HoooRaaaah

Well, this is what much of yesterday was like: blood out of a stone.

But I did it. I wrote 1,021 words and finished the 'cat out of the bag' scene, at 9.50pm. Then I had a bar of chocolate and watched a bit of crappy tv. Bliss.

My MC says "... and there isn’t ANYTHING anyone can say that would make me think otherwise.”

But do you know what? There was. And the other character said it.

They may be no writing today as I'm a lunching lady. I must try to remember not to wear my flip flops. Real expat wives and ladies who lunch do not get refused entry to posh hotels.

I will try and write my 100 words a day when I get back because I'm trying to be a good girl.

Postive Mental Attitude

I've done some positive visualisation today: some positive mental attitude preparation for the coming week. Today is still the weekend because it's a bank holiday for Chakri Day so I made a plea to the family for a day out tailored to my requirements.

We went on the Chao Phraya river first, in a boat that's effectively a water bus. We rode for half an hour upstream, had a little walk and then returned back the way we'd come and we jumped off at the Oriental Hotel. (Sharp memories might remember me being refused entry here because of my flip flops!)

We made our way to the Authors' Lounge for traditional afternoon tea. In the menu is a long list of all the famous authors that have stayed there. I was tempted to add my name to the bottom but I thought I might get into trouble. A) I wasn't staying there; B) I already had a bad reputation for not following their rules... flip flops and C) Oh yes, I'm not an author yet.

Still, I was enormously cheered up by the out of this world scones, Darjeeling tea and real, yes, REAL clotted cream. So, sorry, I can't offer you scones as I scoffed them all but here are some delectable pictures.



The tea. A half eaten scone, and another whole one to scoff.











This pretty display was in the ladies!


Left: The Authors' Lounge. We were seated behind the pillar on the right. Did they tuck us away even though I wasn't wearing flip flops?

Right: Gorgeous photo op spotted by Husband of Thai staff in traditional dress.

Too fatigued to be Officially Cross

If I weren’t still so weary I’d now be very bad tempered.

Yesterday I went along the Chao Phraya river on the courtesy boat to the Oriental Hotel where I had a sophisticated breakfast of eggs benedict in the coffee shop with my friend C. It is quite expensive there (to stay the night is inordinately expensive) but they kept bringing more coffee rather than only allowing me one measly cup, so I didn’t feel hard done by. We paid our bill, and then sat in reception to find out where the shop was that we were heading for. We didn’t look out of place; nobody said we were lowering the tone in this beautiful 5 star hotel. And we left.

After our shopping we headed back to the river to catch a river taxi up to the Indian cloth market, Pahurat, but by this time the Oriental’s coffee had done its job and I needed the bathroom. I left C waiting by the river and returned to the front entrance of the Oriental where a little man in a suit said, looking me up and down ‘Can I help you madam?’ ‘I’d like to go to the coffee shop’, I said. ‘Sorry, Madam, but we have a dress code.’ This is what I'm wearing: a smart green dress, over black bootleg trousers and I was carrying a Mulberry bag, what could he possibly mean? I said ‘But I’ve been in the coffee shop this morning with my friend. I had breakfast there.’ ‘I’m sorry Madam, we have a dress code. No sandals.’ Can you even see my flip flops?

I’ve been to the Oriental five or six times, always wearing sandals, NOBODY has told me I don’t look smart enough, and you know why? Because I do look smart enough - even with flip flops on.

Because of my extreme inertia I can’t decide what I should do. Should I write to the manager, enclosing my photo and ask him if he can see my flip flops?