Exquisite reading: Not So Perfect by Nik Perring

My next Book Club book, ‘Orchid Fever’ by Eric Hansen has gone missing. I bought it about three weeks ago and put it somewhere safe. Now it has disappeared from my apartment. There are no more copies available in Bangkok and anyway I’ve already bought it once. I am feeling stupid.

One book I read recently that I wasn’t careless enough to lose was Nik Perring’s volume of short stories, ‘Not So Perfect’ although let me tell you they are; they are absolutely perfect.

I don’t read many short stories and I’ve only written one and it was, frankly, stinky. But I’m going to have to reconsider things because these stories were exquisite: funny, painful and quirky. Such short stories as these are known as flash fiction and of course they look effortless. I know they’re not.

The title “Not So Perfect’ is a line from one of the stories and refers to lives of the characters that people the whole collection. After reading it twice I’m finding it jolly difficult to believe that Nic Perring isn’t a sixty eight year old woman, a fifteen year old girl or a twelve year old boy because he writes with such tenderness from all those perspectives. Bereavements, misunderstandings, loneliness and being different, those human conditions are all here and yet somehow he makes us look twice. He makes them feel unique.

My favourite stories are ‘My Heart’s in a Box’ and ‘The Angel in The Car Park.’

Sadly, 'Not So Perfect' is not available in Bangkok.

Running away

With the need to look critically at my novel my demon critic is back sitting on my shoulder; and he's... well criticising. I have written numerous blog posts during this last fortnight and deleted them all. B*stard.

The problem is that I can't entirely silence him. I need him and his constructive critique to help me make my book better but he's a devilish little thing and sometimes he just creeps in and criticises everything - he must be a bit dim because he can't tell the difference between constructive and destructive.

So let's start slowly, with some pictures.  We went away for three days to Hua Hin this half term week. I had a look on the internet for things to do and found Hua Hin Hills Vineyard forty kilometres away. I had heard a vague rumour that Thailand was growing grapes to make western style wine but I thought it was up north. I have minimal interest in vineyards (although my sparkling wine at lunch was incredibly good) but when I saw that we could tour the grapes and olive groves on elephants the deal was sealed.

I adore elephants. I thought five years ago that we would do an obligatory elephant ride during our first holiday and then it would be ticked off the tacky but essential tourist list but I go back again and again. I am in love.

I think I might run away from home and become a mahout.

It really is Friday

Friday Photo: Waste not, want not

Updated: Errrm, how much of a berk am I? Are you too polite to tell me it's Thursday? Doh. Oh well, I am writing: I'm allowed to be a little eccentric.

Decoration?
To attract and trap something?
To scare something off?

No idea but don't throw them away - they could be useful.

Spotted on Koh Kret Island.

Breeding like...

... rabbits. 

I've covered Chinese New Year before so I won't stop to explain but Thailand is the only country to celebrate (with equal enthusiasm) three New Years (Thai, Chinese and our own Gregorian New Year.) 

2011 - starting tomorrow - is the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth sign in the Chinese zodiac. It's an excellent sign to be; it's not the size of the creature but what is in their nature.

I heard the first calls of Kung Hei Fat Choy yesterday and this morning during a peaceful pilates class the first set of fire crackers went off. They might go off for a duration of fifteen or twenty seconds - usually out of the blue. I'm still quite shocked by them - not as much as I was in the early days when I thought bombs were going off but they still make me jump.

Since the end of November rabbits have been appearing all over Bangkok. I had no idea when I started collecting all their pictures how out of control it would get; how very apt.

We have every conceivable rabbit...

And the Tea Stains 4th birthday giveaway winners are…

*

As adjudicated by Husband and Son.... in no special order....

Congratulations to the winners. Please send me your postal address so that I can send you your prize (when I've purchased them.) Thanks for the birthday wishes from everyone and commiserations if you didn't win.

Friday Photo Extravaganza

Yesterday a group of us went to Koh Kret or Pottery Island. My journey was a taxi, two skytrains, a boat, a coach, another boat and then a bicycle around the island. I took loads of pictures and couldn't edit them down any further than this selection.

We had a lovely day. Thanks Kate for organising it.