Author: shaun tenzenmen

Australasian DIY music specialist and practising poet, amongst other things

Flesh – 26th May 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 8 Comments

Far into the future food will be hard to find
But will have evolved with an ever-greater mind
Time travel will be normal but only to the past
Once the first one comes, it’s sure not to be the last

Back all those million years, so much free-roaming meat
Bring it back to the future for everyone to eat
But our future selves became so filled with greed
Making the same mistakes, taking more than they need

So supplies were running out, there was only so much flesh
Standards demanding that everything must be fresh
Man still not smart enough to know it’s all interlinked
And so that’s how the story goes, the dinosaurs became extinct

Submitted to Reena’s Xploration Challenge #332 and inspired by the 2000AD story ‘Flesh’
26th Sep 2024 – Submitted to Ragtag Daily Prompt – dinosaur

Today I’m feeling:

Still tired and a little slow.  The weekends with no stress or early morning commitments means a big wind down.  So, it’s been a little bit of a quiet day.

Today I’m grateful for:

The workers working on the road.  As the rains have gotten heavier the way out from our house to the road has completely muddied up (even a big truck got stuck out there this morning).  Amy asked them to fix it for us and they did.  I haven’t seen it yet but will find out in the morning.

The best thing about today was:

Playing guitar and feeling like enjoying it again.  It’s been a struggle for the last few weeks but today felt good and spent nearly an hour playing traditional songs in Yousician and then another 30 minutes smashing out punk tunes in Capo.  I’m still terrible but today it doesn’t bother me.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Amy is a little short with me because I took her cookies to Utopia and to Baipad this morning and I think she’s thinking that I care too much about other people and/or that I don’t like her cookies and so giving them away.

I’m trying just to be normal and carry on and Amy is also busy with her student’s assignments.

I love Amy more than anything but also need to think of ways to keep showing her that.

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

I wasn’t going to do much of anything today but after I got home from coffee I was surprised to get a message from Baipad asking if I could take her and her sister to Big C as they wanted to go see a movie.

I asked her if her mum was ok with it and if she was then I could take her.  She said her mum was ok (but I’m not certain that she was!) and so I went to pick them up.  It was there that they told me that their mum was in Bangkok!

Well, I put my trust in Baipad and dropped them off and hoped for the best.

Later in the afternoon, she said that they got back home (by Grab I guess) and everything was fine.

I got sent this picture because it seems Little Art and Noey enjoyed Amy’s cookies.

Dancing In The Street – 25th May 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 5 Comments

I used to enjoy the dance of days
Seized each second in many ways
Yet the sunshine never stays
– And here I am contemplating

I’d foxtrot my way through the rains
Tango a message that explains
Until only a rumba remains
– To leave the fat lady waiting

Waited she did until too late
I could not escape this certain fate
And ever since that fatal date
– I walk the streets alone

Thinking of a flamenco strut
Dressed and shaved, hair clean cut
Nowadays I’m anything but
– Can’t even dance on home

Submitted to No Theme Thursday and Ovi Poetry Challenge 49

Today I’m feeling:

My usual Saturday morning tired already.  It’s only been a three-day workweek for me too.

Last night I felt kinda invincible. Throw anything at me and I can do it.

Come the morning and I can feel my brain struggling to connect things together. As I was reading about John Lee Hooker and BB King I was thinking about something else entirely and I can barely remember either.

Quick coffees today as we will take Nong Na out for lunch to thank her for taking care of our cats last weekend.

Today I’m grateful for:

Taking the time to go to the city for lunch, picking up Na on the way.  We got to the hotpot restaurant at 12 and I couldn’t believe that it was 2 pm when we had finished.  Time went so quick and I was very relaxed.

The best thing about today was:

The mix of the hotpot soup that soaked into the rolled-up tofu sheets, then dipped into a peanut and sesame oil sauce with chopped garlic and then a sip of some Chinese milk drink to take off the heat.  Awesome!

The staff were concerned that the soup would be too spicy for me but to be honest I could’ve done with some more Sichuan peppers in there!

