Just a quick entry to let you know how Im getting on.. So I have come to Phu Quoc at a less than ideal time of year I think - Oct/Nov here is supposed to be idyllic but right now its a little bizarre as Im sharing the island (and its big) with only a handful of people. Some resorts have no-one staying there at all so when I went along with another English couple thered be about 20 members of staff and just us in the whole place. And then theres the weather.. I was in Thailand during rainy season long ago and that was no big deal it just rained for a bit and then it cleared up. The skies here are deepest darkest indigo and the thunderstorms are just scary. For the first 3 days it rained the whole time. Today is ok but its that kinda silly-b*****s sunshine that waits til youve settled outside and whipped off your clothes and then the clouds come over and the rain begins.. Im not fooled. I do however have a hammock outside my 10 dollar a night no power, no hot water beach bungalow and anyone thats travelled with me knows that thats about as close to cat-that-got-the-cream satisfaction as I get. I do love a hammock.

Oo 'Pierre', acting manager of the Grande Mercure resort has just assured me that 'of course, madam is very welcome' to use to pool (as Ive just spent 100 dong on a tea and an OJ (!!!) so b***** this Im off to the pool chaps!