“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again.” – Andre Gide
The all-seeing eyes,
follow every step,
guard against surprise,
make promises kept.
The village corner
where the aunties meet;
daily informer,
down on gossip street.
Coming and going,
it's all kept on file.
In need of knowing?
Give auntie a smile.
Everyone knows everything that goes on in the village. No need for cameras.
Today’s Daily Stoic poem:
Today I’m feeling:
Pretty good today. It makes a difference being able to see the stupa and the mountains clearly again.
Today I’m grateful for:
The Air Asia credits that I have from the cancelled flights from 2020 due to the pandemic. That should cover all my flight costs to and from Australia in October.
The best thing about today was:
Finding that roof managed to stay secure with the blocks I put up there yesterday. It survived last night’s storm. Some of our cactuses didn’t though.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Around 8 pm a bug kept bothering me as I was watching tv. Then Amy called, drunk and happy with friends new and old in Adelaide. I got up as we were talking and realized there wasn’t just one bug but 10s of them and then more and more as I looked around. They were hatching, mating and dying all in about 15 minutes.
Amy was trying to drunkenly talk with me but I had to hang up and deal with this invasion which was soon joined by ants too. I found them around the window frame either trying to get in or trying to get out, it was hard to tell.
I grabbed the ant spray and frantically sprayed around, choking on the fumes. I grabbed the vacuum cleaner and began mopping up the now hundreds of carcasses scattered around the floor. I sprayed perfume and lit candles in an effort to make the air breathable again but now, an hour later, there’s still the acid taste of bug spray in the air. I think I got the most of them but I think there will be more vacuuming required in the morning. Bug attack – first of the season.
Something I learned today?
I feel like I learned a lot of things today but all of them inconsequential. The equivalent of gossip or just information that has no effect on my life. I should focus my attention on things that might be more useful but that also requires more energy.
What is a long-term goal I have for the next 5 or 10 years?
Amy is in Adelaide at the moment visiting Jess after Jess had an operation. Amy is keen to move there sometime in our future. I’m ok with that at some point. Adelaide is relatively quiet but still has nice things around for an old man to enjoy. This can’t happen until both Cap and Tig have gone. Even though I enjoy being here in Thailand I know Amy can never convince herself to stay here and we both would like to be together. My guess is that this plan will likely be in the next five to ten years as I think our cats have another five years in them at least. If I think about it now though I still feel like I only just got here!
undoubtedly inspired by Robert Greene’s Daily Laws
Today I’m feeling:
Happy, relaxed and loved
Today I’m grateful for:
The students who have confidence in me and trust me. Those who reach out for my help. Those that just come and talk to me for their amusement and daring.
The best thing about today was:
The happy feeling around the school during the Chinese New Year celebration. Even the students who came to my afternoon classes didn’t mind being asked to do a little work. It was a relaxed atmosphere which generated a good vibe. I wonder if it was because there were fewer students around? I wish it could be like that all the time.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I took Boss to the hospital today and as we were walking from where I parked the car I realised that I didn’t have a mask and sure enough I got stopped from coming in. I cursed myself for leaving mine in the car and expected to spend 100 baht to buy one there. I ran to the shop and when I found them they only came in tens! Oh no! But as I went to pay the cashier said ’20 baht’. A (minor) worry for nothing more than an Aussie buck.
Something I learned today?
Eyes are everywhere. At the hospital, we ran into a teacher and when I got back a student from another class asked me why I was at the hospital and showed me a picture that someone had taken of me there! Chiang Rai is so small that the gossip moves faster than the people!
What new experiences do I want to try this year?
Wow. I don’t know. I don’t want to go skydiving or bungy jumping. I guess my answer would revolve around travel and going to new places. Indonesia, Borneo, Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia – an all-in-one trip with a touring band would be ideal!
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful for the opportunities we have – we can put some money into mutual funds to help us in the future.
