Pretty good again. Trying not to think too much about the events on this day last year. We go on until we don’t.
Today I’m grateful for:
Being able to easily find the Chinese TV version of The Three Body Problem. I’ll watch that over the holidays.
The best thing about today was:
Being able to sneak a coffee from 22 Grams this afternoon as we took Cap to get checked at the vet. Still the best coffee in Chiang Rai for me.
Cap’s blood levels are a little high for his kidneys now so we have to get him tested again in a couple of weeks.
Something I learned today?
I think it is at the UN that the USA is always found in breach of rules and they always launch an appeal.
But appeals are never heard so that the USA doesn’t have to follow the rules until the appeal is over.
Why are the appeals never heard? Because since the last two appeals judges retired the USA has blocked the positions of any new ones.
Hmm – and they call themselves part of the rules-based order.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I ordered a 32” globe for Amy as an anniversary gift. I hope it isn’t too plastic and cheap-looking when it arrives.
I took this picture because yesterday the gardeners came and tried to trip our hedge so that we push the fence back up. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple and we’ll ask the builder who is coming to fix the drain in the garage soon.
What goes on in there? Door ajar, window wide Unholy noises emanate Secrets unseen inside
Are there witches Three crone sisters That talk in tongues And hypnotic whispers
A crash and a scream There’s blood supposed Suddenly the doors And window closed
The shadows darken And take their leave Was it just a nightmare That kids believe?
Inspired by the attached picture that reminds me of my own childhood home a little but made me think more of a house that as kids we used to pass sometimes at night and heard all sorts of weird noises coming from. Our childish minds formed ghosts and witches and we would run past as quickly as possible. A few years later and I ended up dating the girl that lived there with her wild and crazy mum and girlfriend and I soon saw for myself what was making all the noise inside. They were bat-shit crazy. It was fun for a while.
A little tired and underwhelmed so far though I’m waiting for my first coffee. I haven’t been sleeping well due to discomfort in my shoulder and struggling to breathe clearly.
Today I’m grateful for:
That the AFL website now has a dedicated page for match replays where the scores are not displayed.
Maybe they had it before but this is season is the first time I’ve found it.
The best thing about today was:
Realising what I can do for my grade 12 classes next year. Last week Australia announced that they are raising the IELTS level for students from 5.5 to 6. Already well above most kids level but as we were talking about it it reminded me of when I was teaching Chinese students online, preparing them for the Speaking exam.
So I figure why not use my class to prepare these kids and go through a different set of IELTS questions, discussing and preparing one week and then attempting the following.
It should be easy enough to find sample questions online again and it will just be a case of wash, rinse, repeat. I love it when an idea comes to me like this because I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with this class.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Today has been pleasantly full. From coffee to immediately getting home and watching the Swans play well to beat Essendon, then straight out for buffet sushi lunch at a place we hadn’t tried before, to visit Cap at the vets and then a little shopping at Makro on the way home, straight into my room to play guitar and then to finally sit and watch some YouTube videos at around 5.30 pm.
I’ve been glad to be on the go for a change as I’ve not been moving my old bones enough for this last week or so and I’m feeling it.
Something I learned today?
I finally found out where to change the setting on my Mac to do a three finger window drag!
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
Amy hurried me along to not wait around with my morning coffee as I usually do today but thankfully I was up early enough to get back and watch the football with enough time for us to make it to lunch before she started biting my head off.
I’m happiest when …
Listening to music, reading a book, reading a comic, playing with students – when the joy resonates through my body bringing me to a point of savouring.
Anything that triggers this is when I’m happiest and sometimes, if I remind myself, I can activate this feeling at will.
Rested and slow to get going. Two Utopian coffees are working their magic though I wish I could clear the phlegm out of my body and breathe clearly again.
Today I’m grateful for:
The Ruamittr ice cream in the freezer that Amy only told me about today!
The best thing about today was:
Clean (and new) sheets!
Something I learned today?
It was interesting to read an old interview with all the members of Rancid and to hear a wild story about an exhumed baby at Gilman Street!
Pretty flat and tired. Less dizzy than yesterday and my brain seems to be functioning reasonably well but I’m lacking energy and motivation.
Today I’m grateful for:
Two awesome coffees this morning where Nick was manning Utopia in Art and Noey’s absence.
The best thing about today was:
Watching the Swans beat Collingwood at the MCG (played on Friday) cheered me up, followed by watching the highlights of Ipswich beating Sheffield Wednesday 6-0.
As I was watching the AFL and thinking about how long I have followed certain sports teams and seeing how young they are, I was reminded of the time when I was the same age as the players and thinking I could’ve done that and that is 35 years ago now. Players have come and gone but the team maintains. How long will sports last into the future?
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I’m not feeling particularly hungry today so I only ate some snacks but did finish off the chocolate almonds.
Something I learned today?
In the UK, the Tories have let slip their true intentions for Gaza: they want Israel’s genocide to continue for as long as possible and they are worried about peace because the genocide is hurting Labour in the polls.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I did so little today and of no real consequence but I did accidentally trap Tigger’s tail in the door and he was understandably upset. I hope he’s ok. I saw him outside later but wasn’t able to check.
