29th September
We wake up mid morning and it's a day for getting in a few supplies for the coming week, so off to Big C and the total bill is 678.50 baht.
As said before, we have no TV service at the moment . Instead of Banglamung cable which we received before, we are now to get Sophon. A doesn't know how much it is going to cost, but I accept that TV is almost a necessity for A & Phil. I have no small bills, so I give her 1000 baht and she disappears off to get things sorted.
When she returns she tells me that it's 1350 baht for three months. (I've only just realised whilst writing this, that I haven't asked her if she's paid the extra amount yet.) The engineer will be arriving on Monday and when he gets there, I need to call A so that she can speak with him.
The afternoon makes way for early evening and I just sit out front and read my book again tonight. At 20:00, I eat with A and Phill and shortly afterwards, she settles him down for the night. I look forward to a little bit of 'cuddle time', but it seems that A is tired (well she does work all week, so I can understand that) and she's getting an early night as well "For go to sleep!". That puts paid to any ideas I might have had, so I have one small bottle of beer and read another couple of chapters before turning in for myself.
Expenditure :
BigC food supplies : 678.50 baht
Payment for cable TV : 1000 baht
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Friday, 28 September 2007
Trip 4 - Day 50
28th September
I wake up to see A and Phil off in the morning and then simply return to sleep for a few more hours as 06:00 in Pattaya is an 'obscene' time to be waking up especially if you only got to bed sometime after 02:00.
At 14:00, I finally surface and as it's Friday, I need to get into town to hand Kev's condo keys to the estate agent, so I get a scooter taxi to Soi 6/1 and see Steve at Alan Bolton's again. We have a chat and he says that business has just started to pick up, and he's also covering for Alan who is currently back in the UK.
After leaving the office, I decide to pop into TukCom as I need to buy an AV lead as I didn't bring it from the UK with me, so that means getting a baht bus from Beach Road. Being so close, It would be rude not to at least make the walk down Soi 6 to get the bus, so the walk was done and the big grin came so naturally. At least my resolve held out and the temptations were not sufficient to deflect me from my simple task of just walking down a road.
Into TukCom and I find a place selling what I think to be the right lead. I'm simply told that if it doesn't work, to bring it back with the portable DVD player and the right one would be found. At 120 baht, it's not a major expense, but it is good to know that it's not a waste if it's wrong.
As I come out of TukCom, it dawns on me that it's market day, so the deep fried chicken stall will be there. It just has to be done I'm afraid, so I head up Soi Bouakhow and the stall is where it always is at the entrance to the market. A big piece of chicken with sweet sauce and sticky rice comes to 45 baht and I decide to get a scooter back home so that I can eat it hot. I stop the taxi at the end of my Soi and buy a bottle of Coke and a bag of ice in the shop on the corner and a couple of minutes later I'm tucking in.
A arrives home at 17:30 and tells me that tonight we are going to have 'buffet' at home, so she disappears off to get the ingredients. 20 minutes later she returns with Phil and there is also Kye and her two kids as well. The two women start preparing the food and the kids are all playing together. I'm told that I should just go and sit outside and that I can read my book, which seems a damn good idea and is a pleasant way to spend the early evening. The women are being productive; the kids are playing quite nicely and there's a range of music emanating from the houses along the Soi.
Later, Kye goes to collect Robin from work and the four of us eat buffet and drink whisky and soda whilst sitting out in the front of the bungalow. In the darkness the glow of the barbecue coals is quite comforting and peaceful and as night draws on the Soi becomes quieter and quieter. Just before midnight, our guests depart and Phil is already asleep. He's put to bed and we retire for the night.
Expenditure :
Scooter Taxi & Baht Bus : 120 baht
AV Cable : 120 baht
Chicken at Market : 45 baht
Coke & Ice : 35 baht
I wake up to see A and Phil off in the morning and then simply return to sleep for a few more hours as 06:00 in Pattaya is an 'obscene' time to be waking up especially if you only got to bed sometime after 02:00.
At 14:00, I finally surface and as it's Friday, I need to get into town to hand Kev's condo keys to the estate agent, so I get a scooter taxi to Soi 6/1 and see Steve at Alan Bolton's again. We have a chat and he says that business has just started to pick up, and he's also covering for Alan who is currently back in the UK.
