It happens naturally, dear reader

Readers have left lively responses to yesterday's post. Here's my response to criticisms by one anonymous reader.

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Anonymous wrote: 'I've always wondered if I knew you, I'd see your world through your eyes.. and have a similar point of view.. or would I see you as a predator from the first-world, who's feeding off the labors and energy of those you try to manipulate.'

Wonder no longer. We'd have little, if anything in common, I suspect.

It's a family thing; I enjoy being with them all. It's not just about me, or Ball. He has a girlfriend, and when the two of them are happy and getting along, they are wonderful together.

There's also Mum. She calls me to unload about Ball, to ask me about him when she is not present, and occasionally to seek my advice.

Early this morning she called about a small drama which occurred last night between Ball, girlfriend Jay and Mum herself. I didn't have to talk, just listen.

As it happens, I agreed with every word she said, and at the right moments said so.

Idle taxi driver Lort - now in hospital with a diabetes-related illness, his comatose-like condition little improved - wants no part in this family's life.

I do. That's the difference, and Mum has spotted it. She talks to me like she would her own partner, if she had a real one.

Mum wants a man she can talk to about Mr Ball and his girlfriend. We seldom talk about Mr B, her youngest son, or her daughter Kae. Perhaps they don't cause her as much trouble.

Mum talked to me for 10 minutes. I told her I'd drop in to see them in early afternoon.

I'm doing the family thing. If Mum thought I meant ill by her son, she wouldn't call.

As for Mr Ball and his fondness for the brown stuff, I do no more to encourage him than would any other friend. In fact, the others are worse.

The cause of last night's drama? Carer R, who has moved to Yasothorn province in Esan, sent word through a relative that he wanted Ball to visit him there for a four-day stay. He is missing his drinking friends.

Mum wasn't keen on him going, as she would have to give him spending money, and Lort had just entered hospital. She can't take care of the toddlers in the household and pay daily visits to him as well.

'Who will he mix with? He knows no one there other than R himself. He has no idea about the conditions in which he lives. He is still a child. How can I let him go?' Mum asked.

Quite right. I don't want him to go either, and have told him so. When I saw Mr Ball last night, he was resigned to the fact that he should stay at home and help his Mum.

These are the types of things we discuss. Occasionally I slip up when we are tossing back the brown stuff, as we both like a drink. Jay usually pulls me up. Once or twice, Mum has questioned my judgement too.

However, Mum knows that her son is in much safer hands with me than when he is with his other friends.

His fondness for alcohol is a complicated issue which needs delicate handling. I can't ban him, and why should I, when I too enjoy the same pasttime?

Mum and I try to limit him to safe environments, while still permitting him to indulge. Explaining more takes too much time...I'll save that one for another day.

I love Ball, increasingly as a friend. I don't need booze to gain access to his life, and nor do I need to open my wallet constantly to win over Mum's trust or loyalty.

Those who argue otherwise are too quick to criticise, and perhaps letting their own experiences of this country colour their judgement.