Being that she is someone who Seeing makes me happy, the Snowball’s chance in hell A know-all’s what you are But not everything is about you, Shut up for a minute to Hear the story I tell, Clearly, it’s not about me So you are the one who Go and let me be my Best for all of my friends, Rest your head where you are
A golden shovel using Black Flag’s Jealous Again – “Who the hell are you to tell me who my friends are”, with bonus rhyming first words (mostly). Submitted to Living Poetry’s Monday Poetry Prompt: Green
Today I’m feeling:
Better than yesterday for sure. My throat is still a little itchy and my brain isn’t quite in gear but I have little to do at school today and can relax a lot. Maybe I will even sleep in the dentist’s chair today.
Today I’m grateful for:
My new bridge that fixes my teeth up again until the next crumbling occurs. My mouth feels semi-normal again.
The best thing about today was:
Trying new coffee at Block Booster as Gui is in Japan for a week. The coffee was pretty good and the time flew by way too fast there and all of a sudden I had to rush to be at the dentist, who was predictably, running late.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I ran out of energy in mid-evening and didn’t get to write here or finish any Thai study. Never mind.
What does ‘home’ mean to me?
Home means safety and comfort.
A little more obliquely, home is where my stuff is. I can make a home anywhere.
There was a period of time when, after living at ‘home’ with my mother for twenty-plus years I moved house more than ten times in the space of two years (including moving from the UK to Australia).
Each of those places was home in some small way.
I took this picture because I had to take Amy to get noodles and whilst we were waiting the sun was a deep pink turning burning red through the smoky atmosphere as seen at the end of the soi.
Leapt up To breathe hot air A fish out of water “Mommy, where has Goldie gone to?” Came the sharp cry from the distraught daughter Searching the scene, the empty bowl From the sofa’s safety Then mommy too Leapt up
Submitted to dVerse Form inspired by this poem at Poetry Matters “Rictameter is a scheme similar to Cinquain. Starting your first line with a two-syllable word, you then consecutively increase the number of syllables per line by two. i.e. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 Then down again, 8, 6, 4, 2 Making the final line the same two-syllable word you began with.“
Today I’m feeling:
Pretty good after a long sleep, cold shower and coffee. Even a sudden change to plans doesn’t phase me today.
Today I’m grateful for:
Finding that the car seat covers that I would like to buy will be discounted tomorrow for the Lazada 3.3 Sale.
Now I just have to remember to order them sometime tomorrow.
The best thing about today was:
Sharing two plates of different Bingsu with Amy after lunch. One was red syrup on milk ice, the other taro. A nice and refreshing sweet cool down. This time of the year the world turns yellow and the green goes missing.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
The change of plans was out of my control but didn’t bother me at all. I’ve come to expect changes at a moment’s notice now and accepted that things will not always go the way that I hope.
As I still count myself very lucky to have a lot of time for myself it’s not a big loss to give some of it up for things that come up.
Something I learned today?
The Chiang Rai train station (if it ever happens) will be somewhere between the city and Wiang Chai.
There are also plans to upgrade the airport starting next year. Things are up and running again after the fuck around of the pandemic.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
Amy changed our plans for the weekend after being invited to travel to Toeng on Sunday. We will still go to the city in the morning for Grandmum’s 100 days since passing and then she’ll head off with her friends.
This meant that instead of relaxing at home all day today we had to go to the city to take the truck to get fixed and find shirts for us to wear at Amy’s brother’s wedding in a couple of weeks. It also meant an extra journey to the city and back this weekend and I was hoping to save on petrol. This month will be tight for money again.
Anyway, as usual, I just got on with it, listening to Amy complain about how hot it was and telling myself not to complain about the weather (despite it being complainable about!)
I took this picture because two days of hot weather signifying the instant change from winter to summer has seen buds breaking through in Amy’s mum’s garden.
You burned down our house But home is in our head We marvel at the pyres And warm ourselves instead
We are the free ones Wandering and wild Whilst you guard your toys The spoils of the child
For all the sermons High up on the mount You carry more burdens Than anyone can count
The title refers to the Dangerous Girls song ‘Step Out’ that repeats the phrase “demolition”. The first stanza refers to Edison watching his factory burn. ‘Wandering and wild’ refers to Wasted Youth’s album titled “Wild and Wandering”. The burden is a reference to what Israel will carry once they have completely destroyed Palestine. 8th May 2024 – Submitted to dVerse Poetics
Today I’m feeling:
I felt pretty good after getting back from coffee but whilst settling into some reading some felt sleepy and had another three hours rest waking up again at two pm
Today I’m grateful for:
The shop where we sneakily parked our car and decided to get out and walk the rest of the way to the festival.
The best thing about today was:
The atmosphere of fun and pleasure at the festival. Folks were having a good time.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Taking an hour and a half to get to Singha Park for the balloon festival, stuck in traffic for more than an hour and missing any sunset photo opportunities. At least I could listen to my music whilst in the car.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I remained patient whilst stuck in traffic (and hungry)
I took this picture because we had a nice spot by the lake to watch the balloons being inflated though it was a little windy for them to go up tonight.
