I'm using the line from Ecclesiastes 3 in the sense of taking down, (and rebuilding), rather than in having a breakdown. However, I have commented many times before that time is a relative phenomenon in Thailand. Sometimes it's called "Thai time", which means if someone says they will meet you at 1.00 pm, they might turn up at 2.00 pm and think nothing of it, or in Bangkok, blame the traffic, as if the traffic problems here were a new thing.
It is with this in mind I am having my rather limited patience stretched, as we crawl towards the signing of the contract for the renovation of the condominium. The original idea was to sign on 25 March, but this has variously been postponed until 29 March, 5 April, and now 8 April. The first discussions about renovating the condominium started in April 2009. Making decisions about these things by a committee is inviting trouble, and doubly so in a country where making decisions does not come easily. The main reason for this is that people are fearful of taking responsibility. And by that I mean taking responsibility for mistakes. It's inevitable that decisions are not always 100% correct in situations like these, especially when there are many others' interests to consider. But it is important not to allow that to prevent any decision making to take place. If mistakes arise they can usually be corrected without too much difficulty or cost.
Reading between these lines you can detect that there are political considerations, and much of that is based on cultural differences. You might think that a further delay of a couple of weeks is not that significant in the overall scheme of things. But there are reasons for my anxiety, which I'd rather not go into here.
A friend has recently returned from a trip to France and has invited us to drink a 1983 bottle of champagne that he brought back, on Friday evening. I hope neither my mood nor its taste will have soured, but that we shall be toasting success and drinking nectar.
Image shows a Regency Carved Mahogany and Brass Inlaid Mantel Clock, c. 1820, domed case surmounted by pineapple finial, painted dial marked "W. Talbot/ Cambridge", cornucopia handles pierced grilles, fusée movement with striking bell, raised on spherical brass feet, height 20 1/2 in., width 12 in., depth 6 1/2 in, sold by Neal Auction Company for USD500.
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