Weakness of various kinds may lurk in a flabby lip* The ill-bred then ill-led by courtier cowards History’s dustbin overflows with rotten words let slip A moral vacuum created in Babel’s towers
When the logos kings vanish, only the dirt remains So sift the glittering trash of golden whispers In search of the truth which in turn explains The fragment promises of unwritten scriptures
*I forget who said this quote but I read it in The Decline and Fall of the British Empire by Piers Brendon.
Today I’m feeling:
A little better with a bit more enthusiasm. Coffee was great at Utopia. Nu came and got his shots too before heading off to Chiang Mai. I finished reading Persepolis, which was a very interesting read, before coming home and playing some guitar and listening to some music.
And a little later I finished reading Consider The Lobster. New books to start for the new year in a couple of days.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Hanging on to my old Xbox and cranking it for the first time this year (I think). I spent an hour driving around in GTA. I also accompanied this playtime with some Glenfiddich. It almost feels like Christmas.
The best thing about today was:
Finishing a couple of books before the end of the year.
I’ve almost finished downloading the complete Marvel reading order and I will add those to my comic book reading schedule.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
Anchan asked me for money to go to Chiang Mai but I felt like I don’t quite believe her at the moment. I also haven’t been paid myself yet, though I do have cash spare. I’m happy to help her but I don’t want to just be an ATM whenever she feels like it.
Art took this picture as I modelled for another Utopia assignment.
A whisper and a wonder Will all the aunties be there? Where will everyone sit? Can I watch the fire faeries flit As I fall asleep in the quiet comfy chair?
Adult breath whiffs of magic Will I ever learn these ways? Maybe I’ll sing a song And the uncles will sing along With my series of 20 short plays
Is that bird following me? Better to be clear of the busy sky Reindeer running through Clickety-clack and choo-choo-choo Where did he go and why?
The sparkle of new toys The surprise of morning snow Why all the rush For the melt to the slush? Enquiring minds want to know
Dizzy and tired. I skipped exercise again and was a little unsteady on my feet. I went to school but came back home after an hour.
Amy was burning up with fever this morning, too, so we went off to the hospital.
Apparently, I have some ear problem that is causing my dizziness, as opposed to it being a brain problem. No idea of the cause and just got medicine to treat the symptoms.
I also got an appointment for my health checkup next week, as well as a physio appointment for my shoulder.
Health:
Physical: 5 Mental: 5
Today I’m grateful for:
The doctor at MFU hospital and all the staff, who were very diligent despite my poor mood and state.
The best thing about today was:
For the hour that I was at school, there was a very good feeling and everyone was happy.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
The doctor suggested cutting down on caffeine. Noooooo!
Something I learned today?
Don’t park your car in Bandu Mueang Mai at twilight, as it will get covered in bird shit!
Nomsen took this picture of herself after stealing my phone out of my pocket.
Maturing in the still and humid air On a steep Brazilian hillside I deepen red as if blushing Ready to be plucked and tested
Still sour before the procession Dried on a dusty rack Soon signed, sealed and delivered My final journey nears conclusion
I’m roasted, stirred and blended Slightly sweet and bitter Cascading jets of steamy water Extract my last juices
Remember me this fine morning As you go about your day It was my pleasure to serve you To give you my get up and go
Written for an AllPoetry assignment about personification and returning to a favourite topic of mine!
Today I’m feeling:
Tired but rested after a ten-hour sleep and a weird dream about being in a South American country and almost being shot by a child, and then a pre-pubescent girl who was showing me around with a bunch of other kids got disappeared to be a prostitute. Not sure where all those ideas came from.
I have aches in various places from this week’s exercise. Good aches.
Today I’m grateful for:
A very chill day today, restoring lost energy.
The best thing about today was:
Finishing the chapter Up, Simba by David Foster Wallace. Next is the titular Consider The Lobster.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Utopia is closed until Wednesday as Art takes his staff for a mini holiday in Chiang Mai. This meant that I had to get coffee at Black Smooth instead this morning.
Something I learned today?
Through an online conversation with Baipad, we both learned that ‘blyat’ in Russian is a bad word.
I took this picture because Art joked that the coffee at Black Smooth would be in a big cup and be too hot and he was right!
