Tag: Afghanistan

The Great Game – 18th September 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

*You changed a world that was never asked
Recycled governments and remade the past
Made a play to counter power
Deciding fates from your golden tower
The mountains rose, inspiring action
Chieftains rose, combined each faction
The games played afar, on a wooden board
But real people could not be ignored
The dust and dirt, unforgiving weather
The warlords waiting, patiently clever
All the money and power wasn’t enough
Against backstabbing, lies and bluff
The game was watched by others abroad
Their armies played for a new accord
The game continues from your home
Whilst the victims just want to be left alone

*taken almost directly from Stuart Laycock’s ‘All The Countries We’ve Ever Invaded’

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for Amy’s almond buns that she has been experimenting with and yesterday she got them just right. Yummy!

My Terrorist – 16th September 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

You’re my terrorist, siding with our gods
Next week’s enemy, against all the odds
Difficult to believe, though it’s oft-repeated
Cheating the cheaters, so everyone is cheated

You’re my terrorist, you may do my bidding
About those rewards, I was only kidding
You die for nothing, just another’s lies
And in your defeat, I still claim the prize

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for the coolness of winter days very slowly returning. Comfortable mornings of fog and misty mountains.

As I’m reading another article about stoicism, gratitude and amor fati, I can feel my brain changing. These words were revelatory for me when I first read them. Now they are comfortable reminders of my acceptance of the way the world is and the way I am. I often think about my mother and wish to hear her talk about things in our lives. I can’t do that except in my mind. That brings me some comfort still.

I miss Kimi even more, in some ways. My mother is/was always a part of my life. Kimi was a kindred spirit I found, like Jochen and Matt, Rich, Steve and Rob and others. Finding some special people in your life is a rewarding experience that provides hope and gratitude to my being.

Amy’s auntie passed away last night. Perhaps some people will feel the same way about her. I hope so.

Our plans (what little we have) will change this weekend but that is out of my control so I can accept it.

I will do what I can to continue living this blessed life in the best way possible. Now, it’s time for class. Let’s see if I can take this positivity and rub it off on some of my students.

Safety First – 13th September 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

It’s a dirty war where enemies become friends
And friends enemies to further their own ends
To the victor the spoils, to make up the rules
To put out the fires burning on hated fuels

Some will celebrate whilst others may flee
An order emerges to which most want to agree
Freedom for the ignorant, itself its own cage
Repeated ad infinitum on every history page

Better to be oppressed than constantly scared
It’s all relative when your life has been spared
Safety comes first, freedom a patient wait
Rebuilding lives, thankfully able to create

Stop running tired now passed that difficult test
Grateful once more, living again, amongst the blessed

29th May 2024 – Submitted to Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge

Cassette collecting all KLS releases from 2014-2021

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful that in my dream last night I tried to protect the people I love – even though I woke up screaming, waking up the people I love!

I was not in the best of moods over the weekend but not terrible. I think I ran out of energy yesterday and just ended up reading and watching TV. Last week, on Monday, I gave George some ground coffee as a gift and to show that I’m OK with him even though he doesn’t interact with me anymore.

Then, on Friday, as I was listening to YouTube and just before writing my entry here, he came into my classroom, which was a bit of a surprise, and I smiled towards him as he approached. He came up to me with the coffee and said, ‘Why did you give me this?’ I said, ‘No reason – just a gift. You drink coffee, don’t you?’ He put it on the table and said, ‘I don’t accept gifts for no reason’, turned around and walked off. I was speechless.

I sat for a while, writing my entry and decided not to mention this and to think about it over the weekend first. This may have also affected my mood a little, but I realise I feel quite resilient to this kind of behaviour! It gets me curious about what makes people act in this way. Suspicion? Pride? Culture? Anyway, I will ignore this stupidity,

I talked a little with Amy and Bruno about it. Amy blames me for even trying to interact with him. Bruno agreed that it was strange behaviour but not so uncharacteristic from what he know of George. We all agreed that we all feel sorry for Bee, who knows what he is like and puts up with it, whatever her reasons.

Anyway, I gave the coffee to Champ this morning, who was really appreciative of it!

Tipping Point – 11th September 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

There’s a tipping point, no longer equalised
Catch it quick, as soon as it’s recognised
Adjust the balance, time for compromise
An equilibrium now realised
There’s a boiling point where the flames are fanned
Control is lost to the waves of shifting sand
Change is coming forced by the people’s hand
Too little, too late and too old to understand

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for spending time out at Amy’s parents today and getting fed plus picking up some bits and pieces around town.

Rockets For Profits – 30th August 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Part of the war machine, a forever battle

Promises of hope diverts money into pockets

Death reigns down upon the brown man’s cattle

To whom were sold the rockets for big profits

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to have dropped by to visit Nut and Bruno on the weekend. They seem really happy with their lives together.

A pleasant weekend again. Never long enough. I think all the things I enjoy take longer periods of time than when I was younger and that’s why time disappears so fast. I guess sometimes I wish I couldn’t concentrate and focus on things so that I could do many things each day.

Amy and I dropped by Bruno and Nut’s house and we gassed and gossiped for a bit. Bruno was covered in dirt, oil and grease – he’s always busy with something on his land. They have some Burmese workers laying foundations on the piece of land they own opposite their house but despite being cheap labour they’re also understanding that the quality is low too.

It’s tough here to decide whether to pay some people extra for better work when most people still just employ cheap labourers anyway. Even the pretty new estate houses look shabby if you look closely. They tried to hide it with fancy furniture and carpet.

I’m so happy Amy designed and oversaw the building of our house. If there is anyone to blame, then it is mostly us.

The Chiang Rai Alternative Hour #24 – 8th February 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Music from Bob Drake, The Work, DMBQ, FLIRT, Neutral Sons, Prag, Brainticket, Grobschnitt, Appollonius Abraham Schwarz, The Sweet, The Dazzling Killmen.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to see Oh’s puppies again and thankful she gave us a place to stay for one night.

To-do list

  • Stay relaxed – it’s a mini-holiday ✅
  • Do another Smiling Mind meditation
  • Really savour something today ✅
  • 3 acts of kindness ½
  • Only buy books on your want list

Went book shopping but ended up buying a couple of extra things because I didn’t see any books on my wants list.

In the morning we went to visit Jessica’s aunt and I really savoured sitting and talking with her in her garden. Whilst we were talking she mentioned a book she really enjoyed about Afghanistan. She couldn’t remember the exact title, something about a Thousand Suns. Just as I was leaving the bookshop I spotted on the shelf ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ and that was the book – so I bought that too.

An enjoyable day of food and shopping.