Santana

These photos are the first ones I have taken of Santana. A month old Moluccan Cockatoo chick I am presently hand rearing. He needs hand feeding every three or so hours and takes about 10% of his body weight in food each time. (Almost 50% of his body weight per day!)

This is a bird with attitude. He sits in his nappy-lined plastic box as I work on the computer, watching everything and singing along with the music he likes. As befits his name, he tends to like moody guitar solos and bobs his head, squeaking and squawking, totally out of tune.

The cats seem to be afraid of him. The dogs eye him with great interest.

Book week

The school held a book week where different people were invited in to read from favourite books. I read an old favourite from Kipling's Just So stories. "How the Elephant Got His Trunk".
On the final day, the children were asked to go as a favourite story book character. Tommy won special mention for his costume as the Chief of Treasure Island. Robin dressed as T. E. Lawrence, (Lawrence of Arabia,) in a jallaba and carrying a rifle, although one of the most anally retentive teachers in the school took the gun away from him, provoking an attack of tears and moodiness.

At the end of the assembly, Tommy was presented with a silver medal for his efforts in the Under "8" Shot Put.

Concert

Robin and Tomy played their piano pieces in front of an invited audience at Payap University. (All their teacher, Kru Pim's students took part in the concert.)
This was their swan song with Kru Pim because they will now be going to learn at the Korean academy, run by a Korean Mission, in the same building as the Tae Kwan Do dojo.
Robin is also taking up the guitar there, and Tommy will become a drummer.
(We bought a seconf hand drum kit a few days ago. It is now set up in the music room which turns out to be less well insulated than we previously thought!

Paper Making

Robin's class was taken on a field trip to visit a hand made paper factory, making Saa or Mulberry paper.
They were shown the whole process and even had the chance to make sheets themselves. Unfortunately, they were not given any samples.

I was somewhat upset by the field trip, because the non-Thai owner happily admitted he paid money under the table, rather than installing any equipment to clean his effluent discharges. The business uses lots of nasty chemicals, which are discharged straight into the local water.

Sports Day

The children took part in an Inter Schools Athletics Meet at Prem International School.
Tommy put the shot and threw the discus, while Robin put the shot and ran the 400 meters.
Robin's first, practice shot was almost out of the area, but it wasn't counted because it was only a practice throw. Later throws were only half hearted. He came in fourth overall.
Tommy threw 3 good puts. two of them shattering the previous under "8"s recird. He eventually won a silver medal for that.
Neither of them placed in the discus and Robin at least finished the 400 meters. Not bas as he was running a temperature by then.

Egg 'n Chips

Galen bought an Ostrich egg from Tawachai's gardens. He insisted I cook it for him and make a scotch egg.
Three kilos of minced pork and assorted herbs and spices later, the egg was cooked.
Pity was, none of us could face eating it. So I cooked fish and chips instead.

Ann took the egg to the office the followiung day, where I gather it was consumed with gusto.

Biking home

This was, for a short while, the method of transport to bring the children back from school. Motorcycle in front, towing a trailer with up to five children. Bycicles towed behind.
We are now cycling to school to save petrol and get some exercise.
(The trailer now has racks and carries one bike each side.)

Family Fun Day

The team sets forth. Robin Tommy Carrot and Galen, with yours truly on camera set off on the school's Family Fun Day treasure hunt. The prixe was eventually won by a group of teachers.


Total Exhaustion after a long day's treasure hunting.


Just found, (and re-hidden) the final clue.

Tae Kwan Do Yellow Belt

Well, they did it and here is the proof. Both boys passed their exams for their yellow belts and this is when they were presented with the belts and certificates.

Visit from Simon

My dear friend Simon Porter contacted me out of the blue. He was arranging a motorcycling tour of Thailand and came to stay with us for a week beforehand and a few days afterwards, The first time we have met up for many years, it made me truly happy toget together again.

Family - New Year 2007

We always try to take a few photos of the family before Patrick & Elizabeth leave for the airport to fly back to the UK.
These were taken in January 2007.

Walkies too

The last walkies before the end of Christmas holidays. Lion & Tiger are as excited as ever.

Children's day

Thailand has the most interesting holiday for one day per year. "Children's Day" is the one and only day when Thai families are supposed to take their children out and entertain them. On thay day every conceivable place has special entertainment put on.

We took the children to Wing 41, the local Royal Thai Air Force squadron, who opened their doors for the day.

I only wish these people could understand that children need entertainment on more than one day per year......................

Fire fighters