It’s difficult to fathom that we’ve reached the sixth month of the year, kicking off with the joyful first day of June. As Canadian author M.L. Montgomery poetically noted, this month is like “a pearl of summer, gleaming with warmth and happiness.”
In the mild climate of England, where I spent my childhood, June was often seen as one of the most hopeful months. As spring transitioned into summer, there was a sense that the weather might improve or perhaps just become less rainy.
This year, however, things are different due to the UK enduring its driest spring in six decades. The people of Britain have genuinely started wishing for a little rainfall. This isn’t something you see every day. Moreover, it’s been exceptionally sunny as well. It’s no surprise then that many Britons appear somewhat bewildered. Nevertheless, they should remain calm. One can be confident that Mother Nature has a significant downpour planned.
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Certainly, in Thailand, the monsoon has arrived this month, bringing a wet yet warm greeting to June.
Regarding the weather, satisfying everybody seems impossible. After spending an exceptionally sunny week in England, the American humorist Groucho Marx expressed his departure with a quip: “I’m leaving as the weather is too nice. I dislike London unless it’s drizzling.”
Maybe American filmmaker George Axelrod put it best when he noted: “In England, people just discuss the weather incessantly. Yet, nobody takes action to change it.”
Tuning up for summer
Recalling those nostalgic early summer days in England, my mother had a special place in her heart for the 1956 Rodgers and Hammerstein film “Carousel.” Her favorite part was undoubtedly the song “June is Busting Out All Over.” Whenever she tackled household chores, we never needed clues to know the time of year—it became evident from her spontaneous renditions of this cheerful tune celebrating the delights of June. That said, although she loved singing along with enthusiasm, she wasn’t too concerned with getting every word right; after reciting the first line verbatim, she’d often continue humming happily throughout the remainder of the track.
I have to admit that I didn’t much care for the June song, possibly due to being swayed by another individual named Elvis Presley, who had recently burst onto the scene with hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Hound Dog.”
Coincidentally, Elvis grew disillusioned with “Hound Dog” quite early on during his appearance on the Steve Allen Show in the U.S., where he had to perform the song for a Basset Hound dressed in a top hat and bow tie. This experience left Elvis feeling foolish, and one can imagine that even the dog seemed less than pleased.
Anfield anthem
A more renowned song from Carousel that numerous people may recognize from the past few weeks is “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the club anthem for Liverpool Football Club, who recently secured the English Premier League title. It’s less peculiar than you might imagine how this classic Broadway tune turned into a major favorite among Liverpudlian supporters.
In 1963, the Liverpudlian band Gerry and the Pacemakers achieved significant success in the UK with their rendition of the song. The track gained popularity across various venues, including Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium and numerous other English football arenas. Its significance for Liverpool FC deepened when lead vocalist Gerry Marsden discovered that manager Bill Shankly held affection for this particular tune; thus, he gifted Mr. Shankly an exclusive edition as a token of appreciation. This gesture resonated strongly among supporters who later embraced the song during the 1965 FA Cup final, ultimately cementing its status as the team’s unofficial anthem.
Keep on running
Last Sunday morning, an intriguing incident occurred at a park in Bangkok where numerous half-marathon runners arrived at 6 am expecting the event to begin. However, they found no organizers on site. The specifics remain somewhat unclear, yet it appears that assurances regarding various prizes for the athletes did not materialize as promised. It’s hoped that despite this setback, the attendees still got some exercise with a short run through the park following their early wake-up call.
This evokes memories of an incident in Bangkok during November 2015 when Thailand inadvertently registered the longest half-marathon ever. The enthusiastic athletes received more than expected—specifically, an additional six kilometers. This occurred due to the error of misdirected race organizers who incorrectly guided the runners onto the wrong path. Consequently, the contestants ended up covering 27 kilometers rather than the usual 21. Reports suggest that some less physically capable participants were not particularly pleased with this development.
Luckily, it was part of theAmazing Thailand campaign, so in a sense, it truly embodied its title.
Coffee break
After discussing the pleasures of enjoying a cup of tea last week, it’s fitting to provide coffee lovers with their much-needed caffeine fix. This week, a reader noticed in a Bangkok shopping center a sign reading “Barbaric Coffee,” which is an unconventional yet valid usage of a term typically associated with more unsavory contexts. Trusted baristas inform me that this particular brew should definitely perk you up if you’re feeling somewhat lethargic.
Nothing to sniff at
Discussing coffee brings to mind the classic Frank Sinatra tune that begins with these lyrics: “Down where they raise their java/Grow enough for everyone…” Titled “The Coffee Song,” this track became quite popular during my childhood era, which felt as distant as the Dark Ages at the time. Ironically, that song pretty much encapsulated all I knew about Brazil back then. Among its charming verses were the lines: “When you take your girlfriend out/And she ends up smelling like a coffee pot…” Quite poetic indeed!
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