A song sung of departure towards a journey of woe Giant squid squirt inky dark blinded to the flow No fuel until Friday, at least the captain is saying so A panorama of the horizon begs which way to go Neglected were the whispers, part of the ocean’s show Set light to the sails, watch the flames aglow From officer to pilot, knowing what’s to know Clouds clot to bring the storm and finally the blow Graduating to the ground to see the mountains grow
Feeling tired and tense. After finally getting up, the two Utopia coffees kicked started my brain but not my body! Hence the feeling of tension.
Amy is wound up about the useless builder that has ripped us off for the guttering. I’m trying to divert her focus but she’s out for blood, and obviously frustrated.
It’s annoying for sure, though I blame myself. I got the feeling he was useless almost immediately but didn’t go with my instinct.
It’s been an average day that hasn’t seen me brighten up particularly and at only 8.15 pm I’m going to bed!
Today I’m grateful for:
The AI assistant in Quizizz that can quickly put together questions based on a text. It’s very useful to speed up putting new lessons together.
The best thing about today was:
Writing, and enjoying writing, a new lesson for my new HAP grade 12 class. It also inspired me to come up with more ideas that I will try to turn into more lessons.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
After dropping Amy at Cafe No Name for P’Berm’s birthday celebration I picked up some watermelon for Baipad and popcorn for her sister NamHom for her birthday.
I took this picture because Piti was chilling at the coffee machine.
Staring at the TV static Hearing the song of the dishwasher Hidden messages reveal themselves To those who listen closer
The stars whisper in the wind Words that make the shapes Colours taste of iron and gold The myth perpetuates
Maybe it’s a madness But someone must be chosen As the alien messenger The guide for the gods
Today I’m feeling:
Definitely tired again and not from lack of sleep. Still waiting to get over the hump of exhaustion brought on by exercise. Thankfully just the one class in the morning today and I spent til midday running around to get documents together for my work permit again before heading home and a catch up nap.
Today I’m grateful for:
Nancy again, as I asked if she could get the medical certificate I needed for me again, like she did last time. Otherwise it means me either waiting around or going back to the city after 6pm and the last time I did that the clinic didn’t even open. Happily, she agreed.
The best thing about today was:
A third coffee at 22 Grams, after a couple earlier at House. It tasted delicious and spurred me to action to make some easy Quizizz for my classes tomorrow.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I’ve been trying to push my student Baipad to become more confident and independent but I can see now that she is not yet mature enough and is somewhat comfortable despite her frustrations.
I get it, at 14, we want independence AND everything handed to us on a plate. Sooner or later a rude shock awakens us.
It’s an interesting contrast that she knows girls a similar age as her back in her family village in the mountains and they are already having babies. We both agreed that that is not a good situation to be in but also highlights her somewhat comfortable life at home where a bed and a mobile phone are the main objects of her interest.
Something I learned today?
I still don’t have syphilis! I’m not sure why foreigners need to get tested for this to get a work permit.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
I made sure to encourage the students who were putting some effort into their work today. Once they got rolling with it, it was great to see. Some days they make me proud. Tomorrow may be a different story of course, but I’ll take it for today.
I took this picture because this is as Christmassy as we get here in Chiang Rai. This year, despite being two months into winter already, we’re still using aircon for a couple of hours at night.
Pretty positive. Woke up with a start when my alarm went off. I was in the middle of a dream where I jumped into some icy water and got sucked into a cave and started drowning. But then I was watching myself counting whilst holding my breath to see if I had enough air to find my way out.
When I arrived at my first class the kids were early and busy doing work so I asked them why and they said they hadn’t done the work in the six-day break and had to finish before their next class. I asked them what it was about and it was something to do with a futuristic world. So I let them carry on and I prepared a related quiz for them for the second half of the class which they are competitively doing now. Easy work for me so far.
Today I’m grateful for:
Hearing that Hayden has landed himself a full-time job in Brisbane. I’m not sure how this will affect being able to see him whilst I’m there but I hope this might be a good starting point for him to find a routine that he can work out to his advantage.
