Moving Drama

Fate stepped in and over my morning coffee I saw the bulldozer roll in and rip out the few trees that surrounded our house. It was time for us to get out of town. The traffic noise, pollution and total lack of trees in the garden had finally worn me down. What was the point of living in the tropics if you can't sit outside and enjoy it? Having a moment of quiet disbelief that they were truly turning the plot next door into a building site my phone rang.

After the bulldozer

Do you want to move and live up the mountain? My friend was calling to give me the heads up that the perfect house for us was soon to be available. I wasn't prepared at all...dates were horrible, other half away at work..school holidays..rainy season. My health was dreadful but staying next to a building site was never going to help. So I thought about it and followed my gut. We were moving.
Fast forward to the move and note that I between I was diagnosed with an auto immune disease that attacks my thyroid..fun hey. Our landlord in the house was totally unsympathetic about the need for us to move and despite giving notice and leaving the house immaculate he refused to return the deposit..joy..he warrants a whole post to himself that one! I was growing more stressed by the day.
My mum flew to the rescue and worked like a Trojan. She is a machine. I would never have managed by myself. Day by day she packed and worked tirelessly to get the job done. I managed to hold it together and drive up and down the mountain one car load at a time. It was all coming together and the current tenants moving date was drawing close, plain sailing we thought. Wrong. It seemed we had vastly different approaches to our domestic arrangements aka living in a rodent infested filth hole!!!! I'm not being melodramatic.

Unwanted guests ate the beds

Really it was horrible and we had one week to make it a hygienic habitable place for my family to move into. At this point I questioned the wisdom of my decision but it was too late to turn back.
Many phone calls to the rather upset landlord and a team of cleaners drafted in. New beds in every room and a deep cleaning plan in place it was just about done in time. To be fair we gave the housekeeper a second chance but this ended abruptly when mum found her napping an hour into her working day!
So after all this am I glad we moved? Was the drama worth it? Totally. Now I have the fun job of making the house our home and the not so fun job of evicting the wildlife...

Worth it

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Things you don't see everyday

Popped out to have a quick foot massage (don't hate me!) left the nanny looking after Dodo. Twins happily tucked up in bed..all peaceful...Came home to find...cooking sounds...and an unusual aroma..

Sizzling critters

Our amazing Nanny Noy was just frying up some fresh bugs, as you do. Not so unusual as she is from Isan, but still not something I've seen going on in my kitchen! Noy declares that they are "yummy" and good with whiskey. Noy divides things into two categories "yummy" and "not yummy" bugs fall firmly into the first in her opinion.

Almost done

I watched and learned as they sizzled in my frying pan, knowing that there was only one outcome to this discussion on the merits of eating bugs. Yes I was going to have to face the moment of being asked to try one.

Done..now pass the whiskey

To top it off I was being watched by Dodo. Not going to be able to insist she tries new things if I don't go for one of these critters with an open mind. So open mind and open mouth it was. It really wasn't that bad, in fact it was alright. Crispy on the outside soft in the middle, not the best thing or the worst. I just wished there had been whiskey involved.

The unexpected twist was from my up for anything Dodo..now bare in mind she is off school for the third day running and has had a fever! She pipes up.."can I try a bug please Noy?" Heart swelled with pride! I love that girl.

Fearless..kinda!?!

 

 

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The Gallery: Water

In it, under it, next to it, on it..that is where I am at my best. Happy times for me have always been associated with water. I have worked on yachts, I dive, I love to swim and whenever I get the chance I choose to live close to the sea or at the very least a river. Being back in South East London is pretty tough as it's still a bit far from the Thames for my liking! I am hoping Dodo will feel the same and have had her in the sea at every possible opportunity.

Start em' young

Play time with the sharks

Thailand is so connected with water and that is probably one of the reasons I like it so much. Bangkok with it's great muddy brown Chao Phraya river and the coast line and islands with fantastic beaches and world class dive sites. Not forgetting the most important festival in Thai culture, Songkran. The best excuse for a huge 3 day long water fight. Very handy that it falls around the time of my birthday in April, so I never have to plan a party for myself again! Just step out the door armed with the biggest water pistol I can get my hands on and prepare to get soaked. The heat has really started to pick up by April so a good drenching is just what everyone needs..add crazy music, beer and loads of white slimy chalk that the friendly locals love to smear all over everyone (not at all pervy if you were wondering!) and you end up feeling totally childish and having brilliant fun. Yeah I guess you can tell how much I love it! I could go on but I will spare you..This year I tried to introduce Dodo to the whole Songkran festival experience..didn't quiet go as planned..Will let the pictures do the talking!