Updates: Decorating

Once again a busy and productive week at work this week (the last week in September - gosh the 9th month .... time flies when you are having fun :) - tearing my hair out mostly and putting out fires! Hands up to Thai spontaneity and impulse decisions for keeping you on your toes :-) It turns out that our manager - without consulting any of us - in a meeting with the BKK Technology University agreed to hold the first entrance exam now in time for October admissions! The date is set 5th and 6th of
October. Hello!! We haven't even finished writing the test, recording the listening scripts in a recording studio, getting copyright permission from Bangkok Post for articles we are using in the reading paper, testing levels, writing band descriptors etc. Needless to say, a danger of quality suffering under fierce time contraints (for the first exam anyway). So me, being my perfectionist self and kicked into 6th gear and getting down to some serious business and delegation. It looks like we will make it. The only thing that will have to wait is the recording, having to book the studio well in advance. Instead we will record it ourselves - poor students, hope the quality won't be too bad. This Friday (tomorrow) is D-day to test the exam on several of our current students to see if the levels match. Fingers crossed! If not it will involve a whole lot of extra work.
On a positive note (well above is too - just a little frustrating) I went to Chatuchak Market with Som, Thai friend) and bought to gorgeous lamps and silk cushions and throw for our bedroom). I am really pleased with the result and am now looking to buy a Thai style painting for over the bed. I am starting to get really passionate about decorating again - even to the point where I dream about it and wake up with colour schemes in my head. It's great! Luckily, Amandio, realising how important my surroundings are to me, is supporting me on this (probably wouldn't have much choice.. but it is good to be on the same page) ... "as long as we keep putting money away for the baby" :-) Sweetheart.
I am starting Thai lessons next week - a short 20 hour course, 2 hours twice a weeek. Finally, I won't feel like such an alien anymore - the deciding factors were: 1) I want to be able to communicate with Khun Tim (cleaning lady) particularly when we have our baby... and... 2) to intigrate more into the culture. It was so nice on Sunday in the market when vendors spoke to both Som and I in Thai.. thinking I could grasp a bit of it. Of course, I did hold eye contact and smile and nod - keeping up the appearance that I wasn't a complete 'farang'. The whole shopping and living process will seem more 'real' if I can communicate with the people in their own language.
Amandio went with Som's husband (Tahitian) to the heaven of electronic buffs - an eight storey plaza of nothing else but computers, tvs, dvds, movies etc. Calming him down proved to be a tough challenge (but thoroughly enjoyable to watch his inner child - like a pig in shit :-) but I managed to persuade him not to buy the projector TV, the Plasma, the desktop pc yet for... SOOO cheap! Comparatively, it IS incredibly cheap, infact ridiculously so.. but it is still a big chunk of money that we don't really have. Oh Yeah, speaking of which - our apartment in Lisbon has been rented for at least a year - with interest expressed in buying it later - a HUGE sigh of relief and can't wait to stabilise our account in Portugal after a few months. Anyway, Amandio bought me a thoughtful present - 'MoviePlus 4' software and an external hard drive (100GB!!). As soon as I get enough time I will start playing around with my new toy and hopefully dazzle you all with stunning masterpieces and new found editing skills (at least that is what the cover promises! LOL)

Updates: Entrance Exam

Phew!! What a week! I have been up to my eyes in work all week (6 days). My company has been approached by a university to write an entrance exam for the international courses and Masters degrees offered. IELTS (academic paper testing the four language skills) is the qualification that they require to date. However, it is quite costly for the majority of Thai middle class students and they would like a test (cheaper) to replace it. After a bit of research and general networking with university contacts in and around BKK we reached a decision that we would invest in the development costs, patenting, administering and becoming an exam centre and then sell it to universities who would like an alternative to IELTS. Naturally, it won't be internationally recognised, but seeing as it is targeted at Thai students who wish to study locally this isn't an issue. The IELTS exam result only has a validity of two years anyway, so even those students don't lose out if they later wish to study or work abroad at a later date. I.E they can always sit the IELTS exam if after finishing their international degree in BKK they still wish to work/study abroad.
So, guess who has been selected to write it? Little old me plus another teacher (used to be an IELTS examiner). It is really exciting and challenging - completely different to writing corporate tests. Initially when news came out about this new project I was a little apprehensive. However, I couldn't resist so I stepped up to the challenge. Things like this always seem so daunting initially but then from experience I know that 'Rome wasn't build in a day' and we need to fight the little battles taking it one day at a time. In the end, with hard work and dedication things have always worked out for me. Everything and anything is possible :-) We have until Christmas to write it, trial it on current students just before and after they take the IELTS exam, check corresponding levels and band descriptors. Needless to say, once the exam has been written it will be closely scrutinized by each university's English departments and examining boards before opting to use our exam as an alternative.
The corporate work has also been picking up and I have had to put together loads of course outlines, student forms (ie. policies and procedures). Simultaneously, business material also needs developing.. so, yeah.. hands full! But having fun :-)

