The Storm

The promised Pabuk finally arrived with some rain on Thursday night, a little more rain on Friday morning followed by an awful lot of rain and wind from then onwards.

On Friday morning we stayed in bed relatively late and were pleasantly surprised when it was still only light rain by mid morning. We decided to play a game of nomination whist to see who would lose and as their forfeit have to go and swim in the pool in the rain – in all honesty none of us, other than Rob, who was still avoiding contact with all water due to his sustained injuries, were at all alarmed by this forfeit but as nobody likes to lose we still knew the game would be fiercely fought over.

To set the scene – we all, apart from Rob, love cards and as well as our game on Christmas Eve we had played a few other games just between Ellie, Joe and myself. All of us are fairly competitive (maybe a small understatement) but display this differently. Ellie copes best, maybe through practice, by remaining fairly cheerful but looking a little crestfallen, I try hard to pretend I don’t care while bottling up frustration which inevitably has to escape at some point and Joe, probably the worst loser amongst us, he would say from lack of practice, becomes vaguely aggressive and definitely more annoying. There are probably some reflections on our innate characteristics to be made here but I am too far behind on my blogs to dwell on these now.

Where was I? Oh yes, so we’ve played some other games and goodness only knows how it had happened because she is fairly ditsy and usually starts the game with, ‘How do I play this again?’ Even when we’ve played a couple of days before, Ellie was in the lead. The only thing that Joe despises more than losing is losing to Ellie so, on this day in question, the Thursday before the storm, the traits I have described above, were very much in evidence. We played a first game, fairly closely, where, through ignoring various comments from Joe I played well, had some luck and reigned victorious. This put Ellie and I even with Joe one game behind, he wasn’t very happy!😡

In order to offer the opportunity for Joe to equal our superiority, Ellie and I agreed to play another game. After three hands, Ellie was way in the lead with Joe and I both dismally behind. Both of us were behaving as per the characteristics described above with me in denial and Joe directing mildly aggressive and fairly un PC comments towards Ellie about her lack of ability. Although, with years of practice, Ellie has become fairly immune to Joe’s various barbs, water off a duck’s back comes to mind, I still find them hard to cope with so, true to form, my frustration was building.

When I, at five cards each, was dealt the 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of diamonds I saw it as a possible distraction and happened to remark on my amazing hand and how good it would have been for rummy. In my excitement I also showed my hand to the non-playing Rob. Unfortunately this didn’t provide a distraction, apparently it was highly unacceptable and instead only served to divert any negativity from Ellie towards myself. Supposedly, commenting on my cards was tantamount to cheating and would affect how everyone now played their cards (Noel Bennett would probably agree). My defence of my position only heightened the call of cheat so, showing my increased maturity and much better control of my frustration than I may previously have demonstrated (I haven’t tipped a table or stabbed a ball for ages) I said, ‘I’m not playing anymore,’ and stomped to my room slamming the door.

So, with the Friday morning scene finally set, while Tom attempted to revise and Rob did whatever Rob does to avoid playing cards, the three of us agreed to finish the game from the previous night before all of us would play the next game for the swimming in the rain forfeit. On our best behaviour, Joe and I, perhaps realising we hadn’t behaved as well as we should have done and Ellie because she’s mostly well behaved, we conducted a very civilised game in which Joe won. This, in our newly acquired, not overly competitive roles, was very satisfactory as it meant we were all on equal scores. The only distressing thing was that I had come last and Rob had set the forfeit that the loser would have to lick his broken and now, full of pus, big toe. I don’t know why he decided to set this as a forfeit but we are quite an odd family.🤔

Strangely, when it came to the carrying out of said forfeit, despite having set it, it was Rob who objected most strongly. Therefore, as he was refusing to play the new game, we were able to bribe him into playing by agreeing to forego the forfeit. Basically if he didn’t want his toe licked (why would he ever have?) he would have to play. And so he did!

Although Tom had never really played the game before he learnt quickly and was holding his own, at least in the cards. Keeping up with the constant commentary was not so easy and although he is fairly used to us now, he still looks a little shocked by the crueler comments and extreme competitiveness.

