Not everything is for sale

"I have never taken any exercise except sleeping and resting."
Mark Twain.


I told you here that Thais, (and I) love to sleep. Here's an example.

Husband gets the credit for this cute photo.

Friday Photo

As an accompaniment to today's photo I have to tell non Thai residents that Thai people sleep everywhere and anywhere. As a napper, I think this is eminently sensible. Once, I was so culturally immersed, I napped in Starbucks and I've been teased by my friends ever since. Still as you can see here it can be pretty funny too.

This week, as I raced around the malls of Bangkok trying to find Daughter's computer case, I went into a new set of loos in Siam Paragon. I couldn't resist taking this photo. I promise I haven't photoshopped the sign. I am convinced that the (foreign, surely?) translator has been poking a little fun at the Thais' love of forty winks. In Thai, this label says it's the equipment/broom cupboard.

Some science...

So with a lack of substance to my days (the odd meeting but otherwise a pretty quiet week) the jetlag continues to manifest itself.

It makes reclining a very dangerous occupation. And I do like to recline.

I used to read on the sofa but since moving to Thailand my favourite place to read is on my bed. (We have a very funky sofa that everyone admires but which is deeply, deeply uncomfortable.)

So I set myself up on the bed. I might pinch another pillow to pretend that I’m going to sit upright but give me a couple of pages, the chance to drain my mug of tea and I’ll be prostrate before long.

Alongside inducing temporary narcolepsy, the jetlag has affected my judgement. I’m sure if I could be bothered to look it up, I’d find research to that effect. According to the investigation I did make the effort to do, the amygdala is part of the basal ganglia, and situated in the temporal lobe of the brain and is critically involved in computing the emotional significance of events.

Well the jetlag has buggered mine up.

I got the kids up for school and they both seemed fit. Well, as fit as you can be at 5.45am - the middle of the night whatever time zone you’re in. I sent them down to their bus and almost instantly I had misgivings about sending Son.

After returning to my bed to read, I was hit with another episode of jetlag induced narcolepsy. I was woken by the ‘phone at *ahem* 9.30 by the school nurse informing me Son was poorly and requesting that I come and collect him.

I am officially a waste of space. I shall be so until at least the weekend.

A new low...

A while back (although it might have been yesterday given the regularity I am reminded of this sad episode) I told you how I’d gone to sleep in Starbucks. I hadn’t accidentally fallen asleep; I’d realised I was tired, it was nice and warm in my armchair and I’d clasped my handbag to my front, and settled down for forty winks.

Honestly, you’d think I’d done something really dreadful like vomit down my front in public. I am reminded about this low episode, almost weekly. Thais sleep everywhere; on the pavement, in coffee shops, at traffic lights (I kid you not.) I was just showing how culturally immersed I’ve become, honest.

Anyway, today I sunk to a new low (no, not sleeping on the pavement; that is going too far.) Today, I had a little weep in Starbucks. It wasn’t quite a fully fledged sobbing episode but definitely a moist eyed, wobbly chin, in need of a tissue to mop up my runny nose, kind of weep.

I was writing you see. I’d got to a scene where I thought my MC was having some thinking alone time in the kitchen garden, when quite suddenly, Jean was out there, confessing stuff. Before you tell me how great this is – that if I’ve moved ME, I’ll move my readers – I don’t think the scene is ready yet, but it will hopefully get there.

When I got home I found this article. The website looks as though it will have other useful resources too.

*****
On a cheerier note: Yesterday I discovered that I have won a copy of Short Circuit from Salt Publishing: HURRAH. I cannot wait to read it.