To view earlier episodes laboriously crafted

The Nongkhai Narrative (Part 13)

On the first Monday of the New Year, Dott and I with Derrick and Nong went to Ban Na Jaan to see our family, and to take flowers and to pay our respects to Nang (left with Doughnut) and her family. Nang's brother Yao was a victim of the tsunami last month. We posed for a photo sitting on the front step of the village general store and garage. I concluded with a picture of me holding Nang's dog while Nang tried to get her attention. I hadn't realised until I started writing this introduction that in this episode's picture, Nang is holding our dog Doughnut, while I am trying to get his attention. Just a coincidence?

I will return to this question later.

I didn't think that would cause controversy, but Wee Jimmy (snapped here in a skirt for Hogmanay and weighing in at 106kg) took me to task for not writing far more about Derrick & Nong's Christmas Day meal at OJ's. You may remember that in I wrote about a small dinner party for my birthday at OJ's, and said that "they will be hoping to recreate the same atmosphere when they host Christmas dinner later this month". In early December Derrick's plan was to close the restaurant, and to provide a small dinner party for family and close friends, perhaps 8 or 10 altogether. If he had stuck to "family" it would have remained perhaps 8 or 10, but how to choose who is a "friend", and who is a "close friend"? Derrick certainly couldn't, so like Topsy, the list of invitees grew, and grew, and grew until it reached 30 or so, far more than can be seated and served in OJ's. At this point (a week before Christmas) it became a buffet, which made logistics a little easier, but it still meant that Dott would now be working. I didn't think that I would be comfortable being the only member of the family not working. So this being Thailand and family ties being important here I freely gave my time to run the bar. The small dinner party for family and close friends,  had turned into a big party for friends and customers served by the family.

Knowing that I was giving up my Christmas Day to work at OJ's, I took Dott to the Meeting Place on Christmas Eve for our 'Christmas dinner', and you will know from how that went. On Christmas Day at OJ's I did manage to eat a little of the food on offer, but I wasn't able to sit and relax and enjoy it as Wee Jimmy had. Being a buffet he returned to the table a number of times to replenish his plate, {but the record for the greatest number of visits went to Ian ( I'm on a diet) Sheppard}. Derrick and OJ's got Jimmy's vote on the grounds that "It tasted just fine, and I was able to keep going back until I could eat nae more!" A sentiment shared by Colin and Ian. Glenn at the Meeting Place had got my vote because of taste and aesthetic considerations. Like so many other things in life, some go for size while others go for appearance, thank goodness we are all different!

Glenn, ever the gentleman, called in to OJ's on Christmas Day and was one of my first customers as OJ's barman. His first choice was a Pina Colada. I have made more of them than any other cocktail (just ask my children), and would have been happy to oblige, but was defeated by a lack of key ingredients. His next choice was a Long Island Ice Tea, which I last drank in Liverpool on a night out with my son, but once again I was defeated by a shortage of essentials. Third choice was a small bottle of Heineken. Success! We had some of them in the fridge. Glenn was the only person to give me two tips. The first was 'Be nice to your Mum' and I pass that on to my readers. The second tip was 10 baht, which I passed on to Dott and Oy, because I wouldn't want anyone to think that Glenn's 10 baht had bought my vote. That would take at least 20 baht!

2005 New Year Revellers in Nongkhai.

On the left (L to R) John, José, Wee Jimmy & Steve.

On the right I was having a bad hat day! I think it looks better on José. 

Dott and Joy sharing a cuddle at the Meeting place in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Not actually Nongkhai, and not actually New Year, but it is Kim and Ou.

Glenn (left) continues working towards the opening of Priscilla's (Outback Bar & Grill), in the premises formerly occupied by Andrew. Andrew sent me an email a few days ago and said 'give my best wishes to Glenn as our successor in Soi Fai Peep-peep. Long live Priscilla's!'

