A Scalping - Thai Style

Wednesday 4 October

Decided on a change of routine this morning – whilst swimming before breakfast there were lots of beautiful coloured dragonflies dive-bombing the pool, skimming the water and zooming off again – as we have learnt, they can be the portent of rain later in the day. At the time the sun was shining brightly and the temperature had soared. So we decided to sit round the pool in the morning and blog in the afternoon. In fact, there were quite a few others with the same idea and finding a lounger with some shade was quite difficult. But we were soon comfortably esconced, doing nothing more strenuous than reading and puzzling.

For lunch we went to Hemingways, again. It had been almost a week since our last visit, and time was running out if we were to sample their fare again. Reading through the menu, we chose a selection of two different sorts of sausages – one Viennese, that turned out to be a long thin frankfurter style of sausage and another, a German variety beginning with D, that was large chipolata size, speckled with herbs. These came in pairs with the same crusty bread that I had loved last week, and lots of butter and mustard - and marmalade! Perhaps that’s how the Germans eat their sausages, but it was new to us – the Austrian lady owner wasn’t there, only two Thai ladies, so we couldn’t ask. The sausages were very tasty, and not too big for a snack. Colin enjoyed the marmalade with his, but I wasn’t so sure – perhaps its because he has a sweeter tooth than me. We drank Green Fortune Tea – a hot beverage made from Chinese green tea, with the addition of lots of flavours including lemon, caraway, cinnamon and ginger, as well as some medicinal herbs and spices, which I can’t remember. It was light and refreshing and I really enjoyed it – I think I have mentioned before that I am getting into teas in a big way.

On the way home, we detoured up towards the highway, and found a barber’s shop for Colin. His silver locks had grown over an inch since we have been away, and he decided they needed attention before he reached the jungle. The shop we chose was, in fact, just opening up for the day – it was about 15.00 by now – and we had to wait while the young lady sorted the air conditioning and shutters and found her cutting tools. She chatted away throughout about her boyfriend, Len from Ely in Cambridgeshire, who had just returned to England. I thought Colin was mad when he asked for a “Number 4 all over”, and that she wouldn’t understand what he meant. But out came the shears and I was aghast as all his hair started falling to the floor – I haven’t ever been to the barbers with him before, and I wanted to collect some to keep, like your baby’s first haircut, but I resisted the urge. I could see lots of silver streaks in the tresses on the floor – perhaps this was the real reason for the haircut! Having sheared his head all over, like a sheep, she got out the cut throat razor and began scraping around the sides and edges. Was he going to have any hair left? I have to say, in the end, she had done a very good job, and Colin now looks very smart – if a little like a slightly longer version of Nick after a haircut. The lady then asked if Colin wanted his eyebrows trimmed – all those long wayward strands that stand on end from time to time. Well I had to put my hand in my mouth to stop myself hooting with laughter, but he coolly declined. All this entertainment for 350 bahts.

Back at the ranch, it was time to blog and email, etc, before having another swim. I had just finished and was putting the ‘Thai Shite’ away, when it began to spit with rain. Not to be deterred, we grabbed our towels, but by the time we reached the pool, less than 20 metres away, it was already raining more heavily. We still jumped in and swam a few lengths before the droplets became stair-rods, stinging our heads and backs as we traveled up and down the pool. Time to get back in the dry. By the time we had reached the bungalow we were in the middle of another Thailand drenching, and we sat on the balcony and watched the frogs come out to play.

Nick phoned a little later, and it was great to hear his voice and know he is doing fine and there are no disasters at home – although apparently he has managed to “blow up” the television and had to replace it with one of his choice! – we are awaiting a photo of the new one.

By dinner time, the rain had stopped, although when venturing out into the main street, there were the customary large puddles – but not the floods of a few nights ago. We chose “Adolf’s” tonight – fewer puddles to negotiate, and I quite fancied something spicy. In the end I chose chicken dhansak again – but not so hot as Juz eats her’s - with the best aloo gobi in the world! Colin had spicy tiger prawns and rice – a speciality dish of the day - the four prawns were like mini-lobsters on the plate, but were cooked perfectly and presented well, and Colin drooled as he ate them – obviously a very good choice. The restaurant was busy tonight – continuing the trend in Bophut this week - and Adolph was in the kitchen cooking. His henchmen (I think they may be part of his family) took the orders, and as usual the main courses arrived before we had finished the starters. Adolf did make an appearance towards the end of the meal to sit on his customary chair at the side of the restaurant appraising all his customers and treating them all to his leering smile. A couple of older men sat next to us, one proudly proclaiming that ‘he was ordering “chicken tikka massala” as that was the dish to tell if an Indian restaurant was any good’. His declaration on having finished the dish, along with several other dishes and breads, was that it was one of the best. We would agree with him – Adolf’s is tip top for food!

When we woke this morning we received a text to say that Juz and Dave were stranded at Heathrow airport until 08.00 today – 14.00 our time! We re not sure at this stage what went wrong, but they were busily composing a letter of complaint to British Midland (who run BMI Baby from Heathrow to Teeside), so can only assume that the late departure from Bangkok and having to claim and re-book in their luggage at Heathrow, meant they had missed their connection home. A sad and stressful end to their holiday.