the other ladies were all on the ball , had by stuff ready and I was back heading north by 9 a.m.

Once again , it was just a case of getting up to the M55 Blackpool junction in one piece then the roads were quiet again - a few fast motoers on the way and even our friendly white van man doing just over 100 ( and that is true as I know how fast I was going).
So no problems, other than the fact that the toilet at the Carlisle filling station was once again "out of order" - so had no option but put the foot down and head for Glasgow at the double.

I saw a couple of the Virgin trains on the west coast line, one heading north , the other southbound, they are really quite majestic when going full speed and on a sweeping curve. One passed me as I was going up over the summit of Shap, and I was able to watch it for some distance as it had to slow a bit to wind through the valleys following the contours, while the motorway went straight up the middle. Gave me a bit of a hankering for a train journey.
Into Glasgow with little or no trouble, dropped off my goods and headed East on the M 8. I stopped off at Macarthur Glen , Livingston, which was chock o block, obviously due to the school holidays. Shop I wanted was "gone" closed, however I found an alternative, so 10 minutes and I was off homewards.
Stopped off at the Bush to see how the "bad boys" of Fastglass are doing - excellent, and young Ryan gave me a lift home so that he could keep the car to work on it while I am away.

The Carillion boys on the Water Board project at Mauricewood were true to their word and had the A702 Road open again as promised, probably a few hours early as the diversion signs were down at Nine Mile Burn when I passed at 1 a.m.

So now got some work to do.

It's a long day / past and ahead.

Just past 12 mn and I have tried to get a bit of a rest before I set off south in a wee while. However, telphones, doorbells and Tv's noises did not make for a sound sleep.

At least I have finished up in The Mercat for a few weeks - this morning I had one of those flash back moments when writing up the soup ofthe day on the chalk board. Reminded me of my first year at Primary School in Balerno, Midlothian , where we learned to write using slate boards with chalk, there was no waste of paper and none of this nonsense which happened later when you got to use the teacher's pencil sharpener and invariably ground your pencil down to a tiny stump.
My Headmaster, Mr. Cooper was one of the biggest, ugliest men I can ever remember, with massive hands - but maybe that was because we were so little. There was one occasion when we were all lined up for "jags" ( injections) by the school nurse - you just stood in a row and she came and jagged each one . I decided that I did not need said jag and took to my heels heading out the school and off homewards into the country towards Cockburn Farm where we lived. However my escape was short lived as I was ovetaken and captured by one of the boys from Primary 7 on his bicycle, put on the cross bar and taken back where the jag was administered, probably with a blunt needle.
There was a problem one day when a stray pig managed to get into the open door of the school house, it ran amok while they were trying to catch it, causing damage and leving a trail of piggy skitters everywhere.

I was only at Balerno for a year or so before moving on to Currie Primary and then Curriehill Senior Secondary School as we had moved on from Cockburn to East Kinleith Farm where we rented a cottage from my father's friend Bertie Barr. At some stage I ended up staying with my Grandmother in Fence Houses, County Durham, for several months whilst my mother was ill in hospital and spent some time at the school there - the only time I have seen the cane used, rather than the strap or belt as was common in Scotland. on one occasion the lad took the cane from the teacher and snapped it - which caused a real fuss , but he still ended up getting well leathered over the backside.

So, here I am , reminiscing at this time of night when I should be getting set for the road and off to Runcorn - another half hour should see me away, and with luck I might get a snooze before I head back to Glasgow in the morning.

I see Andy Murray did well in winning the Rotterdam Open , a rather scrappy match, but never the less a good victory - well done.
More than can be said for David Murray's lot , the Glasgow Rangers who could only manage a no score draw acinst the Celtic at Parkhead - one ofthe commentators reckoned that this was the worst Old firm game in years - and others have said that the two teams are hopeless.

On the other hand , Oh Oh Oh , there were some brutal tackles and sore looking injuries during the Ireland - Italy Six Nations Match in Rome. Ireland sort of ran away with the game by scoring five tries - but both teams are going to need two weeks to recover from their injuries. Interesting to hear that the Irish Team Doctor, O'Driscoll - I think , is leaving to go over to Manchester United F C as their team Doctor - putting money before his Country !!

Must head off - good night .

