Episode44

Part 44	The View from Nongkhai	Published
		31 January
		2007

Arising from Episode 43

Thank you to all those who sent good wishes following my being unwell recently. I didn't realise that I was suffering from bronchitis, I thought that it was just a persistent cough. Next time I will know better. Thank you too to Ché for doing such a good job with the last two episodes.

Although he was not actually aware of it, Gordon kindly loaned me Bill Bryson's 'A Short History of Nearly Everything'. It is a very good read, and I would recommend it to anyone with an open mind. I was particularly struck by the following:-

"It has been suggested, with more plausibility than would at first sight seem evident, that an ice age might actually be induced by a rise in temperatures. The idea is that a slight warming would enhance evaporation rates and increase cloud cover, leading in the higher latitudes to more persistent accumulations of snow.

More likely, at least in the short term, is the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet. In the past 50 years the waters around it have warmed by 2.5 °C and collapses have increased dramatically. Because of the underlying geology of the area, a large scale collapse is all the more possible. If so, sea levels globally would rise – and pretty quickly – by between 4.5 and 6 metres on average.

The extraordinary fact is that we don’t know which is the more likely: a future offering us aeons of perishing frigidity or one giving us equal expanses of steamy heat. One thing is certain: we live on a knife edge."

While in 'Homo Britannicus', Chris Stringer writes "...the history of Britain (and Europe) over the last 700,000 years is littered with rapid and severe climate changes, when apparently settled plants, animal and human communities were swept away in periods as short as 10 years. Indeed between 180,000 and 70,000 years ago, Britain was abandoned, completely empty for over 100,000 years."

Bill Bryson was writing about the possible collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet, but last year in the Canadian Arctic, the Ayles Ice shelf covering 106 square kilometres actually did break from the coast of Ellesmere Island. Scientists attributed the event to climate change.

I see no reason to doubt Bill Bryson's comment that we live on a knife edge. It is just possible that it is already too late, i.e. that the breaking away of the Ayles Ice shelf will soon be followed by the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet. It is already too late to say 'it can't happen' or 'there is no such thing as global warming' (courtesy of George Dubya). Something is happening now!
Christmas Roundup
It all seems so long ago now, but Ché did explain that I would report on Xmas in Nongkhai in this episode. Despite that explanation, I was harangued by Dr José that the last episode did not mention Xmas Eve at his establishment, so I will now put matters right.
But first a word of praise for the excellent table decorations which must have taken Jessica hours to prepare. Here is a typical example on the right. I am lacking the vocabulary to describe it, but all of those who attended found the sight unforgettable.

	Above, Nongkhai residents among the guests were Scottish Nick (left, caught here in his cups surrounded by bottles of beer and whisky), in the centre Bruce, (twin brother of Barry), and Colin and Kevin (aka Goldilocks) who was visiting from UK.
	While right Dr José emerging from the kitchen after a day spent preparing our meal, and far right who is this handsome stranger? He looks vaguely familiar - gosh - can you believe it is the same man? He does brush up well doesn't he?

Also there was Pete (left) who deserves a special mention. I first him at Dr José's more than two years ago, (part 11) and I commented at the time "a nice guy, but a smoker and a drinker who has to have his name sewn onto his sleeve. What you can't see is that he also has his address written over his breast pocket, for the benefit of those carrying him home at the end of the night." Sadly Pete has fallen on hard times, and can no longer afford to have his own name on his clothes. Instead he has to find commercial sponsors for his clothing, and walk round looking like a billboard.

I met Lee (right) at Dr José's one evening this month, but didn't realise that he was the same Lee that I met at Surreal at Halloween. He went as a nerd, clearly an excellent disguise, seen here (far right) at the Halloween party with that sexy waitress whose name escapes me.

Unfortunately for me my bronchitis got worse as Xmas progressed, so I missed Boxing Day at Dr José's, but I did manage to make it to the Meeting Place for Giulio's Xmas dinner.

I think you can see that it equalled the same high standard set by Glen K a couple of years ago (part 12 for a comparison). Feeling very low, I didn't stay long once I had eaten, but I did have time to say hello to Glen L (visiting from Oz) and Martin below and thank the chef (centre). Giulio is not keen to have his photo taken, and is rarely seen without some form of hat, usually this dog-eared baseball cap. As a treat for all those who know Giulio, I include the photo below right from the time I caught him hatless.

More about Glen K and Martin later.