After leaving the office, I decide to pop into TukCom as I need to buy an AV lead as I didn't bring it from the UK with me, so that means getting a baht bus from Beach Road. Being so close, It would be rude not to at least make the walk down Soi 6 to get the bus, so the walk was done and the big grin came so naturally. At least my resolve held out and the temptations were not sufficient to deflect me from my simple task of just walking down a road.
Into TukCom and I find a place selling what I think to be the right lead. I'm simply told that if it doesn't work, to bring it back with the portable DVD player and the right one would be found. At 120 baht, it's not a major expense, but it is good to know that it's not a waste if it's wrong.
As I come out of TukCom, it dawns on me that it's market day, so the deep fried chicken stall will be there. It just has to be done I'm afraid, so I head up Soi Bouakhow and the stall is where it always is at the entrance to the market. A big piece of chicken with sweet sauce and sticky rice comes to 45 baht and I decide to get a scooter back home so that I can eat it hot. I stop the taxi at the end of my Soi and buy a bottle of Coke and a bag of ice in the shop on the corner and a couple of minutes later I'm tucking in.
A arrives home at 17:30 and tells me that tonight we are going to have 'buffet' at home, so she disappears off to get the ingredients. 20 minutes later she returns with Phil and there is also Kye and her two kids as well. The two women start preparing the food and the kids are all playing together. I'm told that I should just go and sit outside and that I can read my book, which seems a damn good idea and is a pleasant way to spend the early evening. The women are being productive; the kids are playing quite nicely and there's a range of music emanating from the houses along the Soi.
Later, Kye goes to collect Robin from work and the four of us eat buffet and drink whisky and soda whilst sitting out in the front of the bungalow. In the darkness the glow of the barbecue coals is quite comforting and peaceful and as night draws on the Soi becomes quieter and quieter. Just before midnight, our guests depart and Phil is already asleep. He's put to bed and we retire for the night.
Expenditure :
Scooter Taxi & Baht Bus : 120 baht
AV Cable : 120 baht
Chicken at Market : 45 baht
Coke & Ice : 35 baht
Thursday, 27 September 2007
Trip 4 - Day 49
27th September
A heads off to work early and I rise at lunchtime. The thought of journeying into town to hand the keys in today doesn't really appeal, so I end up just doing some laundry and cooking a simple meal of sliced 'pig' (instead of bacon) and fried eggs on toast.
A returns home with Phil a little earlier than usual at 17:15 and I'm when A realises that it's Thursday and I'm going out again, she decides to get food from the stalls rather than cook.
We all sit down to eat and Phil watches a few VCDs (we still have no cable TV hooked up yet). At 19:00 I SSS and by 19:40, I'm heading off for the FLB for the monthly GoGo crawl.
I arrive at the bar and the place is heaving. Tonight is the largest turnout in nearly a year and I think that MM is hopeful that this is a sign that the high season is starting. 37 of us are in attendance and that is a lot of guys to suddenly descend on any bar, but at least the GoGo bars should be better prepared than the Bar Beers.
First stop is Catz where I'm recognised by one of the service staff who I haven't seen since February. She remembers what I was drinking then (I've changed now), but I just order a beer instead. It's happy hour so my drinks is only 65 baht, but as service girl has remembered me and complimented me on being slimmer than I was before ( vanity wins out every time), I offer her a drink as well when I order my second beer, so that's a checkbin of 240 baht and a tip of 20 baht in the first stop.
From Catz, it's just a step next door to Club Bousche where it's 110 baht for two beers and I'm afraid that most of the dancers here do look very bored and disinterested, however I suppose it's still early for a GoGo club. Out the door and straight across into Taboo where there are some really lovely girls and a lot more interaction with the members of the group and I think a few barfines were paid in advance here.
The next stop was to have been Sweethearts, but it seems that the leading group arrived to find the place already quite busy (maybe it's true that high season is 'kicking in'?) and there was no way that a larger group could be accomodated, so a quick rethink and the group decapmped to Dollhouse a little earlier than planned.
