hmmm might need to rethink

One thing I have been looking forward to here in Chiang Mai is fish and chips.... no wait its not as mad as it sounds.. There's a chippy here, I won't name it, but they are probably the only chippy in Northern Thailand that actually does UK style fish and chips, including, the scottish preference of Haddock
Last time I was here I went there hoping to sample their fare, only to be crushed that they were out of fish, and their order would'nt be in until we had left.

This time however I went, and though it needed defrosting and there was a wait, they had Haddock.

well...

It was Haddock, but the smallest piece I've ever been served.... and not the crispiest batter, in fact rather an insipid creamy colour rather than a golden brown... but it was Haddock... just, not very good Haddock.

I'm sorry,  I don't in anyway want to undermine what this chap, a Brit living here, is doing, its a noble idea that deserves support... but... it wasn't very good.

Chips, were awesome, so clearly they have a proper fryer in the back of the shop working away (nothing out front), but.. a tail end of a fillet of haddock is not  a Chippy portion of large, Haddock.

So... it was haddock not Haddock, if I ever get absoltuely desperate for that taste of my childhood, I will go back, but I sadly won't be a regular there. 

Shame, I was quite disappointed but you have to learn these things..  We will find a nice place for our regular Friday nights out, just not fish and chips.

There's probably no real chance of finding Cod and Haddock anywhere in any of the stores in CM, even the big ones catering to Brits. so I can imagine I will get an annual craving and head down there, I will even drop by for a poke of chips...

Other news... our trip is continuing, we've seen a lot of houses, including that stunning 4 bedroom place in the last post. But a few more since, which have ranged from 20 years out of date and looks it, to, you have step back to open to door to walk into the cupboard/bedroom.

Its very very mixed, but thats fine, it means if we keep looking we will find what we want. We've pretty much found one that we both agree is very good though not perfect, but the price is a touch too much, we're waiting to see if they drop it a bit, then we'll take it. Its perfect in every way except the kitchen, it basically hasn't got one... but for a year we can live with a portable stove top and a micro wave.. but theres a nice outdoor Thai kitchen/dinner area, we can use when we want to make proper meals.. there's also a nice large study/office room, and the bedrooms are plenty bg enough for guests with a nice lounge

A perfect place for Thai women to eat and talk, eat and talk

A nice lounge for old scottish people to watch netflix.

the office/study area is perfect to get away from chatty Thai women eating and talking...

and yeah.. the upsetting bit

not much of a kitchen

They want 25K pm for it though, thats a good price really, but if we can get 2K knocked off it hits our budget sweet spot. And we can install a BBQ or gas hob in the terrace to cook outside, and decent combi oven, or even get a cooker installed, and this will be a nice place..easy to stay for 1 year maybe more.

And....
Jirawan is determined to take her driving test, and has been doing some lessons with a driving school here.. I'm happy about that as she got a bit annoyed with me, for being unhappy about just turning up to the land office to book a test with no practice at all... I can barely manage the roads here myself, I am certainly not capable of teaching or supervising a new driver.. so the lessons will help to give her a bit of a grounding in the basics, then she can take her test... 

After which... she can drive herself around, since she will have the ability to shout at the crazy drivers in Thai that somehow will make it easier.....

Ahthankyew