Leaving school yesterday, I was informed that there would be no classes tomorrow. Yippee! I rode home smiling and kicked back. So now, today, I am relaxing at home. Though in need of exercise, Oi kindly gave me a massage which is lovely and we played Carcassonne, which was fun.
I watched the last half of Birdsong. Brilliant show. I thought it really captured the slow feel of the book. The war scenes are quite horrific and the illustrate stupidity of war.
In my joy of a holiday I contacted Tom who was eager to get together. We had quite a few cans of Guinness and I played him the Desert Island Discs Charlie Watts interview. We talked about Lee, who apparently is in hospital.
It's funny, because I met Lee at the Smart English new year dinner thingy the other day. His wife Pla now works as an assistant at Smart and Lee came along for free nosh. I kept my distance from him as the last time I saw him he blanked me. But, anyway, later on I spot him talking to Oi. Grace was there too. So I wandered over and he started a chat with me. It was the usual, stifled lines that follow a long falling out (four years). I nodded politely and asked a few "safe" questions. He drifted away when things started to dry up.
Anyway, I don't think about it too much, but it's nice to see the circle coming together again. In my Bhuddist, neutral state, I shall just let Nature take it's course and watch what happens. This encounter, and Patrick drifting cautiously back onto my social calander, has a pleasing tone to it.
We are down to our last beans today. Oi bought some sticky rice and chicken with the last few coins we have left. It's okay, it's payday. So my account will be topped up again momentarily. Actually, I enjoy having just enough money to live on. I don't think it should be more because then, it starts to become important and have value. And money should not be important.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Birdsong
Along with the recent excellent adaptation of Great Expectations, I just watched part one of Birdsong. Can a TV show be better than the book? It is pretty damn good, spellbinding even.
Desert Island Discs interview with Joss Ackland is great and I am about to acquire some more episodes of Morse ready for the upcoming holidays; 10 weeks of work free bliss.
Next term I am hoping for some dramatic changes and Oi may go out to work aswell.
Desert Island Discs interview with Joss Ackland is great and I am about to acquire some more episodes of Morse ready for the upcoming holidays; 10 weeks of work free bliss.
Next term I am hoping for some dramatic changes and Oi may go out to work aswell.
Monday, January 23, 2012
My Favourite Tank - The KV
Here we can see a man standing on a tank.
Watch out for future episodes of "My Favourite Tank", where our jolly blogger will reveal more of his favourite tanks.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Life
A while since my last blog and quite a lot happens these days.
As a family, now Grace is more able, we have been going out together. On Sundays now we go to a pleasant restaurant with a garden and have a good feed. It's a lovely atmosphere with scrummy food; fish, papaya salad, fried shrimp in breadcrumbs. Yummy.
Swimming has been getting more popular too, though last Saturday after a prolonged swim Grace was very quiet and tired and got a bit of a fever, so may have to think about that one.
School has become quite boring and I am planning on making a change next year, if the opportunity arises. Actually, I would like to teach young adults for a change. The idea of primary does not appeal. I have put word out so hopefully something will happen.
My back is kind of better, though every day in the classroom I get pain. Oi's massage and exercise help. As of tomorrow I am going to start doing backstroke at the pool. Breaststroke, my version, is too easy for me now. I did 10m of backstroke on Saturday and was exhausted, so that's the way to go - good movement in the back too, I muse.
Desert Island Discs provide stimulus and from that I have been watching The Dirty Dozen which is fun.
The recent Great Expectations was superb and I am just acquiring Birdsong as we speak.
I have been furiously addicted to World of Tanks and am currently upgrading my Russian IS-3. A terrible game. It's like heroine.
The rain has ended and the sun has returned. I can now once again sit out on the back porch and bask in its warming rays. Such bliss.
My eating habits have dramatically changed too of late. No coffee, no chocolate, no crisps, but a constant pile of apples, oranges and bananas. Yes, I believe I can feel the benefits.
Patrick has made a reentry into my life, which has been fun, and I even spoke to Lee at a Smart English party the other week. It was the usual strained conversation when one has not spoken to an old lost friend of a number of years. It's a start.
Money is very tight right now and I am living off just a few hundred Baht until next Tuesday. A week to go. Ridiculous how you are expected to live off these meagre salaries. Even working a second job six days a week. But I gather it is the law of this poxy rock we linger on. I was secretly chuckling to myself that rubber prices have plunged globally and the Thai government is to withdraw subsidizing petrol to its populus. Shooting myself in the foot but the amount and size of the giant family wagon things out here is nuts. And they have an awful habit of leaving their engines running at all times.
