Celebrations
It was the wedding of my long-term Thai teacher, Kroo Ploy. It took place at the new house she and her fiance have built. It was Christian ceremony with lots of familiar prayer book text sounding very weird in Thai.
Paying respects
In a rather moving Thai custom, the newly-weds pay their respects to both sets of parents and pledge their loyalty to them.
Foreign student guest
Cute entertainers
...and again
Guests enjoy the buffet
My house in the village, before...
Somewhat extravagantly overgrown, this all had to be cut back before house-painting while I was abroad.
...and after, ready for the decorators
New gazebo takes shape at the farm
The previous bamboo structure had been flattened in a big storm last year. This should survive even severe weather for a year or two.
View across the pool, up the valley
Climate shock
Off to Sweden and intense cold and wind, in spite of the sunshine. One night it was minus 18; daytime rarely above zero. Even the swedes were becoming impatient with what seemed like a never-ending winter. Here Rafe lights his pipe in the freezing garden.
Cosy home with its new roof windows
Morning frost outside on a window in my cottage
Rafe tucks into a splendid plateful of Lebanese food in Stockholm
Delicious stuff!
The serious snow had gone, but it was still a white, wintry landscape
My cosy home
Once warmed up, my wooden cottage was comfortable and warm, but I was less inclined than usual to make the short, freezing trip across to the big house in my dressing gown for my daily shower.