The Familiar

1. The sounds, the practices and routines are all the familiar to the faraway. The need to hear about the familiar is pressing as is the need to be in touch with one's usual life. One seeks them here, but nowhere are they to be found.

2. Count down time, two days to go and then back on the long trek. I managed to get my 10 lengths in of the big pool and will attempt to do likewise tomorrow.

3. And the seeing eye. Being blind but able to see the light more strongly than others. Even with blind we ask what do you see. And St. Peter's renewal of an old acquaintance?

4. Yesterday proved to be a fruitful day. The young man was in good humour after a little tooth popped out during the night. Down town to the shopping malls we rode for about an hour. Shopping for the young man. It never fails to amaze me how the Thai shopkeepers can take so long to serve a customer when there are so many of them. Four or five always hover around each stall ready supposedly to help. Language certainly is a problem here, so few that one has daily contact with speak English.

5. When asking for something in a shop, the usual response is 'no have' and when one scours the shelves and finds it they bat not an eyelid. One gets the impression that they cannot be bothered to sell.

6. Oops on the bridge, concentration my man eh!

7. That will certainly be an adventure for Summer. Alex phoned yesterday as it was mother's day. Seemingly Ollie had made a card with an essay on it. I love my mummy because she washes my clothes, tidies my room, makes my meals etc. I wonder if that is a gender response!
Simon's brother and wife have just produced twin boys. Emily now has five nephews. All these boys.

8. Well that's about all to report. Must be lunch time now. A last one tomorrow before I leave travelling backwards.

Backward traveller