In need of distractions.....

Despite the protestations and pleas from a certain friend (), today is a sad day, as the missus left this afternoon for Bangkok. Some good news is that she has already emailed me and texted me from Koh Samui to let me know her ferry got in on time and that she didn’t puke, no, not even once, on the trip over. This is very awesome news for us, because she flies to Bangkok at 7 tonight and feeling shitty would have made that an absolutely shite experience. So, I am glad for that, even if it is very crappy that she left today. She was a little upset, although I think she was unhappier at the thought of leaving this (even if Spot does remain incredibly ugly):

I tried to console her anyway before she left with the knowledge that it is only for a month and that the time will simply fly by. Now I just need to console myself with the same information…..

At least I have the IDC to distract me, although, it doesn’t look like it is distracting mi amigo’s as much:

I also have Noé, Célia, James and so on to distract me as well from my mopiness….in fact, Noé and Célia are making dinner again tonight…they keep this up and James and I are simply moving into their place. It’s funny, but I almost feel guilty about letting them feed us all the time….almost. But we’re family now, so not totally guilty. On the first day of the IDC, we were introduced to Tim and Jonas and then we had to introduce ourselves. After we had done that, Tim and Jonas made the announcement that the seven of us are now family….so having the kids cook dinner for their big brothers removes some of the guilt trip I would otherwise feel. That and the fact that Noé is a trained chef who used to, in fact, train other chefs means his food is better than most of the stuff on the island. Anyway, no guilt….but I do have to do something to say thank you (beyond buying bread and beer when I tag along…).

Actually, buying the bread today was a little embarrassing. As we didn’t finish the IDC today until about 5:20 and then I had to wash my gear out from our pool session this morning (ok, gotta mention something gross that Peter will appreciate here, it turns out that Tim hasn’t washed his gear in about two years….not even his wetsuit!! And he will gladly admit that he pees in his wetsuit at least once on every open water dive….just a note for any of you who might want to get into diving…this is a very bad habit to form…chlorine from pools and salt from seawater can both eat away at your gear over time….so if you own your own gear, the best practice is to give it a quick fresh water rinse/duck after every dive or pool session….it is even more essential if you frequently piss in your wetsuit….Timothy!! Bad boy) I didn’t get to the bakery until 5:45ish. They had started using the last loaf in the restaurant…so I have to turn up tonight with half a loaf and a few slices….hmmmm, tad embarrassing….

Another thing that was very cool on the IDC today was the fact that because the missus left, they let me take off to make sure she got her taxi from Chez Chris and see her down to the ferry. So we jumped out of the pool this morning after a skill circuit and then we had lunch. I scarfed down my veggie lasagne (which I must admit was very yummilicious) and then the missus and I bolted off (she had been getting in one last sunbathing session while we froze our arses off in the pool). Quick stop to buy some pairs of fishermen’s pants (more on that in a mo) and then back to Chez Chris, finish her packing and jump on the back of Chai’s truck waiting below. The class started again at 2:00 p.m., but Jonas told me to come back around 2:30 so that I could see the missus off and then I’d just catch up with the rest. Very thoughtful of him.

As the missus came to the lunch too, it also gave Noé, Célia, James and Tim a chance to say their farewells too.

Ok, these fishermen pants…..they are the most comfortable bloody things. I’ll try and get a picture of me in a pair of them, but if you swing by my house in the evenings post-early February, you’ll get a first-hand visual…they’re over-sized trousers similar to medical scrubs, but they fold over and then tie from the back around to the front. Surprisingly they are called “fishermen pants” because the local fishermen wear them. We’ve had to put them on almost every time we have gone for a Thai massage here, so now we know how comfy they can be. So, we picked up a few pairs for me and a few for the missus for back home in the house. In fact, I have a pair of them on right now!

Talking of massages, we had another one last night after a lovely dinner of pizza and crème brulee at Farango’s. We tried a new place, Royal Thai Massage….very nice!! They even wash your feet using bum guns and little wooden bowls before your massage…I know what you are thinking, but they don’t use these bum guns on their arses….at least I bloody well hope not….otherwise I had poop-feet last night….

Anyway, the massage was very good, but holy shit, the little old lady doing mine nearly made me pass out! I like the pain a little and seriously, I now rate this place as the best decently-priced Thai massage place on the island, but Jesus, the pain level increased quite considerably for me from Phloe to this place….the missus said her was actually quite relaxing….bugger….we’ll have to get Heather and Danielle into some of this pain action….puts hair on your chest…s’good for ya.

At least it is a little more reputable than some of the other places on the island. The missus noticed this place last night and threatened to have me sent there if I don’t behave…a “waxing padicure”…sounds like a painful way to get the PADI mentality out of me…and I certainly don’t want the second option!!:

Oh, and one of my pick-up football buddies in the BIFF Invitational League is coming over to visit!! Dave Hwreliak is already in the country and just let me know he touches down in Koh Tao sometime in the middle of the month. Nice!!

Anyway, kids…..off to dinner to distract me some more……