A nice spring morning

Sunday a.m. and I had my usual restless night , but up sharp, got sorted. I was outside moving boxes from from the car when I heard an odd noise, and here, coming out of the darkness were three blikes on mountain bikes, fitted with halogen headlights and lights o their helmets, very bright ones as they had obviously been out on the hills early - the noise was caused by their knobbly tyres on the road.

On the way into town spottd our friendly ""Road Safety Partnership" radar camera van heading out to set a trap for some poor unsuspecting love struck motorists - on a Sunday , I hope they are not expecting to be paid overtime, obviously the coffers are a bit low.

I had missed out on Andy Murray's progress this week but see he is about to play Rafael Nadal again in the finals of his current competition. See how he get on , looks like a nerves thing , but where will he be for Wimbledon this year ?

The poor whistleblower who got sacked for saying that Gordon Brown knew about the impending bank crash , etc - we all knew hat but "they" don't like being found out . In any case a man with his financial pedigree and status should have known all along what was going on .
He was keen to oust Tony Blair for the top job , and look at him , looks really rough , just as Blair did, but without the pressures Tony B is looking a great deal better.

Bloke who bet £20000 on Wales to win at 2/9 must have been getting a bit hot under the collar, anyway he is now £4444 better off.

So, time to get ready for our public - long day ahead.

One thing after another.

Problem solving at the moment , made it home and have got back on line again , but for how long !! It is really strange, just cannot fathom it out.

I got home, via Bookers once again, and was as totally shattered, and ended up dozing off during the rugby so I missed the end of the Scotland - France game and the beginning of the England - Wales game, of the two, the Wales - England game was very exciting and I enjoyed it. The try for France which the referee gave was probably a forward pass, which he never saw and should really have called for a video replay. Mrs. B. seemed to think that the punching, kicking and stamping were not within the rules - so much for handbags at five paces.

We were supposed to be going out to the Esk 42 Valentine Social and Dance at Dalkeith No 10, but unfortunately there was no way I was up to it , especially with another early rise to work in the morning , home for the afternoon, then off to Runcorn late tomorrow night for Monday Morning. One thing for sure - I will need a holiday and Wednesday cannot come quick enough.

I now need to find time to get all the other wee jobs which are piling up done - and there are several, time to get some order and sense back into life - this bloody carry on with Edinburgh Council is more than taking its toll. Now forty four months but who is counting and inthe Council no bu**er cares.

Mrs. B. has either lost her phone or left it with the scary women last night - silly person , but she did get me a Valentime card and write her own customised verse "Roses are red, violets are blue, I like me but I do'nt like you!! Not true - really, and of course I had bought her a nice one, but no roses.

Pub was busy today with a lot of lunches and a number of Aberdeen supporters in for the Hearts - Aberdeen game which Hearts eventually won 2 -1 , so we had a visit from two Policemen , one being down from Aberdeen to keep an eye on his own locals - but they were OK with us.

Just had a call from Carolanne and Dennis in Dublin, her greyhounds are doing well - she is pleased, and might even be able to get a little cash back on awager - good one.

RGB and Jo Jo have just appeared after a long day - now having their late supper in the form of a TV dinner,!! but it is lovely, me having peanuts and them with their lovely grub.

We had a call from the Titanium Man @ Graham Briggs, formerly of Roslin, and Penicuik Rugby Club now living in Westchester , PA, USA , and running a franchise for "Snap On Tools". He and RGB played rugby together and also did Camp Counsellors USA at Hackettsown, New Jersey. He then met up with his lovely young wife Terri, got engaged, then married and his whole life changed. So two babies later , second home, etc - he is doing fine.

Now - for the second and third time - or is it the fourth !! Time to go, as said, up early again.

The good news or part of it is - fear is !!

Well, this norning all sorts of complications, but eventually found out what the conflict was - now have to see what the problem is at home.

Headed to collect Mrs B from her "group thereapy session" with the scary ladies, so as usual had a bit of a wait . BUT she nearly NEVER got in to the house as Chief Scary @ Paula could not hear the door bell and the phone was not working. At that time the Sharon in front of the crystal ball thought that the battery needed recharging !!

And I am sure that the seven scary ladies could "curdle milk" if they put their minds to it.

