A London based friend of mine commented that my choice of places I considered liveable in (last week’s column) did not include any great cities. In selecting Copenhagen, Vancouver and Wellington (30 or so years ago I would have added San Francisco) I had left out – for example London, Paris and New York let alone more adventurous choices. And by finally opting for Chiang Mai I had gone too far down the possible list in terms of scale and the opportunities which that offers.
Well to coin a cliché, size isn’t everything. No one disputes that there is a wow factor in sheer size, but energy and vitality can offer great consolation. Of course New York and the others offer both, but – and I guess this has a lot to do with age – I have come to appreciate altogether subtler, smaller scale pleasures and a city like Chiang Mai therefore has a special appeal. Rather as with people it is a lack of flamboyance and that shouty ‘in your face’ directness which lends charm.

l/r Esther, Karina, Dominque, Chadwick, Michael and the birthday girl Mary celebrating a very special day.

The Chiang Mai Expats Club held its regular meeting on the 28th of April with a presentation of Christopher G. Moore latest work titled “The Risk of infidelity Index” which is the ninth in his Vincent Calvino series set in Bangkok.