As BM Rightsaid was on the crawl, a quick chat and it was agreed that 2 for 1 could be done at TQ2, so that became the next stop but once again Avatar girl wasn't there (maybe it's for the best) and another couple of beers were consumed. Out of TQ2 and we turn left then right down a little alley to to come out on Marine Plaza next to Coyotee's which was to be our next stop. The alcohol is kicking in and there's a lot of laughs and chat between the girls and the crawl members (well there was in my case) and I somehow find myself in an 'interesting' situation with eight Coyotee girls all around me posing for photographs. (It's a tough job, but someone has to do it).
The crawl is now officially 'over', but as this is a GoGo crawl and I haven't yet been to the newest GoGo in Walking Street, I head over with a couple of other to Sisterz to see Ricky. To be fair, I was now too drunk to really pass any valid review here, but the place seemed pretty comfortable and there were plenty of girls working, so worth a visit in my opinion.
A scooter taxi home and I collapse into bed as quietly as I can next to A and it's instant sleep.
Expenditure :
Bar Crawl : 1200 baht
Scooter Taxis : 160 baht
A heads off to work early and I rise at lunchtime. The thought of journeying into town to hand the keys in today doesn't really appeal, so I end up just doing some laundry and cooking a simple meal of sliced 'pig' (instead of bacon) and fried eggs on toast.
A returns home with Phil a little earlier than usual at 17:15 and I'm when A realises that it's Thursday and I'm going out again, she decides to get food from the stalls rather than cook.
We all sit down to eat and Phil watches a few VCDs (we still have no cable TV hooked up yet). At 19:00 I SSS and by 19:40, I'm heading off for the FLB for the monthly GoGo crawl.
I arrive at the bar and the place is heaving. Tonight is the largest turnout in nearly a year and I think that MM is hopeful that this is a sign that the high season is starting. 37 of us are in attendance and that is a lot of guys to suddenly descend on any bar, but at least the GoGo bars should be better prepared than the Bar Beers.
First stop is Catz where I'm recognised by one of the service staff who I haven't seen since February. She remembers what I was drinking then (I've changed now), but I just order a beer instead. It's happy hour so my drinks is only 65 baht, but as service girl has remembered me and complimented me on being slimmer than I was before ( vanity wins out every time), I offer her a drink as well when I order my second beer, so that's a checkbin of 240 baht and a tip of 20 baht in the first stop.
From Catz, it's just a step next door to Club Bousche where it's 110 baht for two beers and I'm afraid that most of the dancers here do look very bored and disinterested, however I suppose it's still early for a GoGo club. Out the door and straight across into Taboo where there are some really lovely girls and a lot more interaction with the members of the group and I think a few barfines were paid in advance here.
The next stop was to have been Sweethearts, but it seems that the leading group arrived to find the place already quite busy (maybe it's true that high season is 'kicking in'?) and there was no way that a larger group could be accomodated, so a quick rethink and the group decapmped to Dollhouse a little earlier than planned.
As BM Rightsaid was on the crawl, a quick chat and it was agreed that 2 for 1 could be done at TQ2, so that became the next stop but once again Avatar girl wasn't there (maybe it's for the best) and another couple of beers were consumed. Out of TQ2 and we turn left then right down a little alley to to come out on Marine Plaza next to Coyotee's which was to be our next stop. The alcohol is kicking in and there's a lot of laughs and chat between the girls and the crawl members (well there was in my case) and I somehow find myself in an 'interesting' situation with eight Coyotee girls all around me posing for photographs. (It's a tough job, but someone has to do it).
The crawl is now officially 'over', but as this is a GoGo crawl and I haven't yet been to the newest GoGo in Walking Street, I head over with a couple of other to Sisterz to see Ricky. To be fair, I was now too drunk to really pass any valid review here, but the place seemed pretty comfortable and there were plenty of girls working, so worth a visit in my opinion.
A scooter taxi home and I collapse into bed as quietly as I can next to A and it's instant sleep.
Expenditure :
Bar Crawl : 1200 baht
Scooter Taxis : 160 baht
Wednesday, 26 September 2007
Trip 4 - Day 48
26th September
A goes off as usual in the morning and I remind her that I shall be out tonight at Cherry Bar, but I won't be in when she returns from work either as I am going out with Kevin and Hammer for Kevin's last day in Pattaya this trip.
