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A Rather Special Night

Life got a little brighter this week when an unexpected email arrived, Yes the Mellenheads were unexpectedly back, here is a submission from the fan page which explains all, 

''So there I was typing away in front of the computer, doing the thing I dread most in the year, the tax return, not a great way to spend your day. Outside its cold and grey, as it has been all summer, and now autumn is here no one has really noticed. Ah bring out the Willard Grant Conspiracy album! (Sorry Robert!)The newspapers are even gloomy than usual and everyone is now looking at working longer years because all the pension schemes we have been investing in have gone belly up because the City cannot understand basic mathematics, whilst still paying themselves massive bonuses for orchestrating this chaos in the first place. Oh happy days.

All of a sudden an unexpected email arrives from my dear friend Cindy in the States enquiring if I had heard John Mellencamp was in London, and set for playing a small closed event for the London music press. The adrenalin started to kick in, and before I trotted out the usual pleading email to the ever suffering Tony, had reached boiling point. Begging and pleading I managed to negotiate an hour off work and sat back waiting for the all important response. By late evening good news had been confirmed and a mad scramble through the laundry found my Mellencamp T shirt. (Freshly washed, whoever my neighbour at the show would be happy to hear. Just as well it was going on anyway.) My wife who is ever tolerant of a near 50 old jumping up and down like a small child on his fifth can of Pepsi Max, and watching with complete indifference had one word. Where? And for once was quite happy with the answer.

So off on another Mellenadventure this time to Johns’ first London appearance since the Thames froze. (Ok slight exaggeration.)  was soon on Tottenham (Bottom of the league!) Court Road wandering through a pile of touts trying to sell me Travis tickets (They played the Apollo the same night, and I bet were bloody good, Travis not the touts.) The chosen venue was the Borderline, a small club, performance venue of a capacity of around 275.

The event was an industry album launch of Johns new album, with the very happy news that the great man himself would be in attendance to do a short set of five songs, with the CD played in full. No problems on arrival, I was on the guest list, and indeed as it was guest list only so no chance for touts or ebayers. I was third through the door and managed to snag three seats, just to the side in what looked suspiciously like it could be a VIP area. I awaited eviction but it didn’t come. Indeed I had the best seat in the house. (Ok there were only seven) My friend Perry returned from the bar, and if we didn’t think things were going well, the bar was free. How good!

John came on stage, cigarette in one hand, guitar in the other, striking a classic American pose, a little before seven. He was introduced by Paul Rees, editor of Q magazine, who gave a lovely introduction from a fans point of view. (I shall be renewing my subscription.) The crowd were encouraged to not do the London thing and hide at the back, and get down the front where the hard core of 20 real fans were gathered. The set extended to 9 songs lasting 50 minutes. John seemed to enjoy the very informal atmosphere and laughed and joked and chatted to the audience and responded individually to humour and comments as they were launched from the crowd. It really was more of a party than a concert, as I looked to my left were Paul from Q and Elaine (Johns’ wife), and no more than five yards in front of me John himself.

John mentioned at times he was a little too prolific at song writing, told a delightfully oddball story about his Grandmother and more worryingly the precautions that they have to take with Hud and Speck as a result of threats received as a result of his song writing.

Particularly nice to run into friends I hadn’t seen for ten years . We just picked up where we left off as if it only had been yesterday. To finish the perfect night I managed to find some quality Sussex ale, and supped one or two before heading home, though the bottle of wine on the train could have been deemed excessive, but hell I had something to celebrate.

We believe that there is a real chance of a full spring European tour. John if you are out there come to Brighton please. We would love to see you here. Lunch on me at Bill’s (http://www.billsproducestore.co.uk/) Real food that would do Farm Aid proud. 

There are many fan clubs out there, few work harder for their fans than ours. When they get you into such a special night, and one that you will remember for the rest of your life, you do appreciate it. Thanks Tony and Sharon and the rest of the moderators. See you in the Spring!'' 

 

If this link doesn't work go to http://www.etribes.com/video/mygallery/76335 

PSA Latest

Latest test is 0.88 'Stable' next test in six months time. The reading is pretty much what it was last time. Basically we are monitoring trends within the readings, and what we have here illustrates treatment has taken the desired effect and the readings have leveled off. I will be monitored over a 5 year period and if it stays at this level there shouldn't be a problem. 

