Tired still, though I didn’t sleep until after 1 am, partly because of my afternoon nap but also because I was playing a game on my phone.
When I stopped playing and saw that it was 1.20 am, I immediately deleted the game! I can’t be using up so much time like that.
Today I’m grateful for:
Amy being back and cooking or buying food for me. I’m short of money again and trying not to spend anything. It will be like this for a couple more months at least. Hang in here, Shaun!
The best thing about today was:
Getting out to my room and thinking about adding old pictures to the blog, which I did a few of today, along with some more old emails and looking through other bits and pieces of writing that I have.
I also listened to a few albums of stuff that I had downloaded, including the old Fusion live tapes. I was perhaps inspired by listening to Per Purpose as I was driving today.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I didn’t watch any TV today. But this was on purpose, as I didn’t want to find out the result of the Swans game before being able to watch the mini-match tomorrow.
I did end up watching the movie Inside Out in the evening though as Amy had recommended it and it was enjoyable and I’m curious about the second one and if it could be useful for my students.
Lots of other things were out of my control today but I never let myself get out of control.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
I drove Amy and me around the city so we could eat and visit Mum. Amy loves being a backseat driver and I generally just let it slide, joking today, asking if she would talk to a taxi driver like that. She said I’m not a taxi driver and ‘I can talk to my husband any way I like’ and then, jokingly, gently slapped my face. I guess I’m special!
I took this picture because I spotted this new growth as I was opening the gate.
Slowly sipping on iced lemon teas Savouring the freshness of the breeze – Who will prepare the food to bring? – Who will push and pull the swing?
Feet put up and nestled with a read Imagining there’s nothing else to need – Who will make sure the dog is fed? – Who is gonna bake the daily bread?
When the body is settled in for rest And doing nothing then becomes a test – Who will ensure the grass is mown? – And cut the trees that are overgrown?
Dreaming of more of these lazy days Wondering what the bee to the flower says – Who’s gonna counter the middle-aged spread? – The time to sleep is when you’re dead
Tired, dizzy and upset. I slept very badly, waking at 4 am thinking about Amy and how I haven’t been supportive enough of her.
I was remembering that I had written that when Amy returned from Australia it would be good for her to get some business going and every time we have talked about it it has just felt impossible, in that it feels like it would be too much work for too little return.
Along with the many events since she got back, Grandmum passing, her brother’s wedding (and various issues that that has raised) and friends visiting, it hasn’t really but been easy for her to focus on starting a business too.
But now I feel that this may be able to focus her attention away from sitting around at home and brewing and stewing about things going on.
I started to wonder if one of the reasons that I am generally happier is because I am busy all the time. I don’t have time to think about the little annoying things that bother me. Maybe Amy needs that distraction.
I wanted to talk to her this morning about this but she is very grumpy and short with me. When I asked what was wrong she just said that it was her problem and no one else could help her. She said it’s nothing about me, that I do everything right, I’m a good husband and she needs to be by herself.
Of course, that could mean anything. Will she leave again? Will she leave for good?
I’m really upset about all this but still have to keep my head for work at school. I’d rather be sleeping and not having to think about all this. Wild scenarios are playing out in my head and none of them are particularly good.
Today I’m grateful for:
My umbrella. For my last class (grade 10s) I gave a brief overview of two pieces of work that I wanted them to do, whilst at the same time we would go to the gym to watch one of the students playing volleyball. Just as we arrived there though the game finished.
I sent the work to our chat group and most of them started doing it whilst a few seemingly slipped away (but I will catch them!). As they started working though, a huge storm came and flooded the school and also trapped us in the gym on the other side of the football pitch. We were stuck there for about an hour and I helped everyone who was having difficulty (and I’m chasing those who got away now this evening).
Having planned ahead and bringing my umbrella I made my way back across the field and into the flood! Some kids were trying their best to stay dry whilst others took advantage of the slippery playground and dived headlong across the basketball court.
