HAPPY NEW YEAR!

to everyone,

we were off to TukCom, Steve wanted to buy a sim card, also I wanted to check out the price of a new camera, the bad news is that the Panasonic DMC TZ18 that I have is not available here, the even worse news is that the other much more expensive TZ 20, its better brother with more buttons and bells is, the reason I am thinking of buying the same again is that although failing after only 8 months of buying it, I at least can keep the batteries for the new one, then one of the shops suggested Amon, the downstairs store could mend it, so down I went and was told for 1,500 it could be repaired or I should say the dust in the lens could be removed, so after taking today's picture first thing New Years morning I will drop it off for repair, but that will mean no pictures for New Years day till as long as they take to repair it, cue roars of laughter and cries of shame!

 we decided on breakfast in Walking Street,

 every thing looks so different in the day light,

 the neon signs now so dull,

 the car looks the same,

 a decision was made,

the Pattaya Beer Garden it was,

 'Cheers!', from me with ruby murray,

 Steve and Kai chose Thai food,

 it was a bit bouncy out in the bay,

on the way back we called in to pick up another present for Diana that I dropped off yesterday to be wrapped,

during the day Mark called by so a few cups of tea and a chat, then off to meet Juu in Champions for the evening, the street, Soi Marine Plaza, was busy with lots of food stalls open for business,

and who should I walk by? none other than Steve and Kai who had left earlier to grab a bite to eat,

 Walking Street was packed,

 a quick pose under the Champions sign and we were in,

 at about 11.30 we made our way along to the beach,

 the street looking totally different at night,

 Christmas and New Year decorations everywhere,

 everyone was in festive mood,

 Alcatraz looks so different at night,

 as do the seafood shops,

then on to the beach, there had been fireworks going off all evening, also these hot air balloons,

were being launched in to the night sky,

 it was almost standing room only on the beach, 

 then at the stroke of midnight the major display started,

 and what a display,

 the sky along the whole bay became alive with fireworks,

 also there were fireworks being launched from the beach where we stood,

 accompanied by more hot air balloons,

 it was a great display,

 that never seemed to stop,

 but nothing lasts forever,

 as I was watching this family launch their balloon,

it seemed strange to think that a few hundred years ago in the UK, well a few more than that,

 performing a trick like this,

 would get you burnt at the stake as a witch or warlock,

 Steve and Kai enjoyed the show,

 as did Brian and Kai, Juu and myself,

 then the crowd started flying their hot air balloons as the firework display had finshed,

 up, up and away!

we made the walk back through the crowds to Champions for a nightcap or three,

then back to 388 on motorbike taxis, so as you are reading this how many New Years resolutions have you made? more importantly, how many will you keep? then for us it was off to bed.