John was my friend in Bangkok for almost 19 years. Like all friendships it had ebbed and flowed. In recent years however, we had become quite close and tried to meet once a week, though illness and other issues ran interference on that plan sometimes. I last saw John on Friday 21st December when we had a few beers and talked inevitably about Dundee, Scotland and Football - our staple diet for weekly discussions! We weren't due to meet the following Friday as I would be upcountry with my family; but had arranged the next meeting for Friday 4th January. When John didn't answer my texts and calls on Thursday or first thing Friday morning, my wife and I went round to his place, but he had already passed away. 'Bye, old friend.