Last night I had to leave the temple early as I was very dizzy and a little out of it. Luckily, Amy could get home with Goy. I was early to bed and asleep by 10 pm and even in my dreams, I was feeling dizzy!
Thankfully, when I woke up, I was feeling ok and did some exercise and a dead hang. The dead hangs are really making a difference, I think.
So I felt good when I got to school and bumbled around with students and then did a little administration to help get myself prepared. I talked with Kru Mai about my assigned hours and he advised that six of the hours will be assigned by other teachers for the students to do online. But, he said, I have to be in the classroom! Which essentially means I’m still working those hours!
I couldn’t convince him to remove my one-hour classes, unfortunately. Things may still change, I guess, though.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 8
Today I’m grateful for:
Kru Mai and Kru Tang for helping me today as we discussed my new timetable. I’m not sure what the outcome will be yet, but at least they know about it.
I’m also grateful to Art, who experimented by giving me a double shot coffee of a new blend that he is trying out and it was awesome! I’m just a little sad that I probably won’t have time to pick one up every morning once I start teaching again next week.
The best thing about today was:
The relaxed feeling around school again today. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood and it kept me chipper, too. I had fun with the kids as usual.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I had to wait at school until the afternoon, as Amy was working out the best plan for us today, as we would attend the temple again today. It was fine for me as I can easily keep myself busy, whether being with the students or sitting in the cafe.
In the end, Amy decided that she would come with Goy to the city and come back with her tonight. I could just drop by the temple and give my best to Nong Oh and then come home and relax a little in the evening.
Something I learned today?
My grade 11 students let slip that some Thai teachers don’t like me because I talk with the students. I’m not sure exactly what they meant but it made me curious and interested.
After some follow-up to try and get some clarity, it seems that they don’t approve of my style and ability to communicate with the students. I think it’s a cultural difference, as the old school Thai teacher just gives information and expects the students to mimic it, to do as they are told and that the teacher is the absolute authority on everything. I’m not like that at all!
I took this picture because our orchids keep coming out at various times throughout the year. I’m happy that they have managed to do well since shoving them in the tree.
Vacuous thoughts rise – then becoming prosaic Never surrender! Clarity comes with coffee – so life has meaning again
Shared with Tanka Tuesday using synonyms for mindless and humdrum and reflecting the struggle to write before coffee and the ability to conjure words after coffee!
Today I’m feeling:
Pretty good, getting up at a reasonable time. My hips were aching again, telling me that I need to move my lazy ass around more.
Health:
Physical: 7 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
The neighbours’ kids playing in our driveway and garden and making enough noise to ensure that I woke up from my afternoon nap in the living room. I couldn’t resist the temptation to sleep today after a big lunch.
The best thing about today was:
Reading 2000AD and Judge Dredd comics. I love their crazy stories so much and there are so many of them. I’m now up to the end of 2005 and thrilled to think that I still have another 19 years’ worth to read and by the time I get there, there will be another few years more too.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I took Amy for lunch as she made fun of me last weekend for taking my students for pizza and never taking her anywhere. I decided I wanted Lard Na near Big C.
When my food came, I poured over the sauce but we had forgotten to tell them that I didn’t want any pork, which isn’t usually in the sauce anyway but this time it was.
I picked out all the bits that were obvious, but resigned myself to eating the rest of the food, as I had already covered everything with the sauce and the crispy noodles and chilli vinegar were delicious.
Something I learned today?
I was surprised to see Gong in Utopia this morning. He was off being a monk as far as I knew but he told me that he was working as a coffee roaster in Bangkok. He said he missed Chiang Rai, particularly as his girlfriend is still here.
Review your acts, Good and bad.
When the kids woke me up, Amy soon came in and asked me to help her in the garden. I was still a little slow and blurry, and Amy had me up the ladder to try to attach our vine plant to the tree so it grows over and provides more shade. I wasn’t much in the mood for it, but did it and ended up doing a few other things of my own volition too.
I took this picture because now the rain and cloud has gone, everything is turning a deep green, preparing for a lack of rain for the next six months.
Anxious, tired and sleepy. Yesterday’s events were on my mind as I was sleeping, though I didn’t dream of floods or water, but just the underlying anxiety woke me up a few times.
Thankfully, it didn’t rain much overnight and there are only intermittent storms this morning.
