The final curtain...Alan and Diana say goodbye to Vientiane

4 months on, our parade of visitors is coming to an end. Alan and Diana leave Tuesday, but we are all leaving tomorrow afternoon for a few days together in Bangkok. We're going high class, staying at the Peninsula (where we stayed in December). Katherine has decided that our first stop after checking into the hotel is Venus Jewelers, so I can make good on a Christmas gift promise. No diamonds, though.

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Today was a long day. We have the regional anti-fraud officer visiting from Bangkok, so a night out last night was followed by a meeting at the MFA this morning, lunch with other consular officers from other embassies, and an afternoon of fraud investigations around town.

Then, at 4:30, just when we were set to go a little early to the Sunset bar, along with various and sundry other people, including the previously mentioned in-laws and sexy spouse, an emergency ACS (American Citizen Service) case cropped up, taking up another 3 hours before we could resolve the issue. Suffice it to say that serious mental illness is a terrible affliction when not managed with medication.

But I'm taking Monday off, and I am bringing two books to read in 2 days by the pool at the Peninsula.

Repeat after me..."waiter, another lemonade please. And please tell me when it is 2:30 as I have another massage appointment."