The best thing about today was:
Enjoying being back at school even on my busiest day of classes. I had everything in order and things ran pretty smoothly.
I also advanced myself a little bit with my guitar practising, finally being able to stumble through some difficult tunes well enough to pass that section. I’ve been stuck at the same level for two years or more mainly because there’s a fingerpicking section that I’m not particularly interested in completing but I’ll give it a go again.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Nothing untoward out of my control today. Things that were out of my control were treated as such.
Something I learned today?
I had a little look at my old lessons on Google Slides today and can see that they should be relatively easy to convert to Quizizz for use next semester. Apart from being unable to control the students forgetting logins and passwords, I feel more confident using the system now and finding a good tool for tracking and ensuring work is done and revised again easily.
What do I need to let go of?
There is a certain person that I would like to get out of my thoughts. I need to let go of any resentment and bitterness that has been left. In fact, I don’t have those feelings much but somehow this person’s actions in the past come back to haunt me as validation that my attitude towards them is correct but what I would prefer is to just not care. I don’t have anything to prove so why do I keep comparing?
I took this picture because here is the top princess of the house, keeping a careful watch on his human staff.
The house is empty, the lights are off Yesterday’s glitter stuck to my shoes Spending time alone in a crowded home Are reminders there’s no time to lose
Is this now and is this our future? The illusions around me would shatter All those other sexy Halloween dresses Illuminated the things that really matter
Figured it out but was unable to act Here I am figuring it out again Trying to rescue ice cream on a sidewalk Is it even necessary to explain?
Surprisingly good. My classes have been okay and I haven’t been too serious with my lazy kids. I’m doing what I can to motivate them. If they don’t catch on at least I know I’ve tried.
Today I’m grateful for:
All the preparation work that I did during the holidays so that now I can walk into class and know that there is something ready to go, even if I can’t remember exactly how it goes, it will fall into place. I think I will run out of lessons though and have to prepare a lot more during the next holiday when I already know I will have less spare time. But I can start getting my act together sooner too.
The best thing about today was:
It being a smooth and steady, enjoyable day. Lots of points in my short-term memory without anything standing out as the best. To add one thing though that I hope will be able to bring to mind in ten years’ time perhaps….
Yesterday one of the grade 7 boys was showing off some pornographic pictures on his phone. I just happened to catch a glimpse as he was doing it. I took his phone and put it in the teacher’s room and carried on teaching. He already felt regretful, particularly as I hadn’t talked to him about it or got angry about it. When I had assigned some work and the class settled into it I asked him to come with me to the teacher’s room. The only other teacher there was Ren who I think may also seem a little intimidating and he was overhearing me ask what the pictures were and why he was so interested in showing other students. He tried making excuses but he knew it wasn’t working and as he got more uncomfortable I used translation to tell him that now is not the time for playing but for studying. I also showed him that I knew how to mark down his behaviour in the school app and deduct points that his homeroom teacher and parents can see. He went back to class with his tail between his legs and messaged me later apologising and begging me not to tell his teacher. Today his behaviour was much improved though as a typical 12-year-old, he still struggles with self-control. I hope he stays onside because he is definitely capable if he chooses.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Today was the first time that I assigned work in Quizizz to the class whilst trying to teach it step by step. Despite telling the kids not to rush ahead some of the smarter ones still did and I’m not sure quite how to go ahead with these lessons. But I’ll give it a little more time because maybe a bright idea will come out of it.
One of the technological setbacks is students not being allowed access to the microphone to record themselves speaking. I know how to fix this most times but found it almost impossible to do when the phone’s language is set to Thai!
I’ll work my way through slowly fixing this I hope!
Something I learned today?
The notoriously bad weather department of Thailand forecast drought well into 2024. It’s definitely been hot again and drier than the last two years but I’m hopeful that up here in the mountains we will be ok.
What am I looking forward to tomorrow?
I got the good news today that one of my classes tomorrow and Friday will be off doing something which makes my days much easier. I’m looking forward to that!
I took this picture on the weekend because Bruno and I came across this bullpen as we were walking around the university botanical garden. The bulls were separated from the mum and calf, the photo of which I posted before.
