Well, it is Monday and my first official day off, though I have to do this Coca Cola job at 4 o'clock for Patrick. I have already prepared my lesson plan and am even making some flashcards for the English Camp (Crusty) on Thusday. So, I shall be super prepared. I do find it strange the massive resistance a lot of teachers exhibit towards preparation. I find it easy and even fun, when there is not too much of it. Tons of teachers get by on a wing and a pray and don't seem to mind going in with not much of a clue what is going to happen in the next 45 minutes. Anyway, I enjoy it. Maybe it is because I get to use my draughting skills and that I like dabbing around with Microsoft Publiser. I got printers and laminators now. Some folks ain't got any of these handy tools, then again many teachers are only in one spot for a year before moving on to another country or going back home.
I acquired Mafia 2 yesterday, so I have begun playing that too. Yes, it is the dog's bollocks and yes, I am taking regular breaks. I will have to balance these 3 games and I hope I can complete them by the time I go back to school. All games are excellent (Armoured Princess, Mass Effect 2, Mafia 2) should any screaming fans feel the urge to play one.
I spent about 4 hours gardening yesterday. Sweeping, weeding and a bonfire at the end of it. I also moved a rather large bunch of grass to a better spot, and gave myself a nasty rash in the process.
I went on a Stranglers downloading rampage and acquired a bunch of their early stuff before Tom, Danny and Bruce popped over for beer and coffee (Bruce gave it up years ago) in the late afternoon. It was great to see the guys. I was feeling a bit blue before, but seeing my friends always cheers me up. Bruce saw The Stranglers twice in Australia decades ago and requested "In the Shadows" which I was most pleased to play on the ipod.
So, milling about the house. I started watching, "A Single Man" with Colin Firth that looks good and I took a ride down to 7-11 at the uni, but fuck! The place was heaving with ga-zillions of spotty-looking teenagers. So, I was quite purturbed. Amazingly and cleverly, I pulled off a wiz bit of manuvering in the 7 and avoided an enormous queue by pushing in right at the front, and got served right away. You must understand, this is a skill only learned and used in Thailand where it is considered the norm to queue-jump and cheat at anything to get yourself ahead. I happily and surprisingly, adopt all these techniques. It is essential if you want to survive here, and no one bats an eyelid. Many falang fail to utilize these cunning ploys, either as a rigid holding-on to law and order and respect for others, or because they are scared. I am not saying I am perfect, far from it, but it is definitely worth doing, and I know many falang leave Thailand disgusted at the street behavoir, which would have been so easy to reverse if they had tried. In fact, it becomes great fun. A bit like how a Thai is secretly pleased and proud if they successfully manage to chaet or steal something without being spotted. A trait which is being rubbed out by the invading West.
I won't bore you, but a recent observation was of the young kids trying to cheat at tests. It suddenly occured to me that they were following an instinct to cheat and help each other as a group. Something Man must have to do to survive. Then I realised with horror, how modern society, or is it Post-Modern society - I forget which, stamps out such behavoir with extreme force to make us individualistic in the ever nasty race to get ahead as individuals seeking wealth and power. Thus stamping out Mans natural intinct to survive. Getting rid of a sharing culture and introducing a selfish culture. How awful, but then, look at the mess we are in.
I wonder if I can devise a test at school that everyone has to do together...?
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
End of Term
The holidays are here and it is time to relax, though I am doing a couple of days at the Coca Cola company for Patrick as he is flying down to Malaysia to see a new lady he has met. 1000B for an hour and a half, so better that I do it. I will give the cash to Oi.
The boys will all be going away as they are single. That's fine. I am happy at home. I ride my bike in the country quite often and I have been at the gym again. Actually, I have lost a few kilos and I have hardly touched a drop of the demon drink. As we live in the sticks now, folks are less inclined to visit cos of the distance. This means there is less incentive to indulge in the drink as it doesn't make much sense being drunk when your wife and kid are the only company. That's all good as the years are ticking away and taking care of one's health becomes ever more important.
