tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184264402012-01-14T20:19:11.498+07:00It's been a long time coming.... the treacherous writings of that bi-monthly ever-expanding group email have finally led me to this: an attempt to keep you all entertained and updated on my latest news. Who knows where this will lead us....Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.comBlogger421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-61127101867084199212012-01-14T20:17:00.003+07:002012-01-14T20:19:11.531+07:00

Hasn't facebook almost eradicated the need for these things? photos go up there, so do random thoughts. Maybe it is time to pack in the blog. However, I think a general picture of everything is elusive in facebook. Tidbits are thrown at you. the whole picture is never achieved...

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-43608142964359888182008-07-21T15:15:00.002+07:002008-07-21T16:47:22.110+07:00

It has been what feels like 5 million years, I know. Writing about Prague as I know it so well seems futile compared to the ramblings of BKK and life just got in the way.So, as I know myself well enough to be fully aware that emails detailing what I am up to are a long way away from most of your inboxes (sorry, but at least I admit I am pants) I shall revive my blog so you can read at least about

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-76447031345655778082007-07-12T18:47:00.000+07:002007-07-12T19:00:05.506+07:00

So, I travelled from Prague to Bahrain yesterday. Not by bus, of course, but by plane. it never ceases to amaze me how particularly annoying these kinds of journey can be. You'd think it was pretty straightforward. Being asked at the airport at check-in where my visa was when I didn't have one was not the greatest start to my day - thankfully she phoned someone and realised I could get it upon

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-44041650484714409532007-05-15T20:06:00.000+07:002007-05-15T20:26:39.722+07:00

It has been ages I know. Guilt has forced me to start writing again. For those of you who aren't aware, I have left Thailand and have moved to Prague. It took us a while to find a flat but finally we got one we are happy with 0 it even ahs a heated bathroom floor and very strangely, it is in the exact same building I lived in when I first came to the Czech Republic in 2001.Being back is quite

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-62445852189742436082007-02-23T10:42:00.000+07:002007-02-23T11:04:12.085+07:00

I wish I had one. I little camera on my shoulder so I could show you exactly what I see on a daily basis. It would be so much fun. My motorbiking accomplishments are enviable, the brushes with death, the loose helmet, aaah who needs roller coasters. The quickest way around BKK is by motorbike taxi. At the corner of my road, there are a bunch of motorbike taxi drivers in their little orange vests

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-51924754292254488822007-02-01T14:32:00.000+07:002007-02-01T15:09:30.963+07:00

Obviously, in my time in Thailand I have tried most kinds of massage; Thai, Japanese, Herbal, Swedish, Aromatherapy - all with varying degrees of success, Thai still being my favourite. Today I tried Ayuraveda massage. It started off with the woman asking me where I had pain. What she meant was: "where do you think you have pain so that I can put you through the most excruciating hell in that

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-28476569040960467642007-01-10T09:54:00.000+07:002007-01-10T10:05:23.455+07:00

It has been a pretty interesting week or so since New Year. There was a strong rumour of a coup last Thursday, they were even talking about a self-coup. I can't even understand how that works. They storm themselves and hold themselves up in order to overturn themselves and put themselves in power? Weird. As you can see the air is thick with irony. A guy called the Nation newspaper and said that

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-49434452101719537282007-01-03T09:39:00.000+07:002008-12-09T20:48:10.843+07:00

Well, the new year has certainly started with a bang here in Bangkok. Nothing like the possibility of being blown up to put a dampner on festivities. Ironically, last new year I was on a plane that was about to blow up, so we had to do an emergency landing, this year on terra firma there are also explosions - hope this isn't a new trend appearing, maybe next year I'll shove myself under water for

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1165650982707971812006-12-09T14:38:00.000+07:002006-12-20T09:21:53.370+07:00

Yep, I have finally fulfilled my dream of riding an elephant. Was it everything I hoped it would be? Was it the relaxing, exotic experience photos would have you believe? Hell no. When you ride a horse your bum hurts, when you ride something 5 times the size, I can't even begin to tell you what hurts! Let's face it, safety isn't exactly prime in Thailand and what you get to ride an elephant on is

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1162438183381208562006-11-02T10:07:00.000+07:002006-12-01T13:44:53.823+07:00

So where was I? ah yes, water puppets. This is precisely how it sounds. Puppets in/on the water. This is supposed to be an ancient Northern Vietnamese cultural thing and a must-see. We booked tickets and off we went. It was in a small theatre with a pool of murky green water at the front with some scenery around it. It all started off with some plinky-plonky Vietnamese music and out came 'the

