My friend Billy passed away last month. Billy was a hard working British ex pat farang and had lived in the village of Yankerdow, which is on Highway 2050 and about 6 kilometres from Thamuang.
We shared a passion for Man United and watched several live games in the dead of night, drinking Leo beer on ice. Billy was also passionate about growing cashew nuts and over the years worked tirelessly to improve the crop yield. Quite often it seemed a more a labour of love than a way to make an income, and it's ironic that this year's crop was a great improvement on last year's.
On my visit to Thamuang in May, I was shocked to see how Billy had lost a lot of weight and was growing weaker. Sadly he died in the early hours on 13 June, but by all accounts he was very peaceful and didn't suffer a long illness.
Khamma, bless her, went to Billy's house early in the morning and helped Wan (Billy's wife) to prepare for his funeral. Most funerals are organised and prepared by family and friends and as the news spread they started to arrive at the house. The womenfolk have to prepare a continuous supply of food for the guests in the days leading up to the funeral. The menfolk sit around drinking beer and chewing the fat. Billy would have liked that!
Eventually the funeral took place at the village temple in full Thai tradition.
Bye Billy boy, it was a pleasure to know you.
