For one brief moment, the main rallying point for out-of-work politicians was the funeral of the father of Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan.
Being completely hamstrung since the May 22 coup, it provided the only real occasion for them to be able to meet up and discuss matters of national substance.
Sudarat: Out of the limelight
Pheu Thai Party politicians, and key members of the red-shirt camp, turned up in droves for the funeral — out of respect for Khunying Sudarat, an important figure in the dramas involving ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Former deputy prime minister Phongthep Thepkanchana helped the guests and volunteered to serve them drinks, while other former ministers and well-known politicians stood by to welcome the mourners and hand out funeral books.
Former Pheu Thai Party MP Karun Hosakul, who has deep respect for Khunying Sudarat, was also busy doing his best to ensure all guests were well received and attended to.
The politicians present did not miss the chance to discuss politics and commented on the work and projects initiated by the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Some said the time out from office was a welcome break from the pressures of political work. Others said they believed the government may not last long, and offered up the hope that they would soon make a political comeback.
But all agreed they could not afford to stay out of the public eye for too long. They have to continue to visit and maintain contact with their constituents to make sure the public does not forget them.
At the funeral, a photo of new-born twin babies was shown around — the granddaughters of Thaksin — amid lots of cooing and aahing and praise and admiration. The twins are the daughters of Pinthongta, the eldest daughter of Thaksin.
Two former prime ministers — Chuan Leekpai, who is now Democrat Party chief adviser, and Banharn Silpa-archa, who is now chief adviser to the Chartthaipattana Party — also attended the funeral, sitting side by side.
Most of the funeral books given out to guests were about Buddhist teachings, reflecting Khunying Sudarat's recent interest in and devotion to Buddhism.
There have been rumours that when the National Council for Peace and Order relinquishes power and Gen Prayut steps down as prime minister, Khunying Sudarat could become the new leader of Pheu Thai, which in turn would mean her being groomed for the post of prime minister.
But another rumour has it that Khunying Sudarat, and her supporters, are regrouping to set up a new political party, with the support of some NCPO members. This party would maintain a neutral stance so it could coordinate with all groups across the political spectrum, a source said.
There has been no comment on the issue from Khunying Sudarat. Currently, she seems to have lost interest in seeking public office.
She has turned aside some opportunities to stage a political comeback, including the Bangkok governor election and a House by-election in Don Muang district.
She is now more interested in promoting Buddhism through various religious projects she has initiated and supported.
The trousers in the family
Behind every powerful man there is a woman, and for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the woman behind him is proving to be an asset for the government.
Naraporn Chan-o-cha stands tall, both metaphorically and literally, with the prime minister at official functions and on foreign visits.
Naraporn: Valuable asset
Praise for her social decorum and tasteful attire has come from observers of Ms Naraporn, who is an associate professor of English at Chulalongkorn University.
As a teacher, her interest in education comes naturally. However, that interest could also be turned into the focal point of a popular government policy: education reform.
Gen Prayut has stressed the importance of education and the problems within the current system, especially with textbooks for primary school students, in his weekly programme on national television.
He has been promoting the use of "Khru Tu" (teachers in a box), a long-distance learning programme beamed via satellite from Klai Kangwon Palace in Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Ms Naraporn is deputy chair of the committee running the satellite education service.
The premier's wife is in charge of managing and planning the service and she is also a presenter for the Khru Tu project which is overseen by the education minister.
Formally named the School Distance Learning via Satellite Project, it was revamped after the Education Ministry decided to play a bigger role in its operation to make sure it reaches students in schools struggling to find enough teachers.
The project was established 13 years ago. Last year, the ministry felt the project was not being run efficiently and the problem needed to be addressed quickly.
In many cases, the satellite dishes needed to receive transmissions were antiquated.
Other problems to be tackled included lack of preparation of teachers and staff to maximise the use of the satellite dishes.
Some schools equipped with the dishes were found to have adequate teaching staff and therefore did not need the long-distance learning service.
According to a source, Ms Naraporn wants the "Khru Tu" broadcast to be made available to schools along the borders and in remote areas of the country. The broadcast transmission, however, has to be strengthened in order to reach far-flung corners of the country, where some schools can only be reached on foot.
Ms Naraporn plans to invite well-known tutors to record classes in the studio and beam the presentations to the various schools. It would present an ideal opportunity for the students in rural provinces to learn from some "master tutors" free of charge.
Many students in Bangkok pay top money to attend classes conducted by some of the tutors.
Ms Naraporn's strong background in education also comes in handy when Gen Prayut needs feedback and input on matters relating to education policies.
On a lighter note, Ms Naraporn often gives advice to her husband on other issues, and he, as many wise husbands do, listens.
She has been a calming force for the general who is known to be impatient at times. A source said Ms Naraporn prompts Gen Prayut to flash a smile when he shows signs of becoming agitated while they are out and about.
A rugged road ahead
The drafting of the new charter by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) is not scheduled to begin until next month, but the parties involved have already ensured it will be controversial.
Anek: Plan hits raw nerve
The National Reform Council (NRC), which is tasked with giving recommendations to the CDC, has started handing in its homework. One proposal calling for the direct election of the prime minister and cabinet ministers is drawing strong opposition.
Opponents of the proposal believe the plan may undermine the checks-and-balances system because it gives a directly-elected premier too much power.
As well as the NRC, the CDC's sub-committees assigned to study and propose the framework for the writing of the charter are also coming back with proposals. Chief among them is a plan for an amnesty for those prosecuted over their roles in political gatherings between 2005 and 2014.
According to the CDC's 10th sub-committee on reform and reconciliation that floated the proposal, the amnesty has been proposed for inclusion in the new charter to promote national reconciliation.
The sub-committee, chaired by NRC member Anek Laothamatas, has come up with two amnesty options. One is a blanket amnesty and the other is a partial one that excludes people whose actions violated the Criminal Code resulting in death or which broke Section 112 of the Criminal Code regarding lese majeste.
The Anek panel also calls for the setting up of a new parallel body called the National Harmony Promotion Committee to operate under parliament. It will operate for between five and 10 years and comprise 15 members from three groups — two groups involved in the country's political conflict and one that is trusted by the first two.
The new body will have a similar organisational structure and budgetary management format as King Prajadhipok's Institute which is currently headed by CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno.
On the same day the amnesty plan was revealed, it hit a raw nerve with many CDC members who reportedly argued against it on the basis that if the new charter is fair, it could and would lead to reconciliation without a need for an amnesty.
Some charter drafters think it better if the amnesty issue is left to the NRC. Others suggest the current government could issue a special law or decree to grant amnesty.
While it remains to be seen if the CDC will take up the amnesty plan for inclusion in the charter, the proposal has immediately drawn attention to the CDC committee which up until now had escaped attention from the media.
This is despite the fact that a chapter in the new constitution will be dedicated to reform and reconciliation along with other issues related to inequality.
The move is unprecedented with an intent to put aside social divisions. None of the country's 19 constitutions in the course of 82 years has touched on reform and reconciliation.
It is believed the idea of having reform and reconciliation enshrined in the new constitution belongs to Mr Borwornsak who visualised it before he was selected as CDC chairman.
If Mr Borwornsak buys the amnesty plan as a path to true reconciliation and reform, he will have a lot of explaining to do in the months ahead to make sure the CDC is on the same page.
Even so, the real work does not start until the draft charter is put up for debate in the NRC, which has the final say.