The week of Joseph Boy

The week of Joseph Boy

Joseph Jongen (78) spent a large part of his working life at Philips in Eindhoven, where he held various management positions. Almost 20 years ago he retired as director of a subsidiary of the group. Long-term travel came into view.

During his second trip to thailand However, disaster struck and his wife died of cardiac arrest on the beautiful island of Koh Lanta. Joseph has two sons and has had a nice LAT relationship again for 15 years. His girlfriend also lost her partner and both know that life can be very unpredictable at times.

Sunday 30 December

The last week before the annual hibernation period has arrived. Next Saturday I will leave with my good friend via Bangkok to Vietnam. We have known each other very well for over forty years. If you have made the crossing to England many times together from Colijnsplaat in Zeeland and sailing to Norway together, then you know what you have in common.

Last year he went to Thailand with me for the first time. We both enjoyed it so much that we now have Vietnam on our program for a month, a country I have visited several times before. At the end of February my girlfriend will come to Bangkok and we will go to Hua Hin where we have rented a spacious house with swimming pool and whirlpool for the month of March. My friend has now returned home.

Made preparations for New Year's Eve with my girlfriend today. With a few good friends we are going to ring in the old year at my house with small snacks, a nice drink and lots of chatter. In the afternoon to my youngest son who has his birthday today. He came home from Austria with his wife and three daughters yesterday, where they went to winter sports. Lovely to be cuddled by my granddaughters again.

Monday December 31

Always a bit strange day, that last day of the year. We had a good night's sleep and spent the afternoon preparing some small snacks in the kitchen. We will not dine, but our guests will lack nothing. Around 7 o'clock everyone comes whirling in as agreed. Let's start with a glass of champagne to ring in the old year. In between, snacks with green and white asparagus in salmon, mussel skewers in bacon, stuffed mushrooms, a fish terrine, a lobster soup and other small snacks appear. At the stroke of 12 o'clock a sparkling glass to usher in 2013.

Tuesday January 1

In the afternoon we receive a visit and at four o'clock we are in my hometown of Zaltbommel at the annual New Year's concert. The twelve-year-old piano talent Jorian van Nee plays works by Bach, Brahms, Mendelssohn and Debussy. Incredible. Have a look at his site: jorianvannee.nl. Afterwards, all those present raise their glasses to the New Year and continue to enjoy a jazz trio that, in the style of Oscar Peterson, creates a more than cozy atmosphere.

Wednesday 2 January

For more than 35 years I have had a separate musical hobby. Mechanical music. Just think of carillons, barrel organs, player pianos and music boxes. As a hobbyist, write about this on a regular basis. Must make a contribution for a quarterly magazine. So busy today to fulfill that promise before I leave. The story is about my Blüthner Pianola grand piano, the inventor of the system and the piano from the movie Casablanca that was auctioned last month by Sotheby's in New York for the sweet sum of $602.500.

Blüthner Pianola grand piano

Thursday January 3

Today I put together all the things that I need to take with me. I have become wise through experience and now I have a fairly complete list to think about before I leave. Also brought a few photos for an exhibition of the photo club that I am part of. My girlfriend is back home. Strange feeling to be alone again after spending Christmas and New Year together.

Friday January 4

By train from my hometown of Zaltbommel up and down to Sittard where I and my traveling companion visit our mutual friend who is in hospital there before we leave. My suitcase is packed.

Saturday January 5st

Living in the old city center I don't have a garage and therefore it seems safer to park my car with my girlfriend in Ravenstein. We will miss each other for about seven weeks, but at the end of February I will be waiting for her in Bangkok. I wonder how we will like it in Hua Hin. A whole month in the same place is a completely new experience for this restless traveler. In the afternoon, take the train to Den Bosch where I will meet my fellow traveler. Together we travel to Schiphol at around 21.40 pm EVA Air flying to Bangkok and then to Hanoi two days later.

 

Dear Thailand bloggers. Joan Boer, Cor Verhoef, Dick Koger, Martin Carels, Chris de Boer, Jacques Koppert and now Joseph Jongen described a week. Who follows? Climb into the pen and let us experience a week.