Living in Bangkok with Two Lurchers

I think it's fairly well known that Thailand is in the top ten of the most dangerous places to drive in the World.  Around 24,000 people die on the roads in Thailand every year. Holiday seasons like New Year and Songkran are the most dangerous times as almost everyone seems to be travelling and partying at the same time. But actually, there is constant risky behaviour on the roads. Working in the Distribution industry in Thailand means I get to hear about some pretty horrific accidents. Hearing news of a fatal accident is quite a regular occurrence. Yet it never seems to get any less shocking for me. So why is Thailand so unsafe? In my company, we focus on Safety relentlessly. Every accident, no matter how minor, is investigated in great detail with preventive actions outlined. Looks Can Be Deceiving Driving through various industrial estates each week, I can see that other businesses also focus on Safety, on the face of it at least. They proudly display their record...

As we've passed the one year in Thailand milestone, it feels like we're running out of 'firsts'. I've already been for my second annual medical and have renewed my work permit. Our second Christmas is fast approaching and we feel like we know the drill for New Year and Songkran. I'm sure I'll still feel like an idiot the next time I have to 'make merit' but at least I will know what to expect. So, I was very excited when we got our first wedding invitation! The invitation was from one of Chris' staff at work and we were requested to attend the evening reception. I think it's quite normal for only close family and friends to attend the actual ceremonial parts of the day. A wider group then joins in the evening. A Last Minute Decision Initially, Chris had declined the invitation. This was because our flight home from Japan was originally not due to land until around 7pm so we would have missed the whole event. Following a change of flight...

I probably should have done some research before we departed for Japan, as I had quite a limited view of what Japan might be like! What did I really know about Japan? I remember a friend going on a school trip to Japan and her Japanese roommate getting up at 5 am to study every day. In 'Bridget Jones' Diary' when Mark Darcy is introduced, we find out that his wife divorced him. Bridget’s Mum comments that ‘His wife was Japanese. Very cruel race.’ I also remember the film ‘Lost in Translation’ with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson bonding over their mutual loneliness in an alien city. So my expectation of Japan was that I would feel like an alien, surrounded by mean workaholics! What I actually found was quite different, and actually a lot more familiar than I expected. Japan with the Thais Now, it’s worth remembering that my immediate reference point is my life in Thailand. I only understand around half of what's going on almost...