It is true I have been quite engrossed in some games of late. Namely, Armoured Princess and Mass Effect 2. Games I got ages ago and put aside for a rainy day. Both are really excellent, particularly in the addiction department.
Seen some cool movies too; After Life, Code 46, Black Death.
Got a camp to do later in the week and got some wiz ideas for next term. I ahve really enjoyed teaching this term (because I am not doing to much) and we have had great results. The kids have learnt to read which is awesome. In one class 75% of the kids got 100% in the test, and if you didn't know your stuff you would fail. So I was well-chuffed. Of course, only me and Phit ever see it and we never get visited by our managers and bosses, but it's always like that, eh?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Caine/Fry
Two wonderful articles about two of my favourite people today; Michael Caine and Stephen Fry. You can find them in the Dail Mail and The Guardian. I think they both have new autobiographies coming out. Moab is my Washpot was a scream.
Last night I was feeling glum so I called up my buddies and joined Patrick for a night at the Co-Art. Don came along too. Tom didn't make it as he had just bought a new second-hand motorcycle which promptly refused to start. Don recited to us the gruelling phone call with Tom who had vented his skull bashing frustration. Poor old Tom. He does seem to have rotten luck, and more than his fair share.
Patrick is talking of making moves to KL in Malaysia. He has a new chick on the scene who is beckoning him to join her. It would be sad to see him go, but I understand his desire to move on, and sometimes Hat Yai does seem like the restaurant at the end of the universe. The place where all the old turds end up. I am gald I live out of town a tad. The ride into town is very refreshing and really reminds me of the road from Rake to Petersfield that I took so many times as a young lad. In fact, even the slow curve of the main road we live just off reminds me, funnily enough of Four Marks, where Joel used to live. This road, known as Boonnagan, is the only road in Hat Yai that appears like an English road. All the others have that crazy, dangerous, hecticness about them that one expects in South East Asia; screaming trucks and crazy motorcycles hurtling along at breakneck speeds. Boonnagan is quite sedate with lovely green mountains to gaze at as one ambles along.
Grace is getting very busy these days and has indeed grown some. She's turning into a toddler at last and our duties have changed a bit too. She understands a lot of what we say to her and has her own language. She nods for "Yes" and scrowls her face and throws up her arms when she doesn't want something. She is a happy girl, who can play contentedly by herself. She likes to open my wallet and hand out the money inside. She presses the buttons on the mobile phone and then holds it tro her ears and garbles some important message. We get the kids from the street in often to play with her and it is funny to watch her trying to keep up with them. Obviously she is still very young but you can see that she wants to join in the fun with the local kids.
It is coming up to the October break soon. It will be nice to have some time off. Phit offered me some extra work, but I graciously declined.
I saw Gee last week. It was the first time since she flew into a temper at Oi when I decided I wanted to stop teaching privately. Losing a good friend is very painful and I have been quite upset about it. I think through a complicated set of circumstances I made her lose face, which Thai people cannot do. Anyway, she told me that she missed me and held my shoulder for a moment as she walked passed, so it was nice to have some sort of reconciliation. Better than my experience with the dreadful Lee, who after nearly 2 years of not meeting him was as cold as ice to me when I saw him at Don's house a while back. I even asked him directly how is daughter was. All he could say was "OK" without even looking at me. I nearly got up and left but then thought better of it. Very limited use of the English language for a teacher talking about the welfare of his daughter I thought. I was glad there were witnesses to his coldness, and Patrick sums it up nicely, "He's got issues." A very strange and sad individual caught up in some imperialist hate-thing.
Doom 3 is proving terrifying and I may have had my fill. There is always a big boss I cannot defeat and the process is so stressful there is very little pleasure in it. I do like to complete these games however before moving on. We shall have to see.