Not much else has happened this week - oh!- apart from finding my favourite Lilium flowers. Those lovely white oriental lilies with that intoxicating fragrance. Better still, from a little street cart, 5 stems cost only 2 euros. In the flower market in Porto, which was already much cheaper than anywhere else, I used to pay 16 euros for the same amount. Of course, that was four years ago. I am in heaven!!
I am going to Chatuchak market with my Thai friend tomorrow. My mission being to spend the last of this months money (pity it is the end of the month - I could do some serious damage!) on some house decorations. Yipee! Excited about that and expecting to get some mega discounts seeing as my friend will do all the bargaining instead of me.. the 'farang'. :-)

Food: Cabbages & Condoms

So this is one of our regulars and I decided to do a write on it. Well, 'Cabbages & Condoms?' I hear you ask.
Let me explain...

Thailand of course,is internationally reknowned for its good food. Here is a land which has developed the most amazing fiery and sensational dishes; spicy and fragrant creations laced with coconut; sex on a plate really!
"Who mentioned sex? I was thinking about cabbages!"

Well.... In Thailand, the cabbage is a familiar everyday food, as much a part of life as a tea-bag is in Ireland. Until recently, something equally familiar to the Thais was a huge birth rate, and the proliferation of AIDS. Yep, they were at it like rabbits, and society was struggling to cope.
If only condoms were as common as cabbages!
And hence - 'Cabbages and Condoms' :-)

This popular restaurant is run by Thailand's Population and Community Development Association, whose founder, former Thai senator Mechai Viravaidya, believes "birth control should be as cheap as cabbages"—hence the restaurant's name!
Viravaidya, whose Scottish father and Thai mother sent him to Australia to be educated, is Thailand’s leading philanthropist. His non-profit association backs birth control, environmental conservation, rural development and AIDS awareness. Although Viravaidya has held four cabinet posts in the government, his champion cause continues to be birth control. To this end, he wants to make condoms as common--and as accepted--as cabbages. He has passed them out to surprised bankers and CEOs at sober World Bank meetings and paid farmers to paint ads and public service announcements for condoms on the sides of their water buffalo. Thanks in part to his effort, Thailand’s birth rate has dropped below 1 percent a year.

The ambience in the restaurant is heavenly; tens of thousands of white fairy lights draped from the canopies, fluttering in the night breeze. Plenty of candles too, and the sounds of diners chatter, punctuated by noisy sizzling dishes wafting aroma into the night air. I was salivating. The restaurant is frequented by as many Thai couples/groups as Westerners. Wherever I go in the world, a useful barometer of reputation is the ratio of locals to tourists in a restaurant.
There are condoms everywhere, in frames on the walls, and under glass table tops. So many colours, so many patterns, ribbed, studded, and then some proper huge ones.
"After dinner mint guys?" Sorry, no mints here, aside from the bill, they always offer two condoms on the saucer! Its a nice touch (except if you are dining with your parents-in-law), and it reminds you of what they are trying to do.

My three favourite things: On the menu, they proudly boast 'our food is guaranteed not to cause pregnancy'!! Priceless! :-)
Upon leaving the restaurant there is a display offering condoms instead of after dinner mints. You can take your pick - 'Republican size' or 'Democratic size'. Erm... WHAT?? LOL - Which one are you???!
At the exit there is also a quick 101 Safe Sex lesson.. ie. a poster showing what sexual acts they consider to be OK or not without a condom - quite entertaining :-)

A free vasectomy from the clinic next door is one of the perks for males dining at Cabbages and Condoms. Be careful - don't have too much to drink and wander off next door!

So despite being very romantic, the restaurant doesn't really cater for couples (like us) who WANT to get pregnant - if you do - stay well away! The romantic atmosphere, foot massage, enchanting Thai music, sumptuous food and constant in your face reminders of sex are pretty misleading. You have been warned! LOL

PS - I have made a movie on this: Dailymotion and Picasa

Poetry: Born to Shine

RAFAEL
Born to shine
Don’t blow out the flame
The fuel of life
No matter the obstacles
No matter the challenges
Think, reflect
Share your internal light
Play and laugh
Opening your arms
Embrace the entire world
Explode with passion
Into emotions of love!

