Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Friends make good medicine. A day of many parts in Phuket.
Friends - one of the best medicines!
This morning I went to see one of our doctor's. He checked me over, but could find no obvious faults.
Time was his medicine. I knew that the ribs would take time and he felt that all the other things that have upset my bodily balance would come right, with patience.
I didn't feel I had much time.
Pete and Jean would be with us within the hour and, as we don't see them very often, I wanted it to be a good day.
Talking with friends has made it so - thanks P and J.
We went to Dorking - not a town that they had spent much time in, even when they lived in these parts.
Pete, the historian, was soon spotting all manner of details on buildings and enjoying their age and history.
We had lunch in The Spotted Dog, just round the corner from Pilgrims Antiques.
The item I had spotted on the menu, on Monday, lived up to all my expectations.
It seemed to combine all I love best about both UK and Thai cooking.
I love a jacket potato - and this one came with prawns in a spicy coconut sauce and some salad.
It was perfect. I will be back for more.
Bill and Pete set to and attacked a large plate of liver and onions and mashed potato - something neither of them get at home.
Then we had a little walk, taking in charity shops, old buildings, the church, a second hand book shop and eventually into Pilgrims.
On the way home we called in at a new farm shop in Charlwood and bought some cake to have with a cup of tea when we got back indoors.
Unfortunately my camera batteries died on me - and there was nowhere there to buy others....foolishly I had left the fully charged batteries at home. (Jamie's home).
We dined at one of Jamie and Mam's favourite restaurants just outside Phuket Town. It is one chosen by the more affluent Thais to eat - so it was a treat to go there.
Mam and Jamie chat and wait for dinner.
A monk leads a Monk!
We were taken to see a boat being built.
Details on wooden doors.
Jungle and stream above the reservoir.
The dam and spillway.
Lovely place to be - so peaceful and with wide open space and high green hills.
The pineapple crops were doing well.
All bike riders have fold up plastic rain macs to try and cope with the downpours.
It probably didn't look quite as bad as this to Jamie - I was sitting in the back of the car with my camera.
Home again just a few minutes later - and the rain has stopped.
This morning I went to see one of our doctor's. He checked me over, but could find no obvious faults.
Time was his medicine. I knew that the ribs would take time and he felt that all the other things that have upset my bodily balance would come right, with patience.
I didn't feel I had much time.
Pete and Jean would be with us within the hour and, as we don't see them very often, I wanted it to be a good day.
Talking with friends has made it so - thanks P and J.
We went to Dorking - not a town that they had spent much time in, even when they lived in these parts.
Pete, the historian, was soon spotting all manner of details on buildings and enjoying their age and history.
We had lunch in The Spotted Dog, just round the corner from Pilgrims Antiques.
The item I had spotted on the menu, on Monday, lived up to all my expectations.
It seemed to combine all I love best about both UK and Thai cooking.
I love a jacket potato - and this one came with prawns in a spicy coconut sauce and some salad.
It was perfect. I will be back for more.
Bill and Pete set to and attacked a large plate of liver and onions and mashed potato - something neither of them get at home.
Then we had a little walk, taking in charity shops, old buildings, the church, a second hand book shop and eventually into Pilgrims.
On the way home we called in at a new farm shop in Charlwood and bought some cake to have with a cup of tea when we got back indoors.
Of course I am tired now - but a pleasant sort of tiredness. I am happy to feel tired when a day has felt worthwhile. I am specially happy that I found the energy to make the day worthwhile too.Maybe handing my problems to the doctor took them away from me. The good wishes and positive thoughts of friends and family have also urged me back to life too. Thank you all.I will be optimistic now and assume that tomorrow will feel good too.
And now back to Thailand for a day of many parts. The children were at school - doing their end of term exams. Yes, even 5 year old John was being assessed this way - though I don't think he would be put out by exams. Jessica did describe one of hers as "stupid hard". I am sure that both of them will have excellent results.
First we went to Sapam - a small village on the east coast.
We visited the Chinese shrine, from where one of the processions for the vegetarian festival will begin.
Unfortunately my camera batteries died on me - and there was nowhere there to buy others....foolishly I had left the fully charged batteries at home. (Jamie's home).
I knew I wanted to return - and there will be more Sapam pictures later.
We dined at one of Jamie and Mam's favourite restaurants just outside Phuket Town. It is one chosen by the more affluent Thais to eat - so it was a treat to go there.
But the prices were not really high and the quality was good.
There were views over the palm trees.
And a view to the temple on Sirey Island - which we have visited.
And a view to the temple on Sirey Island - which we have visited.
I have no picture of the slightly more "industrial" aspect of the view.
Bird's Nest Soup is an expensive delicacy - and here there was no need for men to go seeking out nests.
Birds were kept in huge silos, specifically for their nests.
I have never eaten bird's nest soup....I wonder what the birds use to make their nests? I don't fancy a soup of a blackbird's nest for example.
Mam and Jamie chat and wait for dinner.
Mam went off from here to collect the children from school.
We called in at a Thai temple, close to the main road.
We called in at a Thai temple, close to the main road.
Some temples seem quite run down and not well kept - this was one of them. But, like all our churches in the UK, they have their history and interest.
A monk leads a Monk!
We were taken to see a boat being built.
Some of the wood is from the temple and reputed to be 1,000 years old.
A place to display the boat is being built alongside.
I picked up a piece of shaped new wood from the floor and have brought it home. It is part of a display in the garden now.
And yes - the monk did say I could take it.
Details on wooden doors.
Jamie knows more than most people about the island of Phuket.
One day he was studying google Earth and thought "Hello, what's that down there - a reservoir I know nothing of"
We decided to explore it.
It looks like it has not been long completed.
Bill and I visited it again - with Simon, so there will be more photos.
Jungle and stream above the reservoir.
The dam and spillway.
Lovely place to be - so peaceful and with wide open space and high green hills.
Jamie's house would only have been about 4 miles over the distant hills - much further round to reach it by road. The jungly hills would be impenetrable.
The pineapple crops were doing well.
Very shortly after this, as we drove home, we hit one of the rainy season downpours.
All bike riders have fold up plastic rain macs to try and cope with the downpours.
Enlarge this picture, or look carefully and you will see a little child's bare foot poking out under the rain mac.
It probably didn't look quite as bad as this to Jamie - I was sitting in the back of the car with my camera.
Home again just a few minutes later - and the rain has stopped.
Ginger greets us - a very cuddly cat is Ginge!
Labels: home and daily life, thailand
