Lottie

She is now walking and nearly always smiling, but she has just realised if she screams/cries if she doesnt get her way, it may make a difference. She loves going out around the village, in the morning she plays on our bed until Paa says "by dtea-o" (go visiting), then she gets very excited. Comes back for a sleep at about 11am, a bath which she loves and eating rice congee (thick rice soup with finely minced pork). All the other children make a fuss of her, as do all the women in the village, and many of the men. She is a very happy child.

Pattaya to see Craig and Terry

Unfortunately Craig and Terry didnt have too much time so werent coming to visit me, so I had to visit them while they were in Thailand. We did the usual, went to the island, went to the big Buddha on the hill, we went down the coast to a beach at Sattahip, eating seafood at Bang Seray, and also drinking excessive amounts interspersed with breakfast and dinner, and playing a lot of pool. It was really nice to see them again, I hadnt seen terry for 5 months and craig for a year and a half. Aussie Paul hooked up with us as well. And a couple of other friends Jamie and Roger were around so we had a great time.

My Fishing Pond

I have been wanting a fishing pond behind the house for two years. However my mother in law said that it is unlucky to have one behind the house, even though many people have them behind the house. She finally relented however. After some negotiation and Paa showing a lack of bartering skills, I managed to get a digger organised.

Lottie's First Birthday

From a small party, suddenly we had a sound system, marquee, monks coming round to eat and bless Lottie and us. In Thailand any excuse is good enough for a party. I felt that we should just have a small party for Lottie with children and cake. Paa wanted to feed everybody and have a lot of drink as well.

Childrens' Day

Thailand has a Childrens' Day, the local school, put on a show. Various people sponsored various things, my friend Ron from the next village did the ice cream, I paid for a few hudred packets of crisps and various other people sponsored other things.

Paa's Brother becomes a Monk

To bring good luck to the family, boys around 20 years old sometimes become a monk for a week, weeks or month/s. Paa's brother did so this year. So after a party, he went to the temple.