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

As seems to be getting more normal these days, time is out of my control and disappearing faster than I would like.  I sat in my room after lunch and started investigating a cento poem, which required looking through lots of other people’s poetry to pick out lines from.

Doing that and catching up on some other poetry reading evaporated 3 or 4 hours and I didn’t end up coming up with anything for the cento yet.  I still need to collect more before trying to put it together.

Something I learned today?

The USA has threatened the capability to shut down chip manufacturing in Taiwan if China should invade.  The short-sightedness of the threat is incredible as it would mostly affect USA products such as Apple, nVidia etc.

There’s a lot of crazy in the world right now, perhaps I should stop looking.

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

We drove to pick up Nong Na this morning as there was a bit of rain around and I drove us to the city and back.  Whilst Amy paid for lunch I paid for the durian bingsu dessert.

I also picked up a couple of 20 baht Japanese toys for Baipad and NamHom whilst at the bingsu shop.

Nong Fah took these pictures because Anchan was sleeping in class like this! I asked her later about it and she told me that Kru Ren doesn’t know anything about teaching and is difficult to understand! The kids are smart enough to know their education sucks but don’t know how to get out of it and the culture here is not to question those seen as above you.

Straying – 24th May 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 3 Comments
Pic: Jon Tyson

Cat wild
On the wall
One eye open
Preying
An ear to the wind
Poised and small
A sniff to the spraying

Fight or flight?
Movement slight
Straying
Back arched tall
Hissing
Saying

Get out of town
Or chased on down
Rolled up into a ball
No longer playing

Picture prompt for WDYS # 239

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good considering that I was dead to the world until my alarm went off this morning.  Managed some exercise and a 5-minute (what could possibly be described as a) meditation.

Today I’m grateful for:

Finding that Sydney Swans played yesterday against the Bulldogs and so I watched the Mini Match and happy to report that we pulled through for another win.  The Swans are currently well clear at the top but there’s still a ways to go.

I’m still annoyed that I can’t watch the full matches, especially this year, as we’re doing so well!

The best thing about today was:

In my final class of the day with my grade 8s I have what you might call another ‘rogue’ student.  She, Sugus, is a friend of Aida’s and has been coming to my class occasionally since last year but now she seems to come all the time.

She’s a quiet kid and doesn’t cause any problems for me but I told her that if she wants to stay then she has to do some work, to which she agreed.

Today’s class is an easy reading class and I asked Sugus to come and read for me and she did very well, better than some of my actual students!

So I talked with her some more about why she doesn’t go to her own class and if the teacher isn’t concerned about her.  She couldn’t quite describe why she doesn’t go except that she feels bad when she does.

I’m a bit suspicious that something untoward might have happened but I didn’t push it.

Anyway, I told her that she was welcome to stay in my class and she thanked me and said that my class is fun for her.  I was quite pleased about that.

It’s weird really.  There’s no pressure on her to perform and there’s no pressure on me to teach her.  With us both relaxed about it I think she will learn a lot!

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

For my second class today, with the Hospitality grade 11s I suddenly found 12 extra students!  Without telling me, and without anyone telling them why they have put two different programs together so I’m now teaching students in the Japanese program too.  So much for my plans for this semester!  I guess I’ll jag everything in somehow.

Something I learned today?

Chatting with David he told me that George complained to Nancy that he doesn’t want to teach the new Integrated Program to the grade 10s and so, magically, he no longer is.  Now he only teaches grade 11 and 12.  What a princess!  

Last year he refused to teach grade 9 and now refuses grade 10.  Maybe time is running out for him.

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

This evening I’m still helping my grade 11 students with their presentation homework and replying to their messages.

Did you do something difficult or challenging today?

As I think about it, much of the day was challenging (as described above) but somehow I seemed to take it in my stride.

Tonaor took this picture because as she likes to do sometimes when she sees me she says ‘selfie!’ and so I hand her my phone.

The Spectators – 23rd May 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

The claws are out
Sharp and set to cut
Barbs fly, spat out
Promises remain nothing but

The worst of two worlds
Another political blunder
Spar at the Colosseum
A spectacle of wonder

Only one winner
All else is lost
The cogs keep on turning
For an endless cost

Submitted to Monday Poetry Prompt

Today I’m feeling:

Dog tired last night and still struggled to get to sleep but once I did I was gone! 