Heading for Runcorn again late Sunday night , so it looks like I will be tired again .

Need to stop.

Dan the man

Mrs. B is still at her scary party with her even scarier pals, but I have popped in to see Dan the Man at Fairmilehead, just to see if William's wall is still standing. Anyway I have had a lesson on Dan's V+ box of tricks connected to his TV set, bloody brilliant - but unlike them I do not have time to sit and even watch playbacks !!!

So, while I was enthusing with the dog, Sandy, , Dan was in bed and Katrina had made me my seventh cup of tea and was asking what I wanted for breakfast - just a wee bit of a hint that they were fed up - but I am sure the dog did learn a lot.

Danny has had three other dogs, Skippy, a wee cross mongrel which he had when he lived next door to us, it was some dog, then he had two springer spaniels, Patch and Ben , again real characters who were his babies. After they died he said , no more, however young Sandy now rules the roost - but as seen above not really that attentive.

So now they have had their cocoa and Dan away with his Wee Willie Winkie nightcap on, I can take a hint - goodnight.

Computers, their problems, and a 60th birthday

Well, Doreen is a sparkling young 60 today, keeps herself fit and trim by ice skating, a close friend of John and Shinaid from Livingston , who are our top skating team at the moment. Unfortunately due to communication problems, plus the fact she did not want a fuss - her day passed uneventfully. Picture is off a photo so not so good as to do her full justice.

Off air yesterday as I am having router and signal problems at home - and not sure how to get the thing up and running again.

Thursday I did have a day away from the pub , even so , still up at 6.45 and dashing about like a maniac, watching the snow falling hard outside.

10.30 a.m. off to collect the holiday money - only five more sleeps left. Then off to the bush which was like a skating rink, however only a short stay there and off to Bonnyrigg via Loanhead where again the main roads were treacherous.
Chat to Grant who messed about with the computers to make sure they were working fine, and showed me how to transfer photos etc , so I lose nothing while I am away.

Back to base via the big shops where I managed to get a 8GB memory stick for photos and films.

Really frustrating evening trying to get on line with next to no luck - I managed to get one 'e@ mail out , but for once it would have been "quicker by post".

Did a bit of communicating by phone instead, two calls to Durham where they still have lots of snow, over five feet in one part of the County . My friend was saying that his pal works in Dubai and they have been badly hit by the recession , cancelling thousands of temporary work permits and sending the workers home on charted planes.

Very noisy here this morning as the Tramworks people wind down for the weekend with a frenetic flourish of activity - the holes in the road are getting deeper and bigger.

Quite a tragedy with the American Airlines plane crashing in Buffalo, New York State, one of the customers was a bit worried that Jeremy might be near there - as he about " one inch away on the map" !!!!! But , at least he cares.

Came in and found electricians rewiring the kitchen , on a Friday morning !! They were certainly not out to make friends and influence people - as they say.

Soon to be busy , so that's enough, will have to try the wi fi at home later. But might get peace with Mrs. B out on a girls night at a friends house - they all have to tell scary stories !!! or perhaps they will just look into the mirror and frighten themselves!

Until I get things fixed there may well be a delay in posts.

A break from tradition - big time !!

Acting very oddly at the moment, last night I took a fancy to a few glasses of Rose, tonight I am driking a white wine - me, after all these years of sticking to red, took a fancy to this pleasant Chardonnay, A Ryecroft Rosemount 2007, very nice, and it went well with a plate of king prawns.

This morning I was eventually relieved by RGB Jnr. as Paddy was in the hospital - not sure where Sir Christopher was, but I reckon it was important.

I then headed over to Imarni's where I was booked in for a hydrotherm massage with Kate, just totally relaxing, and a well needed rest , except for when I kept dozing off and wakening myself by snoring !!!! But before I knew it, all was finished and then I headed back to The Mercat Bar where lunches were underway - but RGB was still on his own and busy , so instead of sitting down and chilling out "Sparky" style, I ended up rushing about with RGB untill things quietened down - AND THEN - I had a glass of rose, and my long awaited steak, produced by Masterchef Jamie @ Shrek - just a wee treat for me.

Eventually headed home - held up as usual by excess traffic caused by the contruction works on the A702 with Carillion Construction bringing the new water mains over the road from the new Mauricewood works - local rumour said it was going to take three weeks but according to their web site, hey are working night and day and it will be finished much quicker.

