I am so happy and grateful to have food in my fridge for breakfast this morning. And yesterday I ran out of energy but could find something to boost me back up.
You are my favourite fork Comfortable in my palm Pins not sharp enough To do me any harm
You are my favourite knife Good for cutting cheese Just right for some butter Spreading as I please
You are my favourite spoon The right shape for my mouth Soup, yoghurt, stir fry Smoothly in and smoothly out
Some utensils just aren’t right Others are perfect for me I’m grateful to find the ones For breakfast, dinner and tea
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful for my favourite knives, forks and spoons over the years. Something about how they fit in your hands and mouth makes them emotionally comforting.
There were many good things today despite some minor frustrations – just with online teaching.
The rain really turned it on and brought the temperature down to a very agreeable level, so much so that I sat in the classroom even after my lessons finished.
I’m really enjoying the coffee I’m getting in the morning. I enjoyed chatting with Fui, reading and writing poems, and studying Thai.
The rain was torrential at times but not too cold, so I didn’t bother with an umbrella and just embraced the wet and ducked under cover whenever I could.
Even though I had plenty of free time today, I wished I could have more so that I could do some more drawing too. So long as I can spew out something artistic each day, then I’m pretty happy. At the moment, it’s poems.
When everyone laughs at you It’s best to laugh along too Don’t let things affect you so Stand upright to any blow Strength’s applied when nothing done It’s not a game that must be won Take it with a pinch of salt It’s not really anyone’s fault Emotions tug at simple minds The simple comes in many kinds Our reactions were never taught Perhaps that’s something that we ought To teach our kids in schools Give them these important tools Inner peace and satisfaction As opposed to angry passion
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful to have Kim Chi back home. She’s very happy to be somewhere familiar again. She doesn’t seem too stressed about being stuck in the classroom – not yet anyway. I hope she settles into it.
Give me the big cup! Double up! Make them big shots Top it off! Drink it slow Then take off! When it’s time to go I got enough! Buzz and howling Flying high! The fear of falling Pushed aside Tomorrow morning Same again! Without a warning Jump my brain!
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful for our spare room outside – that we can adapt to be Kim’s new space. She won’t be an outdoor cat anymore which will frustrate her but I’m thankful we have this reasonably sized space that we can give to her.
To put our laws in a palace Or to keep them in our mind How should we punish malice? Is it just natural to be unkind? The many differences between us Don’t need to keep us apart You really should have seen us How we were at the start If we look deep inside We can feel we are all as one Push connections far and wide Let’s walk together – let’s become
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful to read about the dog tied to a cart and how struggling against it will cause suffering. This little tail highlights one of my problems – always fighting against the cart instead of going with the flow. I can detach myself from the cart later – when my time comes.
Those trying days are nothing Our ego is satisfied in opposition The clouds become meaningless When you make the right decision New pain is distraction Putting darkness into perspective A re-uniting force for us We realise was already an elective So choose the lighter path To ease life’s journeyed story Balance out the me and us Together we shine in our glory
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful for my ingenuity to figure out a solution to a problem at work quickly and under pressure. I am also grateful to the vet helping to keep our little Kim alive. I don’t know if her weak body will make it but I’m so happy she came into our lives and home.
The social conscience is a power machine Human instinct drawn to a higher scheme No matter the culture, society or elite It’s the eyes of God on every street
Weight: 77.3kg Resting heart rate: 62
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful for my own will and determination. To stay happy, calm and focused as much as I can despite the mental inconsistencies running through my brain. I fought through the pressures of preparation yesterday without panic or depression so today, despite all the testing times to come, I have confidence in my abilities.
Kim Chi was sleeping a lot. It’s normal for cats, we know. She still rolled and stretched herself and purred at a tummy rub. Her body felt hot – not so strange for a cat that has been curled up and the outside temperature is close to 40 degrees. But this type of hot, which I cannot ideally name, didn’t feel quite right. To describe it, it is not like a surface heat but a heat radiating from inside, under the fur, skin and meat.
And then she stopped eating. Again, this happens sometimes when it’s too hot – just a loss of appetite. But these signs combined led us to a trip to the vet – again – she was there only three weeks ago for a fighting wound.
Her temperature was high so they ran some blood tests which indicated that she has measles. Our neighbour had recently told us that many cats in the village had died from measles so this news was a little worrying. Then on top of that the tests also showed she has leukaemia…. This will most likely mean a shortened life and complications with any illnesses she may have.
This news is devastating but I also tried to be rational and consider that she was delivered to us in a bucket, on the way to the temple where she most likely would have led a terrible life. We have given her love and a home she may not have received otherwise. I hope her weak little body can fight through this illness. We cherish every day with the love of our cats. As arrogant, yet more loveable than most humans.
You are one crazy cat Delivered to us in a tub Squeaking and all that Climbing out for a rub Covered in dirt you were Until we scrubbed you clean Nothing seemed to deter You from going off unseen You became the princess Even though a boy Fearless curious interest Everything a toy Grown into your own tales Sometimes battered and bleeding You’re one that never fails Giving me the love I’m needing Every day a blessing For the nine lives you abuse Eight and we are stressing This is the last one you can use
Gratitude Journal
I am so happy and grateful we decided to take Kim Chi to the vet as we found out she has caught measles and they did more tests and found she also has leukaemia. It’s sad but at least we can try to help her with this knowledge.
30th May 2023 – She struggled and strived, using up her nine lives. You leave the biggest hole in my heart.
I love to watch the mountains in any season but in the breaks of rain, it’s fantastic to watch the clouds drop down into the valleys to give more depth and definition to the peaks on the horizon. It’s lovely to watch the rain out of the window.
The mountains advance from their cover Mad swirling whispers rise and grey Filled to dripping with lumps of water The jungle climbing up trees to sway The streams are full, crabs are caught In plastic buckets and crowded net Paddies complete for more life to rise First came the sun and now the wet
1994ever 