Tag: Neighbours

Top Left Brick – 29th October 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Couldn’t see the wood for the trees
And couldn’t see the trees for the wood
Just like counting to ten in threes
Somehow it can never be made good
But it will come and never stop
Start at the left brick at the top

Today I’m feeling:

A mix between lively and tired. I forced my way through exercise this morning and it was a struggle. I need to get up a little earlier now to be able to get everything done and get to school on time too. This first week will be a little rough I’m sure.

Today I’m grateful for:

The Twinkl website for offering 24 hours of free lessons and plan downloads. I didn’t overdo it preferring just to stick with one topic about bullying. There was lots there and I’ll still have to look through it all and make it work for my kids. I’m slowly getting my head into gear again.

The best thing about today was:

The fried egg that Amy cooked for me for lunch, topping off fried rice with fish sausage. Something about that egg though… it had some zing from somewhere!

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

The kids came from next door again as I was working and stood outside my room until I came out. They asked me if I was going to water the garden again because they wanted me to chase them with the hose and get wet and cool down a little. Who am I to deny them a little fun? I got some watering done too. After a while, I told them that I had to stop playing and do some work and thankfully they understood and didn’t come back.

Something I learned today?

I dropped by Daytripper this afternoon to see if they were interested in taking some lanterns that Amy was going to throw out. When I got there the two girls behind the counter were busy preparing something with a food mixer and so I learned that they make their own Banoffee in-house. They’ll also take the lanterns.

What is the weather like right now?

Last night was the first night with no aircon and just a fan and this morning is cool with low cloud cover, making it a little grey and dreary but at least comfortable. It’s making for a very pleasant Sunday morning so far.

I took this picture because Noey insisted after I showed her the picture of Nong Pear from House.  She has a lopsided swollen face today after having a wisdom tooth out on Friday.

A Page Perfect – 16th July 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Perfect, unspoiled and clean
Yet only in imperfections
May the true art be seen

Here writ large, words spilled
To taint the page
Until it may be filled

Thoughts inspired, pour out pure
So much of myself
Of mess, of which I’m sure

Inspired by this post at Spinning Visions

Today I’m feeling:

Exhausted but Amy has me up and running around again. It’s ok. It’s 1pm and it feels like I’ve done about 8 hours already. That feeling is good sometimes. Still plenty of day left.

Today I’m grateful for:

The salted caramel popcorn Amy brought back from Australia. It’s pretty good, not too sweet. There’s also a pack of chocolate-drizzled popcorn here to look forward to too.

The best thing about today was:

Pretty much everything I guess. The time has gone so quickly despite what I wrote earlier. I guess I’m trying to squeeze in the things I normally do when I’m here by myself along with all the things that I’m now doing with Amy too. I’m kinda looking forward to going to school tomorrow because I only have one class so will be able to spend time with my best friend, coffee, all morning.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

The neighbour’s kids all came and played with me yesterday whilst I was picking weeds out in the driveway. They even came with me into the entertainment area when I was hanging from the gym rings. Of course, the boys wanted a go too so I lifted them up and they grabbed on and they screamed for me to help them as they lost their grip. Today, uninvited, they came right up on our terrace whilst Amy was trying to sleep so I quietly went out and tried to keep them entertained but that lasted all of about ten seconds. After entertaining them again for a few minutes I managed to usher them away and came back inside to find Amy reluctantly awake. She wasn’t grumpy about it though. As I watched things on TV and Amy read, they snuck back and around the side of the house and started tapping on the window. Amy said not to engage with them and after a while, they got bored and went off on other adventures. I don’t mind the kids at all but our cats hate them and always run off and hide somewhere. I don’t want them coming back every day thinking they can do as they please here.

Something I learned today?

China just tested a new high-speed train that can reach 453 km/h! This could make a train trip from Beijing to Shanghai just 2 and a half hours. That’s pretty wild. I just hope that one of these things never crashes!

What is something I’ve been wanting to try, but haven’t yet?

Hmm…I think that probably the obvious choice for me now is to travel to Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia. This was one of the reasons for us to be located in Thailand, ease of travel in Asia. Somehow at the moment, I’m a little afraid to travel again though. I feel like I’ve lost that mojo a little. My life has been so comfortable here that I can just enjoy everything without going anywhere.

I took this picture because being a cat (with a caring owner ) has got to be the best life.
Fatman report

Big Cat Meet – 10th March 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

What is it? What is that?
It seems like an oversized cat
Sniffing and lurching as a pet
And yet….

Fear arose at eyes meeting
Ears pound with heart beating
Comes the rush of approach
I lay down my body, defeating
Please! No eating!

A sniff, a purr, a tentative pat
Mutual understanding of where we’re at
A roll and a push, off excited
I too, soon alighted

Whisper at your feral fears
Into the eyes, through the tears
Roll over as if to submit
Here where the big cats sit

inspired by a dream of meeting an unknown type of big cat in a park

Today I’m feeling:

Happy, relaxed, maybe even bored!

Today I’m grateful for:

Febreeze and its feeble attempts at masking the still-rank cat pee smell on my mattress. It’s doing its best.

The best thing about today was:

Testing out the Quizizz lesson I put together yesterday with Ploy and Praewa. They enjoyed it and I learned a few things from practising it with them. I need to add a little more detail and tweak a few things.

