May 2017

May seemed like a month set-aside for birthdays. Nikki had hers on the 8^th and then Helen had her 60^th birthday on the 17^th. Even Coco got in the act turning 5 during the month.

Helen’s sister and husband Gerry came for the big birthday and stayed for two plus weeks. Dani and Greg also arrived for the birthday….it was meant to be a surprise but some prying eyes had seen a diary entry. We celebrated the birthday in the morning with champagne and pancakes and went to Ferringhi Gardens Restaurant in the evening. 

Later for three nights all six of us went to a resort in Phuket to further celebrate. It was longer by vehicle from the airport to the accommodation that the turbo-jet flight on Firefly from Penang. The resort was relatively new on a hillside behind Karon Beach. Phuket consists of several beaches……………..Patong being the best known ….mainly for sleaze. Karon was a bit ‘less developed’. The resort chalets were around a complex of pools or elsewhere with a bit of a view. One nice afternoon by the pool was rather upstaged by several young, extremely loud (and empty-headed) young American women talking loud nonsense. Obviously Trump voters. We swam, read and snacked by the pool and enjoyed the thrills on the beach. Gerry found a bar where he could watch his beloved Celtic in their final league match for the year….they remained unbeaten.

The Thai boy that comes aboard and guides the kite is not secured at any time during the flight relying on bravado and luck.

We spent one afternoon at Patong Beach….it was rather wet but the rain parted to allow the golf match between Scotland and the Rest of the world….well it was mini golf on a rooftop. Scotland finished in their familiar rugby position. Ann did get most holes-in one though.

Dani and Greg left for Singapore from Phuket and we later returned home.

Helen showed Ann and Gerry the sights of Penang and joined in the pub quiz three times. We had to split the team as only 6 are allowed per team…the ‘Celts Abroad’ won a round or so but the Stratocasters had two wins and a third. 

We had earlier won the Yearly Irish Quiz including the Jackpot which was donated to charity.

Gerry by this time was a high roller at Healy Macs such that the boss allowed him exclusive coverage of Gerry found a bar where he could watch his  Celtic team in the Scottish FA Cup against Aberdeen. Celtic won late in the game.

Gerry would often volunteer to take Coco for a walk. I don't know where they went but now when you are walking the Curly little lady the brakes go on adjacent to Healy Macs

The photography has been curtailed during May with the inclement weather and the car being used to show our guests around. Fruit-eating seemed to be the order of the day. First we had one of our tree fruiting and then a large tree in the Botanic Gardens was attracting main Broad-billed Green Pigeons.

There is a pair of Collared Kingfisher along our end of the walkway that appear in prime condition and I spent a few hours to see if they were nesting (no current evidence for that)

I was surprised when visiting Penanti that one Kingfisher chick had survived and was being fed by Dad. A subsequent visit revealed that Dad was again solo and feeding himself. There are currently about 40-50 Blue-throated Bee-eaters feeding nests or preparing to do so.