Average to fair. Didn’t sleep for long enough again but forced myself up and to do a little 10-minute exercise and hope to start getting back into it.
I still have headaches and my voice and throat is still a little sore and croaky. I’m in a reasonable headspace though.
Health:
Physical: 6 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
My adaptability. As I’m entering details into the blog from when I started working in high school at CRPAO I can see how I have managed to adapt myself to the environment and become more flexible and understanding.
The best thing about today was:
Jet, Lin and Mai, my old grade 9 students, love touching my belly for some reason but today Lin squealed and called over Jet and they were both disappointed to feel that I have lost some belly fat.
I’m not actually sure that I have but this made me feel good that perhaps some of the exercising that I have been doing these past few years may be having some small effect.
Something I learned today?
I spoke to Hayden yesterday and he has moved into a new place, which he seems happy with. He also reckons he’s on for a new workplace which will give him a little more money and better working conditions. I hope that he gets that.
He has a few days off and is flying down to Melbourne to get a tattoo. Seems a long way to go just for a tattoo but, I guess he’ll be doing other stuff whilst there. I think his mum is still supporting him too much but he’s slowly getting there to stand on his own two feet.
Amy took this picture because sometimes we can get our grass cut for free!
Super tired as I definitely didn’t catch up on any missed sleep from Sunday night. Never mind. I’ll have to try tonight.
I was looking forward to sitting down with some coffee and free time when my grade 9 students called me and asked to move their class from the afternoon to this morning again.
As this kinda suits me too, leaving the afternoon free, I rushed back and we went in search of a free room, ending up in the library.
Health:
Physical: 6 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Nong Kratae for helping out Anchan as much as she can. It may not be much and it may not be enough for Anchan but Kratae is offering some hope at least. I will have to think of something that I can do for her as thanks one day. And I will ask Anchan for suggestions and if she can contribute in some way too.
The best thing about today was:
I felt my health improve a little over the day, especially mentally. Somehow, being at school is picking me up mentally, whilst seemingly running me down physically.
I was particularly energised after my grade 8 class finished at 12.30 but I didn’t leave school for another 45 minutes as various groups of students came to distract me, wanting to chat.
Something I learned today?
After much hassling from my students, I installed Instagram and TikTok and have been trying to work out how they work and if they are even remotely useful for me.
I still don’t quite get them or how they work. At the end of the day, I just want to use this software to stay in contact with my students in the future.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
As I was contemplating being able to finish early and go home, Anchan messaged me asking to go with her to Nong Kratae’s for the first time today this afternoon.
I guess as I wasn’t due to finish until 4.30 pm anyway, then it’s not a big deal and I’m hanging around at House catching up on reading and writing. Trying to get my brain back into poem-writing mode after a few days away from writing.
Tonkhaw took this picture because….he was happy to see his teacher hard at work, perhaps?
‘Low-life’ Jonny is feeling low Thinking nothing can be fixed I’d really love to see him grow And to get his message unmixed
Why does he hate himself so much? Always putting others down too Has he got a sensitive touch That he’s hiding from me and you?
I don’t know why Jonny feels so bad Maybe he didn’t get the news That there’s no need to feel so sad And it’s something he can choose
Written for a contest at AllPoetry.com about Bad Jonny himself.
Today I’m feeling:
A little rough in the stomach this morning but maybe all the chilli last night has blown away my headache and sore throat.
We didn’t get home until 1 am and I woke up at first at my regular wake-up time but slept a little more before forcing myself up.
Health:
Physical: 6 Mental: 6
Today I’m grateful for:
Cheese and the store-brand vintage cheddar from Makro, which is reasonably priced. I just have to remember that we have it in the fridge because generally, now I don’t have cheese with any meals.
The best thing about today was:
Packing up a bunch of vinyl to send to Nampan from SpeechOdd, hopefully tomorrow. I need to get these records into their hands where they can sell them at shows.
I felt productive at least.
I also managed to get some guitar playing in today, too and noticed a slight improvement.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Takky came over for lunch with Amy, which continued for 7 hours into dinnertime too. Amy said that he is much more himself again after all the stress of his PhD work.
I let them get on with it whilst I was doing my stuff and didn’t hassle Amy to make me food as I had the cheese and her soft, sweet bread rolls to keep me going.
Something I learned today?
I learned a new finger exercise on guitar that I should try and remember and practice often. You know, along with everything else that I should do!
Review your acts, Good and bad.
I donated a copy of the High Voltage/SpeechOdd LP to put on display at Utopia.
I put Anchan in touch with Nong Kratae at the English Place and Champ has also supplied some information that may be useful for her.