Our school told students not to come to school but teachers are still supposed to go! I told them that I’m still dealing with the situation at home and been sitting in Utopia doing this new report that the school wants.
It’s pretty straightforward once it’s been done once, which took a little effort. It is just another piece of paper that won’t get read, though.
My throat is sore, possibly from being wet and riding the bike around yesterday but could also be from falling into the ditch yesterday – who knows what the hell might have been in that water!
Health:
Physical: 6 Mental: 7
Today I’m grateful for:
Getting up at the normal workday time but not going to work. I’m exhausted in that kind of good way that all my energy has been spent. The day has felt long and thankfully peaceful.
The best thing about today was:
The memory of that first sip of coffee at Utopia. Sublime! Will I remember it in a few days time? Will I even remember it after tomorrow’s first sip?
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Our old wooden door that Amy had turned into a table for some plants in the garden finally succumbed to the elements and collapsed into pieces.
I should have spent some time cleaning it up but forgot about it in my lethargy. If Amy doesn’t do it before, I will clean it up at the weekend.
Something I learned today?
I came across a video that recommended taking Pygeum for enlarged prostate problems and I was able to quickly order some on Lazada.
I also learned that the local government and the local electricity suppliers have agreed to cancel last month’s bills due to the flood situation.
I took this picture because Piti was owning the counter this morning.
On the edge. I felt good at forcing myself up and exercising this morning. Could feel my lazy body enjoying the move and stretch.
The weather today is very English and ordinary (a little warmer than in England of course). Dull, grey and spitting light droplets of rain. The dim ambience is straining my tired eyes and as I pulled up for a couple of hours at House with coffee I suddenly felt tired and run down.
Hopefully the coffee picks me up for what should be a relatively straightforward day of classes today.
Today I’m grateful for:
The bakery shop next door to House where I could pick up ingredients for Amy as her first batch of cookies had failed due to too fine a sugar for the mix.
When I got home and tasted them though, they were the best so far but I could still understand why she wasn’t happy with them.
The best thing about today was:
Sitting on the terrace in the egg chair this evening after dark, with Tigger on my lap and rain tap tap tapping down through the canopy of leaves and flowers growing over the entertainment area. The temperature is finally bearable and I’m even wearing a t-shirt tonight, though I could just as easily not do too.
Anyway, it was only a few minutes but I savoured them immensely.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I was frustrated with Program (and Kwang) in my grade 8 class and asked him to leave after telling him to sit down on about ten different occasions. He tried to convince me that he was going to behave, but unfortunately, he can’t help himself and will just get up and disturb other people.
As I had said I would kick him out if I had to say his name again, I felt obliged to ensure that he left but he refused. So I told the class to just sit and say nothing until he left. He gave it a good go for about five minutes but Kwang eventually convinced him to leave and I carried on teaching and the class was great after that.
Kwang soon got up and asked to go to the bathroom, though and that was the last I saw of her too.
I didn’t let any of this bother me in particular; just wanted to put my foot down. We have fun in my class but there are limits and they need to understand what is acceptable and what is not. It’s a little sad because Program and Kwang are capable students. They just lack maturity and guidance.
I talked with Kru Karn again later but she was just as frustrated with them as all the teachers complain about them to her and she doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t understand why they are still in school as their points in our SchoolBright system have fallen below zero which generally means that they are asked to leave. Kwang’s current score is now -125!
Thankfully, my second class (grade 10s) was much smoother.
Something I learned today?
We have a new teacher teaching English. Her name is Sasha and she’s from Indonesia. She told me that she remembers me from visiting with the exchange program students last year. Her English is good and clear.
It made me wonder who is employing her and how much she is getting paid. I don’t think she speaks Thai, so I’m not sure if she is included as a Thai teacher and will be asked to do all the things that they have to do, too.
Anyway, I told her to ask me anything if she had any questions.
29th Aug 2025 – I’m guessing she must have only been teaching here temporarily as I don’t think I saw her again!
Review your acts, Good and bad.
Today is Nicha’s birthday and I wished her well but I could see that she and her friends may have been expecting something more.
A little later, I popped around to the cafe and bought her back a slice of chocolate cake, for which she was very appreciative and came and gave me a hug.
She’s a good kid. I hope that she finds her place in the world and that it is a good place.
