Category: 2020

The Chiang Rai Alternative Hour #45 – 3rd July 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Music from Craw, Idylls, The Stranger Steals, Cause for Effect, Spray Paint, Chesterfields, Show Business Giants, ZNR, Caustic Resin, Full Fathom Five, Jawbreaker, Slugs, The Things To Come, BUBS, The Wimps, Elvis Costello, The Wanderers, If I Look Strong You Look Strong, Jimi Hendrix Experience and XTC.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to see the misty clouds on the mountains this morning. It made me happy to see such beauty.

We got that attitude! – 2nd July 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Tired but had a good sleep. Lazy to work out this morning just stretch instead okay. The clouds – remember about clouds – oh yeah – best cloud of the day award – make a day of awards – will be fun and make you happy. I need to clean my room. Are my teeth okay? Feel better but need them to stay okay forever. Smell cat pee. Could just be damp humid air.

Learning Thai words but no chance to use really and when I do have chance someone Thai will usually say it first! The struggles of a language learner.

Walked KhaoThang home yesterday and jogged back. I have no stamina – had to rest many times! It’s okay though – felt good. My feet suck though. Knees too. Core too – haha! My body is slowly starting to know more about exercise again. I remember a time when I was filled with energy and stamina before my body grew into its twisted adult shape.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to the person in the bank who gave me what I need for my visa.

To-do list

  • Compliment someone and give silent good wishes ✅
  • ‘Thank you’ mantra ✅
  • Record more blog posts and edit drafts ✅
  • Post more TCRAH to blog ✅

Missed out on writing last night as we went out to eat with Aing and her friend. I had a couple of beers and went straight to be when I got home.

And tonight it’s already late and I’m lazy. I’m not concerned though. Things are going in the right direction for me.

It’s nice… it’s my mind that’s off guard – 1st July 2020

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Kids come back to school. See how it goes.

Tigger sprays on the floor. No tissue to clean.

Good five-minute warmup workout better than yesterday. Happy – feeling happy a little tired and sleepy but awake if not alert. Some aches from drilling on the weekend. Hurt hurt. Yawn. Did things and doing things – keep going – want to do more. Have things to do at school. No problem.

Enjoying life – reading, music, TV – looking at the stars – the rain – not so much the heat! I can’t stay happy. Amy is happy most of the time. We have our world – we only let the right people in.

Weight: 79.3kg
Resting heart rate: 44

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful that I don’t have to do any work this morning even though the kids are back at school. I offered to do something but was told it was ok.

To-do list

  • Compliment – savour – positive wishes ✅
  • Post more TCRAH to blog ✅
  • Finish and audio and video ✅
  • Record more blog entries to catch up ✅

It was weird to have students around the school again but it was good to see some of my old students and they seemed happy to see me again. Lots of students showed their love for George and were very happy.

We ended up not doing anything again today and George thought we could get out for coffee if we really wanted to but I didn’t think that was such a good idea. I also offered myself to help with Teacher Champ but he said not to worry.

Anyway – I managed to cross off all my tasks today – reminding myself about complimenting people – JJ and Sheena.

I savoured my lunch as usual – but I put more effort into it. I also offered private best wishes to everyone though I could have thought to do that whilst stuck in traffic trying to get out of school. It took me an hour to get home today whereas it normally takes 20 minutes.

So, first day is done and we can relax into whatever it is that we end up doing. It’s good that there doesn’t seem to be much pressure on us even when we will have to teach. The environment here is very good so far.

I have been doing very short workouts in the morning, along with meditating, writing and language learning – all before going to work. It feels good to have achieved those things early in the day and it seems like they are having a beneficial effect on my thoughts.

Bronwyn told me that Hayden isn’t doing too well today. I didn’t have chance to call him during the day and he didn’t pick up when I tried when I got home. I hope he’s ok and pulls through all this.

Tomorrow, I have to renew my visa and not expecting any problems this time. It should be another simple enough day and anyway, I think I’m prepared for anything else that comes my way.

Today’s not the day the sky will fall down around my ears – 30th June 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

It’s been raining on and off for the last two weeks or more and finally, the ground has gotten soaked enough that big pools of water remain around our garden after the daily storm passes through. The frogs are going crazy, croaking across the valley. The snakes must be happy to be able to easily locate their food again. What a dangerous life. Having to call out to find your mate, only to be swallowed by a hungry snake.

Kim Chi, our killer cat, was found one morning munching on the guts of a bird in the dining room. How thoughtful. Amy woke me up to come and help clean up. There were bird feathers everywhere, strewn across the floor, table and lounge. I love our animals and I also love the birds that come to visit our garden. Leave them alone Hellcat!

