Cosy nester, Ball's girl asks for loan

This little bird has taken up residence on my verandah, somewhere behind the air con unit you see on the right.

During the day, it makes broody noises – coo, coo, coo!

Occasionally Maiyuu goes out to talk to it. ‘What are you doing, little one?’ he asks.

I worry that Mr Bird take a stroll inside our place, which is why I keep the wire mesh doors between the living room and verandah closed (those same doors explain why the image looks fuzzy – they were closed as I took the picture).

I worry even more that he could take flight while inside, and get his talons caught in my non-existent hair.

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Ball’s girlfriend, Jay, called wanting a loan.

Her brother, who studies in Bangkok, needs to pay his term fees. On top of that, some family emergency has taken place which means that money he would normally have set aside for the fees had to be spent on something else.

‘How much?’ I asked.

‘Five thousand baht,’ she replied.

Jay was speaking on a cheap telephone. I could barely understand what she was saying, as the signal was so weak. But I heard the B5000 part as clear as day.

At times like this, I resort to an old standby excuse: My boyfriend keeps my ATM!

‘Every pay day he transfers to me an allowance which I use to meet my daily expenses.

'He keeps the rest, from which he meets our expenses as a couple. I could ask him for the money, but he has never met any of you, so why should he help?’ I said.

Jay understood, and apologised for asking.

I asked if her boyfriend had made any effort in the last couple of days to find work.

‘No... he just sits at home,’ she said.

‘I will drop in to see you late afternoon, so I can have a chat with Mr Ball about the importance of his pulling his weight,’ I said.

It’s the best I can do to help, as I am not prepared to lend money. I barely know Jay, and have never met her brother.

If Ball was working, they could save a little money, perhaps, so they would have something put aside for small family emergencies.

Jay already owes money to Ball’s mother, after she borrowed from her to help her brother on one previous occasion. She is paying it back.

She has asked Mum if could extend the loan for another B5000, but Mum doesn’t have that much lying around.

Neither do I, mercifully, but nor would I give it even if I had it saved.

The days of my lending money to anyone but my closest friends are over, if ever they existed.

I am here for me first, followed by Maiyuu. I do what I can to help my Thai friends, but there are limits.