October 2000

Hi all !

Well I am quite pleased with myself getting this updated within two months, considering it has been another hectic 2 months around here. Marianne arrived just after the last issue after bombing around Europe for a couple of weeks. Strange I thought, she doesn't seem to have bought many souvenirs. But then that was the master plan, more room for shoes you see. After a nice day of temples and boats on the river she decided that was enough tourist stuff and turned into supershoe shopper. I don't know where this girl got her energy from. Four hours in Chattuchack and she was still raring to go. I thought I could shop but I need to get into serious training for her next visit. Unfortunately Marriane seemed a bit camera shy but I have managed to slip in a couple of photos in this months photo section.

Casper 'Commando' managed to get out of the rest of his business trip by having all his stuff stolen in Phuket. We had the pleasure of his white legs for a few hours after he got off the plane in just his swimming shorts. Good job he wasn't a speedos man. We gave him ten out of ten for braving the Qbar in just a pair of woollen pants and no undies. Couldn't have been comfortable but then the poor guy needed a drink. Great free slap up meal though we had for all your suffering Casper When are you over again?

Mike was thirty last month much to his dismay. I think he handled it well. The jibes at me being an old trout have stopped somewhat since he reached the big 30 too. We had a nice meal in Florentine a new Italian restaurant in Bangkok and instead of a birthday cake we had a huge lemon meringue pie with candles on it. Dozy bird though forgot to take any pictures, probably because I was gossiping too much. I only remembered later on in the Qbar when Mike was a bit worse for ware.

There have been a few birthdays and weddings lately. Dale had his birthday back in September. Great barbecue and food put on by his mum Cheryl as usual. Art and Keith got married on the 15th in Bangkok. Chris and Becky came over for a visit, when are you coming back Becks for good? I hope it is soon. Barry and Emma got married on the 30th in the U.K. It seems to be wedding season. There are pics in the photos section. We went back to England for the wedding. It was great as we managed to catch up with a lot of old friends this time. Andy you looked a star on loads of the photos ever though of becoming a model? Great to see everyone who came out to meet us. Took a trip down memory lane to MaBoyles, an old drinking haunt of Mikes when he was a broker in Liverpool and one of the classy joints he used to take me too when we first met. It hasn't changed a bit. Really good to meet up with all you old and new Charter House Tilney folk. Klaus there are a few photos of you all in the photo section. Our trips to England seem to be taking on a pattern, spend nearly every night in the pub catching up then the last 2 days shopping in Marks and Spencers for undies that fit and loading up on chocolate, so no change there then on this trip.

Those of you following the lives of the seamonkeys..........they are dead. Mike officially killed them by doing nothing, and he wonders why I don't want him to get a dog.

The wedding planning is still going slowly. The church and the reception is booked. The invitations are starting to go out. Some of you may have them already, if you haven't they will be there soon. I am still trying to track down some of your addresses. Please could you rsvp as soon as possible so we can get the numbers sorted for the reception. Wedding dress shopping in the UK was a disaster. Most shops were really snotty and wouldn't let me try things on. When I did find something I really liked they said it takes 4 months to order! No wonder you have to start planning your wedding a year in advance in the UK. Can't be doing with all that. However I was cunning and sneaked my digital camera into one shop and took a photo of the dress to copy back here in the land of brilliant fakes!

Bird x x x