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful that I have been able to adapt to the Thai style of working (so far). Disorganised, short notice, changing decisions…. It’s all good.

Brain dump

Home workout warmup – first time – just the warmup makes me tired! Start somewhere. Itchy throat – can’t get sick. Itchy leg – something always biting.

All our fish dead again. We can’t take care of them for some reason. Jukebox – Happy – I don’t know who sings it – George someone. Today we will make a video and I will hate this song even more.

Feel good – a little tired. But good. thinking about Hayden but have an idea how to help. Can I just be me? Too late to be tough on him.

Thinking of poor kids in China who walk 5 km across rough valleys to get to school. Just primary kids. Predictably they want to be soldiers. They are tough. Circumstances dictate. No one’s fault. Everyone wants to be someone else for a while. But without the effort. Like a video game.

But did it really turn out bad? – 29th June 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Madness – Baggy Trousers on the brain box. George mentioned them last week.

What was my dream? I remember not being very happy about something. I want to sleep more. Beautiful clear day today bright and sunny but not hot yet. Eaten by mosquitoes. Amy’s birthday – she got sad-drunk last night after her parents had a fight discussing their property and who it should be willed to. Amy feels her mum loves her brother more than her and has felt that for a long time. She said I was lucky to be an only child. Maybe.

Itchy itchy – mini workout. Work my way up. Dentist today and need money! Eat and drink – go out tonight – not sure yet. Itchy itchy everywhere. Meditate it away.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for a sunny morning, time to wash clothes.

Society’s glue bag smothers – 26th June 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Looking forward to a good day today. Coriky on jukebox – don’t know song title.

Fun dream last night. Met Cake – she is still cool. Wonder when I’ll see her again. Muslim food – Yum.

Amy happy – friends moving near here – excellent news. Update Coach app – new habits – feel myself improving. Watched Sydney Swans game last night but that wasn’t fun.

Dodgy knee maybe okay now?! Realise last night that it’s not hurting anymore. Fix my toe next?! Hope. Bubble of hope. Rubber bubble of hope! Someone fix my neck forever! But don’t kill me I don’t want to die yet. Gonna happen any time. History – doomed to repeat it. Humans innit?

De Lanna by the river – enjoy your thoughts flowing by.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful that I spent time to put up our decorative lights last night. It was fun and they look cool.

To-do list

  • Compliment – silent wishes – savour ½
  • Finish audio for ‘good friends’ clip ✅
  • Get next blog post ready ½
  • Record new TCRAH in evening? ½
  • Scan photos

Now it’s Monday evening. The weekend was a little bit of everything and I was either lazy or too busy to write here but I’ve been feeling fine, getting things done and keeping my head straight. I didn’t get enough sleep last night though – it was Amy’s 41st birthday – dinner with her, her grandmum, mum and dad – and drama.

Anyway, I need to sleep so will come back and write more tomorrow, along with an updated checklist.

Our final day of freedom before students return to school tomorrow. The last two days have been lazy, hot and humid with nice bright sunshine. Though as I’m writing another storm has blown in from the mountains. It’s lovely to cool down but damn, that rain is cold and the air is still warm.

Feeling good again today doing bits and pieces for my blog, a little bit of video editing and drinking coffee. I cannot complain about my life situation currently. I’m happy to be healthy and able to enjoy it. I’ll try to maintain it.

These pleasures a wayward distraction – 25th June 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Quick one because want to do longer meditation. Woke up at 4:30 – hard to sleep. Tired now. Rub my stomach – left-hand side tender. Happy.

Hayden wants a face tattoo. Why? Will further isolate himself. Hope he doesn’t do that. Ugh.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to have the opportunity to sit and enjoy conversations with people I like.

To-do list

  • Film story in canteen – have fun ✅
  • Silent wishes – compliments – savour ✅
  • ‘Thank you’ mantra and meditation exercises ½
  • Edit and schedule two blog posts ½
  • Plan tenzenmen Google site?

I enjoyed today though have been worrying about Hayden a little as he was talking about getting a face tattoo! Now, in theory, I have no objection to this but I think he cannot reasonably justify doing such a thing. Of course, he tried to justify it but it’s not reasonable. He is low in confidence and self-esteem and wants to push everything away from him.

It’s one thing to say that people shouldn’t judge you by your looks and if they do then they’re not worth knowing – but that is also a judgement back on those people. It would immediately cut off so many future possibilities.

I felt good again and had fun with the student teachers making a small video and planned for some more audio recording tomorrow. It was an entertaining and happy day.