I liked Iron Man 2 and Salt seems fun though is yet to finish.
The boys are all into watching live concerts right now and we have seen some corkers, including Led Zepplin at the Albert Hall (1969), Sugarcubes, Allman Brothers to name a few. It 's more fun than watching a movies when you are with the lads.
Last night I was feeling glum so I called up my buddies and joined Patrick for a night at the Co-Art. Don came along too. Tom didn't make it as he had just bought a new second-hand motorcycle which promptly refused to start. Don recited to us the gruelling phone call with Tom who had vented his skull bashing frustration. Poor old Tom. He does seem to have rotten luck, and more than his fair share.
Patrick is talking of making moves to KL in Malaysia. He has a new chick on the scene who is beckoning him to join her. It would be sad to see him go, but I understand his desire to move on, and sometimes Hat Yai does seem like the restaurant at the end of the universe. The place where all the old turds end up. I am gald I live out of town a tad. The ride into town is very refreshing and really reminds me of the road from Rake to Petersfield that I took so many times as a young lad. In fact, even the slow curve of the main road we live just off reminds me, funnily enough of Four Marks, where Joel used to live. This road, known as Boonnagan, is the only road in Hat Yai that appears like an English road. All the others have that crazy, dangerous, hecticness about them that one expects in South East Asia; screaming trucks and crazy motorcycles hurtling along at breakneck speeds. Boonnagan is quite sedate with lovely green mountains to gaze at as one ambles along.
Grace is getting very busy these days and has indeed grown some. She's turning into a toddler at last and our duties have changed a bit too. She understands a lot of what we say to her and has her own language. She nods for "Yes" and scrowls her face and throws up her arms when she doesn't want something. She is a happy girl, who can play contentedly by herself. She likes to open my wallet and hand out the money inside. She presses the buttons on the mobile phone and then holds it tro her ears and garbles some important message. We get the kids from the street in often to play with her and it is funny to watch her trying to keep up with them. Obviously she is still very young but you can see that she wants to join in the fun with the local kids.
It is coming up to the October break soon. It will be nice to have some time off. Phit offered me some extra work, but I graciously declined.
I saw Gee last week. It was the first time since she flew into a temper at Oi when I decided I wanted to stop teaching privately. Losing a good friend is very painful and I have been quite upset about it. I think through a complicated set of circumstances I made her lose face, which Thai people cannot do. Anyway, she told me that she missed me and held my shoulder for a moment as she walked passed, so it was nice to have some sort of reconciliation. Better than my experience with the dreadful Lee, who after nearly 2 years of not meeting him was as cold as ice to me when I saw him at Don's house a while back. I even asked him directly how is daughter was. All he could say was "OK" without even looking at me. I nearly got up and left but then thought better of it. Very limited use of the English language for a teacher talking about the welfare of his daughter I thought. I was glad there were witnesses to his coldness, and Patrick sums it up nicely, "He's got issues." A very strange and sad individual caught up in some imperialist hate-thing.
Doom 3 is proving terrifying and I may have had my fill. There is always a big boss I cannot defeat and the process is so stressful there is very little pleasure in it. I do like to complete these games however before moving on. We shall have to see.
I liked Iron Man 2 and Salt seems fun though is yet to finish.
The boys are all into watching live concerts right now and we have seen some corkers, including Led Zepplin at the Albert Hall (1969), Sugarcubes, Allman Brothers to name a few. It 's more fun than watching a movies when you are with the lads.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Continued Global Meltdown
I have noticed things slipping further of late.
The economic situation has not recovered and indeed seems about to slip further. England, in particular, seems to be slipping quite badly right now. The US faultering too. In fact, the Western world.
Some Christian nut in Floria seems to think that burning copies of the Koran is going to help. Oh dear.
Chimp numbers declining as they are hunted for bushmeat.
Iran has nuclear weapon tech. Unlikely, but it does force the US to play.
It's all a dreadful shame. It really is.
