Carole the weather guru (7 January - 14 January 2014)

Not sure how Carole does it but guess she could make a fortune. Before she came, the weather was windy and unsettled. Carole arrives and it becomes calm, sunny, predictable. Carole leaves this morning and the wind has started up, it's rained and the storm curtains have come down on the beach restaurant.... Come back Carole, but not just for the weather, we had a great time! Not that we did a lot apart from gossip, walk a bit, well quite a lot really, minimum five miles most days and enjoy the search for a decent why why, the one bit where we failed. There was even very little shopping apart form mozzie milk, wine and, randomly, a couple of doormats from the local market that Carole took a shine to.
Our morning walks continued to introduce us to a variety of wildlife, the usual water buffalo and chickens supplemented one day by the trained monkeys on very long leads scampering up the really tall coconut palms to pick the coconuts. And the sighting of a second snake on the piece of path we renamed snake alley. But that was good. We revisited Ulaiwan, a girl who has a bar I got to know last time. She advised us that seeing snakes was lucky and means money is coming to you - I had to agree as I realised I had won £25 on the lottery the day after seeing the first snake, sadly I am still waiting for the benefit of seeing the second one....



But I still look at all the dogs around.









There are some really sad ones but also some seriously cute ones, my especial favourite is "Darling" a stray who has attached himself to the local businesses, full of life, but he is obviously fourth in line for my affections after the Dyl, Totie and Gracie. Well perhaps even fifth as I need to include Alfie too. Now what is Thai for "Aunty Allsorts"?





The national politics are big news here with the close down Bangkok Day on 13 January, designed to stop the election on 2 February. So far everything in Bangkok seems peaceful and locally it doesn't even seem to register. Ulaiwan was telling us that "yes, politics are fine but if you want to get involved, go to Bangkok. Here on Koh Samui we need to survive, we can't get involved, we need the business." Politics v economics, an interesting debate... It does seem quiet here though, apart of course from the influx of loud Russians celebrating their Xmas on 7 January, lots of flights into Bangkok have been cancelled due to the political issues and the knock on effect is felt here. Such a shame, the local businesses have a short season to make any money, this must be a real setback for them.
But now Carole has gone I am back to being Norma No Mates. But the staff here are so nice, they all said this morning "You sad, your friend gone, but no problem, you still have us, we look after you". You can't say fairer than that.


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Location:แม่น้ำ,Thailand