Throughout the game positions had changed constantly and although often there is a clear leader after half way, on this occasion, with only the last hand to play, all of us were within ten points meaning anyone could win. The last hand was dealt and skill and experience won through – obviously I was a very gracious winner and didn’t gloat at all. I’m not actually sure who lost but within five minutes, all apart from Rob, were in the pool in the rain sharing the losers forfeit. Ellie and Tom tried some dirty dancing tricks and we played a little volleyball but in the absence of a net we soon reverted to basketball. Improvising with two hoops consisting of the flamingo at one end and a large rubber ring at the other we chose teams and the competition continued. We were joined briefly in the water by two little Italian boys who we had encountered throughout the week. They appeared to want to join in so we tried to include them but weren’t sure of their understanding. Their interpretation of the rules was that they should attack, from under the water, whoever had the ball. Their main means of this, specifically on Joe, was biting the legs and ankles. Luckily they were fairly gentle but we weren’t quite sure of the origins or effectiveness of their tactics and in the absence of their parents had to discourage this as best we could. Partially drowning them proved fairly effective.🤣

After using up plenty of energy the rain began to get much heavier and we retreated to the villa to try to consume any remaining food before our departure the following day. The rain continued throughout the afternoon and through the limited tv, more cards and packing we managed to entertain ourselves indoors.

We also continually checked on various reports for our travel plans. With all ferries off of the island suspended and many flights cancelled or delayed it didn’t look good.

Despite being repeatedly told to remain indoors, after the whole afternoon together in the villa, we felt like the risk of a coconut or tree falling on us was worth taking to avoid the ‘cabin fever’ that was definitely showing signs of developing. We therefore grabbed any form of covering we could and dashed to the car to travel the 100metres up hill to the Grand Hill residence. The rain was such that, even with a goretex jacket, anything exposed was saturated within seconds. Being out did dispel the cabin fever though and although our last evening together wasn’t what we’d hoped for it passed pleasantly.

After another night of noisy, torrential rain and wind we were up early planning Joe’s imminent departure. A taxi had been planned for 11.30 but given the conditions he wanted to get to the airport as soon as possible. His flight from Koh Samui was listed as being delayed by 3 hours, this meant he would miss his onward flight so he hoped, by being early, to try to catch an earlier one. He had left by ten and the rest of us set about getting ready for our onward journey. Ellie and Tom were off to Chiang Mai but had sensibly delayed booking their boat until the following morning so were spending one night near Nathon pier before their very early departure. Rob and I were booked in that night to a place in Koh Tao but knew, with no boats running that we’d have to forego our first night and had booked a place near Maenam pier for the one night.

As the rain continued we were temporarily stranded at our villa as the car that was going to take us to the next accommodation wasn’t able to negotiate the floodsEventually a suitable vehicle was found, the rain eased a little and we left Maenam Hill for Coco Palm beach resort (excuse the change of angle)

The rain had stopped but the wind was still very much in evidence as we ate lunch and had a walk along the beach. Ellie and Tom were still with us for our scintillating company (or free lunch and nicer resort) and while Tom revised, Rob, Ellie and I went to have a massage and we met our first, real life, ‘lady boy’. This was Rob’s first ever experience of massage and I could see him rapidly reevaluating whether he would in fact have a massage after all. Luckily Ellie was allocated the young person Rob was so eager to avoid and Rob and I lay side by side with two lovely older ladies as our masseurs. Rob’s lady did oooh and aaahh a little over his injuries and apologised profusely when she inadvertently brushed them but otherwise the hour passed in relaxation and tranquility – I think Rob is hooked!

Ellie and Tom returned to their hotel, we heard from Joe to say that he’d found a new flight that would get him home Sunday night. It would cost him £1000 which he had little hope of getting back but at least he would be home in time for work on Monday. Rob and I walked a little down the road to a pretty, twinkly restaurant thankful that everybody was at last on the way to where they needed to be.