Nearly the weekend and it has been a tough week actually. My new boss seems intent on loading us up with as much work as possible. It's a strange and somewhat ugly situation and the guys I work with are really pissed off. I appear to have joined this job in the middle of a nasty war between the Thai English dept and the falang. It's not too bad but there are some uncomfortable moments. She stuck up a notice bring the date for us to submit our exam papers by a week to this Friday, leaving us two days to write 2 fifty question exams in our own time. Someone scribbled on it in red pencil "Stop changing it!!!" The date has now reverted to next week.
The guys are great fun and good times are had chatting. We go out on Friday to Ekey's bar and have some beers with the other teachers from the town. A great bunch of English chaps. There is lots of wind ups, laughing and beer.
Work is tiring us both, but I have got noticeably stronger and my stamina has increased no end as a result of hard work and longer hours. At night I tend to let go and have a couple of beers, some "coffee" and relax to some music, utube videos or a game.
Last weekend was the camp and I think we will take Grace up to the beach again and stay in the bungalow. I can get a cheeseburger with fries and some beer and we can run about on the beach in the evening.
Peter Pan is arriving on Sunday!!! Incredible! Amazing! Thanks so much for dropping by. We will have a great time I am sure.
btw my number is 08109 84876 or 01809 84876. Sorry I can never remember the order of the first two digits!
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
English Camp Chum Pon
Friday, June 21, 2013
Night Before the Camp
Friday night and relaxing before the camp this weekend.
I got my visa for next year. My new boss, Rojana, did a great job of talking to crap officials and driving me around the town to get my work permit and visa. I should have had to go to Penang in Malaysia which I was dreading, but they pulled a miracle.
So the camp tomorrow, so tonight I will stay in and have a couple of beers at home and listen to some tunes and a couple of games of DOC. Maybe some Call of Juarez for some cowboy gunfighting.
Payday next week and Oi is keen to buy the house we are renting. It's a good idea, but it might push us on the cash side and it looks like I am going to have a work a fair bit extra in the evenings.A shame the wages here are sorrowful. It's embarassing actually, but its the way things are here. Most people get appalling wages while multi millionnaires waltz passed them in their mercs etc, living in massive mansions with basketball courts and walled gardens.And complain about anything and you are made to feel bad to dare insult Thai culture. I don't want to bash but a comment I read sums it up nicely.
"You can't teach a Thai anything because they know best."
Explains why they came 56th out of 58 in Asian English speaking countries competition. Oh dear.
Still, the countryside is so nice. I love my morning ride to work, along a small country lane passed a scattering of small farms and lush jungle and fields. I love it. The rainy season coming in makes the weather really lovely right now.
Camp at the beach tomorrow and a sleepover so hopefully have a laugh with the other refugees, I mean, English teachers. We can have some beers after and chill out. Apparently we have to share a bungalow. Looks like I may be sharing with some tubby American dude I am yet to meet. The comment in the office was that if he's a fatty, then he'll snore like a bastard.
I got my visa for next year. My new boss, Rojana, did a great job of talking to crap officials and driving me around the town to get my work permit and visa. I should have had to go to Penang in Malaysia which I was dreading, but they pulled a miracle.
So the camp tomorrow, so tonight I will stay in and have a couple of beers at home and listen to some tunes and a couple of games of DOC. Maybe some Call of Juarez for some cowboy gunfighting.
Payday next week and Oi is keen to buy the house we are renting. It's a good idea, but it might push us on the cash side and it looks like I am going to have a work a fair bit extra in the evenings.A shame the wages here are sorrowful. It's embarassing actually, but its the way things are here. Most people get appalling wages while multi millionnaires waltz passed them in their mercs etc, living in massive mansions with basketball courts and walled gardens.And complain about anything and you are made to feel bad to dare insult Thai culture. I don't want to bash but a comment I read sums it up nicely.
"You can't teach a Thai anything because they know best."
Explains why they came 56th out of 58 in Asian English speaking countries competition. Oh dear.
Still, the countryside is so nice. I love my morning ride to work, along a small country lane passed a scattering of small farms and lush jungle and fields. I love it. The rainy season coming in makes the weather really lovely right now.
Camp at the beach tomorrow and a sleepover so hopefully have a laugh with the other refugees, I mean, English teachers. We can have some beers after and chill out. Apparently we have to share a bungalow. Looks like I may be sharing with some tubby American dude I am yet to meet. The comment in the office was that if he's a fatty, then he'll snore like a bastard.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Afternoon Coffee
Home from school on Tuesday afternoon and a wee patch of time to myself. Bliss.
Every day when I get back from school I have a big jug of coffee, made in the very posh squeeze jug thing mum bought me when she was here. I buy the best ground coffee I can find at a good price and enjoy a jug twice a day. Black, no sugar.
I bought Grace a few more bits of track for her Thomas train set today. I did tell her we can add new track to the existing set and she asked me last night. I, dutifully, went and bought some. That will be fun when she gets back from school.
My school is great, but a bunch of the guys, the two best guys in fact are up in arms at the Thai bosses and refusing to attend meetings. Sad, but it doesn't look good for them. I am being the "new boy" good scout and have no intention of joining in. But I told them I thought it was a shame and hope they will be okay.
Treating myself to a few games of M&MDOC every day and getting pretty good at it. I have played this game every day since about March now. It is just that much fun, and its free.
