Chinatown Fashion Victim

Some people will wear anything to draw attention to themselves!

Okay I admit it, we both bought one as there was a terrific downpour but I did NOT wear that silly hood.  Still, they were a bargain at THB20 and probably had the added bonus of sweating a few pounds off us in the Bangkok heat!

A Fantastic Gift.

Sue Hammond painted this wonderful picture of our house in France and I just love it!  

Sue took a couple of photos and managed to capture the house perfectly.  Both Alan and I are very excited about having this painting hanging in our home when we finally return to France (which isn't long now).

Thank you Sue.

Samchuk Market

Wonderful Boonchi has been taking me out and about this week and yesterday's outing was with Sue and Pat to Samchuk Market (also known as the 100 year market) in Suphanburi.

Bangkok Brunch

It is generally well known that brunches bring out the very worst in people.  I found this out when I was brunching a few weeks ago with some friends.  Margie and I sat with our plates containing a couple of lettuce leaves, some grated carrot and a sliver of boiled chicken.  We of course, passed on dessert.

However Sue had no such restraint.  Just how much dessert can any one person eat?  Clearly a lot!  Honestly, I was just so embarrassed.

But at least she was willing to let us taste some of her bounty.  Well, she offered up a half-eaten macaroon, that fell on the floor as she was eating it.  She picked it up, dusted it off and offered it to Margie, who sadly had been looking the other way at the time.  She popped it into her mouth and commented on how lovely and 'fluffy' it was.

Anyway, under the circumstances, Sue was graciousness personified.  But this man...

Art Classes

I am so lucky to have talented friends, and Sue is an example of not just talented, but generous with her time too.

Sue is a professional painter, but she hasn't painted for many years for various reasons.  This year she became inspired to take it up again (I think my whining about wanting some lessons may have played a small part).

Renewing her passion for painting, has also meant plenty of shopping excursions looking for supplies.  This included carrying a wooden easel between us, back and forth through Central World (so I earned at least one of my classes), when it became evident that a taxi wasn't going to take her and her easel home.

Er, Is This Thing Called A Bus?

I should have known that the inevitable would happen, when I agreed to go to a shop on the other side of the river with Sue Hammond.  She took me on a bus!

Royal Barge Procession, Bangkok

Delayed from last year due to the floods, Thailand's Royal Barge Procession took place yesterday.  Luckily for me Sue (a.k.a Agent 21/2), lives right on the river and had fabulous views from her balcony on practice days.  Sue and her long suffering husband John, kindly hosted a few of us to lunch and a viewing.

My Day Out With Agent 002 1/2!

Okay I know it, I am indiscreet, but let's face it, everyone wants to boast a bit once in a while.  So when Sue agreed to meet me for lunch, I was really excited, and here's why.  I was about to have lunch, with a secret agent!

Most people think that Sue has retired to Bangkok, but after living in her apartment block for several months, she was approached by a woman, who subsequently recruited her as a spy for the British Intelligence Service.  Most people know her as Margie, but Sue knows her as 'M'.  She may look like a lovely, sweet lady, but don't be fooled, this lady has knickers of steel!

Helloooo Mummy!

I went to lunch with Sue yesterday, who said was feeling a bit hot.

The Flood Aftermarth

More photos from Sue,

Today we went out for a walk, a real novelty. We were able to go further today as the flood waters had receded. I felt sorry for the bin men who had to clean all the rubbish from the streets, but I'm sure everyone is exteremly grateful to them. 

Snappy Sue Sends Super Shots Of Stinking Streets!

I just had to get that title in!  Our damp correspondent from across the river sends her latest pictures.  Thankfully, it seems they are out of the worst of it. 


At last we were able to walk out of the condo!!! 

Not a very pleasant experience due the amount of detritus lying around, but it was great to see the water virtually gone.

Latest News From Smelly Bang Phlad (er, that's a district, not Sue).

Sue has sent us some more photos from her neck of the woods.  


These photos show our latest shopping trip of two days ago.

As you can see the water is filthy, and we have just found out that Bang Phlad (our area), is one of four districts in Bangkok with extremely polluted water. Full of chemicals, waste products and oil. So we are trying to aviod going near it as much as possible!!!  Nevertheless, we are determined to enjoy ourselves, despite all the gloomy news. 

Latest Pics from Pinklao

Sue has sent some more pictures from her area.

Shopping By Boat

Here is the latest missive from Sue over in Pinklao.

Latest Pics From Roving Correspondent Sue

Sue is keeping us up to date still, on the view from the other side of the river.

Last night the trucks were loading sand bags onto army trucks on Pinklao bridge. Then when I awoke this morning I saw lots of Navy boats going up the river loaded down with more bags.
This morning the water is at a new high!!!! The houses next to our condo our now under about 5 feet of water, the smell from the polluted water in their homes must be really unpleasant.
The condo grounds are badly flooded with a lot of soil erosion occurring, which is not helping the situation.
Access to and from the condo can now only be made by boat!!! Sandbags at the gate are keeping the water levels down within the grounds to about 12inches. However, as soon as you climb over them, to get into the boat, the water rises to chest height. Once out in the streets the manager told me the water is 5 feet deep!!! I'm definitly not going to go walking around in that!!! However, a ride in the boat to get provisions sounds exciting. Once our stocks start to deplete I will try to make the trip to Banglampoo for more supplies.
If you look closely, you will see one of the guards with a fishing net over his shoulder at the condo gate. He was about to go fishing!!! The manager told me that last night they cooked their own rice, and ate the fish they caught in the flood water.
Our manager thinks the water might be around for approximately 4 weeks now because it is so deep. We'll just have to wait and see.

More Pics From Sue

From our roving correspondent Sue's email about the flood.
...the walk to the 7 Eleven, which I made yesterday in water over a metre deep for most of the way. It was quite dangerous, because it was impossible to see a curb or pot hole. Despite losing my shoe in the water twice, I made it to the 7 Eleven and managed to pick up 12 small bottles of water which I carried back on my shoulders. The walk which usually takes about 15mins there and back took 1.5 hours!!!! If I had realised how deep it was going to get, I don't think I would have gone. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the experience (sort of), the locals were so up-beat as usual, and of course they were very surprised to see me, and I got some great photo's.
Not sure I will be rushing out again, as the water is now a good deal deeper and set to rise even further!!! It will be quicker to swim!!


This email was all the more surprising when I tell you that Sue is the latest addition to my list of geographically challenged friends, she can't find her way anywhere!  I am mightily impressed Sue, that you found your way there and back, with the landscape so changed.