THE PRICE OF VANITY

My beard has become a multi-hued palette of greys, whites, browns and beiges. 

It was mostly grey/white with a smattering of the other 

colours around the mouth and moustache.

I fondly recalled my late brother-in-law Maurice's pristine white beard 

and thought how nice I might look with the same hirsute arrangement.

I discussed it with Noni and she suggested I attend her cousin's salon where

Nit, the hairstylist could do it for me. "Yes," she told me, "Nit speaks

good English and would know what I wanted."

So, off I went and showed Nit the light grey/white portion and told her that I

want the whole thing like this ~ can she do it? Of course!

She proceeded to administer her potions to my face and all too late I realized

she was doing it in reverse ~ turning the grey/white to beige. When I panicked and

told her MAI MAI MAI !!!!! 

(no no no in Thai) 

she attempted a recovery operation. 

It didn't work out too well.

I'm now in my Van Gogh mode 

Well, it will fade and grow out in time. In the interim, I'm a redhead and that's 

the price of vanity.

market place scene

Thai new year celebrations will be starting soon and
bright and colourfully patterned clothes are worn at this time of year

When the street market vendors close shop at night their display cases are shunted
off to a storage area till the next day.
These enterprising scooter jockeys are in the process of
taking them back out in mid afternoon to their allotted space for another night
of business.

On the Narawat  Bridge, one of the busiest in the city, misters cool the air for
passing motorists and adventurous pedestrians 

market place vendor

Mr. To's cat, Meow, posing with a can of beer.
He'll do anything for a little attention.