Someone took this picture because these students of mine spent the weekend away doing some kind of activity. Sadly, 4 of them decided not to come to school today and missed my fun movie class. Sad for them anyway…
A bit better again today, maybe at 85%. Struggled getting to sleep last night, maybe because I had slept so much the day before, thinking about classes and students and how things slowly change. I miss all my students in one way or another.
Today I’m grateful for:
Firstly, to the uni students at the PTT station who tried to help me put air in my bike tyres. Unfortunately, I think I fucked the tube by riding it there in the first place so nothing worked for it.
Secondly, to dependable 100-year-old uncle who replaced the tube for me, jabbering away at me about things, indicating that the tyre on the bike is too small. I didn’t want to remind him that it was him that put it on there! He also said that he could replace the starter battery but I told that that would have to wait until next month when I have more money.
Talking of which, the SpeechOdd/High Voltage records are due to be sent to me from the factory in Taiwan and I’m hoping not to get hit with too much customs tax. I also still have to pay for the cover printing too.
The best thing about today was:
There was a very good atmosphere around the school today for the last day before cracking down to studies.
Even though I could’ve gone home at 9 am I went to the cafe until midday doing some writing and lessons and then went back to school where I was greeted by students everywhere I went, I guess as I know many different students from grades 8 to 12 now.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
It was an ominous sign when arriving home to see two trucks from our internet provider out on the road and sure enough, there’s been no internet at home again since the afternoon.
Time to read or catch up on other things instead.
Something I learned today?
A jiffy is an actual unit of time, defined as 1/100th of a second.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I met Fui by chance at House this morning and he told me about a school in Bangkok that his son passed the exam to enter so I got the details and passed them onto Anchan. She would have lots of hurdles to face to pursue this option but at least she can be armed with information.
I complimented Kru Mai on his outrageous shirt today!
What emotions do I feel when I think about my future?
At the moment I feel pretty calm even though the future is uncertain about which direction it may go. I’m calm because I think I can deal with it whatever happens.
These days I get more stressed and disconsolate when I think about the futures for my students. I was thinking about this when I was talking to Fui today in connection with Anchan. A smart kid who knows that she needs to get out from where she is to improve her future but can’t afford to.
When you are struggling to afford new uniforms or lunch day to day, you can’t even consider going to Bangkok to take a free entrance exam for a better school (and think about even cheap fees and cheap accommodation – anything above 0 baht is out of reach.)
I took this screenshot from a video because iPhone called me over to be in the background of her video that she posted on Instagram. She didn’t let me down gently when she said that I won’t become famous!
Born lucky, amongst cat’s kisses Brought love and calmly kept But laughing aloud cools kinship Banging loudly and can kneel
Business lull as corporations kaput Broken laws allow constables kvetching Black light awareness, cooly kindhearted Both looking around catching kittens
Pretty good though this heat is a killer. I’ve made an agreement with myself not to complain about it though.
It also seems like last night’s mala upset my stomach a little bit this morning but I should be good to go for the rest of the day?
Today I’m grateful for:
Going to Lost and Found, a new cocktail bar in Chiang Rai, after Amy was disappointed with The Space due to poor service and average food.
The best thing about today was:
Starting organising lessons for next semester. It was a bit of a headache and I only did it for a couple of hours, whilst at Utopia for morning coffee, but it is something that will kickstart my brain again to fill in all the gaps that I need.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
When we arrived at The Space we sat outside next to the river but with the humidity and the sun setting suddenly there was a great birthing of insects which usually indicates the coming of rain. Let’s hope so but at this time these little critters were dropping into our drinks, food and clothes. We quickly dashed inside with everything.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
A couple of weeks ago Amy drunkenly said she wished that she had a globe and then forgot all about it – but I didn’t. I ordered one from Lazada that arrived a couple of days ago and left it for her to find this morning. Sadly, on opening the box we found that it was badly packed and the cheap plastic base had splintered a little. So my next task is to super glue it and then assemble it. Amy seemed less excited about it than when she was drunk but never mind. Happy anniversary little Amy!
Whilst Amy was extremely upset at the restaurant I tried to stay calm and enjoy some of the food and quickly picked up that we should leave with haste.
I took this picture because as Amy had checked in at Lost and Found on Facebook, earning herself six free shots!
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