I took this picture because the canopy over our entertainment area is evolving into a flowery grotto.
A 15-year-old girl executed by fascists Was the superhero in this tale The revolution was real on the ground The freedom fight must never fail
No one else came to save the day A deus ex machina, just an invention A teenager who trusted herself Guided by virtuous intention
Real heroes often lose their heads The blade brings a sudden halt Left a monument to liberation Against the brutal fascist assault
Inspired by the story of Liu Hulan who was executed by the KMT (who were supported by the USA)
Today I’m feeling:
Tired and a little out of it. I think that I might get kick-started with some coffee but could just as easily go the other way and nap some more!
(later) I haven’t napped but have had a pretty constant headache.
Health:
Physical: 4 Mental: 6
Today I’m grateful for:
Amy for letting me rest a little and watch the Volleyball with Mum and Dad whilst she was preparing all our food for dinner.
The best thing about today was:
After dinner Amy wanted to sing karaoke with Aun and Priyao and so I was left to watch Netflix in the other air-conditioned room and I watched The Wandering Earth, based on Liu Cixin’s novel.
A cool story but held back by a Hollywood-style screenplay.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
My laziness and poor health have kept me out of my room today and lodged in front of the TV with a headache.
A little of this is in part knowing that we go to Amy’s parents for Mother’s Day this evening and I’m conserving energy for that. And as tomorrow is a holiday I can catch up a little then.
Something I learned today?
I saw Shiso for sale in Makro. I was tempted to buy it and and just eat it there and then!
Review your acts, Good and bad.
I got a message from Anchan yesterday asking me to tutor her on weekends as she needs to catch up on her language skills to take an exam for a school in Chiang Mai.
Today she added that she wants to get away from her grandmum here in Chiang Rai as she found out that her mum was sentenced to one and a half years in prison in Myanmar and not six months, which would be up soon.
I can’t tutor on weekends, though. I’m already so tired and today, in particular, really feeling my age. I gave her some ideas but I’m curious about her commitment to pulling herself through.
Is the door ajar? Is Debbie looking in? Her eyes drew me closer Mine, all set to spin
Held me tight in embrace Touched by your presence dear Kissed me under the swamp tree Woke up, sudden and clear
The door was not ajar
Submitted to dVerse prompts – jar and dreams and inspired by a dream I had after watching Blondie’s ‘Touched By Your Presence Dear’ on TV, where I swore that she was looking and talking to me, so powerful was the dream that the next day I went to the tree in the swampy woods and waited for her to appear again. Predictably, she did not.
Today I’m feeling:
A little tired and dizzy.
Today I’m grateful for:
Being able to watch the Swans just get over the line against Collingwood this morning. I gave up on them but they somehow pulled it off.
The best thing about today was:
Putting together the sleeves and vinyl for the High Voltage/SpeechOdd split and figuring out how to get rid of as many of these things as possible!
It gave me a little more motivation, though my energy soon ran out again.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I came back from my room at about 4 pm and started watching videos and thought it would be a good idea to eat the last weed gummy in the fridge. A couple of hours later and my head was spinning badly and I felt nauseous. I went to pee but soon had to stop as I needed to throw up and out came the chewed-up gummy and a couple of Amy’s delicious cookies.
Thankfully, I felt much better after that but couldn’t do anything except watch another four hours of The Boys, finishing off Season 2.
I ended up forgetting to write here and catching up on Sunday morning.
Something I learned today?
I think that’s it for weed for me. I’m too old for that shit now!
Are you sick and tired of the same old thing Or are you happy enough? Tell me When does so much become so little? When does too little become too much?
It feels like you’ve been here before These are familiar words you sing Wheels spinning Stuck on the rat race treadmill Are you sick and tired of the same old thing?
A trophy wife and trophy life Surrounded by all this glittering stuff Are you empty? Is that a constant nagging inside Or are you happy enough?
I have so many questions Are you certain of all that you see? Never wrong? I don’t believe everything that you Tell me
The Joneses are growing bigger Your ego inflexible and brittle Tired of waiting Believing it’s always your turn When does so much become so little?
Your debt to yourself is catching up Your life is empty (as such) Left with no thing Just sand slipping through your fingers When does too little become too much?
A little better today after all that sleep yesterday. I ended up waking a little early this morning, took a while to get myself going but my first two classes were fun and easy.
I feel freaking hot though, my body seems to be working overtime to get rid of whatever is making me sick. No fever though.
Today I’m grateful for:
Getting through the day in reasonably good shape. I was tired but energised again after another bowl of Pla Tom from Chef Amy. I think I’ll sleep well tonight if I can keep this little cough under control.