SO … ten seconds … pass UND … er the joker’s … glance BY … the power up … above TE …. ll him he’s … dreaming! GEN … tle into the … night ER … ror code … repeating AT … death’s end, soon … here I … wonder what … happened ON … those days gone … by
As I slept so early last night I woke up at around 5 am with the sunrise. That wasn’t enough to get me up though. However, I’d left the aircon on high and although I think it is only working as a fan it was sucking in cold air from outside and I was starting to shiver. I turned it off and tried getting back to sleep and just as the start of my dream felt like it was going to get interesting my alarm went off.
I got up, stiff and in some pain. I think the topple off the bike yesterday jarred something badly in my upper back and it’s pretty sore. Some exercise couldn’t loosen it up either. It’s the kind of sharp pain that stings with almost any movement and will be annoying all day. But I feel good, energised by seeing all the crazy kids and their stories this morning. Now I’m waiting at immigration for my 90-day report.
Today I’m grateful for:
Right now (whilst I’m at school) I’m grateful for the light rain and the anticipation of seeing how well (or more accurately, how badly) the tape on the gutter is working out. I hope it can at least hold some of the water back. (Later – seems it didn’t rain at home!) I’m also grateful to the neighbours who swept up the grass that I had cut in the road. I was too stuffed to do it at the time and I was surprised this morning to see it all gone!
The best thing about today was:
Feeling happy and wanted at school. I feel that students appreciate that I am close with and care about them and that whilst breaking down the student-teacher barrier they still have respect for me. I think some teachers don’t like my style in this way but it is something that helps me to enjoy the time that I am in school and I feel more closely connected with the kids than with other teachers. I mentioned this to Bruno yesterday, that I can’t connect with many other adults here because I find them and their lives boring and that the pleasure I get from being around the kids derives from their unpredictable energy and ideas. Sure, I miss being in that youthful state (minus the depression of course) so what better way to relive it than through the lives of my students?
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Recently whilst learning guitar, I’ve been playing along in the Yousician app for up to 30 minutes and then loading some of my favourite songs in Capo and playing the chords along with them so some days I might end up playing for 90 minutes or more. Today I was getting frustrated with Yousician and not being able to play something until getting it right. Sometimes I feel like my fingers are working without me thinking and when I realise that I start thinking about it and then screw up! Today I just couldn’t push through and wanted to stop. But after a minute or two I loaded some songs into Capo and after playing along to about five I started feeling more positive again. Like anything I guess, some days it’s pleasure and other days it’s pain.
Something I learned today?
I got a message from my old student Boss (the boy I took to the psychiatrist last semester). He messages me about once a week since he started at a new school but today surprised me by saying that he’s come back. I’m not sure why yet but I can guess maybe it was more stressful there. Our school is super relaxed in comparison with others and I think it doesn’t help prepare students for the tougher realities of life once they leave, even just to other local schools. It’s good for me in that I don’t need to be so rigid either. Anyway, I’ll get his story soon enough no doubt.
What would I like to accomplish this week?
This week I hope to figure out the best way forward with using Quizizz in my classes, without having to change what I’ve already done. I think a clearer way forward will appear over time so that I tighten up my lessons overall. I could set some targets for this or that but I think I’m doing well with all the little tasks I submit myself to every day without having to add too much more. I guess I’d like to get this tightness out of my upper back by the end of the week though by tomorrow would be preferable. Maybe I could get down to under 80kg before bedtime this week. I’ve been slowly moving in that direction for the last week or two.
I took this picture because it makes no sense to me. Tattoo and bakery? And all I’ve ever seen there is a small of street food kra pao dishes! Maybe it doubles as a nifty trendy bread and tattoo shop in the evenings!?