See the revised link to Sussex Cancer Network 

From a clients answer phone.

Welcome to the Psychiatric Hotline. If you are obsessive-compulsive, please press 1 repeatedly. If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press button 2. If you have multiple personalities, please press 3, 4, 5, and 6. If you are paranoid-delusional, we know who you are and what you want. Just stay on the line until we can trace the call. If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a little voice will tell you which number to press. If you are manic-depressive, it doesn't matter which number you press. No one will answer.

The long and somewhat alarming trip home!

We managed to negotiate another couple of hours of paradise at Tongsai and finally check out at 2PM, being accompanied to the airport by the manager and another member of staff who checked us all in and said farewell. Koh Samui airport is quite odd and rather delightful. Its all outdoors with a series of shops on a main street leading down to the gate. Once at the gate it is all deck chairs, cushions and sofas with complimentary soft drinks and snacks for all. (BAA eat your heart out.) You literally sit in a deckchair by the side of the runway. Even the toilet has a large tropical fishtank inside.

Bangkok Air back to Bangkok itself and fortunately a jet plane rather than the turbo props they use sometime. It turned out to be more than fortunate. As we approached Bangkok International we hit a major storm which buffeted the plane severely as we cam in to land, with the plane clearly struggling to make the runway in the crosswind. As we landed the plane came close to flipping over, inside the cabin absolute silence, which remained as we came to safe halt. The guy behind me crossed himself and winked. Had we had the turbo prop we could have had a major problem. We then had the curious departure from the plane with the stewardesses leading the passengers two by two off the plane with an umbrella, and ensuring everyone got to the bus dry. It took an age but was cute to watch.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi the new international airport is excellent. Nice cheap places to eat, plenty of useful shopping, TV and toilets at the gate. It has been loudly criticised but we found it user friendly, though immigration could have been faster.

Onbound to Dubai with the worst Emirates flight I have known. No drinks trolley until after the meal. Well done, though not as if any of it was edible. Our stewardess was AOWL and I had to crib water and drinks from the other aisle. A huge amount of attitude from the Dubai locals, enhanced when we had a medical emergency. When the medics were boarding the plane to assist a cardiac patient they could not get through as the locali refused to stay in their seats and were trying to push them to get to the front of the plane in preparation for departure. Some were standing as we were taxiing just after landing. Add to that a number of screaming children, at full volume for the whole flight leaving their nannies clueless. (The parents were of course up the front.) 

Dubai airport at 3am is not a pretty site either. Clearly in desperate need of a make over. Two coffee bars, One pub, and a small food court for the whole airport. Very little seating most of which was taken up by people slumped across seats fast asleep. 

The final sector back into London was a better effort, and I managed to catch some sleep.  

 

 

A Fond Farewell

A final meal at The Shack, a New York owned Steak and Burger joint on the front helped us celebrate our last night on Samui and thus a return to Bo Phut for the evening. It also gave us a shameful meeting with some very loud and aggressive Brits a few tables away. An all male group (mid thirties) from London shouting and screaming, while staring around the restaurant desperately seeking eye contact with anyone who might object. The owner found his night all of a sudden very busy trying to keep the group in check. We left before things became to excited.

A fond farewell to Giab at the bar behind the Plaza. She seems unable to attract any more passing trade and I can see the bar moving on quickly, a shame.

Finally we set off some Fire Lanterns from the beach as a farewell to Thailand, one for each of us.

 

 

Tongsai

As a treat to the family our last couple of nights were in a Villa at the very high end Tongsai Bay. This beautiful hotel complex is more Amazonian lodge than Samui. The original rainforest has been maintained with a series of villas and rooms built in the grounds. Our Villa consisted of two large rooms and bathrooms separated by a very large balcony on which lay a full bathtub, a gazebo with day bed and a couple of loungers. A dining area and fridge were also outside. It was a lot of space. as befits nature a couple of loud birds visited during the day, usually after turndown service seeking titbits. If there were none there then would fly around the patio shrieking loudly in protest.

