We Wanted To Buy A Couple More Ceramic Pots,

for the cactus,

so we went to the weekend plant market, if you take the Sukhumvit Road going towards Bangkok as you pass the Bangkok/Pattaya hospital on your left take the the next 'U' turn going back to Pattaya and it will be on your left, in the car park looking back towards the Bangkok Pattaya hospital,

 one of the first stalls we came across,

 was selling orchids,

 next to one selling artificial flowers,

 and waterlilies, also perhaps a few lotus,

 then new to me here a white bat flower plant, 

Tacca integrifolia, to give it it's proper name has a unusual flower indeed, I have read about them before, but this is the first time I have actually seen one, several species are cultivated as ornamental plants for their bold foliage and large flowers, the more well-known T. chantrieri that goes by the common names of Black Bat Flower, Bat-head Lily, Devil Flower or Cat's Whiskers, amongst others, they are native to tropical regions of South America, Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia, and various oceanic islands,

 lots of decorations for miniature gardens,

 there were some artificial lotus flowers on a previous stall, well here is a real one,

 these looked nice, the flowers about 2" across,

 the handicraft stall here again,

 baskets, pots and flutes all for sale,

 we had walked the length of the first aisle, nearing mini Siam and McDonald's,

 one of the more unusual orchids, this one nearly 5 feet tall,

 with huge flowers on it's stem,

 Diana buying some orchids for the table tomorrow as we are eating at home,

 one of the three aquatic outlets,

 more orchids,

 lots of them,

 all of these at 5 for 200 baht, (at today's rate $5.90, £3.80),

 time for an ice coffee and tea,

 and a bite to eat,

 for Diana, I had already eaten breakfast, but Diana must have been starving,

 whilst Diana's food was being prepared I noticed these corn on the cob,

 it was these that caught my eye being a dark purple colour,

 back in the truck with our cold drinks, no luck with the pots for the cactus, 

 but I did buy some of these at 6 baht each, I had originally thought I would cut down some of the old tomato pots to put cactus seeds in, but the thought of using a craft knife and cutting a finger or three was outweighed by the price of these,

 so I put a piece of plastic over the slots in the bottom of each pot,

 added some potting soil and a few seeds, a touch of water, 

 and cover with cling film, to keep bugs and pests out and the moisture in,

 I just hope Diana does not need any cling film for tomorrows meal,

 then shower and change for our evenings bar-b-q, a starter of chicken and sweetcorn soup,

 followed by garlic bread,

 'Cheers!',

 then lite the bar-b-q, which sent smoke,

 and showers of sparks into the night sky,

 for tonight a baked potato, pork chop and crackling,

 Diana decided on something a little different, 

 spaghetti bolognese,

 so eyes down and tuck in,

for our dessert we shared a Big Daddy marshmallow made by Theo, that Jim and Cher had kindly brought over from America for us, we listen to music till 11.00 or so, then indoors for the penultimate episode of Ripper Street, with that we were off to bed.