Geo: 16.392, 103.924Wake up at 12:30 for FA Cup Southampton v Arsenal but with the score at 0v3 at half time we give up on the second half (0v5 I see).Jai clears the old marigolds from the front garden and replaces them with new plants that have been growing. Its an endless cycle of marigolds whatever country we are in.I have finished clearing the weeds from the veggie patch but no doubt they will be back within a few days.This evening Jai goes off with sister Begat and a neighbour to a good luck party along the road. I settle down on the front porch with my dinner.... read more

Geo: 16.392, 103.924We arrive in Khorat about midnight but nobody is allowed off the bus and after a couple of minutes we are off again. 10mins later we stop at a petrol station for a toilet break. Dont know whats happening there ?Wake up just as we are reaching Phon Thong about 04:45, which is fortunate as I suspect that nobody would have woken us otherwise.Take a tuk-tuk across town to collect the bike, put on another layer of clothes, then set off in the dark back to Khamnadie.Make a token effort at emptying the bags when we get back but the sight of the bed wins out.Late breakfast this morning.I water the back garden whilst Jai unwraps our now ripe bananas from earlier this week. Jai picks a couple of bundles of beans then, with ... read more

Geo: 13.7308, 100.521Bus arrives at Mo Chit bus stationat 06:00. Instead of just getting a taxi to the guest house we walk across to the departures area and buy a ticket for our return journey tomorrow night. Cant think why we havent done this before as it will save us a return taxi journey to Mo Chit later on today. It is also a whole lot easier to get a taxi from this side of the bus station whereas we normally have to fight with all the arrivals to get one.Our room at New Siam Guest House is ready when we arrive not much after 06:30. Quick trip to 7/11 for coffee and croissants then stretch out on the bed for breakfast.Stay in the room till about 10:00 then go to change some GBP into Baht ... read more

Geo: 16.392, 103.924Into Phon Thong, well wrapped up this morning, and book our bus tickets on the 20:00 overnight to Bangkok tomorrow. Quick check to make sure that it will be OK to leave the bike at the house in Phon Thong where we know the people and that's given the all clear as well.It was particularly fresh on the bike this morning and the cooler wind keeps up through most of the day.Jai has developed a great liking for beetroot the last couple of years and early afternoon we dig the first couple out the garden from this year's crop.Out to farm late afternoon to check that our bananas are all still there. Good news is that they havent been touched and Jai decides that the one bunch are near enough ready so we cut ... read more

Geo: 16.392, 103.924Thought my internet trips for Jai's visa application were complete but just discovered that I dont have a copy of her appointment without which they wouldnt even have let her in the building. As luck would have it Jai didnt want to go to Phon Thong market today but I wont get a day off having to do another internet visit.Its really windy today and the ride back to Khamnadie is horrible. Keep feeling that the front wheel of the bike is going to get blown out from uderneath me !In the afternoon we are summoned to a staff meeting at friend Wan's house to discuss how many pockets we think are best suited to the inside of a lady's purse - like I would know ?Been making a scientific study of the beers ... read more