The Grand Opening has been put back one week to Friday January 21st. As well as changing the appearance of the premises, Glenn is changing his own appearance. Draw in a beard and moustache on this clean-shaven face to get an impression. Doughnut says 'Glenn, you should know by now that beards don't look good on the older man. I suggest that you should try red bows in your hair instead, they can be rather fetching!' {refer }

Glenn is currently seeking typical Australian souvenirs and memorabilia with which to decorate the new establishment. In keeping with the name Priscilla's, I think that this pair of bright red fetish shoes would be perfect.

While on the subject of appearance, and for the benefit of my readers who enjoy these things, here is another plate with an attractive presentation of food. This one is not from OJ's or the Meeting Place, but from another restaurant in Nongkhai. Given that the dish was Boeuf Bourguinon avec Gratin Dauphinois you won't be surprised that it was prepared by Christian at his Savoy restaurant. Christian comes from Chambery in the Savoie region of France, where at one time he and I lived only a few miles apart. Another coincidence?

I will return to this question later. 

When I was in England in October I watched a three-part documentary series  on BBC2 entitled The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear. During the three years in which the "war on terror" has been waged, high-profile challenges to its assumptions have been rare. The sheer number of incidents and warnings connected or attributed to the war has left little room, it seems, for heretical thoughts. In this context, the central theme of The Power of Nightmares was riskily counter-intuitive and provocative. Much of the currently perceived threat from international terrorism, the series argued, "is a fantasy that has been exaggerated and distorted by politicians. It is a dark illusion that has spread unquestioned through governments around the world, the security services, and the international media." The series' explanation for this was even bolder: "In an age when all the grand ideas have lost credibility, fear of a phantom enemy is all the politicians have left to maintain their power."

Who was it who said:-

"Naturally, the common people don't want war, but after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is tell them that they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country."

I think most people will recognise Emperor Bush {see } a.k.a. President Bush now that he has been elected rather than selected. He didn't write the paragraph above, but he has clearly taken the advice to heart.

Remember Scott Ritter? He stood up and said "Iraq does not have WMD's". He was denounced by President Bush for 'a lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger'. President Bush then started the war in Iraq 'to remove Saddam's WMD's'. When at first none were found, President Bush was 'certain they will be found'. 1200 special inspectors have spent 2 years looking. They have found none, and have concluded that there never were any, which is what the common people knew all along, but hey, it was a simple matter for Bush and Blair to drag us along. And despite starting a totally unnecessary war, Bush was still re-elected, because in Scott's words, Americans don't vote on the facts, they vote for the rhetoric. So instead of 'Vote for me and I will help make your dreams come true', we have 'Vote for me and I will protect you from your nightmares'. Now we continue a phoney War on Terrorism against a phantom enemy, to replace the phoney War on Saddam and his phantom WMD's. To mention the fact that the threats posed by the nightmares do not exist, but have been manufactured by the politicians in order to stay in power risks being denounced as lacking patriotism and exposing the country to danger, so naturally I won't do that.

A final point. In Guantanamo Bay, people of one particular faith (Islam) are being detained without trial, denied human rights, probably being abused, (and possibly being tortured, given the U.S. record in Iraqi prisons). Now  substitute 'concentration camp' for Guantanamo Bay and substitute 'Jewish' for Islam, and there is duplication between the acts of Emperor Bush's government, and those of the government of the mystery writer.  Can you now guess his identity? If not his photo is at the end of this episode.

OK Soapbox rant over, and on a lighter note, introducing on the right 'Frugal Freda' who will be giving useful tips to farangs in Nongkhai who have to live on a modest budget, who want to save money, or who are just plain 'kee niaow'.

For reasons of National Security and Homeland Protection, the identity of the role model for Frugal Freda must remain secret, known only to The Emperor and his closest advisers. I have however been authorised to use this photo of him or her (suitably disguised) as a trademark for Frugal Freda.  If you think that you know the identity of Frugal Freda, DO NOT SPEAK TO ANYBODY. You must immediately turn yourself in to your local police department where you will be processed and despatched to Guantanamo Bay as a threat to Homeland Security. No one will ever hear from you again!

