wombling in wimbledonia

"wimbeling wombling, wombling free... the wombles of wimbledon common are we"

ha. 27 years and that still hasn't got old, even if they are quite possibly not the right words...
I got back to London yesterday and came straight to Maddy's in Wimbledon (humming that tune all the way), where I shall be living henceforth until my life is in order and Tamar gets back from South Africa so we can go househunting. All of which has to happen by the 8th October when Maddy's flatmate gets back and reclaims her frankly fabulously divaesque room (a photo shall appear at some point of this fabulous decor).

It's strange to be back. Feels like a new chapter is about to start. I feel good actually. The sun is shining too and I just got a whole load of work for September/October so that could well have prompted this aura of calm... but it's something else too. Australia was good for me in more ways than one.

So anywhoo... Bangkok was such an experience. Understatement in the extreme, but how else can you put it? I got all artistic and snap-happy with my photos (see scary bejewelled monkeys with optimistic codpieces above, from the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) and felt like such an intrepid traveller, wandering around on my own and exploring a place that I had absolutely no concept of. Did manage to persuade some honest looking tourists to take my photo outside the Grand Palace, but it turned out that I just look kind of sheepish and tres frumpy in an official shirt given to all those who arrive with sleeves that are too short. Strict dress code in these places. I wore it faithfully for a while, but then realised that it was only necessary when you actually went INTO the building, so took it off and reduced my body temperature by about 5 degrees. It's really hard to smile as widely at middle aged swedish tourists as you would to your friend or lover on holiday!



There was such a sensory overload from the moment I stepped out of the airport, that I had to start writing stuff down, so in lieu of blogger action I used ye olde techniques of putting pen to paper... any paper I could find in this case... so there are now scribblings on cards/hotel notepaper/in my guide book/on the back of my flight itinerary etc.etc.

There will, therefore, be an official review of the wonders of Thailand a la me complete with illustrations.
But maybe not right now. I have fatigue. Need to go do nothing for a little while...