The best thing about today was:
A poem that I wrote today. Somewhat inspired by events as written here, it was a challenge to write using lots of metaphors and I feel like I did it well.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Not being in the best of moods I struggled with my first class (grade 8s) this morning as they were unfocussed and doing their very best to wind me up. I ended up choosing a group of about ten boys, some of who were messing around and I asked them to leave. Things were a bit easier after that though still a struggle.
I sent a message to their homeroom teacher and deducted 5 points from everyone for their disrespect and then tried to forget about it.
Looking back at old entries here I can see that I have said before that it seems that each year’s students seem to be less and less able (generally speaking) and so it seems this year. I am teaching out of a book that I used with grade 7s a couple of years ago and many of these grade 8s just look at me bewildered!
I had texted a message to Amy earlier with what I wrote above in the What I’m Feeling section and when I got home she was very upset at what she perceived as an attack on her. Whilst that was not my intention at all I listened as she finally started to open up and get things off her chest.
(Reading back what I wrote I don’t really see an attack on her (of course we all perceive things differently) and I was really just thinking out loud because there was no communication at all last night)
As she was talking I thought perhaps I have misunderstood some things – particularly when it comes to her happiness. She tells me that she is happy with things at home, with us but not with the things that she can’t control such as the family issue and dealing with the bullshit builder.
I said that I thought that she was unhappy because of all these things and always talking about returning to Australia. So perhaps I misread some of this and so she took affront at me trying to find ways to keep her busy.
She is a very good homemaker, a great cook and takes care of most everything around the house and I certainly appreciate that about her. I do not want her to leave me here again for a long period of time if it’s possible. Yes, we can both survive by ourselves but I was only happy doing that knowing that we were still together, talking every day and supporting each other.
Amy says that I am very involved with my work and students and perhaps that is something that I need to pull back from somewhat. I know that whilst Amy was away I put all my love into little Kim Chi and all my heart into my work. Now that she’s here again I need to shift my focus back to her.
We are both still upset and ruminating but at least some talking has happened and we both understand each other a little better.
Something I learned today?
I was chatting with Lin and though she was frustrated that she couldn’t say everything that she wanted in English she did very well. I suggested that next year she change to the English Program but then she told me that her parents want her to be a doctor.
I asked her what she wanted to be and she semi-seriously said a K-pop idol. I asked if she could sing and she sang me a little song. I then asked her about dancing and she said she could but she was too shy to demonstrate.
When I suggested that being shy won’t help her to be an idol she changed her mind to be a gangster’s wife!
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I chide myself for my selfishness and lack of understanding of the person closest to me in my life.
I chide myself for a lack of imagination and taking things for granted when it comes to taking care of our relationship.
If you’re going to fight the universe Learn to become wise first Else you’ll spend time sulking in corners Where thoughts become the worst
Joys are formed deep within Even on the path of most resistance Prepare well for the journey ahead Is the teacher’s eternal insistence
Inspired by a Sadhguru quote and a student who loves to battle with me in class (and obviously reminds me much of myself at that age) 19th Oct 2024 – Shared with Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Ahead
Today I’m feeling:
Tired and slow which is surprising to me as I did next to nothing yesterday and should feel refreshed. Is my body telling me that I need to rest more or that I need to be doing more?
During the workweek, I’m switched on and ready to go and can usually get up at 6 am without any problem. I’m enthusiastic and inspired. But with nothing planned to wake up for in the morning, it’s like I’ve died!
Yesterday I didn’t write and didn’t get to play guitar despite having hours of free time.
Today I’m grateful for:
Amy’s safe return and wanting to go straight from the airport to Makro to buy ingredients and cook.
Even though only gone a few days and knowing I’m able to take care of feeding myself, I was struggling to be bothered a little yesterday so I’m glad to have my personal chef back at home!
The best thing about today was:
Nothing in particular. I ran out of energy soon after picking up Amy. She even thought that I was hungover and I kinda felt like that.
I napped for a little while in the late afternoon and have recovered some energy from that but also ready for an early night and long sleep, with another day off tomorrow.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Amy was talkative whilst we were eating but my brain still wasn’t working properly. She was, fairly slowly, drinking small glasses of wine but seemed to me to be getting louder. I could feel some tension within me because of that but I knew it was my problem and not hers.
