Things I Learned..... Volume 1

Somewhere among the boxes stored in my sister's attic is a little Peanuts cartoon book (which I think was a Christmas present many years ago) with the wonderful title "Things I Learned After It Was Too Late (And Other Minor Truths)". It is full of Charles M. Schultz's wise and witty observations on life, with sayings like: Sidewalks always win; knees always lose; and When you have to get up at 7.00 a.m., 6.59 is the worst time of day.

I have recently felt inspired to start writing my own version, so here is Volume 1:

• A black bicycle saddle when left out in the midday sun gets very, VERY hot!

• A tofu burger tastes of nothing at all

• Rules for turning right at junctions in Thailand are vague to non-existent. When in doubt, get off your bicycle and cross on foot.

• A cool shower only cools you down for as long as you are actually standing under it.

• There is only so much a travel iron can do with clothes that have spent weeks at the bottom of a rucksack.

• Living in a hot country does not stop you from getting a cold :-(

• Smiling at people cheers you up (especially in Thailand, where they tend to smile back!) :-)

• Skirt + Bicycle + Windy Day = not a good combination!