Thanks for your concern

I am most touched by the stream of e-mails, messages and phone calls which have arrived over the past few hours, enquiring as to the safety of she who must obeyed, the cats, and as an afterthought, me.

Yes, well, none actually. Where’s your compassion?

Anyway, after an enjoyable afternoon with the protesters yesterday, things turned ugly this morning and we saw a pitched battle between the red shirts and blue shirts (that’s another coloured shirt I will have to avoid wearing) on the TV. The location looked familiar, and indeed it was, it was just up the road from our condo.

I have no objection to watching civil disturbances from the safety of my sofa, provided that they are happening somewhere else. This was happening a little too close for comfort and it was an uncomfortable couple of hours, checking the TV for updates and watching helicopters circling overhead.

Then of course the inevitable. The feeble security had already allowed the reds far too close to the convention centre. Yesterday it was clear that it would take very little effort for the protesters to break the security cordon, and this morning they did just that. Then they broke a couple of plate glass windows, then they paraded through the convention centre like spoiled children that had just been allowed into McDonalds. As the standing of Thailand plummeted even lower, and any chance of a good tourist week in Pattaya over Songkran disappeared, the red tide swept through the hotel, gloating, waving and looking for people to harass.

Meanwhile, in another ludicrous piece of planning, foreign delegates who had scattered across the city in hotels, rather than being accommodated in a reasonably secure location, found themselves unable to leave their hotels, thanks to gangs of reds camped outside. Duh.

Then, inevitably: Asean conference cancelled (sorry, “postponed indefinitely”). State of emergency imposed. A few hours later, state of emergency lifted; after the bemused delegates had escaped to their own countries and the reds had fucked off to go and create chaos elsewhere.

Well, that was fun.

If you are living outside Thailand and what is happening makes no sense to you, don’t worry. It makes no sense if you live inside Thailand either. Mai pen rai, I think I need a beer.

Comments 🔗

2009-04-11 | Wenthworth. says

Wow those photos really illustrate the story so well! Couldn’t snap a few photos for your loyal readers or were you barricaded in the panic room quietly sobbing into some tightly held feline?

2009-04-11 | Spike says

If you are referring to yesterday’s photos; thank you.

If you are referring to today’s lack of photos; then yes I was huddled in a corner with a pussy.

I may be stupid, but I am not an idiot.

2009-04-11 | Billy says

Very wise, grab pussy whenever it is available, particularly if the end is nigh ….

2009-04-12 | Spike says

Ah, the voice of wisdom; and extensive experience. Now wash your hands.

2009-04-12 | Wentworth says

Mate you’ve got the expensive camera, the ability, the location and had the opportunity to take some awesome snaps and you let us down. Neil Davis you are not. Frankly I don’t know if I’ll renew my subscription after this year.

2009-04-12 | Spike says

Indeed I am not Neil Davis. Otherwise I would be called Neil. Not Spike.

A totally independent tribunal has thoroughly investigated the reasons why there were no photos taken yesterday, and arrived at the unanimous conclusion:

“She who must be obeyed would not let me go.”

So it’s not my fault.

Naturally we would be distressed to lose your subscription, although I am not sure that having someone called Wentworth as a subscriber is good for our image. Perhaps you could change your name to something more sporty?

2009-04-12 | Billy says

You, you ….. windsurfer you ….

The West Course at Wentworth is right up there as one of the finest courses in England

http://www.golfeurope.com/course-reviews/england/wentworth-golf-club.htm

2009-04-12 | genuine j says

The East course at Wentworth is pretty good too. In case you don’t know Spike, Billy and I are referring to golf courses.

2009-04-13 | Spike says

Does golf actually qualify as a sport?

2009-04-13 | genuine j says

Golf is up there with darts, tiddleywinks, netball etc, etc. Oh, and windsurfing.

2009-04-13 | Spike says

Tiddleywinks. Now THERE is a sport!