Better for all the sleep but my body feels a little like a pharmacy sponge – soaked in medicine. I pushed through a little exercise with a six a.m. wake-up and hope to get back to full exercise again tomorrow.
Today I’m grateful for:
The That Record Got Me High podcast for featuring Cardiacs this week. Their music is so familiar to me now but it’s always exciting to hear it again.
The best thing about today was:
All the students being in a good mood after finishing their scout week. The grade 9s in particular were happy because this was the last time they will ever have to do it. Tomorrow morning the kids celebrate Chinese New Year, another morning free of classes.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
When I got to House this morning the shop was shut. I still went in and played with Tokyo and gave her a snack but no one was around. I grabbed a coffee at Hobby Roasters to keep going and when I went back to House later Gui apologised saying that he had slept in after working every night at his restaurant last week. No big deal as there is other coffee around.
Something I learned today?
Israel is bombing Rafah during the Super Bowl when many North Americans may be occupied. But the other 90% plus of the world is not watching football.
25 THINGS ABOUT LIFE I WISH I HAD KNOWN 10 YEARS AGO – 16. Don’t Judge. Just because people make different choices than you, they are not stupid. Also, you don’t know everything about people, so don’t judge them – help them.
I used to judge people who were straight and boring, those who did the expected and followed paths given to them by acceptable standards of modern society. I used to hold animosity towards them. I still do in some way but much more forgiving. So long as no one is pushing their agenda on me then it’s fine.
I no longer try to push an agenda on others. Lots of things that I did that went against the grain have become mainstream now. I was judged harshly at that time. I remember what it was like. My animosity and judgement was a reaction to that. Everyone has a story and sometimes it’s worth listening to.
I took this picture because Amy asked me to. The jacaranda flowers are small and not as plentiful as the species in Australia but it’s nice to have them like this as a reminder.
A little sick with a sore throat and lack of energy. I skipped my alarm and exercise for an extra 30 minutes of sleep. I’m hoping not to have to do too much at school today. I could do with an afternoon nap and I’m saying that now before it’s even 8 am.
(10 am) And there we are, the tipping point. Lazily wandering from place to place and eventually being told there’s nothing for us to do today. So here I am back at House for coffee number two.
Today I’m grateful for:
Lots of free time in which I could read, write and learn whilst sipping coffee and then later spending a couple of hours reading comics in bed, where I did indeed, enjoy an awesome afternoon nap.
The best thing about today was:
Hanging out with Michael and David for a little while this morning and then lazily walking from school to where some of the kids were doing the zip-line and we watched for a few minutes, ducked away and walked back again. The temperature was ok for the most part and once off the highway, the walk was quite pleasant.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
The typical dysfunction of Scout week activities at school used to bug me but now I listened to how they bugged David instead and accepted the advantages that we can get from it.
Something I learned today?
Andrew Huberman is into Rancid.
25 THINGS ABOUT LIFE I WISH I HAD KNOWN 10 YEARS AGO – 13. Be Nice. I don’t mean you should be a pushover. You can be someone that doesn’t take shit and be nice about it. Just don’t insult people, think you’re better than them, or act like an idiot.
I’m a lot nicer than I used to be. I don’t insult people or think that I am better than others anymore but I probably am still prone to acting like an idiot every now and then. One would hope that we are all a lot nicer than we used to be but then you meet some people…..
I took this picture because these flowers have decided to grow, against the odds.
Pretty good knowing that I have no classes this week though can expect a little boredom as I have to spend time hanging out with the primary kids doing Scout stuff.
The kids are fine but the waiting around with nothing to do is a bit annoying.
Today I’m grateful for:
Being able to sneak away for coffee and writing after a couple of hours with the scout boys.
The best thing about today was:
Finding out who the girl was in the picture that I took 4 years ago that I thought was Funfai but was a younger student called Sugus. I found her today when I was helping in the primary department and I showed her the picture and she gave a huge smile and said she remembered that time we took the picture together.
On top of that, about a year ago I saw a primary school student I recognised in the back lanes of our village and as I rode by on my motorbike I waved and she waved back. That was Sugus!
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Last night I badly hurt my foot on the gate as I was closing it. I cleaned up the wound and it stung like crazy and I hoped that it would be ok in the morning. Unfortunately it wasn’t.
It’s ok to put pressure on the toes but not so much on the whole of my foot which is what I’m doing when standing or walking. It feels very tender and sore underneath the cut.
How am I handling it? Grin and bear it.
Something I learned today?
Teacher David is partially colourblind, or very good at pulling my leg.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I got two free bottles of water at the garage when I filled up the car this morning and so gave them to the gardener at school who tends the premises, making everything look nice, whilst spending lots of time out in the sun.
What am I thinking about right now?
The pain in my foot which is bruising up now. It’s very tender around the wound though it got easier to walk on throughout the day.
I took this picture because these tiny red berries stood out in the garden at House this morning.
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