After eating I went to the bedroom and read until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.
Something I learned today?
You can buy some highly discounted items on the Bath and Body Works website, so I stocked up the cart and will purchase once I get paid!
19th Feb 2025 – Money ran short so that I never bought anything in the end.
A little tired but was able to push through to do some exercise again – another AI-generated one that I ended up running through twice as it is quite short. My abs were burning but feel ok now.
It’s super humid this morning which is energy-sapping and my first class were difficult to keep engaged and under control but I didn’t let it bother me too much.
Nomsen was messaging her mum online and then burst into tears for some reason.
After she calmed down I told her that she shouldn’t be talking with anyone outside the class during the lesson and that if she does some study it will take her mind off things.
She complained of a headache and I know she finds English too difficult but I just tried to push her to not give up.
Phu was also sleepy in the class and he also struggles with English. The kids told me that he was up late working last night but that’s not my problem. I guide and encourage him as best as I can but expect very little from him.
Today I’m grateful for:
My 4-hour break between classes during the day. It gave me lots of time to catch up on some things that I wanted to read and some writing too. I won’t have much free time for the next two days so it’s just as well.
The best thing about today was:
Hmm…nothing stands out in particular but it was a pleasurable and consistent day that I enjoyed very much.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I haven’t managed to get to my room to play guitar for a couple of nights now and I really want to.
I’m doing a bit more lesson planning in the evenings because I’m worried that I don’t have enough things prepared for all these new classes – and I’ve hamstrung myself a little by asking the students what they want to learn about rather than just giving them canned lessons.
Something I learned today?
I talked with S* again today about what she told me on Monday about sometimes showering with her stepdad when she’s tired. And she confirmed it and the way she described it does seem to be completely innocent and is not some kind of regular thing. Like a naturist family or something like that.
I warned her to be careful who she tells about this and she said she understood that and only mentions it to me because she trusts me.
Because of her exposure to Western culture, she considers herself only 10% Thai. Maybe as a Westerner, she was testing to see how normal this situation was. I told her it was pretty unusual.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
As Amy flew to Bangkok to visit Nong Mai and Yaya today and will be away until Sunday I have to find my own food. No problem, I thought, as the market would be on at the University.
As I knew that Baipad’s mum was still away, I asked if she and her sister wanted to come with me to get some food there and so I picked them up and we drove up to the Uni but because most of the students had gone home for the end of the semester the market was cancelled.
We drove around and eventually found a cheap Korean shop to eat at.
When was the last time I felt a sense of freedom?
The one time that I felt it really noticeably was on my trips to China.
On my first visits, I was surprised to see how free the environment was and I likened it to being at a large free music festival with folks just getting on with what they needed to do. It was a far cry from my corporate work environment and the nanny state society of Australia.
Of course, for me, I was a tourist and enjoyed the freedom of being on holiday but I sensed it amongst the people in general there. For them, it was probably just business as usual and normal.
I guess we tend to see more freedom outside of our own environments as we count every negative against us with more weight and take for granted a lot of other things. It’s a reason to consider that one culture cannot be better than another. Just different.
I feel this freedom living here in Thailand too but do understand that it is only in comparison with my experiences elsewhere before.
I’m really anti-stupidity laws such as jaywalking, which was enforced in Sydney CBD with a brutal crackdown and over-the-top fines. On my first trip to China, I remember watching as pedestrians grouped together and slowly forced the cars on the road to stop and let them cross.
I imagine it is much different there now, with probably fifty times the number of cars on the road since but it showed me that people don’t need a law to counter stupidity. If you are hit by a car whilst trying to cross the road you only have yourself to blame.
Same with holes in the sidewalk. If you are not looking where you are going it’s your fault if you fall in. Don’t blame the folks that made the hole.
Yes, things could be better and safer but not everything needs a law and its enforcement. I mention enforcement as in Thailand there are many laws but they are laxly enforced. Sometimes, this makes sense.
Which place from my childhood do I most fondly remember?
Without doubt that would be Forest Cottage – my home from aged 9 until about 20.
Most particularly my bedroom, where a lot of partying went on along with all the other ups and downs that teenagers have to struggle through. It was my space to invite others in or shut them out.
