Author: shaun tenzenmen

Australasian DIY music specialist and practising poet, amongst other things

We got that attitude! – 15th July 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Weird dreams – girl on bus wanted sex. I was taking care of a package but don’t know why. Ended up meeting old friends. I lost my bike – went to a record store that was also a bar. Az worked there – he got hit by a payphone that fell off the wall – I felt like it was my fault. He let me into a weird place with lots of people who wanted to dose me with drugs and kill me. I got this from reading the beginning of the Hendrix book.

Up early today – at school by eight, in new room. Tired but happy. Cats came to visit my room. Tigger wanted to spray. Maybe he did.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful that I don’t have any lessons today so I can plan for my next video.

To-do list

  • Smile, laugh – listen, listen, listen ✅
  • Compliment two people ✅
  • Play the awards game in your head ✅
  • Who can you connect with? ½
  • Record for Bruce if time

I went to the dentist on Wednesday so didn’t get time to write here but it was a good cruisy day with some video-making and writing. I followed the same points above today and did OK but sometimes I think I still talk more than I need to and should listen more. I did remember to compliment people – two on Wednesday but only one today. I really really want to remember to play the awards game because when I do remember it makes me laugh inside and feel happy.

On Wednesday I connected a little with JJ and First but now everyone is busy with teaching so there is little time left to try and go a little deeper with people. I had a couple of difficult classes today though there were a few students who stood out. I hope I can encourage the others to open up and participate more. It’s early days.

Two students fell asleep in my afternoon class and I got the rest of the kids to creep out quietly and we let them sleep. They thought that was funny and everyone had a break.

We found that attitude! – 14th July 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Quick today – teaching today finally. Brain in gear? Brain in gear – ready to go. Stay with it. Make it fun for the kids.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to be in the classroom again. It gives me some confidence, I know I can do a good job.

To-do list

  • Compliment everyone you can ½
  • Mantra and blessing ½
  • Keep students happy – teaching is second ✅
  • Smile, laugh, listen first ½

I was very happy today. Possibly a little too exuberant but I couldn’t help myself. I should try to reign it in a little bit though as sometimes I get too comfortable and forget about how I make other people feel.

I only ended up teaching one lesson this morning – and then made a video. Being with the students again made me happy.

Later, as we discussed the schedule I offered to take 2 lessons each from George and Dylan as they are the subject I’m supposed to be teaching anyway. This meant less work for them and more for me but I felt good about that because it means I can monitor the progress of the students easily. I’m also happy to be working in the class more.

Even the bad news that we now have to arrive before 8 am couldn’t get me down today. We’ve had it easy for a long time really – we’ve been very lucky.

We’re gonna carry on for another day – 13th July 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Quick pages. Dark and raining, cool and humid. Motivated this morning but teeth hurt. Dream? I know I had them.

Suck in deep breaths. Mini workout – my style – one day I’ll do more. Slowly, slowly is okay.

Busy day ahead? Maybe – let’s see – can face anything now right? You can, you can. Brain blur – meditate.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for my new chair so I can relax outside and watch the football. I felt great.

7th Sep 2022 – I was trying to think what this chair was and suddenly remembered. It was a kind of comfy padded folding chair without legs so you could adjust it in many ways. It was good for a while but the arm mechanism soon broke and one drunken evening Amy kept tripping over it and picked it up and threw it into the yard where it broke even further. I think it must still be in my man cave, which is a place I need to visit and make sure has not been fully taken over by spiders and insects and hope that the roof has not leaked with all the rain. About 95% of my CD collection is still in there.

To-do list

  • Compliment two people ½
  • Mantra and blessing ✅
  • Give Dylan positive feedback ✅
  • Be vulnerable – open and helpful to other teachers ✅
  • Record audio for Bruce in the evening

After a fairly relaxing day of making videos and preparing to make more, we finally got asked to teach in the classroom. Actually, I had already gotten a little bored and helped T. First in a couple of lessons already and I found them quite stimulating and fun.

Finally, we get to teach – it’s been so long! I felt good all day and fairly confident about everything.

The Chiang Rai Alternative Hour #47 – 11th July 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Music from Brontide, Heroine Sheiks, The Rhythm Devils, Pavement, Inner City Unit, Anti Band, Neighbourhoods, Henry Fiats Open Sore, Estradasphere, Giovanni Venosta, Radio Algeria, RD Burman, Rip Rig and Panic, Idiotbox, The Klezmatics, The Psychedelic Furs and Color Us Cool.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for having time to spend as I wish. Today I will record another podcast, continue with 1994ever and maybe finish reading my book.

We got that attitude! – 10th July 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful that we are having fun making videos today.

To-do list

  • Finish TCRAH episode tonight ½
  • Compliment someone – anyone! ✅
  • Silent positive wishes and mantra ✅
  • Call Hayden ✅
  • Have fun with making videos ✅

So, as you can see, my routine has got a bit out of whack and I haven’t been writing here as much. But I’m fine with that at the moment. In general, I’m feeling well and happy and have been thinking about thinking a little less and trying to put good habits into practice.

Some days, I still have fears and doubts but mostly everything has been going very well. I have been mostly on the ball during the week and not really doing much on the weekends so I can definitely feel the benefit of the weekly routine but also happy to break with it for the sake of variety.

I’m grateful that I have so many options available that I don’t get too bored. I will continue the practices that I note here until they become more and more ingrained. It’s a struggle but worthwhile.

British boys’ minds in a whirl – 9th July 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Painkillers fog my brain – body feels relaxed but thinking gets mega tiring. Have to stay positive. George always positive – even if not inside. He’s too much sometimes – even though he’s right about many things – it puts me off depending on how I’m feeling.

Anyway – exercise this morning kicks me out of my laziness a little. I think I prefer my head to be straighter these days. Things I get to do can only be done when feeling straight. Beep beep – message. Amy crying out in her dream a lot last night.

What am I gonna talk about today? What can I achieve today? What are you thinking? Now or later? Now light sweat, aching thumbs – things begging to be done – but for what end. A sense of achievement? Purpose? Happiness? Trying to stay positive.

Will record some video today. Let’s see how I handle things. Stay positive.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to be making videos again today. Sitting around doing nothing at work is ok for a while but gets boring.

To-do list

  • Post last two TCRAH ✅
  • Find more ‘school’ items ✅
  • Compliment someone – anyone! ✅
  • Silent positive wishes and ‘thank you’ mantra ✅
  • Record ‘Golden Age’ for Bruce if at home

There were ants crawlin’ on the floor – 8th July 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

1990 was 30 years ago! Crazy – I was a young man. Scribble dribble. Lazy but content.

Play video games – was okay but got a little bored. Movies. YouTube – okay but a little bored. No exercise, no writing, no thinking – that was okay. That was good. No thinking – just doing but need to think – keep a clear head.

Sore neck. Stretch it out, massage it. Back to school back to.… Plan some things to do. Use school free time for myself. What’s my new Twitter password? Brain blank – it’ll come… Is my mind this empty? – what’s in here? – foggy blur. Sit and meditate – that password will annoy me for sure.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to be back at school. Even though I’m not doing much I started to get bored at home, despite there being lots of things to do there!

The Chiang Rai Alternative Hour #46 – 6th July 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Music from Joanna Gruesome, D.I., Mighty Baby, Univers Zero, Christian Fitness, Neos, XTC, Chokebore, The Necessaries, Electric Light Orchestra, Owen Grey & His Jets, Unwound, Ilaiyaraaja, Bollywood Funk, The Milkshakes, The Pogues, Fotriafa and Groupe El Azhar.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for a sleep-in this morning and not to be thinking too much so having a break from journalling and reading.