VISITING Thalang Road on a Sunday has become a special delight for those perverse people who prefer to watch others work.

The plan is to bury all the wires that currently adorn poles in an unsightly fashion. However, as with roadwork teams everywhere, certain rules have to be followed faithfully in Thalang Road.

Rule One Three people must be available to look on at every person actually working.

Yes, Thalang Road scores well here. There were always at least three workers watching one person work. Definitely up to international standard. Leaning on shovels could be improved, though.

Rule Two Never coordinate with any other workers.

Yes, definitely all going to plan. The ditches that were dug last week were being redug today and will be dug again next week. Every cable must be buried with due regard for its special character.

Rule Three Aim to please onlookers with bursts of inspiration.

Yes, Thalang Road scores well here. We liked particularly the ladder leaning backwards from kerb to overhead wiring, that man scored nine out of 10. Was that the last of the old wiring going up, or the first of the old wiring coming down? We couldn't tell. And the team measuring the width of the road at different points, with a tape measure, definitely a highlight. 10 out of 10.

Encore please

Oh yes. Around the corner in Soi Romanee, where the poles have long since disappeared, a whole batch of new wiring has gone up, attached directly to the brightly painted buildings. No need for poles. Clearly, there's a lot more work worth watching to come in old Phuket Town.