I took this picture last week because… well, it was a pretty evening as I rode home from No Name and the reflection in the lake attracted me enough to stop.
All it takes is a word A few syllables could start it all Pick a pill to swallow Which side of the fence to fall?
All of the grasses green Yet muddied by the other Pick a path to follow Cling tight to your brother
All it takes is a word A few syllables to end everything They all rang so hollow With the violence they bring
All it takes is a word A few syllables to make peace To calm the stormy weather And hostilities to cease
Today I’m feeling:
A little slow still. I felt really tired when I went to bed but then found that I couldn’t get to sleep and then when I woke up it felt like it must still be the middle of the night but it was already getting light.
I had a very dry mouth and was finding it difficult to breathe. I skipped exercise hoping to get an extra few minutes of sleep but I just ended up tossing and turning.
I was thinking about school and how Amy said that it was unfair that I was given extra hours to teach while Princess George could just walk away from classes that he doesn’t want to teach.
I was also thinking that maybe I’m investing too much time in my students and need to balance things better. It does bring me great pleasure though and I felt happy to walk around this morning with many students, old and new, wanting to fist-bump and chat.
Today I’m grateful for:
That my first time with another new class of grade 12 students was pretty easy despite a poor standard of English for many students.
They were all excited when I asked them for ideas of something for me to teach them in English and chose things like ghosts, psychology, Naruto and NASA. It got me up and running with many ideas which I can reuse again later for other classes.
The best thing about today was:
Teaching. It was enjoyable and I feel like I’m pretty well on top of things though I know that I have a lot of planning ahead still.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Amy was still wound up by the builder who responded to a Facebook post that Amy made questioning his lack of professionalism. This was the only way that she has managed to get a response from him and he was trying to transfer his anger back to Amy.
He was somewhat successful with that but her mum and I calmed her down a little and we talked more about it when I got home so that we are both on the same page with the details.
I’m not sure if we will get any refund and I’m not banking on it but we’ll give it a try and see if he has any remorse for running away from his responsibility.
Something I learned today?
Something odd when talking with a grade 12 student called S*. She told me that her stepfather is from the Netherlands and he always speaks English with her and that is one reason that her English is reasonable and that she speaks straightforwardly and directly, which often upsets her Thai classmates.
But the odd thing was that she mentioned that her stepdad sometimes showers with her and dries her off. I wasn’t sure if I misheard what she said and she was so blasé about it that perhaps she did think it’s normal and there’s nothing untoward about it.
It was definitely weird to hear that for me though. I will try and get clarification from her some time though.
Oh, and Southampton beat Leeds to get promoted to the Premier League which is a little treat I enjoyed. I’m happy for my old friends in Southampton and because Leeds are the team that my old grumpy workmate Robert supported.
I took this picture because my old students are always happy to see me. I hope I can see some of them again in high school. Me, Tonaor, Namthip, Dena, Nicha, Mei, August, Namkhing and Fah.
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
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.
Don’t tell the monkeys that we understand Let them think we’re stupid and dumb Otherwise, they’ll force us to work And their rat race sure looks no fun
Don’t tell the monkeys we understand Our nature is just to laze and play Let them think we’re too stupid and dumb To be forced to an office job all day
Don’t tell the monkeys we understand Can you imagine us wearing suits!? We’re happy right where we are Still closely attached to our roots
Don’t tell the monkeys we understand We chose to communicate with grunts The monkeys have forgotten now That that’s how they were once
Apparently there is an old Indonesian myth that says that Orang-utans have the ability to speak human languages, but choose not to, because they know if we caught them speaking we would force them to get jobs.
Today I’m feeling:
Pretty good so far though I’m disappointed to find my weight has still increased despite doing exercise and getting lots of steps in at the weekend. I’m sure it will regulate back down to around 79kg once I get back into the teaching routine.
The exercises in the Mad Muscles app that I’ve been using for a month take a little longer than my normal app as it’s not possible to skip the rest times and jump ahead. This means getting up a little earlier than before.