I head off to meet Kevin at around 13:00 and we drink tea, sort out a few bits and pieces and await the return of Joy who has gone out to get some keys cut for the house. ( For all you cynics out there, the 'maids room' at Kevins place could yet be a 'bolthole' if everything goes to ratshit ).
Joy arrives back at just after 14:00, we check that the keys work and I'm also given the keys to the condo that need to be delivered to Steve at Alan Bolton. Joy then calls for the taxi to collect us and we eventually arrive at Jade at around 15:15 to meet up with MM, Manracer, Kuranda Bagman, Casper UK & Dacah. The food is excellent; the company is good and a few of the girls are looking particularly hot. As it's going to be a very long day, I decide to start with soft drinks only as does Kev, but we both had a good plateful of food.
Hammer then turns up and gets some serious ribbing. It seems that last night he was completely 'out of it' and held discussions with a number of people that he simply has no recollection of. He remembers arriving at the bar around 22:00 and having had a 'few' around Soi 13/1; 13/2; 13/3 and 13/4 (Knowing Hammer, it could well have been a drink at every bar in those Sois) he doesn't remember too much. After a Soda water, he starts to come around, all ready for a new challenge and after about an hour, we settle checkbins and grab a baht bus to Jomtein.
First stop is Las Vegas for the naked pool, but it has to be said that the pickings here were not great and with only a handful of girls working, it really wouldn't be a suitable venue for the crawl to visit next week. Some 'research' was done and a suitable 'replacement' venue was found where the general consensus was a 'thumbs up'.
A little diversion to another bar where the policy was very obviously 'hassle free', but there were some preetty girls in attendance and after a discussion with the management, arrangements were made for its inclusion next Wednesday.
Ever onward, our scouting party moved on to a larger 'open' bar where there are always plenty of girls working and it's a pleasant place to simply sit and let the world just pass by.
No rest though as there are a couple more venues that need to be checked out. The next stop is my favourite venue of the day and arrangements are made to see 'Kim from Surin' next week where I fear that I could well be a 'naughty boy' for the first time this trip.
Our final stop is at a more laid back venue where we wind down and 'compare notes'. I think that it's going to be a good crawl and of the 'recce' trip, there will only be three of us actually attending as three of our 'gang' will be in Cambodia, one in England and one in Iraq.
I then get a bus into town with Kev and we decide on a couple of drinks at TQ2 before he heads back to his place for his last night and I head to Cherry Bar. In TQ2, I am informed that Avatar Girl has now quit from Sisterz and is back working there, but despite waiting until 19:45 (for a supposed 19:30 start), I fail to see her.
I change my top then jump on another baht bus for the journey up to Soi 8.
Tonight is a quiet one at Cherry Bar, however a few BM's do come over to have a chat. Kurunda Bagman & Manracer drop by after the afternoon 'sojourn' and before heading off for the night and ThaiLearner is also at the bar. I have to admit that the afternoon has got the hormones flowing a little and there is a real 'cutie' at the bar next door that I've seen for the past couple of weeks who is looking particularly 'scrumptious' tonight.
I'm joined in my evaluation of the 'girls next door' by BM Geewiz and we try to work out what it is that makes certain girls 'appeal', whereas others just don't seem to hit the spot. I don't think we came up with any concrete theories, but it was a very pleasurable way to kill some time.
By just before 03:00, Nam says that I might as well go home as it is very quiet (not just the bar, but the whole Soi), so I get a scooter taxi home and collapse into bed aside an already sleeping A.
Expenditure :
Drinks, Tips & 1 LD : 400 baht
Telephone Topup : 100 baht
Jade BBQ : 200 baht
Transport (bus & scooter) : 100baht
A goes off as usual in the morning and I remind her that I shall be out tonight at Cherry Bar, but I won't be in when she returns from work either as I am going out with Kevin and Hammer for Kevin's last day in Pattaya this trip.
I head off to meet Kevin at around 13:00 and we drink tea, sort out a few bits and pieces and await the return of Joy who has gone out to get some keys cut for the house. ( For all you cynics out there, the 'maids room' at Kevins place could yet be a 'bolthole' if everything goes to ratshit ).