The best thing about today was:
On my way to my last class, I found 4 of the students that I had penalised for not submitting work yesterday furiously writing it all out in the canteen. I stood over them for about a minute and they were so focused they didn’t realise I was there.
When they all looked up they gave me a half-upset and annoyed look, along with an ‘ok, I fucked up’ half-smile.
They were wonderfully behaved in my class today and we all had a good time.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I was all set to teach in my normal room with aircon this morning when another teacher came along and kicked the kids out. We easily found another room but unfortunately, without aircon.
To be honest, the aircon doesn’t make that much difference when a room is full off sweaty teenagers (and a sweaty old man!).
In the past, I might have let this sudden change bother me but now I can deal with it easily.
Something I learned today?
I learned that the US Anti-Doping Agency, which monitors for performance-enhancing drugs in sports, let off offenders and allowed them to keep competing so long as they dobbed in other cheaters!
This same agency has now accused the Chinese swimmers of being drug cheats at the Olympics, even though they were tested 3 times more than any other country and passed every test.
The anti-China rhetoric has jumped the shark.
I took this picture because earlier in the week, Baipad had alerted me to a Facebook auction with this Gloomy Bear plushie. I bid 220 baht and won and here he is sitting on the shelf next to my bed. It gives me the opportunity to give back the plushie that Baicard gave me on Teacher’s Day 4 years ago and had been sitting there collecting dust ever since.
Behind the smiles, sharpened fangs The soft face belies a strength When considered less than human She will go to any length To give you a pause for reflection A reconsideration of your role Don’t imagine her at your level With the humanity you stole For her, it’s just another fight One she’s fought so often The rage never dissipates And she’s careful not to soften
Written after seeing a particularly strong performance by a front woman for a band (SpeechOdd) and their song ‘More Than Decoration’.
Exhausted. I think that I slept deeply but only in small bursts, so that I woke up well before my alarm and realised that I needed way more rest and so I reset my alarm and decided not to go to school today. I’m glad I did.
My alarm woke me up again at 7.30 and I sent messages to Kru Mai and sent some work for my morning class to complete and send to me. Then it was back to sleep.
Around what I thought was maybe 10 am, I thought about maybe getting up but then checking my phone, I found that it was already 2pm! I got up quickly, though still groggy and dozy. I got on my laptop and sent work to my afternoon class that was due to start in 30 minutes.
After that, I almost fell asleep again watching videos and at around 5 pm, Amy made me fish congee with ginger, which made me feel much better, though I’m about to get back into bed again now at 8.30.
I think I’ll be ok to go to school tomorrow but the morning will tell for sure.
Today I’m grateful for:
The delivery guy who dropped off the record covers from Malaysia, though, didn’t contact me until later to pay the customs fee. I don’t know what he would’ve done if I hadn’t paid him but I knew this was coming and happy to do the right thing despite how fucking annoying paying these fees are.
I can’t imagine anyone in the West trusting people like that.
The best thing about today was:
Catching up my exhausted body. Have done little else today.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Naturally, sending my students work to do whilst I’m not in class causes more work for me – especially with the students who don’t bother to do anything and I have to chase them up.
A lizard onlooker shouts for both sides The winners and losers, just along for the rides The best place to hide is out in the open There are no promises that cannot be broken
There is no yin and yang or balance The race is run purely by marketing talents They’re all donkeys dressed up as horses Rides into the sunset as democracy endorses
Submitted to Bad Jonny’s competition at AllPoetry.com “Why have we only got 2 lunatics to choose from?” concerning the USA election this year.
Today I’m feeling:
Tired still and my sore throat, whilst not as painful, feels weird and is making me think that I have some form of Covid.
Last night I tried to sleep at around 9.30 but it took a while as I had a bad headache and eyeache.
I also had a weird dream about finding snakes under the bed in my old Forest Cottage bedroom and mum came in and just picked them up and threw them out of the window, no fear!
Today I’m grateful for:
It being my low-pressure day today, giving me chance to relax a bit and catch up on some reading and writing.
The best thing about today was:
The challenge of getting my poorly skilled grade 8 students motivated and awake this afternoon. A few of them are sick too. Somehow, I feel like I kind of managed it and everyone was reasonably happy.
Something I learned today?
Just by chance, I was in the teacher’s room with Kru Mai and I started talking about the Integrated Program for next year and that I thought that I could probably do it with the type of lessons that I have already. Kru Mai was grateful for this information and then let slip that the school is not happy with George as he didn’t talk with them about not wanting to teach Integrated this year, instead, going to Nancy and having her ‘fix’ it for him. He also said that students are not happy with seeing one teacher so much of the time (as George only teaches grades 11 and 12).
