“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again.” – Andre Gide
Dull day, inexplainable, darkened skies
Greying mind, inexplicable meaningless whys
Each day, unknowable, a morning shine
Bright mind, lovable, this day divine
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful to work out and meditate in Kim’s room and be distracted by her running around like crazy. She makes me smile and distracts me from my own problems.
I am so happy and grateful for the free money that the government gave us to spend on food and household items. We got spendy and went to the blue shop and pick up lots of goodies.
There are some rumours about having to teach online until the end of July or even til the end of the semester in late September. That’s tough for everyone and making me think about how to make the lessons more engaging, but I’m also feeling extremely lazy about it all too.
It’s not fun to be at school where there has been a case of Covid, and the Thai teachers still won’t wear masks. It’s much easier for me to teach from home, but at school, I have to depend on the student’s own motivation more. It’s just a technological issue, but it’s frustrating that we are not offered a choice. If I was a student, I wouldn’t bother to attend my classes – as some of the students are already choosing.
Ellen is planning more IELTS teaching coming up too. That’s nice and pays well, but I don’t always feel confident doing it and it takes a lot of planning too.
Anyway, the best things about this weekend was coffee at Utopia, getting more posts on my blog, a bit of reading and a bit of watching football. Time goes too fast though – and it’s always hot! I love aircon but real cool air would be perfect from time to time.
I am so happy and grateful to be using my artistic portion of my brain to write poems again and find that I still do it ok. I can find inspiration and subject matter easily.
20th June 2023 – I was surprised to find that I’ve posted a poem every day for two years now. Let’s keep going!
The fried chicken stand roars each morning
Burning oil since the early dawning
You know it’s bad – ‘But it’s delicious’
There’s things inside so suspicious
Feel your organs, pumping, throbbing
As arteries are slowly clogging
The chicken man holds a scythe
Death comes along to claim his tithe
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful to have this little book to write my notes in. I prefer to write with pen and paper rather than using an app.
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful that it is Thursday and I only have two classes today and will finish at 1.30 so will have lots of free time. I plan to draw a picture of Tokyo to give to Gui as a gift.
Conkers
We marched ever onward
Til we conquered all around
Spilled blood, spread disease
Put generations in the ground
Now the march is inward
To conquer our own mind
What then becomes of us
After what we find?
Godsnake
Some absurd things make us laugh
While others they offend
But if you cannot laugh at yourself
You’ll be angry until your end
You can have your faith and eat it
Not everyone feels the same
Our beliefs are as absurd as each others
Let’s not apportion blame
Legacy of GG
Ugly is art, all the same
No judgement on defect
It deserves respect
Only opinion, it’s in the name
It could be a mistake
Art for art’s sake
Like it or leave it
Opinions aren’t facts
So just relax
If you don’t believe it
Existing is real
Whatever you feel
Fame can be fleeting
Soon passing on by
Even after you die
Those people you’re meeting
Will return to the sky
Just as you and I
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful for the delicious smells coming from the kitchen this morning as Amy prepares me my lunch – chilli jam fake duck. The fake meats here are many and varied and I’m grateful for all the choices.
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful to be able to work from home today. Finally, someone at the school made the right decision for teachers to work from home due to the Covid case at school. It is the sensible decision!
Well, the students came back to school last Monday on a treacherous day of torrential rain, and it was good to see them all again. By Friday, the school was closed again due to a case of Covid that the school knew about on that first day but kept to themselves in the hope that it wouldn’t be a big deal. So typical of the Thai style. It’s very frustrating.
On Monday, Nancy was also constantly hassling me to cash her cheque and transfer her money. I was unable to get to a bank, but Amy offered to transfer it if I put some money into her account. I transferred from my account without realising it took me below the threshold needed for my visa application, which was summarily rejected on Tuesday! Now, I have to change to a 60-day visitor visa and re-apply again. I was so annoyed that it became funny.
Thailand has not endeared itself to me this week. I started wondering about leaving. We are only made to feel welcome here if we spend money. We will never be accepted as equals – sometimes it feels like a punishment for the luck of being born in a ‘better’ society. Revenge jealousy.
Anyway, I can play with my cats and the dog from next door. I still have books to read. Fuck frustration!
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful for Amy’s cooking experiments which means I can eat Pecan cake today as she will make a new one (for Goy’s birthday). Her recent cookies were delicious.
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful that we can afford to furnish our spare room so that Kim Chi has space to be her own. If we faced the same situation in our old house in Chatswood it would have been impossible. We are so fortunate – as is Kim.
