Nick and I met up with BootsnAll member Erica the other night at the Atlanta. (Juan and Amy met us as well just before taking a train North) As Nick and I entered the restaurant - we took a table in the non-smoking section. At the table next to us was an older looking gentleman. Nick said "hi" - I did too.

Before Erica arrived, we quickly got into a conversation with Bill, and mate, this guy is an interesting bloke.

He is an 68 year old Aussie in good shape (I mean he ain't about to croak any time soon - looks limber and fit) - As these types of meeting go, stories of one's life unfold and are told. Bill was a happily married Aussie with 5 grown kids for 40 years. But, as these things often happen, his real estate investments and construction company had a real bust after 40 years in business. According to Wild Bill, his wife just went crazy and "hated him" - He said that they still had enough dosh to life a comfortable existence but the wife would have nothing of it and they went there their separate ways after 40 years.

This opened up a whole new world to for Bill...being in construction for 40 years, he quickly got consulting project in the 1990s during the Asia Tiger real estate boom - managing projects etc.

I commented to Bill, that there seems to be a very large number of skyscrapers in Bangkok...her told me that many are not finished and many are lucky to have 50 to 60% occupancy. Tremendous overbuilding occurred during those days and he shared a personal story about that.

A contact approached Bill about finishing a building that was 1/2 build and asked Bill and his team to-do a feasibility study on what it would take to finish a 1/2 built 10 story building. After a month of work, Bill and his team suggested that the potential owner not take on the project as the work that was done was shoddy and the cost of the project would far exceed the potential return. But the owner wanted Bill to "massage the numbers" so the Chinese biz man could go to the bank and secure a loan...he even offered Bill a Mercedes Benz if he did this...

This is where Bill learned what was going on. The businessman was using the western consultants for credibility so the bank would lend him the money. Bill told him to go shove it and the building boom blew up shortly thereafter.

It was great to get one inside scoop on a business dealing in SE Asia and Bill, like most Aussies, was frank about the experience.

Some other interesting things about Bill:

1) He had a Thai wife in the 90s after his divorce...she died of Cancer in '95. He still carries a picture of her in his wallet, which he reckons...

2) Save his life when we was drugged and kidnapped in Manila, Philippines several years ago. He was left for dead in a cornfield after being drugged and robbed...usually the robbers just cut the bloke�s throat in situations like this he said.... The picture of his wife could have done the trick for the would be murderers.

3) He is currently starting an export business - at age 68 - this bloke is excited at the Boot Boyz about life and he is great guy to hang out with.

Nick pointed out after..."Sean, what makes this guy so happy is, he just doesn't give a fuck what other people think. Not in a bad way or in a "fuck-you" type of way...he just know what he likes and does it"

True, Nick True.