However, the concept may be good but I think the level is too high for my M1 classes. I will look for easier lessons to put together in the same way over the holidays.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Still dark, lost in a dream world, a thud and a scream sit me bolt upright as Cap and Tigger, a ball of furry yin and yang roll over me, their combined weight slamming down at my hip.

I grab the darker fury but cannot pull them apart, interlocked they are in a vicious grip. A second pull and a broken claw embeds itself in my finger and finally, they are separated and I fling the fuming ball across the bed but this doesn’t stop them and they reassume attack positions in the living room.

Good morning, Shaun, it’s a lovely day though there’s no daylight apparent.

Finally, the fighters back down and I return to my soft bed hot and awake. I check the time. 4 minutes until my alarm. I get up and shake the doona back into place and clumps of fur float through the still air.

Ok, let’s go.

Something I learned today?

Some private chats with a couple of my students helped me to learn a little more about their situations. With there being no classes and fewer kids around school everyone is a little more relaxed and open these last few days.

What is my favourite memory from childhood?

I’m going to say it was the common spirit we village kids had.

Forced together by location we went through all the usual ups and downs a group of teenagers would. Being out in the sticks with little street lighting, we entertained ourselves with endless hours of mischief, fire and explosions.

There’s not one specific memory that stands out but as I bring those thoughts to mind many more flood back and the joy of that childhood camaraderie remains special to me.

I took this picture because I was lazily reading in my hammock when these neighbours’ kids appeared and started blah blah blahing in Thai at me. They usually come in around this time every day adding our garden as part of their playground. If I’m watering I’ll spray them to hear their screams and laughter.

Minds Go Dead – 3rd March 2023

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

What’s next after the novelty?
After the return to reality
The exploration must be repeated
Or minds go dead, defeated

Familiarity breeds contempt
Rested at ease with each attempt
The risk of ridicule, to fail
Is the push needed to prevail

A mind goes dead unstimulated
Boredom stretches time created
The space is needed, left to fill
And no longer becomes time to kill

Today I’m feeling:

Relaxed, content and happy.

Today I’m grateful for:

Kru Fang for offering to enter my grades into the online system even though I was happy to do once I could understand the method. I returned a little later with a small bottle of SangSom to say thank you.

The best thing about today was:

Only half of my students coming to class this morning as many had to attend a meeting. It made for a pleasant and quiet environment as the kids just got on with their work and we finished early and everyone was happy.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

As I was talking to Kru Fang, Kru Matthew was there too. We see each other around but never talk much, I usually comment when he’s wearing nice shirts.

Out of the blue, he said ‘You live near Uncle Nit.’ I said ‘I don’t know who that is.’ I said ‘Tha Sut?’ ‘Yes,’ Huai Phlu? ‘Yes, he’s my uncle. Him and Auntie Su.’ Ahhh! My next-door neighbours!

It’s impossible to be totally secluded here. Everyone knows everyone! I joked that Auntie Su is my CCTV, always checking who’s around!

Something I learned today?

I learned the uncle next door’s name! I’d never heard it before. He’s getting a bit slow and old since I first saw him. I’m not sure he would come across and help Amy kill a snake like he did a couple of years ago.

Describe a recent moment of joy.

I don’t think I’ve had any. Feeling more emotionally stable these days with a general sense of well-being has meant fewer ups as well as downs. This is suiting me. I’m just generally happy most of the time. The joys are more common if just lesser in intensity.

Brief moments like the smell of flowers, the smile of a student, the taste of coffee, the smelly dog scratching, the birds tweeting, the red sun rising and on and on.

I took this picture because the night jasmine has finally blossomed and the smell in the morning as I go to open the gate is delicious. Although it reminds me of night times it sets me up for the day.

Jawbreaker Tour Diary – 29th September 1992

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

…. and woke up to Mudhoney and X-Ray Spex!

After getting up and breakfast in a cafe which served up some delicious coffee, we sat and watched Neighbours before saying our goodbyes for another six months or so!

Back on the road things were going well until my speedo decided to pack up and all sorts of interference came through on the stereo. Got into Nottingham with no problem but the inner city road system is fucked! I knew I was gonna have a problem parking when I came across a park and ride on the road in and it was about 20 minutes before I found some dark and dank back alley road.

Luckily, I passed the Narrowboat on the way and it was only about a ten-minute walk back. It was 5 o’clock when I got there so I spent a couple of hours bumming around. I went for a walk along the canal which was obviously once very beautiful but today is a muddy murky rubbish trap lined by dirty broken old buildings.

Got into the Narrowboat at about 7 and ordered a pint and got told the gig was off! Jawbreakers singer had to go into hospital for an operation on his throat and they’ve cancelled the 4 UK shows!!!

Well, I had a sit down with my pint and pondered what to do. Well, there was nothing for it except to carry on the tour without Jawbreaker….

Poems on this day – 19th September 1988

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Noisy Bastard Car

Twin carburettor, chocking fumes
Leather seats and furry wheel
Noisy bastard car consumes
More than you can see or feel
Jeez, I’m exhausted
Where’s my money gone?
Now my go-faster stripes
Have come undone

I Had A Feeling

I had a feeling I was on fire
I had a feeling I was burning alive
I wanted someone to put me out
To have a feeling I could survive

Harold Is A Wanker

Harold Bishop is a wanker
Herman Munster is a dick
Bergerac just isn’t funny
Blue Peter just makes me sick
Harold Bishop, we blame you
Cos we know you’ll take the blame
Why bother to watch another episode
When it really is just the same.