Not too long to the end of term. Thank goodness.
As a family, now Grace is more able, we have been going out together. On Sundays now we go to a pleasant restaurant with a garden and have a good feed. It's a lovely atmosphere with scrummy food; fish, papaya salad, fried shrimp in breadcrumbs. Yummy.
Swimming has been getting more popular too, though last Saturday after a prolonged swim Grace was very quiet and tired and got a bit of a fever, so may have to think about that one.
School has become quite boring and I am planning on making a change next year, if the opportunity arises. Actually, I would like to teach young adults for a change. The idea of primary does not appeal. I have put word out so hopefully something will happen.
My back is kind of better, though every day in the classroom I get pain. Oi's massage and exercise help. As of tomorrow I am going to start doing backstroke at the pool. Breaststroke, my version, is too easy for me now. I did 10m of backstroke on Saturday and was exhausted, so that's the way to go - good movement in the back too, I muse.
Desert Island Discs provide stimulus and from that I have been watching The Dirty Dozen which is fun.
The recent Great Expectations was superb and I am just acquiring Birdsong as we speak.
I have been furiously addicted to World of Tanks and am currently upgrading my Russian IS-3. A terrible game. It's like heroine.
The rain has ended and the sun has returned. I can now once again sit out on the back porch and bask in its warming rays. Such bliss.
My eating habits have dramatically changed too of late. No coffee, no chocolate, no crisps, but a constant pile of apples, oranges and bananas. Yes, I believe I can feel the benefits.
Patrick has made a reentry into my life, which has been fun, and I even spoke to Lee at a Smart English party the other week. It was the usual strained conversation when one has not spoken to an old lost friend of a number of years. It's a start.
Money is very tight right now and I am living off just a few hundred Baht until next Tuesday. A week to go. Ridiculous how you are expected to live off these meagre salaries. Even working a second job six days a week. But I gather it is the law of this poxy rock we linger on. I was secretly chuckling to myself that rubber prices have plunged globally and the Thai government is to withdraw subsidizing petrol to its populus. Shooting myself in the foot but the amount and size of the giant family wagon things out here is nuts. And they have an awful habit of leaving their engines running at all times.
Not too long to the end of term. Thank goodness.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Illness
I spent the day in bed yesterday. After going on my walk in the morning, I experienced horrible pain in my loins and had to turn around, walking slowing, trying to avoid the odd pang of pain. It felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. This was the reaction to the back painkillers that seem to have enflamed my organs. I dosed up on the latest batch of meds and spent a woozy day in bed. What makes it worse is Grace's contstant crying to be held. I had to resist, much to her dismay.
Today I do feel better but I will only find out when I walk for a prolonged period, and this is nothing to do with the back pain. Oi has given me a massaged every night which seems to be working and I am trying to change old habits that undoubtably contribute to it. Life's a bitch. I remember hearing old folk sday that you have to eventually give up everything you love as time carries on.
I have been devouring fruit by the bucketload. Fortunately, there is a great fruit stall not to far away and I buy oranges and bananas constantly. Oi also has put me on to sugar cane juice which she says is good.
School starts next Monday so I will be back to swimming.
Beer and snacks have to be out.
In my feeble state I took the opportunity to listen to a bunch of Desert Island Discs, great ones being, Donald Sutherland, Bill Nighy, Micheal Caine... Sutherland's story is extraordinary and I could not help feel completely jealous of his fantastic outlook and life that he has led.
Today I do feel better but I will only find out when I walk for a prolonged period, and this is nothing to do with the back pain. Oi has given me a massaged every night which seems to be working and I am trying to change old habits that undoubtably contribute to it. Life's a bitch. I remember hearing old folk sday that you have to eventually give up everything you love as time carries on.
I have been devouring fruit by the bucketload. Fortunately, there is a great fruit stall not to far away and I buy oranges and bananas constantly. Oi also has put me on to sugar cane juice which she says is good.
School starts next Monday so I will be back to swimming.
Beer and snacks have to be out.