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1161845285721433902006-10-26T12:36:00.000+07:002006-10-31T09:31:37.793+07:00

I started this entry last week but it is getting so huge that I am going to have to split it.Well aware that I'm slacking on my posts but things have been a bit busy recently. End of term always brings the deluge of tedious report writing - who is this kid I am writing about? and testing "no, I said NO cheating" and far too much paper-pushing - now where did I put that form? oh, I pushed it into

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1158819994989895512006-09-21T13:11:00.000+07:002006-09-21T13:26:35.003+07:00

I am now beginning to ponder the disturbing correlation here. I got to Ecuador, there is an economic crisis, riots and a volcanic eruption, I go to the Czech Republic, Prague is flooded, I go to Korea, they impeach the presidet, am now in Thailand - military coup. Joy. I shall not be surprised if I am flagged next time I try and enter the country.So it all started late Tuesday night. At midnight,

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1157600452393503882006-09-07T10:24:00.000+07:002006-09-07T10:40:52.403+07:00

Bad things always happen in threes. It never rains but it pours, I am sure you are beginning to see where I am going with this.Last week, was qutie frankly one of the most disastrous in a while. On Tuesday I took one of my classes into the computer. We have been working on their powerpoint presentations for a while and they all showed up with their flashdrives as requested to put the finishing

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1155797675221815092006-08-17T13:37:00.000+07:002006-08-18T14:59:08.900+07:00

Apparently this is what I have. A beautiful forehead. It denotes that I couldn't possibly be over 22 according to some Thais I met last night. What are they on about? It has to be said, compliments are weird here. My students just don't seem to be able to get it quite right, things like "Oh teacher today you look beautiful" What do you mean today?Bimble into Starbucks "Ah Miss G, you are

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1154073436866458152006-07-28T14:26:00.000+07:002006-07-28T14:57:16.903+07:00

she's on holiday again, I hear you cry! Yes I am and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I have had a week or so off because it is the end of term. J and I had our first weekend together in about 3 months and it was great. I set off for Kanchanaburi a day ahead of J and spent all of it in a spa - check it out http://www.suan-nanachaat.com - fabulous place! These are some random ants we found outside our

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1153190806400743992006-07-18T09:30:00.000+07:002006-07-18T09:46:46.410+07:00

oh, OK then. this is what my boxing instructor shouts at me regularly. Yep, you read right, I am learning to box. I know this is a scary thought for those of you who know me and get this (oh if you could only see the crazed look in my eyes) I am also going to learn Muay Thai! Isn't that just the best news you've heard all day?I only started a couple of weeks ago but am already at the sparring

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1151670514777754382006-06-30T18:49:00.000+07:002006-06-30T19:30:29.686+07:00

So, another addition quicker than last time, I am getting better. Things have been a little hectic. It was J's B'day last week so copious amounts of my time was spent deciding what to get him, I had plumped for a new mobile but spent hours in the Nokia shop wondering whether the ones I liked were a little too girly, after consulting with men, I discovered that clearly if it looks cute and is

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1150095089291818592006-06-12T13:46:00.000+07:002006-06-15T15:48:12.316+07:00

It's the King's Jubilee - 60 years on the throne, longest standing (or should that be sitting?) monarch in the world. Personal benefits of this jubilee are a 5 day weekend. Course, most of the roads are closed in and around Bangkok so travel wasn't really an option oh and I had to work on Saturday and Sunday but I can't complain. Monday and Tuesday are official days off, J had friday off due to

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1147345970475960262006-05-11T17:45:00.000+07:002006-05-16T08:23:48.563+07:00

Well, it has been a while. Time is really flying by at the moment. settling in to new job fine but seems to have taken up a bit of time. So much to learn, taking it all in baby steps etc. Moving on to the more meaty stuff...Last weekend, was my final 'real weekend' for the next year. I started work on Saturday and my weekend becomes Thursday and Friday. The timetable God has been smiling upon me

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1145247170979887402006-04-17T09:54:00.001+07:002006-04-17T11:12:50.996+07:00

For those of you who often wonder if when I say I grew up in the middle of nowhere I really did, then take a look. Here is what the area I come from looks like. I say this because J always used to say "hmmm yes I too live in the middle of nowhere" then he came to visit and said "Oh My God, you really do live in the middle of nowhere". I presume middle of nowhere in America means more than 10 mins

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1141901325925174302006-03-09T17:16:00.000+07:002006-03-09T17:48:45.993+07:00