Visiting Nongkhai from Denmark, were Kim and Marianne (right). They have visited before, and I have met them before, but I don't think they have appeared in a previous episode. They are friends of Kim (left), in fact Marianne was married to Kim (left), but is now married to Kim (right). I suppose it has the advantage that Marianne won't use the wrong name.

As Kim, Kim and Marianne are three Danes, I thought that it might be appropriate to introduce an interesting menu that I found this month.

Left in the "international" section, were some interesting choices. One may well wonder how the Thai dish 'Chicken 3 ways' became 3 Vikings. I thought menus were meant to tempt you, but I find the choices on the right have the opposite effect.

I found that menu at a hotel that I stayed at in Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) on the way to Bangkok to meet Chris and Gemma, who were in turn on their way back to Blighty from their holiday in Oz with Gemma's parents. As forecast by Ché in the last episode, I did meet up with Aunty Wan again.

Returning to Nongkhai from Bangkok, I found great changes afoot. Glen K had sold the Outback Bar and Grill to Jim Kelly, and it will be run by Brad. Unfortunately Glen forgot to mention that he would be taking everything with him, including even the paint off the walls, as this picture shows, taken minutes after the contract was signed. I caught Jim and Brad looking rather bemused by the speed with which everything had disappeared, and wondering if perhaps they should have read the small print?

However Brad set to work with vigour, enthusiasm, and a bottle of beer, and soon restored the Outback to its former glory, despite having the impediment of that beer bottle permanently glued to his hand (it's in all 3 photos).
The Friday night pig roast continues. I have to be honest and say that I found it as enjoyable under the new management as it was under the old, perhaps that is because Yai is still in the kitchen, but I do miss Glen's sense of humour, and his talent for campanology.

Not only the Outback, but also the Meeting Place has changed hands (in part at least). Paul has sold his share to Martin (above with Glen L), so the MP is now owned and run by Eileen and Martin. The change precipitated a spring clean, in which a power washer played a key part. Left Giulio shows how not to use it by soaking himself from head to foot, while right Eileen demonstrates the correct technique, and keeps her clothes spotless. Even after a long afternoon's power washing (not less than two full minutes), Eileen managed to stay spotless, and looked cool in the photo she later posed with Martin below left.

In the centre is Martin with girlfriend Noi, while right new staff member Lot is for me a very good reason for going more often.

Questionable Taste Quiz

Here are four pictures of various wives or girlfriends taken in public places, most often restaurants and bars, all displaying their choice of underwear that day. The question is 'how many can you identify?'

left A & B

right

C & D

In similar questionable taste, here are the tops of 4 men's heads taken in public places, most often restaurants and bars, all displaying their choice of styling that day. Again, how many can you identify? A small fun prize is offered for the wittiest responses.


A	B	C	D

The Great Fire of Nongkhai

The pictures speak for themselves. The fire was on Thursday night (25th Jan) in Meechai Road. My thanks to Leigh Morris who lives close by at the Friendship Guesthouse for the pictures.

By spooky co-incidence, Thursday night was (for all readers not of Scottish ancestry) also Burns night. More especially it was also the birthday of one Rupert Waites. I attended the dual celebration at his house. Below left Rupert (a renowned Edinburgh chef) carving the legs of lamb, centre Ewan, or Shooie as he prefers to be known, smiles for the camera, and right Rupert surveys the remnants of his birthday cake after he had blown the candles out. Next to Rupert is his wife Laila, and in blue looking rather scared is their daughter, who had never seen such huffing and puffing over a cake. I had a great night, and drove home very slowly.

The Great Freeze of Nongkhai

In the last few days it has turned very cold in Nongkhai, with night time temperatures down to 13 or 14 °C. Contrast that with the comment from my friend Dan in England that "it has warmed up here, today the temperature reached 14 °C." In the evenings most people in Nongkhai are wearing warm clothes and jackets, but I think that Win (below left) went rather too far dressing as an Eskimo. Apparently the bottle of milk symbolised something, but it wasn't clear what. Any suggestions?

	Also dressed for the cold were John (visiting from England) and his friend Gop, while Win was trying to look mysterious.

OK that's enough for this episode. As I mentioned earlier my lifelong friend Dan arrives this week, so I shall be off to Bangkok to meet up with him. We plan a leisurely swing through East Thailand on our way back to Nongkhai, so I imagine the tale of our trip will feature in episode 45.
Best Wishes to you all Tony

If you want copies of any of the photos, or want to write, but you don't know my personal email address, you can send email to : mail@nongkhai.co.uk

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