Was wandering through a mall this morning and she who must be obeyed expressed the need for a green purse. I have learned not to ask why, and so instead joined in the hunt for a suitably coloured receptacle to accommodate her massive collection of maxed-out credit cards.

Look, there’s one, I proudly advised my wife.

Yes, but it’s made of crocodile skin and I don’t want to support the fur trade.

Just back from Singapore, and then on Saturday we were off again to Bangkok for three days. She who must be obeyed has signed herself up for a course in Chinese fortune telling, something she says she does not believe in and just wants to learn for amusement; I am just waiting for signs that that is not true. For personal security I am refusing to reveal the time of day when I was born on the grounds that “I don’t remember because I was too young”. This means she is unable to chart my future; because we all know that the speed or tardiness with which your Mum pooped you out onto the delivery table can make a massive difference to your progress through life.

The cat does not appreciate us being away for any length of time, so a four day absence triggers a night of disruption as she climbs onto the bed at regular intervals and demands attention. Tiring for us, and also apparently also for her; because today she has spent much of the day in a cardboard box in a less than ladylike position. I have used a shallow depth of field to preserve her modesty.

Monday marked the ninth anniversary of my wedding to she who must be obeyed. This is of little import compared to next year’s tenth which, thanks to her own alternative conventions, she thinks will be a sodding big diamond ring event (on the grounds that I won’t be around for the official diamond anniversary); but I thought it should be marked with something. So we went to Singapore.

Fine hotel, some good food and assorted excursions; plus a wasted trip to my bank; of which more later if I can be arsed. So, mainly a good time.

Unlike almost every trip taken everywhere, I did not take a digital camera with me; so you will be relieved to know that there is not much to offer in the way of photos. Instead I took my Leica IIIC, and no film to put in it. I reckoned I would minimise the risk of airport X-ray fogging by buying film in Singapore, and so I rolled up to Ruby Camera on the morning of our second day; while the management went off to “look at some shoes”. The shop has been opened for more than fifty years and the assembled staff looked like they had been there since the opening day. Still, they were very sweet and they had the film I wanted, and were willing to lend me scissors and a ruler so I could trim the leader; provided they were allowed to watch me then load the IIIC. They almost applauded when I completed the job after a few fumbles.

Finished a couple of rolls of film, which now makes five sitting on my desk waiting to be processed. Was stopped a few times on the street by people wanting to discuss the camera, which was nice; and also took it into the Leica store for a look at its more expensive descendants.

Along the way I amused myself by taking some shots of the Leica with my phone.

You for coffee?

Tense British GP win for Hamilton, wish I could have been there. Instead, here is a shot I took of him at the Singapore GP in 2009.

She who must be obeyed suggested an evening stroll through Theppasit Market and I was too slow in thinking up an excuse not to go (“my toes hurt” was insufficient), so off we went.

Took the E-M1 along with the Panny/Leica 25mm attached and thought I might take some shots. To achieve some anonymity, I first considered folding out the screen and tapping that to take photos; but then I went a step further and connected the camera to my phone and used the phone screen to frame, focus and take the pictures. So while my left hand was surreptitiously pointing the camera in the right direction, my right hand was handling my phone as if I was just browsing Facebook as I stood in the market; like so many around me were doing.

We were only walking around for a few minutes before heading for the food stalls, but it was enough time to prove that the concept worked; even if the results were nothing special. Didn’t feel much like photography though.

Making a spectacle of myself:

I suspect you would do better down Walking Street than in a shoe shop……

Needing to finish off a film in my Leica IIIC, I headed back to The Structure this morning. Rick(ety) Knees had planned to join me, but then declared that 0745 was far too early for him; so it was just me, a monk, and a few followers (of the monk, not me).

As well as the film camera, I took the E-M1 and in the spirit of antiquity, I mounted a 1931 Leica Elmar on the front. I also set the camera to shoot in “Dramatic Tone”, which is Olympus-speak for “nothing at all like reality”. Some “interesting” results.

Some time ago, we went to the Thailand round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. It was well organised, with the expected emphasis on competitor and crowd safety. Unlike the event I attended yesterday.

A field in Huay Yai had been turned into a motorcross track and surrounded by plastic fencing. A man in the opening at the front was charging forty baht entry; at least that is what he charged me. Inside, there was a track which was not fenced off from spectators:

Big rain in Pattaya this morning, and while we sheltered inside, this gentleman (you can just tell he is a gentleman) took refuge in a plant pot under cover of the side of the house.