Yesterday battling against heavy rain and winds gusting up to 90 miles per hour I made it home from work at the end of my three day 12 hour shift rota. Feeling fairly down in the dumps with the UK weather, I was feeling a little more upbeat health-wise as my recent cold and chest infection seemed to be finally subsiding. I picked up a cold during my last week in Thailand and boarding my flight home I seemed to have rid myself of the cold cum virus. Arriving back to the UK and into icy weather conditions my cold quickly returned with a vengeance, forming a kind of cross cultural super bug . My nine full days back in England have been filled with seven 12 hour work shifts leaving me feeling very tired and in need of another holiday. As I wonder what today and it's forcasted chilly gale force winds will do to my ebbing morale and fading tan, my mind constantly drifts back to Thailand and the warm climate it now embraces. Drifting back to the village life and the luxuries that a small fistful of Thai baht bring. The herdsman taking his cattle out to graze often pops into our village garden and sits with me for a few minutes by our fishing pond. We talk in our different languages and point at the goldfish, not understanding anything of what the other has said. Today I miss that misunderstanding. I miss the old lady with her young grandchild and their early morning visits to see Wonderful Wi. The old lady and Wilai talk as the small child wanders amongst the flowers and trees, finally kneeling down to watch the goldfish in the pond, ever hopeful for some chocolate or sweets. I really do miss that quiet hour late at night, just my Jack Daniel, cigarettes and me. The Bangkok Post and a smoke, JD and coke, peace and quiet on a toxin diet, now just memories for me. I've telephoned Wi everyday since coming home and a few days back she told me some good news. Her search for a puppy dog has now ended with the arrival of Cola a small tubby black and white bundle of mongrel. Wi is delighted with her new friend Cola who has quickly got into the routine of trying to hinder Wi with her garden chores. Wi's last puppy Nin, unfortunately choked to death about three years ago and I'm hoping this new pup turns out to be more of a coca than choker Cola. The one who is best avoided even in a good mood, Mama, hardly made a mention in my holiday blogs. Mama was in amazingly high spirits throughout my ten day stay in the village, never once slipping into her "Beast of the East" mode. Since my return to the UK the beast has resurfaced and Wi now fears another attempted coup. Mother and daughter have been warring continually since my return home. My last telephone call to the battlefield revealed a complete breakdown in communications had occurred between the two, with young Cola having firmly allied his fat butt to the Wilai camp. The "War of Silence" will probably continue for a day or two but if the coup is coming, it'll come soon. Today I have got a well needed day off work and I'll have a few beers this afternoon and watch some football. A full 12 hour shift of overtime waits for me tomorrow as I work my way towards a late April Thailand break....... Until then it's just memories for me.