There are a number of reasons why I have not posted much here for some time. I am sorry to say that one factor undoubtedly has been the increasing frustration I have felt at work. Sorry to say it has become a bit of a nightmare with management changes and high levels of incompetence. Sort of stuff that I have found very challenging and made me ask questions about whether it is in our interests to stay here for much longer. So it hasn't been paradise! Of course I am nevertheless a very busy person with a wife, two kids and of course a continuing love of birds and wild life. These have been my priorities and focus.
It's a simple, undeniable truth that I could never have made a better choice of a wife than Luna. I am a fortunate fellow in this respect. I can say loudly that I am a happily married man. I am also happy I was born male; the demands our two kids place on their mother, and I imagine they are little different from the demands children in general place on their mothers, are huge and Luna goes about it all in her usual gentle and calm manner. We don't have any help at home either, so Luna works and then comes home and works. Hopefully we'll find someone to help us and that will alleviate some of the burden. Luna recently celebrated her 40th birthday.
Our kids are strong and healthy and happy. Benedict is growing into quite a character and he is a real conversationalist, enquirer and mimic. ("What doing, Daddy?", "What this Daddy?"........) He goes to nursery school where a large component of his tuition is in English so we don't hear him using much Thai. He's a very handsome little boy with a fair complexion and a head of curly hair. He loves Ben 10 and TV cartoons. His sister, Margaret, is now eight months old; she is undoubtedly my child as she has very white skin. However she is undoubtedly her mother's daughter, too, and one of the joys of my life is observing the interaction between the two. Our children attract enormous attention and interest wherever we go, almost to the point where we could describe them as minor celebrities. It really is amazing .......... strangers often ask if they can take a picture of our kids and of course Benedict knows how to screw up his face and be a monster in such circumstances!
We are currently on a longer than usual school vacation. It really was long over due and very much needed. Right now we are on the road, in Trat, in eastern Thailand, close to the Cambodian border and we are heading to the island of Koh Kood for a few days of rest and relaxation. On my first trip to Thailand almost 14 years ago my first visit outside of Bangkok was to the nearby island of Koh Chang. Then I came through Trat and I have to say I have very little recollection of the place as I literally passed through. One change has been the addition of a large Tesco Lotus store which we visited last night.......!
Whatever, we are still here. Overall our lives are very busy but good. Thailand is a great place to have kids and the positives of living here far outweigh the negatives. Work remains difficult but we shall see what next semester brings and proceed from there.