Joy arrives back at just after 14:00, we check that the keys work and I'm also given the keys to the condo that need to be delivered to Steve at Alan Bolton. Joy then calls for the taxi to collect us and we eventually arrive at Jade at around 15:15 to meet up with MM, Manracer, Kuranda Bagman, Casper UK & Dacah. The food is excellent; the company is good and a few of the girls are looking particularly hot. As it's going to be a very long day, I decide to start with soft drinks only as does Kev, but we both had a good plateful of food.
Hammer then turns up and gets some serious ribbing. It seems that last night he was completely 'out of it' and held discussions with a number of people that he simply has no recollection of. He remembers arriving at the bar around 22:00 and having had a 'few' around Soi 13/1; 13/2; 13/3 and 13/4 (Knowing Hammer, it could well have been a drink at every bar in those Sois) he doesn't remember too much. After a Soda water, he starts to come around, all ready for a new challenge and after about an hour, we settle checkbins and grab a baht bus to Jomtein.
First stop is Las Vegas for the naked pool, but it has to be said that the pickings here were not great and with only a handful of girls working, it really wouldn't be a suitable venue for the crawl to visit next week. Some 'research' was done and a suitable 'replacement' venue was found where the general consensus was a 'thumbs up'.
A little diversion to another bar where the policy was very obviously 'hassle free', but there were some preetty girls in attendance and after a discussion with the management, arrangements were made for its inclusion next Wednesday.
Ever onward, our scouting party moved on to a larger 'open' bar where there are always plenty of girls working and it's a pleasant place to simply sit and let the world just pass by.
No rest though as there are a couple more venues that need to be checked out. The next stop is my favourite venue of the day and arrangements are made to see 'Kim from Surin' next week where I fear that I could well be a 'naughty boy' for the first time this trip.
Our final stop is at a more laid back venue where we wind down and 'compare notes'. I think that it's going to be a good crawl and of the 'recce' trip, there will only be three of us actually attending as three of our 'gang' will be in Cambodia, one in England and one in Iraq.
I then get a bus into town with Kev and we decide on a couple of drinks at TQ2 before he heads back to his place for his last night and I head to Cherry Bar. In TQ2, I am informed that Avatar Girl has now quit from Sisterz and is back working there, but despite waiting until 19:45 (for a supposed 19:30 start), I fail to see her.
I change my top then jump on another baht bus for the journey up to Soi 8.
Tonight is a quiet one at Cherry Bar, however a few BM's do come over to have a chat. Kurunda Bagman & Manracer drop by after the afternoon 'sojourn' and before heading off for the night and ThaiLearner is also at the bar. I have to admit that the afternoon has got the hormones flowing a little and there is a real 'cutie' at the bar next door that I've seen for the past couple of weeks who is looking particularly 'scrumptious' tonight.
I'm joined in my evaluation of the 'girls next door' by BM Geewiz and we try to work out what it is that makes certain girls 'appeal', whereas others just don't seem to hit the spot. I don't think we came up with any concrete theories, but it was a very pleasurable way to kill some time.
By just before 03:00, Nam says that I might as well go home as it is very quiet (not just the bar, but the whole Soi), so I get a scooter taxi home and collapse into bed aside an already sleeping A.
Expenditure :
Drinks, Tips & 1 LD : 400 baht
Telephone Topup : 100 baht
Jade BBQ : 200 baht
Transport (bus & scooter) : 100baht
Tuesday, 25 September 2007
Trip 4 - Day 47
25th September
A heads off to work at just after 07:00 and I get some laundry done, but unfortunately there is nowhere to connect the machine to the water supply in the back bathroom (Need to get A to sort that out with the landlord). I then walk to Big C to get some cleaning materials and air fresheners and the little 'rag' mats to place around the place. As well as a bottle of water, a small tub of ice cream, a dozen eggs and a small loaf of bread, my expenditure is 232.50 baht ( however I did forget to get the binbags )
I get a baht bus back along Sukhumvit to save another walk and as I cross the railway line walking back along Soi Khao Noi, I hear my name being called out. It's Kye on her scooter, so she pulls up alongside and I jump onboard for the short journey back to the house.
