Phil Called Round,

so then we were off for breakfast,

 we decided to drive into town, parking in Walking Street, the Samsung television we noticed was still not working,

we had decided on the Pattaya Beer Garden, which is behind the first set of bars you come as you go along Beach Road on the sea side of the road, you walk past the bars which are now on your left to the Pattaya Beer Bar behind them,

you will know if you have the correct place when you see this shrine as you start to walk to the Pattaya Beer Bar, the shrine will be on your right hand side,

 the view along the beach looking past the waste water treatment plant,

 in the distance there are so many people on parachutes being towed by boats,

 it looks great fun, but not with my fear of heights, but many years ago Steve from the UK went up in one on Jomtien beach,

 in the bay there are 4 pontoons like these, that way the speed boats are kept away from swimmers,

 to infinity,

 and safely back,

 both Phil and myself ordered the same, chicken korma curry with rice and a coffee, very nice it was too,

 a small garden and pool has been set up on the way out,

 complete with flamingo,

on a serious note a few years ago today a good friend died, Stephen Blumenthal, 

in his life time he supported a local charity, The Mercy Centre, to remember him every year his friends raise money to support the charity, so this is where we are today, firstly to the office which is in the small soi next to the Big C on Sumkivitt, in the picture Lhen Lhen the coordinator for our trip and Slim Jim,

 next stop Makro, lots of food and household goods,

 half in my truck the other in the Mercy Centre mini bus,

 then to the house, set in large grounds there are plenty of things for the kids to play with,

 their favourite in the distance, a trampoline,

 Slim Jim as generous as ever, has not only paid to have this one repaired, he also is going to buy the home a new one, we sort of split our funds 50/50, Slim Jim pays for toys, like this year the trampolines, last year guitars, keyboards, you get the idea, all the stuff that kids love, where as my contribution is used for food and household goods

 many hands make light work,

 we also bumped into Steve who we have meet before, he helps out here,

 everyone helped so we were unloaded in no time at all,

 all ready to be put away,

 since our last visit a new basket ball court has been laid,

and I believe a new kitchen area as well as many more outbuildings,

 more bits and pieces from the truck,

 nearly finished,

 and here they all are,

 then a surprise, 

 we were treated to some Christmas songs, starting with Jingle Bells,

 of course Slim Jim with his beard looked so much like Father Christmas, beside him Francesca who we chatted with later,

 next every one showed us how to dance in the traditional Thai way,

it was all great fun, but a couple of things, the home is run through volunteers giving their time and others donations, if you have any of each to spare please give generously to the home, at the moment there are 28 kids being looked after, but that is only what you see, what you do not see for just one example is the children of families who have so little money they can not afford to send their kids to school, some who just eke out a living from what we throw away, to put a child through school for 1 year costs $150, at this moment in time the Mercy Centre is putting 250 children through school, it would like to do more, but it needs your help,

 we said our goodbyes as the children started getting ready for their evening meal, I dropped Slim Jim off at his home then to the weekend night market on Thepprisitt Road,

 the sun had already set,

 but it made the lights on the lamp stall stand out,

 opposite the bar two stalls had been set up, one selling shoes, one secondhand clothes,

 the night sky, the place was absolutely packed, it must be Christmas coming up! whilst there I called Diana in the Philippines, all was well with her and the family,

 as I was leaving Craig arrived to day Hi,

 along with his friend Robin,

 by now I was hungry, so where did I think of eating? near the market there was of course the Punch & Judy,

beer and steak pie, chips, peas, a glass of red wine and today's Daily Mail, after the meal I went home for some television, a few from different programs that I like, then just after midnight I was off to bed.