Boyfriend Maiyuu ventured outside, a rare event.
In the condo carpark, he spotted his childhood friend Duck with his German boyfriend. They were going out - and appeared to have their own car!
'Duck has become hi-so - he now has his own car,' Maiyuu reported, when he returned to the condo.
'What kind?' I asked, momentarily shocked by my own interest.
'A Toyota - it could be a rental, but who would want to spend B1,000 a day renting when you could buy?' he said.
Mr Germany is on a visit to Thailand. He has bought a house in a coastal province close to Bangkok, and is now buying furniture to put in it.
Close to retirement, Mr Germany plans to move here in the next 12 months. Duck will stay with him on the coast, in a sub-division which is close to Duck's family home, and where other foreigners also live.
They are likely to travel between there and Bangkok.
'Why would he buy?' I asked.
'Duck has probably been blowing in his husband's ear, saying how much they need a car,' said Maiyuu.
Lucky Duck. Soon, by the looks of it, he will have a home and a car. I have not provided either to my boyfriend - but he claims he is not worried.
'Who cares?' said Maiyuu. 'Let them get on with it.'
Is it right to assess people by what assets they have gained, or good fortune they have met?
Thailand is a developing society, where the economy has grown at furious rates. It is only natural that Thais should be aware of changes in their friend's social standing.
When I met him eight years ago, Duck lived in rough conditions in a tiny room in the same condo as us, in Thon Buri. He had no formal qualifications, and no job.
The last part has not changed. Duck still lives in this condo, but has switched rooms. When his German boyfriend is in Bangkok, he stays in that room.
On a noticeboard inside the condo entrance, Duck has pinned a sign offering 50-minute foot massages at his place for B40.
He started offering the service after taking a brief course in massage therapy at a temple in town.
As far as I am aware, that's all he has done to improve his skills. Years ago, he told me he wants to be a hairdresser, but is no doubt waiting for his boyfriend to put him through a course.
Since the two met several years ago, Duck has divided his time between Bangkok and Germany.
Every six months, he goes to Germany to stay with his boyfriend on a three-month tourist visa, before returning to Thailand to wait another three months under the rules before he can apply for a visa again.
now, see part 2
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