I told Kru Mai that both David and I are exhausted by the weekend, having to deal with the grade 7, 8 and 9s all the time too.
I asked if students had raised any issues about my classes and he said no, everything seemed to be fine, which was nice to hear. He seemed to be happy with both me and David.
Also, I can’t remember if I wrote about it here before but last week there was a message from the head of our department that parents had made complaints about the quality of teaching in our classes, as their children had reported back that other students would be sleeping, playing on their phones or doing their make-up instead of paying attention.
Complaints were made in person to the director so our department was warned that we would be checked up on this week. I hadn’t noticed any real changes or effort on the part of the teachers but I also haven’t been around much either.
With the exchange students being here, it has also made things a little more chaotic with teachers being pulled here and there at random times, too.
At the weekend, I showed Bruno and Amy the warning from the head and we talked about it a little bit. Today, Kru Mai mentioned it to me too, telling me that it was a grade 7 student who had complained and it was particularly about Kru Ren’s class.
I could’ve guessed as much but didn’t think much else about it until I got home and Amy said that it was actually her friend Goy’s sister-in-law who complained to the director and her daughter, who is a smart student and is attentive and wants to learn is being bullied by the other students for being a goodie-two-shoes and to give them her work so that they can all copy it!
Chiang Rai is so small that everyone is at about three degrees of separation rather than the stereotypical six.
Anyway, the kid seems smart and I want to meet her.
I took this picture because these colourful flowers stood out in the dull grey-green of the day as I made my way through the garden at House.
Cinquain is a short, usually unrhymed poem with twenty-two syllables distributed in five lines: 2, 4, 6, 8, 2. Line 1 has one word (the title). Line 2 has two words that describe the title. Line 3 has three words that tell the action. Line 4 has four words that express the feeling Line 5 has one word which recalls the title.
Today I’m feeling:
Not so terrible but I can’t speak clearly because of whatever is going on in my throat.
I felt ok to get up but once I got to school I felt tired again.
Today I’m grateful for:
My grade 10s contacting me whilst I was at the cafe, asking if I could teach them immediately, as they had no other classes today and didn’t want to wait until 2.30. It seemed like a good idea because it meant that I could finish at 12.30 and go home too.
This turned out to be a double-edged sword. The grade 10 was simple enough and the grade 8s immediately afterwards went well enough too and I headed home. However, I was low on energy and motivation and had an hour snooze and after getting up again from that, just felt like wanting to sleep more.
This meant that I didn’t do any reading or writing today and I’m back in bed again now at 7.30 pm
The best thing about today was:
I put my grade 8s into random pairs to practice conversation. Most of them complained and asked to swap partners, to which i just ignored them and asked them to get on with it.
This showed me who was prepared to just get on with it and do what was asked rather than avoiding it until the very end. None of them got away.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Despite my fairly low feeling today I didn’t let anything in particular bother me.
Something I learned today?
I came across this quote that I like: “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.” – Soren Kierkegaard
A little run-down but forcing myself through with what little energy I have. My stomach is sore from all the medicine but hopefully I’m on the up from here.
Today I’m grateful for:
The welcome students gave me when I joined them at the exchange student ceremony this morning and even before that. Students I don’t even know wanted fist bumps today. That was nice.
I’m also grateful to Kru Ning for inviting me to sit with the teachers for the ceremony but I preferred to be with the students anyway, mostly because it meant that I could sneak out easily when I wanted to.
Also, Kru Pooky sent a message warning that the teachers from other countries may visit during my classes in the afternoon, with my two noisiest classes but thankfully no one came in the end.
The best thing about today was:
After sneaking out from the ceremony, I ended up talking with Mee and Rista a little while they were avoiding doing Kru David’s work. Mee told me that she is sad with herself because she doesn’t understand the English work that she is doing as extra classes outside of school. I tried to encourage her but I think that she doesn’t have the self-motivation to push herself through.
I also ended up helping Nong Fah to find the correct answers, which she appreciated.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
The pharmacy was shut at Big C today and the supermarket also had a disappointing selection of expensive muesli. The bread shop had also run out of the Korean chewy cheese bread I like but I did manage to grab the last two sesame ones. I’ll keep checking back in.
Something I learned today?
Malaysia issued a travel warning for its citizens thinking about travelling to the UK, due to the demonstrations and riots there, which seem to be focusing on immigrant populations.
1994ever 