In the jewellry category, the winner is........

Topaz!

Friday 19th (updated and finished on Monday 22nd)
My breakfast in bed arrived pretty much in time but it was really breakfast in my room as I had to get up to let the maid in and I ate it at the table anyway.

By the time I'd got ready for the day and more or less packed my bag it was nearing 10. I asked the front desk to contact the Gems gallery for me and since they were supposed to be 20 minutes away I went to bget some more Thai currency. I had to wait till 10 before the exchange bureaux open but was still back at the hotel in time for a 30 minute wait.

Once there I went to the silver counter to first find a pair of stud earrings to match my garnets. Last time I bought some drop ones, which are quite nice but not for everyday wear. Fortunately I found a matching set.

I then looked at other colours and after looking at both peridot (light green) and the topaz decided on the latter. I bought a set of ring, pendant and studs and then foudn a matching bracelet.

I was thinking of getting dropped off at Pan Thip Plaza again to do some DVD and computer shopping but in the end went straight back to the hotel.The traffic was so bad that it was a challenge getting there by 12, which was check out time. At one traffic light I saw a bus conductor open the rear door and have a cigarette. Obviously there's no smoking on the bus so she basically held her hand outside and stuck her head out to smoke it. She'd finished half of it be fore the bus moved off. Once back at the hotel, I basically just packed my back and went downstairs. Once there I checked my email and then headed out again, sans pc case.

I went to Pan Thip Plaza as the first stop, getting some lunch on the way from roadside stalls - noodles, a chicken drumstick and a sweet corn. Once there I got some DVDs and exchanged the "wrong disk" from last time. The actual disk didn't match the cover. I also bought some software and 4gB versions of the memory for my camera and on a USB thumb drive.

I then wandered the half dozen malls along that part of Sukimvit, in the end only buying a light blue dressy top that might be OK for one of the dinners. I headed back to the hotel about 6 and my back was aching from all the walking. I unloaded my purchases into my PC case and headed to a nearby massage/reflexology place for a back and shoulders massage. It actually felt much better afterwards. I then wandered over to Soi Cowboy again just to take some photos and then back along the main street. It started to sprinkle lightly as I left the hotel but cleared up shortly afterwards so I walked further down the street through the roadside stalls. The rain returned more heavily and I headed back to the hotel, getting a little damp on the way.

I needed to use the loo, so I went to the one in the foyer. Some bright spark had designed this with almost full length mirrors on every wall. I don't know what you think, but I don't need to see infinite reflections of myself in those circumstances.

The hotel staff called a cab and I was soon heading to the airport through the rain. It cost a fair bit less than they'd suggested. I guess they were being conservative to make sure I wasn't short of local currency. We'd just got on to the freeway when I realised my bracelet wasn't on my wrist. There was a moment of panic, but I found it on the seat beside me. I'm going to need a permanent fix for this.

Unfortunately they have closed off most of the taxi drop off area at the international terminal so you get dropped off at the far end near Aisle S. I then had to walk all the way back to Aisle B. Annoying more than anything else. Check in was quick and once in the lounge I had a drink and some noodles and mini pies to eat, since I hadn't had dinner. (not sure I had enough for dinner and cab fare). My free massage was a foot massage this time and very relaxing it was too. It was like the sort of massages most people associate with the word whereas most of mine usually involve a degree of pain as I'm trying to get some sort of sporting injury sorted out.

After that I got on the net and wrote most of this blog. I packed up and headed for the departure lounge. When I looked at the board I couldn't see my flight so I started to worry and was running around looking for terminal E. I got to the main cross roads and head down one leg, realised it was C went back to the centre then upstairs to E. At security they told me I was leaving from C so back I went. This time as I passed the departure board I saw the flight was still boarding so I slowed down. Still, by the time I'd got through the security check, there was no one waiting in the lounge and I walked straight on. I wasn't the last though. We were informed later that 2 people still hadn't turned up and they'd located their luggage. If they didn't turn up soon the luggage was going to be offloaded. Didn't hear the final result but we left shortly after that.

I had the dinner and once that was over went to sleep, not waking till the lights came on for breakfast. I was only about 4 hours. I didn't even bother with duty free and was through passport quickly, got my bag which was in the first few off and out through customs. This time I declared my golf shoes but said I hadn't worn them so they Xrayed my bag but didn't require me to unpack it.

Since the plane was more or less on time, I wasn't rushed and got to golf with plenty of time and even hit a bucket of balls on the driving range. I was ready to buy that driver till I realised it was $499 not $399. Turns out the Supersports 12,500 Baht was actually cheaper. I started well with a par, then a couple of bogies and a birdie on the Par 3 4th, which was also the nearest the pin. After that things deteriorated with a couple of 4 putts and even a miss to finish 10 over my handicap. Concentration didn't last I'm afraid, although I did get another nearest in the 3rd last hole, only to have it disallowed because I wrote my name ion the B grade sheet instead of the A grade. ( statement at start of previous sentence).

Don't go away. I'm off again in 2 days for the Vets championships, visits to friend in Queensland and family in South Australia, followed by a few days sightseeing in Tasmania before the Mensa conference. New blog to follow.