I woke up before my alarm but couldn’t get up when the alarm went off and reset to give an extra 20 minutes of dozing.

Not feeling too bad with my first coffee but have two busy days ahead.

Today I’m grateful for:

The pharmacist being available at Big C when I got there today.  Last week when I tried they told me that there would be no one there until 5pm.

The best thing about today was:

Bumping into my old grade 9 student Sheena as I was about to leave school.  I asked if she was happy now that I was no longer teaching her class and she said that everyone was complaining that they were missing me.

That was nice to hear and for sure, I connected with all those students really well but they drove me crazy at the time.  I hope that I have some good influence over them.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Some of the classrooms that I’m teaching in test my patience with various bits and pieces of equipment missing but I just have to take it easy and not get ruffled by it.  Everything can be overcome.

Something I learned today?

I watched an interesting interview with LA-based Chinese comedian Jiaoying Summers and it was great to see a strong woman taking control of her life and destiny against a lot of odds.

What part of my daily routine do I look forward to the most?

Most workdays I look forward to exercising in the morning. 

With my drive to try and write a poem or day (or more), I also look forward to spending time reading, thinking and writing. 

At the end of the day, I kinda look forward to writing this journal but some days are a struggle. With enough time I can usually answer all the questions but often I’m out of energy and need to go to bed.

I took this picture because I was kinda shocked to see a full moon tonight. I’ve been used to seeing the moon regularly when I go to close our gate and usually have some idea what stage it is at.

In Search Of Dry Land – 22nd May 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

A song sung of departure towards a journey of woe
Giant squid squirt inky dark blinded to the flow
No fuel until Friday, at least the captain is saying so
A panorama of the horizon begs which way to go
Neglected were the whispers, part of the ocean’s show
Set light to the sails, watch the flames aglow
From officer to pilot, knowing what’s to know
Clouds clot to bring the storm and finally the blow
Graduating to the ground to see the mountains grow

A multi-prompt catch-up poem. Departure – Squid – Fuel – Panorama – Neglected – Flame – Officer – Clot – Graduate

Today I’m feeling:

Feeling tired and tense.  After finally getting up, the two Utopia coffees kicked started my brain but not my body!  Hence the feeling of tension.

Amy is wound up about the useless builder that has ripped us off for the guttering.  I’m trying to divert her focus but she’s out for blood, and obviously frustrated.

It’s annoying for sure, though I blame myself.  I got the feeling he was useless almost immediately but didn’t go with my instinct.

It’s been an average day that hasn’t seen me brighten up particularly and at only 8.15 pm I’m going to bed!

Today I’m grateful for:

The AI assistant in Quizizz that can quickly put together questions based on a text.  It’s very useful to speed up putting new lessons together.

The best thing about today was:

Writing, and enjoying writing, a new lesson for my new HAP grade 12 class.  It also inspired me to come up with more ideas that I will try to turn into more lessons.

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

After dropping Amy at Cafe No Name for P’Berm’s birthday celebration I picked up some watermelon for Baipad and popcorn for her sister NamHom for her birthday.

I took this picture because Piti was chilling at the coffee machine.

No Succour – 21st May 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 15 Comments

A restless nest built from gathered straw
The dead-end grass slight comfort bring
Hungry crackles cackling for more
Long forgotten all the songs to sing

For in this desert of desolation
No succour found at every turn
In those times before desperation
When the early bird caught the worm

24th Oct 2024 – Shared with What’s Going On – desert

Today I’m feeling:

That late coffee yesterday kept me up, running through my head the day ahead today.  Well, I’m at the end of it now and it went well.  I’m ready to sleep though.

My last class finished at 4.30 by which time traffic was bad and it took me a while to get back home.  I forced myself out to my room to practice guitar, which with a few days skipped was very rusty.

Well, it’s another day off tomorrow for some holiday or other so everything’s groovy.

Today I’m grateful for:

The neck fan that I ordered on Lazada.  It is next to useless but at least offers a tiny bit of relief from the humidity.  