The subscription runs out soon though and I’m not sure if I will try it again, I actually just wanted the chair yoga exercises but got leg and arm exercises instead. Maybe when I get paid again I will check it out again, otherwise I will stick with the free app I’ve been using.
Today I’m grateful for:
All the Nat Geo books that arrived at the school a couple of years ago and are still sitting around waiting to be used. I didn’t use them last year but can see that they will be useful for one of my classes and will save me time as I already have lessons written for them.
The best thing about today was:
The books I bought at Dasa on Monday arriving and having forgotten about them, rediscovering what I had bought. The library grows way faster than I can read!
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
When I got home I stuck a load of washing on as I was running out of underwear. I had to spin it twice as there were so many other clothes too and I started hanging it out at around 3 pm.
I joked to myself that it was so hot that some of it might be dry by the time I finish hanging everything and sure enough a couple of shirts were already dry.
A little while later I was preparing to head out to my room to play a little guitar but Amy called because she had forgotten to submit an assignment for one of her students. As I waited for her stupidly slow computer to load, login and open the web browser I heard a bang outside and when I looked around there was a huge wind blowing through and I ran outside to our washing which was now scattered around the garden!
I furiously gathered everything up and shoved it into the kitchen, also worried about any rain that might come with this wind but an hour later, the skies are still dark though nothing else.
I eventually got to log in and sort out uploading Amy’s assignments whilst marvelling at what a piece of shit Microsoft Windows is.
Something I learned today?
I watched an interview with the economic advisor to US President Biden who couldn’t even explain how his own economy works.
He made lots of confusing statements and then actually said ‘I don’t know how it works, but it does!’
I checked to see if it was April 1st – it was THAT unbelievable.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I gifted some Thai candy to Baipad, her mum and Butter. We didn’t go and ride because the storm that blew in kept threatening though predictably it didn’t rain at all in the end.
Did you do something difficult or challenging today?
Push-ups as part of my morning exercise. The routine required different types of push-ups but my upper body is so weak that I could only do a few push-ups and even then, by the end of the sets I couldn’t do them all. But I didn’t quit the routine, at least.
I took this picture at the restaurant yesterday because it’s a pretty wild and interesting painting!
Good again. Pretty peppy with an underlying exhaustion just from adjustment to this routine again.
Mai, Dave and Yaya, along with Mai’s parents, arrive in Chiang Rai this morning and Amy will be busy with them for the next four days and I’ll be joining them after work this afternoon.
Today I’m grateful for:
Our step ladder so that I can try and organise our vine plant to grow over our entertainment area and perhaps stop a little of the rain in the future, though will undoubtedly block the gutters with dead leaves too.
The best thing about today was:
Getting on top of everything in preparation for being back in the classroom. I think I have a fairly clear idea for each class now and can adapt as I go. It was a good feeling to be back in the game so to speak.
I had felt pretty on the ball at the start of the holiday but then slacked off a lot for the last three weeks. I put up a self imposed barrier in my mind though thankfully found it easy to overcome. Though I’m damned tired right now! Tired but feeling great and positive.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I felt increasingly positive and happy as the day has gone on and nothing could stand in my way or bother me.
Something I learned today?
Mai’s husband Dave was so excited when he got to Thailand that he overindulged in smoking too much weed last night and had to spend the day sleeping today, so I haven’t actually seen him yet.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I drove Amy and I back into the city at 5 pm and the traffic is getting busy again after the holidays. I picked up Mai and her family and took us to the restaurant for a really nice meal with Amy’s mum and dad joining too.
I took this picture because this is another Yaya that I know.
Quiet and confused but more settled throughout the day.
Today I’m grateful for:
The end of the holidays!
As often happens I end up deleting lots of things that keep me updated with news from around the world. This time I’ve deleted a lot of subscriptions to reports from the USA or geopolitics that generally involves the USA. It’s sad and frustrating to watch the wild thrashes of a beast in its death throes so I’m putting out of my sight.
The best thing about today was:
I went out to get some sodas and dropped in to see if Baipad was back home now, which she was and I chatted with her for a few minutes.
She seemed ok and was glad to be back from her Grandmum’s though as soon as she was back her cat knocked her phone to the floor and broke it!