The words I write, they are for me Sure to be making assumptions We are brothers and sisters in arms (and anyone that cares to fall between)
Sometimes listening to the wind Eases my burden, settles my heart
The hard code of my heart Has been passed along for generations back to the dawn of time
Now at this time of life, whenever it is Let’s hope the engine keeps running
I only stop learning to rest my eyes Things long gone are encoded and not forgotten Whatever is coming towards me Is all a part of nature’s play
A paraphrasing of section 1 of Walt Whitman’s Song For Myself 2nd May 2024 – Submitted to dVerse
Today I’m feeling:
Like I had a long day with three two-hour classes. I enjoy the days filled with work just as much as the days with little to do. I don’t really have a chance to think about how I’m feeling until I get home, have a cold shower and rest my aching legs. By that time I’m happy with the work being completed.
Today I’m grateful for:
Kru Tongjai for offering to write some instructions for my classes in Thai to help sort out the login problems I was having with Quizizz. She said she would do it at around midday. However during my classes that morning I figured out how to fix the problem myself and finally understood how it worked. When I saw her in the afternoon I told her I had sorted it out and she was happy because she had gotten called away to do something else too. I’ve learned to trust in things working out in time but this one was getting me worried as all my lessons are arranged around using the website. As I’ve been looking deeper into the website reporting I am also seeing more and more great options for the classroom. So I am grateful to Quizizz too.
The best thing about today was:
As mentioned above, figuring out fixing that problem felt pretty good. Along with that was some welcome rain and a continued good feeling amongst the students at school.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
Finding out my student lists are all messed up was a bit annoying but then I remembered that this happens every year. One upside of this was figuring out who students were by their student ID numbers stitched onto their uniforms in Thai script. I need to learn how their numbers are written.
Something I learned today?
Looking at what I’ve written already I can see that I’ve learned many things today that are at least of some use in my day-to-day life. Maybe not substantial life-changing knowledge but useful at least.
What changes am I experiencing in my life right now?
Some physical changes due to aging such as getting tired more easily and not being able to get all my pee put easily. Will the upside of that be that I won’t suffer incontinence though maybe kidney stones instead? As to mental changes, I believe I am still learning and getting smarter each day. I think I’m happier as I age too, the irony of which is not lost on me. As to life in general I don’t feel like there are any significant changes really. Nothing beyond what I can expect. There will be a change soon enough when Amy gets back in October which will have to be dealt with but I feel confident we will work things out for the best.
I took this picture from the top floor of our school building because I have to remind myself how nice it is here. I am comfortable and relaxed with my work stresses. Things are going well.
Did the time come to be wasted? Why do tomorrow what can be done today? Failure comes along quickly tasted Do it now and get it out of the way Don’t waste time wishing when the end comes Do you really think you’ll live forever Wondering why you cannot square the sums No one’s time is ever made to measure
Today I’m feeling:
Pretty happy and a little tired. Having trouble with new technology (new for me) has made me stressed at times but I think I’m getting a better understanding of it.
Today I’m grateful for:
There being food in the freezer (that I bought yesterday) so I could easily eat when I got home without having to go back out again. Not much left for tomorrow now though I can probably figure out how to fill my stomach if I’m tired again.
The best thing about today was:
Meeting my M4 class of students who are a little older and a little more responsible and prepared to learn. A breath of fresh air compared with what I’m used to. I can see already some of my younger students in a couple of other classes are going to test my patience especially one who filled in an online question with ‘fuck you’! I had to laugh. It wasn’t serious, he was just trying to be clever. These new classes feel like a better mix than last year but I might be proved wrong about that too.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I guess this goes back to the technology that I mentioned above. I needed to get everyone logged into Quizizz and it was a big pain especially as most of the student’s phones are set to Thai. I think I worked out that because I sent a link in LINE it opens a window in the app instead of in the phone’s browser. This seemed to cause inconsistencies with the student names. I guess I’ll figure it out over the next few days but I hope it doesn’t become such a big problem that I have to give up using the app.
I took this picture because I put Tigger outside as often as I am so that he at least has to get his body moving just to get back inside. As I was leaving home he came out onto the long grass to chew some. I think he has an upset tummy at the moment and maybe a little temperature.
Pinned to the floorboards Can’t stand up Falling down again
Every time I rise With the sun Comes the clouds and rain
Giving in to the Medicine What is normal now?
Today I’m feeling:
Some aching bones but relaxed and positive.