Some of the kids are walking around with portable 12-inch fans now.  It’s crazy.

The best thing about today was:

A new class, with a handful of students I knew from teaching previously and a handful of new ones, who I’m enjoying learning their skill level.  

It’s a shame though that many of my high school classes are only once a week.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Kru Pooky uses the classroom that I use today often and she doesn’t use the projector or even her computer by the look of things.  She stuck some paper on the board, right where the image is projected which was pretty stupid if you ask me!

She stays in the room when I’m teaching and I can tell she doesn’t enjoy it because my classes are usually pretty rowdy and noisy and of course, I’m encouraging the students to talk and think as much as possible.  I also spot her looking at what I’m doing in class and I’m actually curious what she’s thinking.

Anyway, I asked her if I could take them down, to which she agreed and I tried as best I could to peel them off cleanly.  The whiteboard is the whole width of the classroom so why would you stick them right in the middle of it?

Something I learned today?

I learned that one of my grade 10 students is actually 19 years old.  She’s from Myanmar and has been in Thailand for two years and has learned some English in that time (better than some that I have taught for even longer than that time!)

Limitation – 20th May 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

There’s liberation in limitation
Reality cannot be broken but may be bent
Your freedom is in your imagination
Not in the amount of guns or money spent

Everything is a choice to be made
Choose anything and all else is rejected
The reward is in the excellence made
That’s the freedom that you selected

Inspired by Epictetus and this Stoa Letter
16th Oct 2024 – Shared with Word of the Day Challenge

Today I’m feeling:

Really lazy this morning with nothing to do except check out and then go somewhere to hang out before going to the airport.

Amy returned about an hour after me last night and had been throwing up. I got her into the room and after a bit of sorting out, she slept. 

Today I’m grateful for:

All the taxi drivers, train drivers and airport folks who got us from there to here. Home again. It’s a massive effort of societal coordination and a privilege we often don’t think about.

The best thing about today was:

I experienced a brief moment of bliss as I balanced the taste of lemon tart and bitter coffee at the Coffee Club at the airport. It was so expensive I made damn sure I savoured it.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

There was a lot of waiting around today. It’s a bit of a write-off. We weren’t inspired to venture anywhere. I used the time to catch up on reading some poems.

Something I learned today?

Manchester City won the English Premier League. I think it was for a record-breaking fourth time running.

I took this picture at the cafe yesterday because it’s an interesting little statue that caught my eye. No pictures today as it was mostly the insides of hotel rooms, taxis, trains, shopping malls and airports.

Returned – 19th May 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 8 Comments

I was part of a story that I didn’t understand
From glacial mountaintops, the water ran to the sea
Among green valleys, men farmed and planned
And one day a place was made for me

I saw fun and fire as we flew our kites high
We dug at the soil to see what we’d find
There was a balance we kept as time went by
That ensured the longevity of all animal-kind

We remained assured we knew what we were doing
But our values changed that we gave to our space
Eventually, realising that there was trouble brewing
And we’d no longer be welcome in this place

By the time I understood my part in the story
It was too late to make changes of worth
But the rocks remain in their lonely glory
And all humankind returned to the earth

Today I’m feeling:

A little lazy and relaxed. With nothing much to do this morning, we dozed and lazed until Amy decided she wanted to get out. So we’re off to a cafe for a couple of hours before coming back to get ready for the wedding this afternoon.

Today I’m grateful for:

The old lady staff at the cafe who rode a motorbike a fair few kilometres to get a taxi to come and pick us up. We gave her a bit of extra cash.

The best thing about today was:

The coffee at Little Tree Cafe was awesome, which was a bit of a surprise. Beautiful surroundings, must be a very rich owner, tons of staff and quite a few customers. I guess people want to get away from the city.

We accidentally got dropped off at a house next door to the cafe where the huge room was covered in antique furniture and the lady owner was lounging around listening to jazz. She wasn’t phased that we were looking for the cafe. What a life.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

This cafe we came to is out in the jungle and now no taxi wants to come and pick us up! Waiting

Something I learned today?

Today is Baipad’s sister’s birthday. She’s 9. I think Baipad is a little bothered by how much more affection her sister gets than her.