I know it has been yonks and I apologise. Searching for a flat and a few other things have kept me all tied up - and not in a fun playful sense.hmm, what have you missed in my enthralling life as a primary teacher? Oh yeah things like this:hii just want to warn you about ic class,is u were say that on thursday is the last ic learning,but tomorrow we got a test that it's very important so we can't

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1139901801769179222006-02-14T14:04:00.000+07:002006-02-14T14:23:21.856+07:00

Don't be fooled by the angelic looks. Of course, a lot of these girls are some of my faves in P1, they are rarely in a mood, don't fight with the others and always try hard at English. But, there is still oodles of room for mischief.This is where the magic happens. My classroom. Shame the tables aren't naild to the floor. Somehow, Kindergarten manage to move them right in to withing inches of me

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1139899485559578462006-02-14T13:06:00.001+07:002006-02-14T13:44:45.563+07:00

Woe is me, v-day and am stuck at home ill. J called to say that I probably had a lucky escape as it appears that in this country you run and around and plaster people with stickers. How romantic. What do you say to that? Thanks for making me look like a loser from Project runway where I had to make a suit out of trash? Course, am lucky I escaped said stickiness but you be damn sure that I am

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1138617079753092922006-01-30T16:01:00.001+07:002006-01-30T17:31:19.766+07:00

I'm beginning to feel that my New Years are doomed and that travel problems are just going to be part and parcel of them in the future. It is Chinese New Year and we have yet another long weekend. You won't hear me complaining, oh no, although it would be nice if they told us more than one day in advance so that we could make proper plans and book a hotel etc, but you know, it's a school, why

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1138343158320426042006-01-27T13:01:00.000+07:002006-01-27T13:25:58.333+07:00

It has been a while. Apologies. Only 26 more days of teaching so the rush is on to get a solid plan into place, find a new job possibly a new country etc. Yes. yes, I know it must sound teribbly exciting to some of you but trust me, the novelty wears off after a while. If only I could just at least decide if we are going to stay here or leave then I could get into "I am leaving need to get shit

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1137565473077273792006-01-18T13:06:00.000+07:002006-01-18T13:24:33.100+07:00

This should come with a warning of: Don't do this at home! However, I am kind of asking you to do just that. I shall therefore do the disclaimer now and say that any injury incurred is not my fault.I was getting my weekly Thai massage yesterday and still marvel at the woman balancing on my arse. Now I am not sure if I am just incredibly inflexible -although after this many I shouldn't be - or a

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1136962318522384152006-01-11T13:38:00.000+07:002006-01-11T13:51:58.563+07:00

It came to my attention a while back that every time my kids saw a cat they pointed and said Miaow. This happens alot because here are several cats who hang around the school, they like to sleep outside my window so the kids are always trying to spy on them. It became so frequent that I started to wonder if it is indeed the word for cat in Thai. Then a thread of consciousness started to weave

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1136724140997339182006-01-08T18:32:00.000+07:002006-01-08T19:42:21.966+07:00

I realise I don't really put enough pics up, they convey more than words sometimes. Just got photoshop which helps reduce them, will then move on to the other large amount of pics I have that I haven't bothered to display.Here we are outside the mansion down in the old part of Shanghai wearing about 9 layers of clothes. The bridge we're on is called the bridge of the nine dragon tails (or

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1136627420137602612006-01-07T15:20:00.002+07:002006-01-07T17:04:16.323+07:00

After the previous delay we thought it wise to be ahead of the game and check whether our return flight on New Year's eve wasn't delayed. Usually, this would be a simple task however, after problems contacting me before I left BKK, D had called Shanghai airport to confirm arrival of my flight and was told that without a doubt, positively that we were going to arrive in Shanghai at 11pm. In fact

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1136550155608308212006-01-06T18:55:00.000+07:002006-01-07T15:20:11.696+07:00

Just when you think that you've got all your bases covered and you are gazing at the bright blue sky, you stick your foot in a pothole and break your ankle...just like CZ in winter.Well, some things were rather like that, it has to be said.I've decided to split this into two parts for sanity purposes, but I doubt it will make it more bite-sized.I literally hurled myself out of bed on the 27th

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1136279600478223192006-01-03T15:52:00.000+07:002006-01-06T18:53:14.606+07:00

Happy New Year everybody.As most of you are quite aware by now, nothing I plan ever goes without a hitch. I have a feeling that oppression haunts people. The tentacles of oppression that once stung the Welsh stretch throughout history and sting you on the backside when you least expect it. This can range from a simple slip on the bathroom rug in the morning that ruins your day not to mention the

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1135144232947869142005-12-21T12:30:00.000+07:002005-12-21T13:20:46.103+07:00

