Two new interests come together

After my holiday in Thailand in October 2006, I decided that I should learn Thai. Most foreigners, especially those who live there, concentrate on learning to speak the language but may never learn to read and write. On the other hand, I was frustrated when I was there not to be able to read Thai, not even to transliterate or pronounce it, so I decided to learn to read and write as well.

I had bought Thai for beginners and a dictionary while I was there and initially started to work through that. I also found a tape course in the local library and later bought an interactive Computer based course called "the Rosetta Stone" through Ebay. I worked with the tape and book initially and in the new year signed on for an adult education class, followed by further lessons after that with a small group at the teacher's home. After that I started on the DVD course. I found the DVD useful for practice and extending my vocabulary but would not recommend it as a starting place. There is just too much you need to know before you can start using it, including how to read the Thai script.

Quite independently, I decided to take up golf again after more than 15 years since I last played regularly and about 4 years since I'd played at all. I had pretty much played hockey twice a week non stop for over 7 years and I was a bit burnt out after the last Australian Championships in July. Our plans to play golf in Hua Hin never eventuated due to the cost.

Initially, I thought I'd have to play mid week but when I mentioned it to my friend and fellow hockey player Marie, she invited me to play as a visitor with her club on Saturday. That lead to me soon joining the club and, after a few months, getting my handicap down to 17, which was more or less where it was when I stopped playing. The club plays on a public course and is affiliated with the WA golf league so we have official handicaps, a number of open events at different courses and inter club pennant matches. There are 50 or so members, mostly guys but there are 4 girls that play fairly regularly as well.

After a decent wait of 3 months to ensure I was going to continue with it, I bought some new clubs and found myself not only playing pennants but being the team captain. I also managed to win the B grade competition on the first day of the State championships, although I fell in a big hole and the second day.

Not long after I joined up, a few weeks before Christmas, we were asked if we were interested in a golf holiday in Pattaya, Thailand in July 2007. I decided to to go and although it seemed a long time away at the time, it is now only 2 days away. Ther are 10 of us are going, Marie, myself and 8 guys.

We arrive Saturday and leave the following Sunday. I have booked to play 3 games with a day off between them but some are playing an extra Tuesday game. The hotel won't be the 5 star standard from my last trip but it won't be costing me 5 star prices either.