31/1/02 11:23 PM

Quiet day until Shirley knocked the sink off the wall. It shattered everywhere, doh!

28/1/02 9:13 AM

Now in Koh Samui after some adventure's in Bangkok, have a read of the tourist gem scam bit if you want the gory details. Over night train was nice, we had our own first class cabin.

Arrived in Koh Samui about 2pm after travelling round Surat Thani twice, we got put on the wrong bus for the ferry the first time. Ferry ride was ok, just a rickety old thing that chugs across to the island non stop all day. Our bungalow is nice, we're in Marine Bungalows on Chewang beach, not actually on the beach but only 30m away. It's big, the bed is huge, there are mozzi screens on all the windows, a veranda and cold and cold running water, even the shower is cold! It's OK once you get used to it though. The beach is very nice, white sand, clear turquoise sea and lots of coconut palms. We went for a walk quite a way round the bay yesterday PM, found 1500bhat floating in the sea, yippee! Found a beach bar in the evening and stayed until midnight, it was 100bhat (£1.60) for a beer and a JD & coke, 150b if I had a double.

25/01/02 8:34 AM

We are in Bangkok, bloody hell! It's hot as well, it was 33deg C when we got off the plane yesterday pm. We're staying at the Viengtai Hotel somewhere in the middle, I did get around to booking it before we got here! Going down for breakfast in a mo, my body clock is broken it thinks it's midnight snack time, it'll get over it. We ate out last night, I think we spent too much (340 bhat, about £6) but we're new at it so we'll get the hang of it soon. The food was really nice, had chickeny garlicy thing with rice & spring rolls, had 1/2 a beer as well but don't tell anyone it'll ruin my image! Had a quick walk round the local streets after, very hectic.

Off to find out how to get down to Koh Samui/Koh Pha Ngan today, we want to go tomorrow, probably go on the train I think.

13/01/02 11:35 PM

Back from France now, we are at my Mum's wading through a small mountain of dirty washing. Tomorrow we go to Wales (2nd foreign country in a week) to see Sunny & her new man & drop of the TV, it's good to spread the contents of your house over a wide area, it'll make retrieving it next year more fun! Still haven't booked a hotel in Bangkok but at least I've looked at the guide and found which area we want to stay in, also managed to sort of work out where we are going to get a tan but we'll see what happens when we get there :-).

7/01/02 1:56 PM

Just been skiing for the 4th day in a row, it's too icy to board, although I may tomorrow (on my old board) just for a laugh. The sun has just come out again, it's been warm all week, a bit like late March really. Went out for pizza last night, there was 18 of us and we took up most of the restaurant it was very good.

1/01/02 11:18 AM

Happy new year everyone! I don't have a hangover, which is surprising given how much I drank. It's very very bright outside though so I might stay in bed a while longer. Boarded yesterday as the snow was still good, it all felt very strange and uncomfortable to start with but I got it together by the end of the day. Might ski today it looks a bit icy.

31/12/01 11:01 AM

We got here OK yesterday but it was a long day. Got up at 3am, had a few kips here and there but was still knackered. Had an early night and slept for 10 hours, now have to go see a man about a lift pass and make his PC better while I'm there.

10/12/01 12:59 PM

Have been at home for nearly 2 weeks now. Am still cataloguing records for insurance man, have done 820 so far in 7 days, that's probably not fast enough, it's not even half way. Shirley has started packing things away so the house is a mess and empty at the same time. Have joined a gym at last as I can feel myself getting more and more unhealthy every day, although I'm loosing weight which is a worry, still if I don't get up until 11am I've missed 2 meals so that could be it.

7/12/01 14:49 PM

Had my leaving do last night, it was very good, lots of people were there, although it was lots of other peoples leaving do's as well so they didn't all come to see me. Didn't get as drunk as I thought I would and didn't seem to talk to anyone for more than 5 minutes at a time. Must say thank you to everyone for the card and the kind donation to my retirement fund!

27/11/01 9:50 AM

Second to last day at work, although I haven't actually done very much for the last month. Don't have a hangover today which is surprising given we hit the pub at 3.30 yesterday afternoon. Have to start booking things in earnest today, flights, insurance, visas etc. Have to write lots of cancellation letters as well, seems to be a lot of admin work just to go for a years holiday but that's to be expected I guess. Last lunch with Rob today for a while, he will now be the only City boy in the family.

30/01/02 7:04 PM

Hired a moped today. Went to see Big Buddha temple, Grandfather rock (looks like a willy), Laem Sor Pagoda and Namuang Water falls. It was a good way of getting round and seeing the sights. Caught the sun a little, got a very red nose.

25/01/02 8:36 AM

Shirley is still asleep!

7/01/02 1:59 PM

Just got back from skiing. Feeling a little tired now as Phil makes me go a little faster every day. I am now trying to do jumps which end in quite a few bumps but its still good fun.

31/12/01 11:03 AM

Still in bed, free from work and relaxing (and waiting for Phil's smell in the bathroom to go away).

10/12/01 12:58 PM

I've got a cold!