In my feeble state I took the opportunity to listen to a bunch of Desert Island Discs, great ones being, Donald Sutherland, Bill Nighy, Micheal Caine... Sutherland's story is extraordinary and I could not help feel completely jealous of his fantastic outlook and life that he has led.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Year End
I have now started a collection of Desert Island Disc podcasts and relaxed today listening to Bill Bailey, Jo Brand and Richard Griffiths.
State of the world at years end? Well, it aint really very good, though good things and good people still abound. It seems the world is more or less held to permenant ransom by the controlling bodies. As a democratic West sinks through trying to accommodate the world, other dictatoral bodies tighten their grip. People seem to be rebelling all over the world and a shift continues to shift against all odds. Media seems totally up its arse. I hear folks saying we were all fooled by the financial situation. Were they? I think a lot of people saw what was going to happen a vcry long time ago, and any slide is just the continuation of a slide that began a long time ago.
Next year I suppose there will be a lot more blood on the streets as a growing populus become more and more desperate. Environmental concerns have have a bit of a backseat as global politics dominates. It's hard to remain positive in a world full of litter and noise, but one does try.
We watch with interest what will happen in Europe, the US and now in China and Russia.
I have enough projects to keep me from dwelling on this subject too long.
State of the world at years end? Well, it aint really very good, though good things and good people still abound. It seems the world is more or less held to permenant ransom by the controlling bodies. As a democratic West sinks through trying to accommodate the world, other dictatoral bodies tighten their grip. People seem to be rebelling all over the world and a shift continues to shift against all odds. Media seems totally up its arse. I hear folks saying we were all fooled by the financial situation. Were they? I think a lot of people saw what was going to happen a vcry long time ago, and any slide is just the continuation of a slide that began a long time ago.
Next year I suppose there will be a lot more blood on the streets as a growing populus become more and more desperate. Environmental concerns have have a bit of a backseat as global politics dominates. It's hard to remain positive in a world full of litter and noise, but one does try.
We watch with interest what will happen in Europe, the US and now in China and Russia.
I have enough projects to keep me from dwelling on this subject too long.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Doctors
So, I just spent 1000 Baht on a second visit to the doctor. She prescibed me three more medicines to counteract the side effects of the previous three medecines I was prescibed for my back ache. I checked the bill, 300 baht for the quack's advice, 700 Baht for the drugs. What a joke. My tummy went all hard and insides felt awful.
So, I came home and didn't take any of them. Just drank a ton of water, and hey the next day I feel a lot better. ANd you know, you can't sue Thai doctors. When they tried to introduce the right to do so, they went on strike.
On happier notes I have started watching Breaking Bad, S1E1 was awesome.
Grace was in a show at school yesterday. It would have been ok if the 2 muppet teachers weren't shouting so much that my eardrums stopped bleeding. Holy fuck.
Picked up some more private work for next week which will mean an hour every weekday. It will bring in a bit more cash which will be cool.
Found some ok red wine for 320 baht a bottle.
Been listening to the radion and heard a great live album review of 1964 BB King's Live at the Regal. Hunted it down and it is cracking. Messaged muso Tom who was mightily impressed as he didn't know of it either. Get it. It will blow yer socks off. Love the line, "I gave you 7 children, Now you wanna give 'em back." too which the crowd (black, Chicago, 1964) goes crazy.
Been taking Grace swimming and walks at the lake at the uni. Very happy family times with Oi and Gracie right now. Don't need nuthin' else.
So, I came home and didn't take any of them. Just drank a ton of water, and hey the next day I feel a lot better. ANd you know, you can't sue Thai doctors. When they tried to introduce the right to do so, they went on strike.
On happier notes I have started watching Breaking Bad, S1E1 was awesome.
Grace was in a show at school yesterday. It would have been ok if the 2 muppet teachers weren't shouting so much that my eardrums stopped bleeding. Holy fuck.
Picked up some more private work for next week which will mean an hour every weekday. It will bring in a bit more cash which will be cool.
Found some ok red wine for 320 baht a bottle.
Been listening to the radion and heard a great live album review of 1964 BB King's Live at the Regal. Hunted it down and it is cracking. Messaged muso Tom who was mightily impressed as he didn't know of it either. Get it. It will blow yer socks off. Love the line, "I gave you 7 children, Now you wanna give 'em back." too which the crowd (black, Chicago, 1964) goes crazy.
Been taking Grace swimming and walks at the lake at the uni. Very happy family times with Oi and Gracie right now. Don't need nuthin' else.
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