Embryo to Enchanting

Ok so here it is, the Diary of a Nobody...a nobody for now at least. But of course you are Reading this so I must be a Somebody...even in the smallest sense!

1970, October...I was born although actually due in September. Lateness being something I try to avoid but often fall in line with - one example of my lateness is the fact that I've been forever delaying laying down all the wonderful ideas I have in my lowly head.

'What ideas?' I hear you at the back cry. Well, that would be telling. This is a blog not a full-on out & out exposure of all which I have kept hidden for all such years.

Birth...we've all been there. Some of us from various perspectives. And after birth comes of course a few years of unknown detail - this said, I will endeavour to fill in as much as I can and as & when I discover the truth about my early years.

Reigate in Surrey was infact my birthplace with the dwelling following my arrival being a little village called Faygate...ah how quaint, picture it if you can...

A few years following my introduction to the world I went to a school in Colegate.

All change at the age of 4 (I believe - verification on request), my young life took me to Sussex, East infact and to a petit village, Mark Cross. Fond memories begin here. Fondle memories later on, folks. Excuse my humour if you will...!

Growing up (some of you may say that I haven't actually grown up yet, but hey 'f' you although nothing wrong with being young at heart) in a house which was previously a vicarage... and many many years before an old Inn also, it seemed giant to myself and my younger sisters & perhaps I seemed a giant to my youngest sis too...!

Memories & good times are vast for that enchanting house and especially my sisters & holidays away. I guess this is as good a time as any to mention that I have 4 sisters, all of them who experienced that dwelling.

Mark Cross brought my primary school days at Mark Cross C & E Primary...who would've thought it, a school named after it's village. Excuse the sarcastic-slant there.

This village, by the way, consisted essentially of only the following commercial establishments: petrol station, pub/restaurant, shop/post office, cafe and garden nursery. Incidentally the cafe did extremely well as Mark Cross is on much-used stretch of road, albeit blink-and-you'd-miss-it village!

So, where were we? Childhood I guess. Maybe no different to other people out there. My sisters I remember for different things, not only in childhood but throughout my life.

(. . . To be continued)

A good a blog as any to post first..! (BangKoK to Krabi...more than oK)

This is a review which I emailed / posted to website on my recent 3-day stay in Krabi...:

Fantastic! Fantastic!

I wanted a getaway from Bangkok, where my girlfriend lives and seeing that it was my birthday coming up, I wanted to stay somewhere nice so as to remember it with her, and for myself of course.

We chose Krabi & only for 3 nights. Normally also we don't splash out on the very luxurious rooms - although we do like to stay in very nice, modern & clean hotels - but this time I thought we'd pay the extra & opt for one of the Pool-Side Villa rooms (or Grand Pool Villa to give it it's correct name, I think). Walking out from the bedroom area to the pool seemed a great idea.

Well, what can I say - we made the most of our short stay with excursions over the course of two days to James Bond Island, the Floating Village, Tiger Temple, Emerald Pool & much more. After checking many (too many really!) street tour operators we passed, the hotel managed to do us a very good price for both of them. Often hotel-booked tours can be more expensive but not in this case.

The weather was great even though low season and this hotel was only a short walk, literally, from beach and beach-facing restaurants etc.

Apart from the great food places we tried, the 'icing on the cake' (excuse the pun) of this mini-break was when on my birthday, whilst I was splashing around in the pool around early evening, the manager came out with a Birthday Cake on my birthday…name & date on it etc (presumable obtained from my check-in/passport details)…and a couple of drinks - I couldn't believe it, a gesture which they did not have to do but did, lovely surprise.

I would definitely return - the place was very nice, clean, friendly, breakfast food and food area was good - oh & to come back to your room with a different design on your bed or sprinkling of Orchids was another plus-point. Also Free internet in lobby / reception...many places charge.

Also jacuzzi-like bath with shower PLUS a separate Shower cubicle, massive & spa-like.

Keep up the good work Ao Nang Orchid team!

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