Today I’m grateful for:
My blow-up neck stretcher. I don’t know if it really helps my neck but it does feel like it helps keep it stable and forces me to sit up rather than lie down to read or watch TV. I go through phases of using it and it has felt necessary for the last few days.
The best thing about today was:
Forcing myself out and enjoying sitting at Daytripper and putting together more lessons with Quizizz. It’s making me look a bit more at my lessons to see how to improve them. I don’t like to do work at the weekend but I’m spoiled with actually doing so little work whilst I’m at school during the week!
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
In my ongoing attempts to counter the smell of cat pee in my mattress, I pulled off all my bedding, shoved it into the washing machine and headed off for my morning caffeine injection.
Waiting for that first cup I checked my phone and found a heavy rain warning for the whole day. Everyone is hoping for rain to crush the poisonous smoke in the air. But will it rain?
It was forecast yesterday too but with nothing eventuating. Just a smoky sky that even the power of the sun was unable to really penetrate.
Either way, today looks like more of the same. I’ll stick the bedding under cover and hope the humidity dries it out by bedtime.
(It’s 8 pm now and there’s been no rain and the hot humid air dried everything before lunchtime. Tomorrow’s forecast is a 90% chance of rain so let’s hope that that comes true!)
Something I learned today?
A piece brokered between Saudi Arabia and Iran by China. Could this be the start of lasting peace spreading around the world or will the USA inevitably stick its nose in to destabilise things for its own gain?
What is a simple delight I have been enjoying lately?
My two bottles of Curcumin C, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, activate my tastebuds in the best possible way.
Talking with Hayden has also been nice the last few times we’ve talked too. He seems a lot more open and not stuck in his head so much.
Yoghurt, muesli, strawberries and of course, coffee.
Our cats, despite the pee issue, make me smile every day somehow.
My students, despite frustrating me to no end, are all also delightful.
Life is pretty good.
I took this picture because I often see this furball sitting here in the beauty shop next door to Utopia. What a beauty but I’m glad I don’t have to deal with all that hair.
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.
It’s a personal operation I’m wielding the knife Following my direction Exorcising my life
Making deep cuts Removing the clots Tightening the nuts Massaging the knots
Hacked and rebooted Time to rise and shine Finally, I’m suited In this body of mine
Yesterday’s euphoria is not really present today perhaps because I was still feeling it last night as I bashed out guitar and wanted to read comics well past my normal sleep time.
So now I’m a little dopey and tired, which can be similar to euphoria until something niggly happens that can turn into a bad mood.
Waiting for 30 minutes at Immigration for a one-minute interaction could have done it but I kept my cool.
Now I’m with coffee so all is good.
I’ll go back to school and do a little more work, maybe go to Central and talk to the Mac repair people and see if there is any possibility of getting the beast fixed.
I’m already looking forward to sleeping tonight.
Today I’m feeling:
Happy, tired, relaxed.
Today I’m grateful for:
Having the fine comb/brush that I can use for Tigger to try and get his coat under control now that it is shedding everywhere as summer is trying to settle in during the daytime at least. The nights are still lovely and cool though, which may be confusing for the cats. The comb is full of Tigger’s hair with just a few brief sweeps. He’s a non-stop shedder!
The best thing about today was:
Figuring out I should be able to get my iMac fixed if I buy the correct components and take them to the shop at Central. Should be just a couple of hundred bucks as opposed to a couple of thousand or more for a new system.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I forgot how tired I was by this evening and now realising I probably didn’t need a weed gummy as it’s just knocked me out and I’m in bed at 8.30 catching up on last night already. Handled appropriately.
Something I learned today?
I spent a fair bit of time whizzing around Quizziz, building up my lessons for next year. I’m hoping that integrating with it more will be more engaging for the kids. I need to spend a bit more time finding others who have used it innovatively and then borrowing their ideas. No point in reinventing stuff.
What happened today that was significant?
Not really anything. Check out what I wrote was the best thing about today and that’s about as significant as it gets.
I took this picture because Kim Chi has found a new spot for herself. I was looking all around, inside and outside the house, until I found her here.
1994ever 