richardjm

Sorry to be late with good birthday wishes, Ken. Hope you had a great time.

Belated birthday greetings, Brian, and good luck.

My birthday on the 6th was my 70th and was really very quiet. I did my usual thing at the bait and tackle shop - the crossword and suduko puzzles in the Bangkok Post with a few cans of Leo to help the brain cells loosen up and after that, a ham sandwich at home. How exciting was that? Actually, in response to Darrell who suggested it should be a public holiday in Thailand, it actually was! This was due to the Thai King's coronation day holiday, which fell on the 5th, which was Sunday, and so the holiday itself was shifted to the 6th. Which, of course, was quite as it should be. It was also our 9th wedding anniversary and we reminded ourselves of that event, when we shut down our restaurant/bakery/bar and walked the half kilometer to the town office where we did the deed and then returned to the shop and re-opened for normal business. Yeah, I know, sometimes I'm just a romantic old fool.

I thought about Ken giving up golf and giving up on the Harley. Those really were life changing events and I felt sad about that. I cheered up some when I saw that new piece of kit, though, and I hope you'll have lots of fun with it. Does it come with a sound system? A cooler box for the beer? A reverse gear? Are you required to wear helmets?

I spent much time on the 6th dividing my life into decades and trying to recall the most important events in each of them. That's an exercise I've never done before and it proved most interesting. One of these days I must write it all down. Sadly, though, I rather feel that the start of decade #8 will be slightly less lurid than some of its predecessors......

Yes, an interesting topic. I think I have always been somewhat introverted, even from childhood. Now I look at myself and wonder if maybe I had it right. I have a hard time with 'chatter'. Even when in company it's like there's a sub-text going on in my head and sometimes my thoughts are not very kind. I recall my sailing days, when I might not speak more than a couple of sentences during an entire day - too busy enjoying feeling out the wind and watching the sea and the sky. These things were real, and needed no verbalising to share them. Then there was the 'biking - always alone and happy to be so. Flying, scuba diving - much the same - more or less solitary activities. I'm an insatiable reader and much of what I know I've learned from books.

Now, with COPD, I gather with others on Tuesday and Saturday evenings over a few beers, but cannot maintain my share of a noisy general conversation as I can't shout due to the SOB. Some understand, some don't, so I particularly enjoy the occasional one on one conversations on the side about things that do seem to matter. So, age and ailments conspire to even further privatise my life. I don't think I'm bitter or sour, but I am short-tempered and I don't suffer fools gladly. Don't really know why Ratree puts up with me.

I enjoy myself on this site. I can think about what I want to say and say it without effort, and so that contact is just as enjoyable as those rare, meaningful actual conversations. What is interesting is that I feel I know you guys, with your moods, habits, problems and joys better than you might imagine. And I continue to learn stuff, too. Hence my signature, 'aun aprendo', which means 'I'm still learning'.

Darrell, took your advice and re-arranged my sock drawer. Didn't take long, as I only have four pairs, none of which I've worn in a couple of years. (I've got to get out to Bangkok more, where I've been known to wear both proper socks and shoes). Excited by the success of that, I moved on to my underwear drawer. That was fun. Tomorrow I'm thinking of dealing with my shirt rail - y'know, separating out the T-shirts from the dress shirts. What d'you think, would you separate by colour or sleeve length?

Ratree bought me a pair of shorts the other day. Now I'm just another fashion statement, lusted after by unattached ladies and young lads of doubtful gender. Life is just decision after decision.....