If you don't want this to happen, best you don't look at this photo, and trying to look at it the right way up will be viewed as certain proof of your guilt!

In I reported that Doughnut was living in fear for his life and was wearing a disguise (photo left). Last week Michael Cane brokered a meeting in a back street cafe in a seedy part of town, and I made contact with the mysterious 'Chatchy'. I begged for Doughnut's life to be spared. At first Chatchy was adamant that 'a contract is a contract', and 'de felines is after Doughnut big time', but after a large sum of money and a few cases of cat food changed hands he relented.

Doughnut celebrated the lifting of the fatwa by taking off the disguise, and by taking Dott for a ride around town on the motorbike 'to feel the wind in his hair'.

So who was the mystery writer?

Also to the reader who coined the phrase 'sheeple'. I read with interest your thoughts on the current (mis)government of the US and I agree with you wholeheartedly. I just hope that the same scare tactics and stage managed “terrorist” events do not lead the “sheeple” of the UK down the same road- however I fear that it is already happening.

I am very flattered by the amount of positive support that I have received for my comments in earlier episodes.

I include José's picture here to provide balance and because I like the way he holds his little finger. In our conversation on the night that this photo was taken, José said "Tony, I love your website man, but I hate your politics. I would love to send the address to my father, but he would disown me man, if he thought that I actually read it."

I am proud to retain José as a friend, and thank everyone who contacted me for their comments.

One of the best 'What if' books I have ever read was loaned to me by my son (pictured here at a few days old some years ago). It is entitled 'The Celestine Prophecy' by James Redfield. I commend this book to anyone with an open mind, it may change the way you see your life and your place in the world. Alternatively, it may not, but read it anyway! I quote from the cover of the book 'The Celestine Prophecy contains secrets that are currently changing our world. Drawing on the ancient wisdom found in a Peruvian manuscript, it tells you how to make connections between the events in your own life right now ... and lets you see what is going to happen to you in the years to come.'

The book leads you towards nine key insights. The First Insight occurs when we become conscious of the coincidences in our lives. 

Have you ever reached for the phone to call somebody, but it has rung first and the person you were thinking of has called you? Did you dismiss it as 'just a coincidence'? When the First Insight occurs and you become conscious of the coincidences in your life, the next step is to appreciate that those coincidences are there for a purpose to draw your attention to something or someone.   I have mentioned in passing just two coincidences above, but of far greater significance for me was the series of coincidences that started with me watching 'The Power of Nightmares' while in the UK. Those coincidences continued when I received emails and attachments last month from people that I haven't seen for more than 5 years, and ended with my visiting a website called www.rense.com On a page entitled 'View from Marrs' I read a preview of 'The Power of Nightmares'. It was this series of coincidences that convinced me of the need to write about Emperor George W Bush and link him with Hermann Goering in the way that I have.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying that anything made me write as I did. It was consciousness of the coincidences that made me question why they had occurred, and for what purpose. Do read 'The Celestine Prophecy' it could change the way you see your life and your place in the world.

OK That's enough for this episode. In episode 14 there should be coverage of the opening of Priscilla's, and another tip from Frugal Freda. Plus back in we reported Phon's pregnancy. We hope to have some news of Baby Alannah's appearance in the world, which is due in the next few days. And of course my friend of more than 40 years Dan Rapley will be here in Nongkhai for a week or so!

Best Wishes to all our readers

Tony and Dott

P.P.S. I weigh 6 kg. Ian claims to weigh in at 82 kg, but after all those visits to the buffet table on Xmas Day, can I believe him? And Wee Jimmy? He weighs 100 kg more than me!

If you don't know our email address, you can email us here, (it will launch Outlook Express on your computer). If you don't have or don't use OE, you can email us at yo@tonybrading.net  I am getting regular virus attacks at this address, so I now automatically delete all attachments sent there. In each case I will write to the 'sender' asking them to authenticate their mail. So far none have been genuine.