MY WORLD CUP QUEST: RUSSIA AGAINST TIME

24/32 WORLD CUP TEAMS COMPLETED

TICK TOCK

Pilot invited me to watch Russia play Uruguay on day 11 of the World Cup. He was watching the game with a colleague in a Japanese izakaya (Izakays are the best bars in the world as shown here https://steemit.com/sports/@highselfesteem/my-world-cup-quest-the-best-irish-pub-in-the-world-is-japanese)
His Russian neighbour was also to join us. She was running late. Time moved along quickly for me as I looked at the door hoping for her arrival. I was running out of games with which to meet people. I still hadn't met anyone from the host country. Meanwhile time wasn't moving fast enough for ten-man Russia who were conceding goals galore.

THEY ALL COUNT

My eyes flitted from the TV screen to the door and back again. Outside the window the area was full of people socialising. Hi-so girls and boys, their dogs and bar staff floated by as I looked out the ceiling high windows. Bangkok traffic was dishing out punishment to our Russian friend.
It is weird waiting for someone you've never met before. I had no idea what she looked like and yet I couldn't stop searching the crowd for her. Samuel Beckett said a good definition of hell is "waiting". But I wasn't waiting for Godot I was waiting for Rushing and she duly arrived just before the final whistle blew and I was never so happy to see someone I didn't know.

Sometimes in life things are over too soon. She was short and sweet. As was our meeting. As is this post. Don't you just love last minute goals.

*Join me in my quest. It started here https://steemit.com/sport/@highselfesteem/i-m-going-to-watch-the-world-cup-with-a-fan-from-every-country-in-bangkok-or-sleep-trying and will continue for the duration of the World Cup.

*Other words, pictures and sounds at my website http://www.thisthailife.com/

*Twitter @ThisThaiLife

*Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thisthailife/