The Game

The drivers at Ford get together to play "football" (soccer) once a month.  Mick told us he was playing Saturday night and asked if we wanted to come watch.  It sounded like something fun to do, so I texted Mick to pick us up before the game.  I figured out how to copy something from the translate app and paste it into a text message, and crossed my fingers that the app was translating properly.  He texted back, "OK," so I hoped we were on track, and we were.

Tim and I had a nice relaxing Saturday hanging out at the pool and ordered some pizza for an early dinner.  The delivery guy actually made it up to our condo door this time.  The first two times we ordered, they had trouble finding the place, since there is a "Garden Cliff Spa and Resort" just up the road from us. Everybody thinks that's our place the first time they come, so I always write in the "special instructions" section to go past that place, all the way to the end of the road.  I also wrote in the "special instructions" section to call when they arrived and I would come down to the security gate, thinking they would be stopped there.  But I guess the security guy let him in, and he rang the bell without trying to call me first.  I wonder if anyone reads those "special instructions" when they're in English?

Anyway, Mick picked us up at the appointed time, dressed in his ManU Ford jersey.  He is pretty crazy about Manchester United, and wears the number of his favorite player.  It was about a twenty-five minute drive to the soccer field - about half the size of a regular soccer field, and raised up on a cement slab.  It did have real grass (I think) and lights for the night game, with netting that completely enclosed the field to keep in stray balls.  A game of younger guys was just finishing up, shirts vs. skins.  It was still hovering around 90°F, and as humid as heck.  Don't know how they played for a solid hour in that heat.

The drivers trickled in on their scooters, and I felt like we were something of a curiosity to everyone - what are these two old farangs doing here?  Mick's wife came up and introduced herself and her younger sister, both petite little ladies.  Another driver's wife was chasing her little toddler around the sitting area.  Felt quite a bit like the softball game atmosphere at home.  The equipment was makeshift for a lot of the players, some playing in sneakers, just a few with shin guards.  Mick had cleats with very little cleat left on them.  The game was self-officiated, with an occasional "Hand!  Hand!" shouted in English, but no other controversy.  We were struck by the much more subdued celebrating when a goal was scored - if you weren't watching, you wouldn't have known someone scored.  Mick's team won, 8-6, and everyone parted amicably.  I enjoyed the evening, and would love to catch a Pattaya United FC game at some point.

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They also play something in southeast Asia called "Sepak Takraw." One of the Ford wives was telling me how she frequently sees this weird mash up of soccer and volleyball being played near her house - she thought they were kicking a wooden ball.  I looked it up online and found this: Sepak Takraw on Youtube; the ball is made of rattan.  You've really got to be nimble to do these insane high kicks and flips. This would definitely be another fun spectator event.


Tim went with some co-workers a while back to a local pub called the "Punch and Judy," (remember the old movie theater on the Hill in Grosse Pointe?) and wanted to take me there (to the pub, not the theater.)  I'd read some rave reviews about their "Sunday roast," so we planned our outing for Sunday evening.  I went to mass Sunday afternoon, where the road work is continuing it's destructive march across the front of the church.  The entrance was blocked, but we were able to go in through the exit.  They announced at mass that both entrances would likely be blocked next week, and suggested parking either at the Mosque just south of the church, or the Index Living Mall to the north.  I'm curious to see what we'll be facing next week.

John XXIII relic in monstrance in front of his picture

The church had an elaborate shrine in the front for the touring relics of the church's newest saints, John XXIII and John Paul II (the priest was holding the relic of John Paul II for veneration when I took this picture.)  According to UCA News, the relics include a small piece of skin from John XXIII and a vial of blood from John Paul II.  The relics were recently presented to the King of Thailand, who had met both popes when they were alive.  (See article here: Papal Saints Relics Arrive in Thailand)

We managed to make our way out of the church parking lot and headed south to dinner.  Dinner at the Punch and Judy did not disappoint.  It is a British pub with icy cold beer on tap and a Sunday roast special that would satisfy any farang appetite - roast meat of your choice with two kinds of potatoes, gravy, veggies, "pigs in blankets," yorkshire pudding and (I think) black pudding or blood sausage; in short, the British version of a big Sunday dinner.  Cheerio!

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After dinner, we stopped at TukCom to pick up some videos.  We'd just finished season two of Newsroom, and were hoping season three would be available; it was.  Also picked up the next season of Homeland, House of Cards, and Game of Thrones.  That ought to keep us busy for a while.  

I haven't posted any potty shots in a while, and thought you might enjoy this one, seen in TukCom:

Gotta go!