Another day of confirming things I've tried before rather than learning anything dramatically new. I certainly have a long list of things to do and try when I get back. Some relate to the course, some don't. I spent the other evening with Outlook, sorting tasks and trying to get everything down in one place for all the things I need to do : it's a long list.

I went out exploring again today to the North. This was clearly a prosperous town at one time with a large, impressive Town Hall looking out onto the market square. The thing you notice is the groups of kids. Hanging round the empty market stalls; on the benches or climbing on the recycling bins. It seems they have no where to go. I wandered around looking for somewhere to eat and didn't find anything other than a kebab shop so I headed back to Newark.

I parked at the top of the town and wandered into the local Thai restaurant. The owner looked a little shocked at someone speaking Thai to her but got her revenge as she spoke more and more and my Thai become less and less. She seemed happy to have a solitary diner and, unlike the Indian last night, I got a decent seat and no odd looks as I sat down to read my book with a Thai beer. After being asked where I learnt my Thai we sat and talked and it turns out that she was from Essan like Fhai, which perhaps explains why I thought I recognised some of the music.

The food was really nice, fishcakes to start with, egg fried rice, chicken curry with loads of Thai basil and Tom Yam soup. They weren't at all anxious that I should move and were happy to serve me another beer and let me alone to read.

“No Thai girlfriend ?”, she asked as I left, “Fat falang&rdquo I replied.