A pretty busy but also relaxing weekend. On Saturday, we prepared for Bruno and Nut to visit on Sunday, although I must say Amy did most of the preparation where food was concerned. Actually, no – she did all of it!
On Saturday, I wasn’t feeling too hot, probably side effects from the vaccine and I slept in the afternoon. Luckily, I felt better by Sunday and when Bruno and Nut came, we had good food and a good gossip.
Bruno has managed to get himself a good bit of work on the Netflix film about the Thai Cave Rescue and seems to have met some interesting people there.
Inspired by listening to Joey Keithley of D.O.A. talk about travelling to their first show in San Francisco in 1980 (?). Some band members went by bus, another by train and a fourth by hitchhiking. D.O.A. were a pioneering band spreading their punk rock messages around the world. He said that at that time kids were ready for something, though they were not quite sure what it was.
Of course, there are other possible interpretations too.
15th Mar 2024 – Submitted to Reena’s Xploration Challenge using this quote as inspiration:
I think if you are curious, you create opportunities, and then if you open the doors, you create possibilities.
– Mario Testino
11th Apr 2024 – Submitted to My Vivid Blog
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful for all that I’ve achieved in my life so far. I am happy with the way I am. and the changes I have made throughout my life.
I took a walk over to Primary today and chatted with folks there and it’s still the same crazy nonsense as I when I was working there. One surprising thing to learn was about everyone’s dislike of Mike there now and not just because of his brownnosing ways but also passing on private information from their personal Farang teachers LINE group to the Thai teachers and, worst of all, fucking one of the Thai teachers.
Most of the other teachers know his wife so they are pretty upset about it. I know it’s not the first time for him either.
Anyway, hearing all this and all the other stuff from there made me appreciate not being there anymore. I feel good and relaxed today. Nice!
I am so happy and grateful that I could leave work after my morning class and come home cos I’m still not feeling well. I was able to rest a little and enjoyed just watching philosophical debates on YouTube which is better than listening to some of the noisy chit-chat and gossip at school. All philosophical I suppose.
I am so happy and grateful for my sight and hearing, deteriorating but still working.
Spend as little time as possible talking about how other people are wrong.
Tyler Cowen, again. Repeated to make sure that you understand!
Weight: 79.0kg
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful to have choices in my life. I have the opportunity to live anywhere.
Spend as little time as possible talking about how other people are wrong.
Tyler Cowen
I am so happy and grateful to have so many options available to keep me entertained.
What we believe means nothing. How we act is what it’s all about.
Eckhart Tolle
To-do list
Well, doing Just Dance in the morning definitely had a positive effect, made Amy laugh and gave us some exercise. It was a good start to the day. We’ll do it again tomorrow.
I spent most of the day in my room whilst Amy was happily drinking inside – she got the dancing mood later in the evening but then got a little teary as she was thinking about our cats, 2 of whom are approaching the end of their lives. We really love them and it will be sad when they go. But we can go at any time.
I’m feeling more in control of my emotions currently, perhaps because I’m not surrounded by the gossip and chatter at school. It’s very tempting just to quit doing it but I feel I should just keep pushing myself and improve myself. I can’t keep making the same mistakes and expect things to change.
Who are you comparing yourself to?
I think I compare myself with most people in my life. Friends, family, relations. Is it productive? I’m not often jealous of things other people do or things that they have, except their happiness or serenity. They often seem more capable to deal with things, though perhaps they’re not? It’s just what it looks like to me.
I noticed recently some people saying things bad about others and took it to be more about themselves – so and so is a miserable bastard, he’s a moron…etc… I have to make sure to catch myself if I ever do that.
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful that it is sports day today and that I don’t have to teach. Many of the foreign teachers are hiding away inside maybe preparing lesson plans etc but I think I’ll hang around with the kids because this is the best time to be with them. They feel free and happy and will try to talk more than in the classes. The kids are why I’m here.