I spend a while then getting this Blog written as I'm a few days behind and my notes will make little sense if I leave it too long. At 14:08, I get a text from Kev "Off to Noi's later". Before I get a chance to respond, he telephones and says that his 'plan' for his last couple of nights is to go to Noi's and Cherry Bar tonight and then to go to Rockhouse and FLB tomorrow night before heading off on Thursday morning. ( Another Pattaya 'plan' that has absolutely zero chance of success). I agree that I'll see him at Noi's around 20:30, however it's unlikely that I'll see him on Wednesday as I'll be going to Cherry Bar.
At 17:45, A returns home with 'Pheel' and he spends an hour investigating his new surroundings and I think he finds it difficult to understand that he has his own room and that there is a wardrobe with only his clothes in it.
For 'tea', I finish off the curry from the previous night which is apt in many ways, as it's Tuesday and 'Curry Night' at Noi's.
At 19:02, I then get a text from Hammer "You are heartily invited to the pre FLB Bar Crawl scouting trip to Jade + Jomtein tomorrow 3 pm. Can you make it?"
I reply "Not sure, as I am at Cherry Bar tomorrow night"
"Why not afternoon as well? Me, Casper UK, Dacah, Kurunda Bagman, and MM (real names swapped with board names) are going, Up To You as they say. Not worry about drink money.
I have to admit that it's a tempting proposition, however I'm still not sure that I'll go. I tell A that I've been invited out tomorrow and she simply says "Is okay. Up To You, but not get too 'mau'", so I guess that my mind is made up now.
As I approach Noi's it's busy and it seems thet Chef's mango curry has gone down a storm and been one of his best curries yet. I sit at the table with Dacah and Tony who both confirm that they are going tomorrow as does MM, so I tell Kev about it and he says that if I go over to his place at lunchtime tomorrow, we'll get a taxi to Jade and take it from there. So that's another recruit for the crawl and I suspect that as I know Kuranda Bagman will be seeing Manracer tonight, that he'll also be there, so this will be more of a 'dress rehearsal' rather than a scouting trip.
Kev, Casper UK, Dacah & MM all get a taxi to Walking Street as the 'plan' has now changed. It's to be a goodbye to the folks at FLB tonight and a goodbye to Hammer tomorrow now. I stay at Noi's for another couple of beers and chat with Mulphy and Kolobos for a short time before paying checkbin and making the short trip home.
Expenditure :
Noi's Bar : 160 baht
A heads off to work at just after 07:00 and I get some laundry done, but unfortunately there is nowhere to connect the machine to the water supply in the back bathroom (Need to get A to sort that out with the landlord). I then walk to Big C to get some cleaning materials and air fresheners and the little 'rag' mats to place around the place. As well as a bottle of water, a small tub of ice cream, a dozen eggs and a small loaf of bread, my expenditure is 232.50 baht ( however I did forget to get the binbags )
I get a baht bus back along Sukhumvit to save another walk and as I cross the railway line walking back along Soi Khao Noi, I hear my name being called out. It's Kye on her scooter, so she pulls up alongside and I jump onboard for the short journey back to the house.
I spend a while then getting this Blog written as I'm a few days behind and my notes will make little sense if I leave it too long. At 14:08, I get a text from Kev "Off to Noi's later". Before I get a chance to respond, he telephones and says that his 'plan' for his last couple of nights is to go to Noi's and Cherry Bar tonight and then to go to Rockhouse and FLB tomorrow night before heading off on Thursday morning. ( Another Pattaya 'plan' that has absolutely zero chance of success). I agree that I'll see him at Noi's around 20:30, however it's unlikely that I'll see him on Wednesday as I'll be going to Cherry Bar.
At 17:45, A returns home with 'Pheel' and he spends an hour investigating his new surroundings and I think he finds it difficult to understand that he has his own room and that there is a wardrobe with only his clothes in it.
For 'tea', I finish off the curry from the previous night which is apt in many ways, as it's Tuesday and 'Curry Night' at Noi's.
At 19:02, I then get a text from Hammer "You are heartily invited to the pre FLB Bar Crawl scouting trip to Jade + Jomtein tomorrow 3 pm. Can you make it?"
I reply "Not sure, as I am at Cherry Bar tomorrow night"
"Why not afternoon as well? Me, Casper UK, Dacah, Kurunda Bagman, and MM (real names swapped with board names) are going, Up To You as they say. Not worry about drink money.