Private classes going well and I probably have enough now. I make enough extra cash to buy crisps and beer and potatoes without worrying about it. Actually, working quite hard has dried up any desire to go to the supermarket anyway, so I am consuming very little right now.
We have ants nesting in the doors in this house. When it rains they come out of holes at the bottom of the door and have a party. I swoop in with the gas and wipe them out, but there are still millions inside and, sadly, inaccessible to my Deathcloud. Oi's uncle said we have to drill a hole in the top of the door and spray in it. I suppose attaching a straw to the canister. I am yet to attempt this mass extermination mission, but I think I will be giving it a go soon.
Every day when I get back from school I have a big jug of coffee, made in the very posh squeeze jug thing mum bought me when she was here. I buy the best ground coffee I can find at a good price and enjoy a jug twice a day. Black, no sugar.
I bought Grace a few more bits of track for her Thomas train set today. I did tell her we can add new track to the existing set and she asked me last night. I, dutifully, went and bought some. That will be fun when she gets back from school.
My school is great, but a bunch of the guys, the two best guys in fact are up in arms at the Thai bosses and refusing to attend meetings. Sad, but it doesn't look good for them. I am being the "new boy" good scout and have no intention of joining in. But I told them I thought it was a shame and hope they will be okay.
Treating myself to a few games of M&MDOC every day and getting pretty good at it. I have played this game every day since about March now. It is just that much fun, and its free.
Private classes going well and I probably have enough now. I make enough extra cash to buy crisps and beer and potatoes without worrying about it. Actually, working quite hard has dried up any desire to go to the supermarket anyway, so I am consuming very little right now.
We have ants nesting in the doors in this house. When it rains they come out of holes at the bottom of the door and have a party. I swoop in with the gas and wipe them out, but there are still millions inside and, sadly, inaccessible to my Deathcloud. Oi's uncle said we have to drill a hole in the top of the door and spray in it. I suppose attaching a straw to the canister. I am yet to attempt this mass extermination mission, but I think I will be giving it a go soon.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Blessed Weekend
It's raining here in Chum Pon and the temperature has dropped. It feels like England as I took Grace around the Sunnyview estate on the bike looking for pussy cats. A light drizzle made me feel very comfortable.
Workwise, I am rushed of my feet right now and my new visa looms, which may mean me having to go to Malaysia. We shall see.
So, I am very grateful for the peace at the weekend. I have coffee, coffee and some quiet time to browse the Internet and catch up on a few games. Actually, I have been picking up a few cheapee and oldie games on Steam, which nicely installs purchased games straight onto my PC with no effort. I just picked up The Witcher for 3 dorra. It was great a few years ago so will enjoy a return journey. I recall the potion making was particularly excellent.
I am also enjoying the Latest Call of Juarez Gunslinger game. Cowboy fun.
Tough week coming up with an English camp looming. 12 days working straight. God.
Private classes are rolling in, and Oi is about to start teaching some kids at home.
Later...
Workwise, I am rushed of my feet right now and my new visa looms, which may mean me having to go to Malaysia. We shall see.
So, I am very grateful for the peace at the weekend. I have coffee, coffee and some quiet time to browse the Internet and catch up on a few games. Actually, I have been picking up a few cheapee and oldie games on Steam, which nicely installs purchased games straight onto my PC with no effort. I just picked up The Witcher for 3 dorra. It was great a few years ago so will enjoy a return journey. I recall the potion making was particularly excellent.
I am also enjoying the Latest Call of Juarez Gunslinger game. Cowboy fun.
Tough week coming up with an English camp looming. 12 days working straight. God.
Private classes are rolling in, and Oi is about to start teaching some kids at home.
Later...
Friday, June 7, 2013
Weekend
Saturday morning and blessed rest. We will take Grace to the beach later and stay overnight in a bungalow.
It's all work right now and feeling pretty tired when I'm not working.
The school has piled on an English camp in a couple of weeks. No pay, of course and it means working 12 days straight with no break. That should be tough. The boys ain't happy about it, but what choice do we have?
The school is riddled with politics and I shall have to be very firm about remaining neutral and just doing my job. I refuse to be drawn into anything. It does not interest me at all and is toxic.
Home life is sweet and Grace is being very good. Oi has a few scares about Grace's behavior, but any fears quickly evaporate. Grace seems to listen then act accordingly to put any errors in check.
In between working, I just catch snatches of game play and vaguely viewed movies and TV show. I suppose this is just not the time in life to be getting into anything very much as real life supplies all the action I need.
No doubt this will change one day.
Peter is due to visit in July I believe which will be awesome.
It's all work right now and feeling pretty tired when I'm not working.
The school has piled on an English camp in a couple of weeks. No pay, of course and it means working 12 days straight with no break. That should be tough. The boys ain't happy about it, but what choice do we have?
The school is riddled with politics and I shall have to be very firm about remaining neutral and just doing my job. I refuse to be drawn into anything. It does not interest me at all and is toxic.
Home life is sweet and Grace is being very good. Oi has a few scares about Grace's behavior, but any fears quickly evaporate. Grace seems to listen then act accordingly to put any errors in check.
In between working, I just catch snatches of game play and vaguely viewed movies and TV show. I suppose this is just not the time in life to be getting into anything very much as real life supplies all the action I need.
No doubt this will change one day.
Peter is due to visit in July I believe which will be awesome.
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