A notice asked us to be aware of other invaders including snakes after rain. The only other intruders we did get was a large millepede and an ants nest by the toilet. Some would freak but its just back to nature. The food at the restaurants was surprisingly reasonable, and a little coffee and cake shop a bargain. We just lounged by the pool for a couple of days, served by the water boy who came around hourly with bottled water and ice. Pure bliss. There was also a fruit bar at breakfast with a lady (looking suspiciously like the Pam Anne Singapore girl) slicing the fruit fresh to the plate. If it didn't look good it was straight in the bin. Mango and Mangosteen being my favourites. 

 

 

Around the Island

Samui is under major development, with new hotels and flats springing up everywhere. It is not going to remain very Thai for much longer. The Island itself is circumnavigated in a couple of hours on its only major road. There are sights to be seen, amongst them a large 'Big Buddha' by the airport which is worth a visit. We hired a car for the day and went to the Buddha, a number of temples, Grandmother and Grandfather rocks, (a number of phallic shaped rocks, with a rather nice little beach bar situated in the middle.) the Samui Aquarium and the waterfalls on the other side of the Island.

There are of course snorkeling and diving trips, elephant riding, canoeing, and a curious combination of football and golf where you kick the ball into the holes. Plenty to do, but that feeling of being in Thailand has already to be sort out. Ryan and I did a cookery course, which involved a trip to the local market and gave us some secrets into Thai cuisine.

A sad sight was the seven eleven in Bangkak, just down the road, a car drove into it the other night with the impact bringing down electrical lines onto a van and causing a huge explosion leading to some serious injuries. The site looked as if a bomb had hit it.

Street of Candles

As stated on my last posting Bophut has a mixed nightlife. Some nights a bar is packed and sound system jumping, the next night it is closed, but there is one thing in common, all the bars are European themed and you wont find any Thai people anywhere near them. Ryan and I searched high and low for a bit of local colour, but found nothing which resembled the chance of a bit more of a mix with ethnic life.

Second night out however we found a bar tucked away down the back of Bophut Plaza, a small shopping Soi near the pier. Very basic with a few farang and some local people, now this was more like it. However we soon found ourselves on our own as the evening progressed. The bar needed some more custom, so Ryan and I set to work with some tea lights and soon we had a street of light leading from the main street, through the plaza to the bar. Despite Ryans' best efforts at bar hustler we could not entice any more people down the alley to get things going. The locals were having fun keeping the lights going everytime the flames blew out, and were taking great amusement from the spectacle, but still no more trade.

We liked it and intend to be giving Giab some more trade over the next few days.  

 

Bo Phut

Onwards then to Ko Samui and the Waterfront Hotel in Bo Phut, which just as it says is Ocean front with beautiful views of the surrounding Islands. We have a family cottage on the beach, it is simple but all we need. The hotel is very friendly and is British owned, and thus most of the guests are British. A friendly lot but it does feel a Brit enclave amoungst the French, who are also here in numbers.

Bo Phut is a very nice little town full of fine restaurants and bars, each with a theme. Aussie (odd as there are none of them here, according to their governments advisory Thailand is too dangerious to visit????) ,French, Irish etc. There are note no girlee bars, they are firmly banned, if you want that sort of bar you go 10 minutes down the road to Chaweng, whose Soy Reggae is a full on strip. (It also has an Ice Bar, which the boys loved as a real get away from the heat.) Imagine Southport v Blackpool in the entertainment stakes. 

The Waterfront though is number one on trip advisor for Koh Samui, and makes an excellent base, with a poolside bar which seems to serve usually to 2am. Bit pricey on the cocktail front, but that would be my only critisicm. Very good value otherwise. 

 

 

Frog on a Stick

For our final night in the Hotel De La Paix we decided to eat in the hotel, very well known for its traditional food. Remind me never to let Ros loose on a tasting menu again. By the time the rest of us had had two very fine courses, Ros had despatched a snake salad, several species of fish, before the encore of a frog, on a stick. I am told it tasted of chicken. yeah OK!

I managed to recover my nerves in the very lovely bar afterwards. The central areas seating is basically four very large beds, perfect for a chill out. However bear in mind the walls of the bar are currently exhibiting some paintings of the pictures of the victims of the civil war. Cambodia leaves its mark.

We now leave and head back to Thailand and the more tourist friendly resort of Koh Samui.

 

 Therapy Khmer Style