I have to admit that it's a tempting proposition, however I'm still not sure that I'll go. I tell A that I've been invited out tomorrow and she simply says "Is okay. Up To You, but not get too 'mau'", so I guess that my mind is made up now.
As I approach Noi's it's busy and it seems thet Chef's mango curry has gone down a storm and been one of his best curries yet. I sit at the table with Dacah and Tony who both confirm that they are going tomorrow as does MM, so I tell Kev about it and he says that if I go over to his place at lunchtime tomorrow, we'll get a taxi to Jade and take it from there. So that's another recruit for the crawl and I suspect that as I know Kuranda Bagman will be seeing Manracer tonight, that he'll also be there, so this will be more of a 'dress rehearsal' rather than a scouting trip.
Kev, Casper UK, Dacah & MM all get a taxi to Walking Street as the 'plan' has now changed. It's to be a goodbye to the folks at FLB tonight and a goodbye to Hammer tomorrow now. I stay at Noi's for another couple of beers and chat with Mulphy and Kolobos for a short time before paying checkbin and making the short trip home.
Expenditure :
Noi's Bar : 160 baht
Monday, 24 September 2007
Trip 4 - Day 46
24th September
The day of the move and we are awake at 06:30. The lorry is due sometime in the morning and looking around, I realise that there's a surprising amount of stuff to be moved.
It's all got to be carried along the balcony, down the stairs and then loaded up.
The lorry arrives at 07:15 and we start the task. The lorry driver is not a removal man it seems and he simply arranges the goods in the lorry, so myself A & Kye make many trips up and down to move 1 Double Bed, 2 Wardrobes, 1 Computer Desk, 1 TV, 1 TV Stand, 1 Washing Machine, 1 Tall Fridge / Freezer, 1 Coffee Table, 1 Shoe Cabinet, 1 Shoe stand, 1 Sofa, 1 Operators Chair, 1 Clothes Drying Rail and sundry bags of bedding items and towels.
After loading up, we head off for the 2 minute drive to the new place where everything is unloaded. It's still only 08:45 and I'm completely knackered I pay the lorry driver the 600 baht charge and before we even have time to make a cup of tea, Mama & 'seeter' arrive with bags of clothes, shoes & toys for 'Pheel'.
One 'casualty' of the move has been a side to the plinth of the double bed which has been snapped in two somehow. It seems that this is no big problem though and Mama disappears off with 'seeter' (and a 1000 baht note) and they return within 15 minutes with a replacement piece, so it would seem that a lot of the bedframes must be made to a standard specification which surprises me somewhat. Mama returns me 600 baht, so the damages for the move have been quite reasonable really.
The bed is assembled and the furniture is put in place. Things are all put away and then it's time to set out the 'Buddha shrine'. I'm sent off to get the 'red Fanta' and a half bottle of Sang Som, whilst A goes for the fruit and cigars.
In the evening, I'm too exhausted to do anything much, so I just sit out the front of the bungalow and listen to the sounds of the Soi whilst reading one of the books that Kev has passed on to me ( Atlantis by David Gibbens ) and have a 'supper' of Green Curry and rice 'al fresco'.
To finish the day off, I have a shower and thoroughly enjoy the experience of feeling hot water for the first time since I left England over a month ago. Even though I am completely exhausted, I find it difficult to sleep, so I just stay up reading for a while before finally going to bed at around midnight.
Expenditure :
Lorry driver : 600 baht
Bed Side Panel : 400 baht
'Buddha stuff' : 170 baht
Mama allowance : 1000 baht
Padlocks for gates & doors : 195 baht
Rubbish Bin : 175 baht
The day of the move and we are awake at 06:30. The lorry is due sometime in the morning and looking around, I realise that there's a surprising amount of stuff to be moved.
It's all got to be carried along the balcony, down the stairs and then loaded up.
The lorry arrives at 07:15 and we start the task. The lorry driver is not a removal man it seems and he simply arranges the goods in the lorry, so myself A & Kye make many trips up and down to move 1 Double Bed, 2 Wardrobes, 1 Computer Desk, 1 TV, 1 TV Stand, 1 Washing Machine, 1 Tall Fridge / Freezer, 1 Coffee Table, 1 Shoe Cabinet, 1 Shoe stand, 1 Sofa, 1 Operators Chair, 1 Clothes Drying Rail and sundry bags of bedding items and towels.