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

Was it good or vile that I left Amy with a few of the wedding guests at a bar opposite the venue? Nong Mai dropped me back to the hotel and said she would look after Amy. 

Amy wanted to go off somewhere to carry on but Nong Mai convinced her not to, thankfully. 

Quote

“Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn’t the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment. ”

— Robert Benchley
I took this picture because Amy was impressed with the cafe and this room in particular.

Smooth Sailing – 18th May 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 4 Comments

Love is a lantern in the sky
Taken by the winds of change
Not knowing which way to fly
Along the jet stream strange

Caught in this whirlwind gale
A vortex within your hold
Around you, I smoothly sail
Balanced by the hot and cold

From trade winds, east and west
We made our world distinguished
The Roaring Forties try their best
But this light is not extinguished

Submitted to WDYS #238

Today I’m feeling:

Exhausted so far. Skipped my alarm and slept deeply for another hour. 

It’s the past week catching up, and it only involved two days of teaching! Thursday and Friday are my busy days now so Saturday will be a regular sleep-in I think.

Today I’m grateful for:

Nong Na coming to stay at our house to take care of Cap and Tig for the next two days for us.

The best thing about today was:

Ending it being in Bangkok again. 

The weird thing is though, it didn’t seem to take much effort or organising (though admittedly Amy was taking care of all the details for this trip). 

I even got a longer-than-expected afternoon nap that Amy woke me from saying ‘We have to leave in 20 minutes!’

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

I took some jackfruit to Baipad’s with the intention of giving it to her mum,  hoping that Baipad would still be sleeping but she was in the shop playing with her sister. 

I gave her the fruit and she said ‘I don’t like jackfruit!’ I said that was fine and to give it to her mum, which she did. 

I will talk to her sometime about thinking about something better to say!

Anchan sent me this picture and I’m happy to see her enjoying life. Her friend is my old student Pompam who is a good kid.

The Scammer – 17th May 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Your promise was a picture book
Of all the losers that we took
Left without a second look
Relieved of all their gold

Then you left along with my share
I couldn’t find you anywhere
You’d taken the time to prepare
To scam me too!

I guess this is my lesson learned
Just rewards were what I earned
The gift of irony returned
Karma’s kicked me in the butt!

Submitted to Ovi Poetry Challenge 48

Today I’m feeling:

Great. Got in a little exercise in the morning and right into it with my classes, armed with a couple of coffees and soon some water, though thankfully the new room I was given has aircon!  Not much of any substance with the classes for now, just a gentle easing in.

I’m thinking that I will also have to get some new lessons together – just based on talks with a few students.  I plan ahead as much as I can but I like to get input from the students about what they want to learn.

Today I’m grateful for:

My new student Sky who helped me get organised for the fact that I will miss my first lesson with her and her classmates on Monday.  I only know her from chatting with her when she was working in the school cafe.

The best thing about today was:

Three of my poorer students really applied themselves today and I was very impressed with their attitude. I also really enjoyed their self-satisfaction when they were able to help others too.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Right now, mid-evening, there was a boom outside and suddenly some of our power was gone.  Sounds like some of the dodgy electricity work they’re doing along the road has caused some problems.  We’ve got a little power but it’s fluctuating so we’ve turned most things off for now.

There was a brief storm earlier which has dropped the temperature but it’s still pretty warm.

Nothing much to be done except wait.

Something I learned today?

David McBride blew the whistle on Australians committing war crimes in Afghanistan and now he has been jailed for six years for doing so. There have been no convictions for the actual war crimes.

Australia is also keeping a former US citizen in solitary confinement whilst awaiting extradition – for 16 months already. The charges are fabricated and flimsy at best.

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

Whilst I was teaching my second class Kru Tang came past and asked me if I could teach a couple of extra hours for one of the classes as their course will finish in July.  I was a little miffed as I already teach more than the other teachers but she said she knew that but was trying to fix a problem.

Anyway, I’m happy to teach so I agreed (it’s only for a few weeks effectively) and seriously joked with her about looking out for me when the time comes, when I’m sure to be in trouble for something or other.