| This is to say the least an interesting and | | | | meetings, shopping trips, card games, and parties |
| entertaining read that covers far more ground | | | | are all part of the social calendar. None of this sits |
| than the title implies. Told with a huge amount of | | | | well with Dodie, and she of course decides to |
| humor we follow Dodie on her sojourn to | | | | buck the system, even worse she discovers that |
| Thailand, where things do not work out as | | | | Dick is a 60 year old sex maniac! Stress at home, |
| planned. As she ruefully reflects on in the final | | | | stress from "the bosses," all start to weigh |
| chapters, what seems like a great opportunity at | | | | heavily on Dodie, an unexpected medical problem |
| the time, had enough flashing warning lights that | | | | also adds to her growing list of issues. A Broad |
| she should have spotted early on. The story | | | | Abroad In Thailand is a great read, it is written in |
| opens with our heroine working a mundane office | | | | a very humorous style, I particularly enjoyed the |
| job during the day, and helping out part time at a | | | | Pigin English dialog with the local Thai people. That |
| local golf course in the evenings. Here she meets | | | | on its own makes this book a hit! Dodie, |
| he husband to be, the club Pro Dick. Although not | | | | undaunted by minor and in some cases major |
| exactly swept off her feet in passion, they do | | | | setbacks,'bags and crashes' her way through life. |
| eventually become lovers. It transpires that Dick | | | | This is a must read book for anyone |
| prior to becoming a Golf Pro has had considerable | | | | contemplating living and working in a foreign land, |
| experience in the construction world. | | | | from marital to medical, the problems are so |
| Happenstance puts Dick and Dodie in a position | | | | much greater than being at home. About Dodie |
| where a two-year contract for a construction | | | | Cross: she is a freelance writer who has received |
| project in exotic Thailand is theirs for the taking. | | | | numerous awards for her writing and poetry, |
| A free house, bags of tax free money, what | | | | among them the prestigious Southern California |
| more could you ask for? Of course there is one | | | | Writer's Conference First Place Award for "Best |
| minor hitch, for Dick to get the full company | | | | Nonfiction," as well as First Place in their inaugural |
| benefits, he must be married. Whats a fun loving, | | | | Poetry Award. She has accrued first and second |
| adventure seeking gal to do? Well if your name is | | | | place prizes in her published articles. Dodie has |
| Dodie Cross you of course get married, and start | | | | traveled the world, writing about her life in foreign |
| packing! Minor things like 'love' can be worked on | | | | countries such as Iran and Thailand, as well as |
| later! It doesn't take our adventurous author long | | | | American locales such as New Orleans, Orange |
| to discover that the 'land of smiles' may well be | | | | County, California and Lake Chelan, Washington. |
| full of smiles, but the company compound where | | | | Look for her next book: One Strappy-Sandaled |
| everyone must live is anything but Eden. A | | | | Foot Ahead of the Mullahs: An Expat's Life in Iran |
| repressive management, or to be exact the | | | | Before and During the Revolution. |
| manager's wife, has created her own version of | | | | Simon Barrett is an adult educator in Calgary, |
| hell on Earth. Endless lists of rules and regulations, | | | | Alberta. With the 11 months a year of winter, he |
| the company not only owns the employees, but | | | | reads a lot of books! |
| their wives and families as well. Must-attend | | | | |