After loading up, we head off for the 2 minute drive to the new place where everything is unloaded. It's still only 08:45 and I'm completely knackered I pay the lorry driver the 600 baht charge and before we even have time to make a cup of tea, Mama & 'seeter' arrive with bags of clothes, shoes & toys for 'Pheel'.
One 'casualty' of the move has been a side to the plinth of the double bed which has been snapped in two somehow. It seems that this is no big problem though and Mama disappears off with 'seeter' (and a 1000 baht note) and they return within 15 minutes with a replacement piece, so it would seem that a lot of the bedframes must be made to a standard specification which surprises me somewhat. Mama returns me 600 baht, so the damages for the move have been quite reasonable really.
The bed is assembled and the furniture is put in place. Things are all put away and then it's time to set out the 'Buddha shrine'. I'm sent off to get the 'red Fanta' and a half bottle of Sang Som, whilst A goes for the fruit and cigars.
In the evening, I'm too exhausted to do anything much, so I just sit out the front of the bungalow and listen to the sounds of the Soi whilst reading one of the books that Kev has passed on to me ( Atlantis by David Gibbens ) and have a 'supper' of Green Curry and rice 'al fresco'.
To finish the day off, I have a shower and thoroughly enjoy the experience of feeling hot water for the first time since I left England over a month ago. Even though I am completely exhausted, I find it difficult to sleep, so I just stay up reading for a while before finally going to bed at around midnight.
Expenditure :
Lorry driver : 600 baht
Bed Side Panel : 400 baht
'Buddha stuff' : 170 baht
Mama allowance : 1000 baht
Padlocks for gates & doors : 195 baht
Rubbish Bin : 175 baht
Sunday, 23 September 2007
Trip 4 - Day 45
23rd September
It's the day of Kev's barbecue and I tell A that it starts at 14:00. She nods, but she's still got a sore throat and has the 'snuffles' and her mind is focussed on the impending move rather than a farang food barbecue. When Mama and 'seeter' turn up at the door, I get the idea that A has decided that she's 'on the move' rather than being 'in the pool' today.
A trip to go 'clean house' is made and some peace returns to the room, but of course the 14:00 deadline is simply ignored (TiT) until at 14:15, A returns to take me to Kev's. As anticipated, she says that she cannot stay as she still has to get stuff moved and simply heads back off down the road.
The afternoon is very pleasant just sat around the pool chatting, laughing, drinking and eating with a 'full house'. There's LordFlash and a mate of his; Casper UK, Dacah, Kolobos, Mulphy, Kuranda Bagman, Hammer, Hillbilly and 'Chris' (a regular from Noi's bar) as well as a few girlfriends that have been brought along.
By the end of the 'footie' (Newcastle 3 - West Ham 1), I give A a call and she agrees to come and collect me. We return to the room and it's looking bare with just the main pieces of furniture remaining, but most other items gone. We watch a little TV and then grab an early night as it seems the removal truck is arriving early in the morning.
Expenditure :
0 baht
It's the day of Kev's barbecue and I tell A that it starts at 14:00. She nods, but she's still got a sore throat and has the 'snuffles' and her mind is focussed on the impending move rather than a farang food barbecue. When Mama and 'seeter' turn up at the door, I get the idea that A has decided that she's 'on the move' rather than being 'in the pool' today.
A trip to go 'clean house' is made and some peace returns to the room, but of course the 14:00 deadline is simply ignored (TiT) until at 14:15, A returns to take me to Kev's. As anticipated, she says that she cannot stay as she still has to get stuff moved and simply heads back off down the road.
The afternoon is very pleasant just sat around the pool chatting, laughing, drinking and eating with a 'full house'. There's LordFlash and a mate of his; Casper UK, Dacah, Kolobos, Mulphy, Kuranda Bagman, Hammer, Hillbilly and 'Chris' (a regular from Noi's bar) as well as a few girlfriends that have been brought along.
By the end of the 'footie' (Newcastle 3 - West Ham 1), I give A a call and she agrees to come and collect me. We return to the room and it's looking bare with just the main pieces of furniture remaining, but most other items gone. We watch a little TV and then grab an early night as it seems the removal truck is arriving early in the morning.
Expenditure :
0 baht
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