Born to be alive
Throughout our entire being
Physical, mind, soul
Gallop like an untamed horse
Wild as a comet crossing the sky
Moving beyond dreams
Growing, expanding
Into beautiful feelings!

Have the courage
Take the responsibility
To be different, unique
Assuming the adventure
To be as wild as all nature
Embrace the liberty
That will make you shine
Like any other star
Scintillating in the night!


Congratulations to Sandra, Antonio and Alex for their new family member Rafael (3820grs, 51cms) born at 03:00 on 12th August (the day after I had lunch with you in your garden). He is beautiful! Sandra, he clearly has your eyes, Alex's nose and the rest is undoubtedly Antonio.

Poetry: For You

Your smile is the warmth of the sun
Carefully unfurling my delicate wings
When our fingers touch and auras collide
I am a moonsbreath ... by your side

I quiver


Your heart is an enormous beacon
casting vessels of radiance into the fog
A safe haven to secure my soul
Under a sky of ... shooting acts of love

I twinkle


Your mind is a beautiful labyrinth
Keeping me forever enchanted
Hand in hand you reveal hidden delights
With future memories ... our lives unfold

I marvel


United we walk freely onwards
Building bridges from fallen stones
Steadfast we are each others strength
On our journey ... right here and now

WE grow old



To you Jo, on our four year anniversary. I love you :-)

Updates: Flowers

Today was my first day back at work after a few days off. I was actually looking forward to it but as fate would have it my body thought otherwise. Coming out of the lift I suddenly started seeing stars and a bottomless pit of darkness and felt a constricting feeling in my head... Alarm bells started ringing, I've had this before .... and I fainted. Luckily my private student (a dermatologist) was in the elevator with me and new immediately what to do. After what must have been a bit of fussing about I came to, had some water, breathed deeply and felt colour flowing back into my cheeks. Explanation? Period started yesterday, bit of pain and large blood loss - showing signs of anemia again. Damn! Thought I was over the whole operation thing. Had planned to start running again - guess I'll have to wait until next week.
I felt well enough to teach (one-to-one class). The topic was 'Taking Medical History', material I had written a few days ago and wanted to trial out. It was quite appropriate really and spent the next three hours discussing my health problems with my student practising and consolidating question forms, intonation, tenses and prepositional phrases.
I took a taxi home as I didn't feel confident enough to take the BTS. Didn't want to risk fainting amidst a whole lot of strangers. After some rest at home I felt as right as rain again (Hmmm, that must be an Irish expression - dunno where that came from! LOL). AMandio was also a sweetheart and came home early to tend to me with a lovely bunch of flowers he'd bought on the street in hand. Soup, chatting and a movie later I am feeling a lot more like my old self. Bed early I guess. I have a relatively easy day teaching again tomorrow. I'm going to see the doctor this week to discuss IVF and put a plan into action. Keep you posted :-)

Updates: Social Life

I seem to be falling a bit behind on blogging! Since we arrived back in Bangkok our social life has picked up tremendously. Impromptu romantic dinners together in the restaurants near our home after work, Sunday brunch at the Four Seasons, cosy wine dinners at an Italian restaurant and elaborate dinners entertaining friends at home.

Work is going well. Not quite as hectic as before the holidays (around 20 teaching hours per week). I went to the MBK centre (a budget shopping mall) recently and did loads of 'window' shopping - mentally spending thousands of Bhat! What's new. My exercise regime hasn't restarted yet. I am a bit lazy, but also really looking forward to being able to run 5kms again - it is such a rush - but I have to be determined and push past the initial tough stage building up my stamina again.

I have also started taking more pride in our home again, which is a great sign - my surroundings have always been a reflection of my soul. Organising all my films and photos is proving to be an arduous task. Don't have much choice as the memory space is running very low. The past few days I have been putting together a lot of video clips into one film and posting them both on Dailymotion and Picasa.

Poetry: Solidarity

Friendship holds out her hand
touching compassion's heart

giving solace to each soul
a haven for the weary

Let her tender touch
lead you gently back home

to rest your head upon
her pillow of understanding

Poetry: Why?

Inhale

Here I am
Left without you
My emptiness filling the void
I lost myself again


Missing the part of me you held


Feeling so small
Unable to find shelter in my words
A new life taken from me
My heart crippled and cold
Alone


Grasping to memories of future dreams


Finding myself in that place
Where God and man
Can never see eye to eye
Us just asking .... why

Exhale