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Yesterday’s roller coaster of emotions ended on a sour note, as even though Amy had eventually been happy and grateful and affectionate towards me I couldn’t shake the rest of the bad feelings out and when, as she often does, she drunkenly came to me for sex I calmly said that I wasn’t interested tonight and was annoyed at the fact this only usually happens when she is drunk. When I’m rebutted in my approaches at other times I will laugh it off and wait for another day.
To be approached when drunk feels insulting to me. I know I shouldn’t feel like this but it had been a long day for me and I was nowhere near in a loving mood.
And Amy took great umbrage at this and stormed off slamming doors and going to the other bedroom. I left it for a while and came and asked her back into our bedroom and cuddled her til we both slept.
Although there were no hostilities this morning Amy didn’t want to communicate and so I was as pleasant as I could be and left her to it. We continued the day quietly without talking further about what happened in particular. I feel OK but could also feel better.
Something I learned today?
Sydney Swans are top of the table in the AFL after beating GWS and Geelong losing to Melbourne. It’s a bit of a surprise, to be honest. The media rarely focus much on the Swans as they have just been a consistent team without flash or bravado and they (the media) focuses on the Melbourne teams for gossip and rivalry.
And Ipswich Town have won their last game of the season to make it back into the Premier League next year. Wow!
And then double wow, stumbling across a video podcast of interviews with Ipswich legends from my youth. I watched one episode today with George Burley. Amazing.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
Pretty good again. Got up and exercised and am now out for coffee.
A couple of days ago when I was moving the tree I got bitten by an ant on the inside of my little finger and now it is distractingly itchy. Because of the location it’s not easy to get a nice satisfying scratch on it and it’s super annoying.
Today I’m grateful for:
Art lending me a backpack that I can use on Sunday to go to Bangkok. I also found out that Monday is a national holiday so I don’t have to worry about not being back in time to start work!
Also, a sneaky little doze whilst listening to video discussions on YouTube whilst Amy did the watering and washed the car!
The best thing about today was:
Watching more of Three Body. I’m loving the slow pace of it. It seems each April holiday is marked by watching some TV series or other whilst avoiding the heat. A couple of years back it was Narcos.
I think last year though I ended up playing Xbox more than watching TV and I actually had planned to do that this year but in the end just didn’t bother.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I was on a roll and in the zone whilst sipping coffee this morning, first reading, then inspired, then writing. But I started to feel a little dizzy and knew I needed to come home and eat. Otherwise, I would have loved to have stayed longer and written more.
Tomorrow I won’t have so much free time as we will be running around most of the day doing things for Grandmum’s 100-day ritual.
Something I learned today?
Israel’s prime minister Netanyahu is likely to have an arrest warrant for war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court. Whilst it is likely just a symbolic gesture and he would unlikely ever be arrested at least it shows the world stands against him.
Russian president Putin also has an arrest warrant issued by the ICC but that was instigated by USA propaganda and that is all falling apart.
The world is starting to rise against the genocide perpetuated by Israel on the Palestinians and supported by the USA war machine.
Also, last night I watched a video from Thai Talk with Paddy and he was presenting 12 things that he didn’t like about Thailand. Whilst many other farangs agreed with some or all of his points there were others that I couldn’t believe just how self-righteous they were.
I don’t understand how you can say someone’s opinion is wrong. You don’t have to agree but you must be smart enough to at least counter their opinion. These days people don’t bother to do that just believing that they are right.
I don’t know why this particular video and comments stood out to me, maybe it’s been accumulating for a while. I will cut out this view of negativity as much as I can because it is just a waste of time and energy.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
Noey and Natalie were in Utopia whilst I was there this morning and they were preparing for a presentation. I wished them luck.
Did you do something difficult or challenging today?
I did as much of the exercises as I could this morning though I am weak in certain (most) areas. 3 sets of 60 lunges had to be cut down to 3 sets of 40 and 3 by one minute of static Superman I just held for as long as I could. But I didn’t skip or give up.
I took this picture because I’m hoping this tree can survive the move from pot to ground.
1994ever 