On the computer I was hit by five of these intrusive E mails supposedly from the bank trying to verify my details, however they were so stupid they could not spell Halifax correctly, had it down as Helifax - but as usual I just delete everything without opening it - no doubt I have deleted genuine messages in the past, but better that than be hacked and shafted by these twisted rotton sh**s. I personally, think that anyone caught doing one of these scams should be dropped down a mineshaft - they never stop, it is just a relentless attack on the innocent, just as bad or even worse than these "Timeshare Touts" we met in Dominica.

Enough rubbish - I forgot to say that I saw the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" and it well deserves the accolades it received at the B.A.F.T.A.S. etc, a super film, and brought back lots of memories of my trip to India - acting was excellent, the story line good, very intense, and very believable - great.

Had enough - cheers.

The morning after

So, a god night was had by all , good food and nice wines. For the food experts we had the following tapas , made by Eduardo , ably assited by young "Shrek" @' Jamie, Olives ; Chorizo ; Meatballs in tomato sauce; Squid in sweet chilli sauce ; omelets; ribs in BBQ sauce; Salami, cheese and parma ham: mushrooms in curry sauce and garlic potatoes.

In the crowd met up at long last with one of Graham's friends, Don , who is a policeman fron the USA. currently on an attachment in Edinburgh , nice bloke.

Time to go.

Wine tasting and the story

W

Now got a few minutes, pub has been busy and wine tasting was great fun, run by Mathew Clark and Co, tonight it was Australian wines, reds , whites and rose,s accompanied by tapas produced by Eduaro which were superb. The next one is 31st march when it will be wines of Chile.

I was at a table with Ade Walker and Haley Walker from Devon who were up here on holiday for a few days, Ade had crocked himself playing football and was on crutches. Haley works for the local tourist board in Devon and they are both looking for somewhere nice to get married, so they are going to look up The Eden Resort and Spa, in Sri Lanka , on Trip Advisor, Also with is was Andy who is a chef on a luxury cruise yacht , the "Tia Monia" , run by Bora Bora Cruises, an absolutely fantastic sailing machine busy all the year. Andy was telling us about the disease Phylloxera which nearly wiped out the wine industry in the 18th Century, this was supported by the experts present - but fortunately the industry has recovered

The infamous Miss Talk a lot @ Ailsa appeared later on , which reminds me that Hannah is off to see the Upside down Rob and Caitlin in the next two weeks.

Anyway - drunken folks want to use this machine - so goodnight.

.

Dirty Work at the crossroads.

This was supposed to be my day off but I ended up getting dirty cleaning out a store cupboard in the bar. The "clairty" comedians on a Thursday night just fling all the stuff back in , on top of my tools so it was in a real mess - cables everywhere and bulbs broken - just careless.

I note that Laurence is M I A , trust he is Ok and just staying in because of the poor footing and his ankle still not back to sorts.

Anyway , now sorted so I will need to send Kiera this picture, unless she is at the wine tasting tonight. Eduardo has been in working hard in the kitchen making genuine Spanish Tapas to go with the wines - should be good. I hope so as I plan to use my bus pass and travel in style, and hopefully get a lift home by Junior. Mrs. B. going to guard the fort , feet up and rest her self after a wee tumble yesterday - shaken but not stirred as they say.

Sparky Mark, getting set for his adventure and has set up his own blog site. Markslight.Blogspot.Com so we can follow the adventures of this intrepid gas man.

On my way home detoured via the Bush where the staff are obviously run off their feet, a nice little snowman family produced during some one's lunch hour.

Worldwide weather is unbelievable, blizzards and now flooding in England , wildfires and now flooding in Australia (first rain in that area for eight years), last night it was minus 18 C in Aviemore, Scotland, just a wee bit chilly.

Grant of to St Boswells this evening to take the "wee dug" swimming - he is improving - will soon be a better swimmer than Grant!!

Need to take ten - feet up, then get sorted for this evenings session.

Tomorrow - big treat in store at Imarni's - both Mrs. B. and I are booked in for a bit of pampering - so I might just get a snooze, certainly two hours rest. Then hopefully I might just manage a nice steak for lunch, but we will wait and see.