Well, hardly a kid I suppose.

Just a short note.

I've spent the last week in hospital undergoing chemical bowel surgery - all very pleasant stuff! Glad to say I'm on the mend now and out of hospital, though still feeling somewhat weak and fragile. Turns out that among other things I appear to have been carrying some sort of bacteria around in my digestive system that the sawbones os convinced I could have only picked up in 'the jungle'. Since I haven't done any jungle exploring in nearly a year I find that hard to believe but he was quite insistent. I've spent the last week with four machines pumping God knows what into me to kill the bacteria and restore my body to the correct 'balance'.

I still don't feel one hundred percent, but I've still got a ways to go on the antibiotic front with six (count 'em) different types of drug to take daily for the next week.

Bangkok, City of Angels, I've been trying to leave this place for nearly three months and still she clutches me jealously to her breast. I have to go to the British Embassy tomorrow to sort out a replacement passport, my current one is all filled up, otherwise I'd already be recuperating anywhere else than here in grimy, filthy Bangkok.

It's been a close one, too close for comfort and I suppose I can be grateful that this happened here in Thailand rather than in Laos, Cambodia or Indonesia. It's been a harrowing time and I've yet to feel the life affirming burst of gratitude and appreciation that normally chases a serious illness.

It's good to be back, hopefully I'll grown stronger daily and be able to fire off my usual anti-Bush tirades, though I notice that he seems to be doing a good job burying himself without my help.

More later, you have been warned.....

yechydda,