Now, where did I put that cup of tea?
...oh, here it is...
...Oh! Look at pussy! She's playing in the garden...
...How sweet...
The economic situation has not recovered and indeed seems about to slip further. England, in particular, seems to be slipping quite badly right now. The US faultering too. In fact, the Western world.
Some Christian nut in Floria seems to think that burning copies of the Koran is going to help. Oh dear.
Chimp numbers declining as they are hunted for bushmeat.
Iran has nuclear weapon tech. Unlikely, but it does force the US to play.
It's all a dreadful shame. It really is.
Now, where did I put that cup of tea?
...oh, here it is...
...Oh! Look at pussy! She's playing in the garden...
...How sweet...
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Grandma
Grandma is in town and it was really funny Grace getting reacquainted with someone she thought she knew but couldn't quite place. It has been over two months since Gran last came to visit so Grace was a little perplexed, but later Grandma is the best thing in the house. It's great. It takes a lot of pressure of Oi and me to have a little breathing space. I can lock myself away blasting things in Doom 3 and Oi can have chats with her mum and take a rest.
I bought Grace a new toy today. The place where I have to pay the rent every month is near the school supply shop, so I decided it would be cool to get Grace a new toy every month, especially as I am flush at that time. They have tons of everything, including some pretty good cheap toys as I have discovered. Today I got her a pull along truck made of wood with shapes and cut outs in the roof. So the kid has to push the shapes through the holes. It's good quality too, and she loves it.
Having successfully blasted my way through the excellent Singularity, I have now gone back to an unplayed classic; Doom 3. I am mightily impressed. Horribly dark and clutching a torch most of the way through, one descends deeper and deeper into a mining colony on Mars that appears to have been possessed by some demonic monsters. A tad dated but a truly gripping trip and very compelling story. One reads and listens to audiologs of bored mining employees complaining about the faulty lifts and excess of chainsaws supplied by mistake, only to find their dismembered body shortly after. And yes, this is the generation of games that introduced the infamous chainsaw. And I think I am pretty correct when I say that Doom was the first FPS (First Person Shooter - to the uninitiated)
Glad to have recovered from my horrible sickness. It was like being 80 for a day or being turned into a golem of wood. One pill and it was gone. Indeed I was thanking modern medicine.
I did my forest walk today which was good.
I love the Maisy books for the kids. Actually I was contemplating making a book especially for my kids with, "Tom and Jim Go Camping" as I have just been teaching about Nature. Let's see if I can do it!
I bought Grace a new toy today. The place where I have to pay the rent every month is near the school supply shop, so I decided it would be cool to get Grace a new toy every month, especially as I am flush at that time. They have tons of everything, including some pretty good cheap toys as I have discovered. Today I got her a pull along truck made of wood with shapes and cut outs in the roof. So the kid has to push the shapes through the holes. It's good quality too, and she loves it.
Having successfully blasted my way through the excellent Singularity, I have now gone back to an unplayed classic; Doom 3. I am mightily impressed. Horribly dark and clutching a torch most of the way through, one descends deeper and deeper into a mining colony on Mars that appears to have been possessed by some demonic monsters. A tad dated but a truly gripping trip and very compelling story. One reads and listens to audiologs of bored mining employees complaining about the faulty lifts and excess of chainsaws supplied by mistake, only to find their dismembered body shortly after. And yes, this is the generation of games that introduced the infamous chainsaw. And I think I am pretty correct when I say that Doom was the first FPS (First Person Shooter - to the uninitiated)
Glad to have recovered from my horrible sickness. It was like being 80 for a day or being turned into a golem of wood. One pill and it was gone. Indeed I was thanking modern medicine.
I did my forest walk today which was good.
I love the Maisy books for the kids. Actually I was contemplating making a book especially for my kids with, "Tom and Jim Go Camping" as I have just been teaching about Nature. Let's see if I can do it!
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