You know that feeling around Christmas time when you reach your limit and you think to yourself: if I have to spend any more time in the Body Shop or Bed bath and Beyond to select a 'token' smelly gift I will die? If I hear Jingle Bells one more time I'll shove them where the sun don't shine? (I bet most of you ar there already right?)and then... you spend a Christmas away from home in a country

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1134548859518603182005-12-14T14:56:00.000+07:002005-12-16T13:04:53.036+07:00

Yeah, yeah, I know you are probably expecting some inter-planaterial filth from my good self detailing the absence of stars under the belt thus indicating the lack of endowment so to speak, but, no, I simply found myself staring at Orion's belt on Saturday evening at a fabulous sound and light extravaganza.Now, those of you astute enough to think that the very fact that I could even see stars

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1133936908106221932005-12-07T13:09:00.000+07:002005-12-07T13:28:28.116+07:00

I remember my first pet. Do you? Well, mine was as much of a pet as can be in the Welsh farmery sense of the word. A sheepdog called Meg. Lovely dog she was, you could just point in the general direction of where the sheep were and off she would disappear like lightning and ten mins later the sheep would be in the pen. She went everywhere with me, was a Princess or a horse for example if I needed

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1133769912797802042005-12-05T14:35:00.000+07:002005-12-05T18:33:32.943+07:00

Finally, I have the internet at home again -but who knows how long this false sense of security will last?Tip: ludicrously, the new windows XP service 2 version actually has a bug in it which prevents you from accessing the internet. Of course, there is a patch available to solve the problem however you can only download it from the internet - hand up anyone who sees a vicious circle appearing?!

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1133418363068423012005-12-01T13:06:00.000+07:002005-12-01T13:26:03.080+07:00

Well, I bet you didn't think there would be an addition so soon. I didn't think that my last wrods of seeing what tomorrow will bring would indeed yeild some surprises.Monday we have the day off becuase it is the King's birthday. Consequently it is then also Father's day and ingeniously Mother's day is on the Queen's birthday - see how that works? The school had a little ceremony they have

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1133339082607792962005-11-30T15:09:00.000+07:002005-12-01T11:28:38.550+07:00

Not to disappoint the ever growing fanbase, well, it's gone from like three to eight in the past 5 weeks surely that is better than the average JLo album, I endeavour to 'pen' an entry....Computer at home now working - clearly pressing the odd button every 20 mins works! however now the internet is out, on the bright side we have been assured that a technician shall be along in 2 days, that was

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1132632885395785082005-11-22T10:40:00.000+07:002005-11-23T12:45:20.420+07:00

Yet again I find myself reduced to typing this on the school computer as ours is making weird whirring noises and is clearly buggered for the time being. Never fear, TB is on the case, which as far as I can tell involves presing abutton every so often seeing the comp. process stuff for 20 mins and then pressing another button, not that I would ever suggest that the world of computer teachnology

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1131956592256890982005-11-14T15:02:00.000+07:002005-11-14T15:23:12.266+07:00

This is going to be a quick one, I didn't want to fail on my weekly entries. My internet is out at home so I am reduced to diong this surrounded by 30 kids getting a computer lesson. Shame they can't understand anything I am writing about them!All is relatively well in the land of smiles. I have shot myself in the proverbial teaching foot however by introducing the concept of stickers as a reward

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1131278632282791462005-11-06T18:03:00.000+07:002005-11-06T19:03:52.300+07:00

I'm quite impressed that I have managed to find myself writing a new post one week after I started. This is a good sign. The pic, if you haven't already guessed, is of my fantabulous school uniform which I must don four times a week. There are two combos of this delectable style, the other being in baby blue with a cream shirt. Although, the shirts are so versatile that they can be worn with both

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1130753844410759312005-10-31T16:51:00.000+07:002005-10-31T17:17:24.433+07:00

Here is the view from our balcony. As you can see Samut Prakan clearly resembles the "quiet fishing village" described in lonely planet. Dunno bout you, but I'm not convinced they ever came here. After all, it boasts one of the largest crocodile farms in the world including a 6m croc. These pics are as of ten mins ago and surprisingly I managed to take them in the split second that there

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18426440.post-1130663230342309862005-10-31T06:01:00.000+07:002005-10-30T16:22:00.433+07:00

Have just finished up 3 blissful weeks of time away from the kids. Well, I did bump into one yesterday unexpectedly in the mall. Poor thing, he got all excited and then didn't know what to do with himself"teacher! teacher! Hello! Hello!" (this is long beach on Phi Phi)cue much pointing and nudging of parents and then even more shock as I wai (for the

Cymraeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17676510043346368079noreply@blogger.com5