Fabeltjeskrant or not? - part 12 (readers' entry)

Piet has meanwhile acquired a new knowledge during one of his cycling trips, which he now does alone. The Belgian neighbour, although that is a bit exaggerated as he lived a few blocks away, was not a cyclist.

During his cycling trips, Piet had once again had a dog chasing him in the outback; the beast had been disciplined by its owner. The gate was open and then they react to everything that passes by, whether it's a car or a moped, it doesn't matter. Given the speed, a cyclist is of course a fantastic object to make a lot of noise and little action in this case. Although Piet had made a pit stop with the bike as a firewall. Lucky for Piet, things sometimes go differently.

The owner spoke to Piet in English and let the dog get used to Piet as 'good people'. A chat followed, where Piet came from, where he lived, whether he likes the Thai people, where you come from and whether The Netherlands is in Europe, et cetera. If he felt like taking a break in the shade of the parasol. Well, why not? It doesn't happen every day that a Thai person invites you for a conversation.

The best man was one of the better off: a provincial official, an engineer, it is said, and his wife was a school teacher. Checking buildings for their safety, fire safety, lifts if present, permits, things like that. Home early in the afternoon, telephone service and administration, which of course often ended in private activities. Another five years or so and then the civil servant would retire. The garden was his hobby and of course he had to have a beer or a glass of whiskey. Piet was satisfied with a bottle of cold water since he still had to cycle back and was not even halfway through his planned route. It can't always be fun, although that also works with a drink of course.

The back was a garden in the sense that it was for the man himself, so a mess. A day and a night difference with the front. A kind of allotment garden with anything and everything where not only Piet's new acquaintance, but also the dog was deeply happy. There was even a shed with a roof for preparing garden activities and occasionally a chat with someone and that, with of course the music box turned up loud. Piet had a good feeling about this interruption and did his best not to turn it into a one-off pit stop. After an hour Piet continued his journey, with the agreement that he would stop more often. A small exchange of contact details and the doorbell that actually worked should suffice.

Although the garden in Piet's new house had already been cleared of weeds and some trees had been removed, it still needed a second makeover this year to make it look a bit cultivated. Piet also wanted a corner in his new house where various crops grew, such as vegetables. That shouldn't be too difficult, although some advice is of course never gone. It could be a good addition to various interests for both.

Piet's turning point was at a large lake in the middle of the city. Quite a hassle actually, it was a greater distance than to his old house. Next to the barracks, or rather the whole barracks stuff as he had been told. A nice place for citizens and sometimes a limited training ground for the men in green. Three and a half kilometers of path where you could cycle, walk, jog and much more. Many relationships will have been established because there were also many rest areas with street carts and various restaurants. Depending on his mood, he took that piece by bike or walked it. And on his way back through the old city roads he regularly stopped at his regular massage lady. Three bamboo beds in a row with regularly the same number of older ladies. Five words: tengels, two hours of massage with a cup of ginger tea for three hundred baht. A piece of happiness with a pleasant filling of the day. A person must be satisfied.

An hour or so later, when Piet was in his new house, he received a message that his daughter had chosen the Hua Hin – Cha-Am region as a beach spot. Whether the activities with dad could also be done there, although she also wanted to stay in Bangkok for a few days first. And what Piet had in mind so that there were no double activities and whether he also wanted to go to Hua Hin. At his own expense, of course, as to the room if he wanted a separate one; his daughter was confident that sleeping places could be arranged in Thailand for this. After all, you never know how things will turn out, was the reasoning. Piet thought about that for a moment, although a few days was always possible, he thought. The whole plan was easy to fit together and a week at the beach could also be added.

To be continued.

Submitted by William Korat