The Mays’ Weblog

Hi again, Andrew here.

After nearly a year of living in the land of massage we eventually managed to get some pampering at one of the most expensive locations in Chiang Mai, and all free of charge, which always makes life taste that little bit sweeter doesn’t it?

By a series of contacts, the details of which I have enquired about but don’t truly comprehend, we ended up having our children looked after by our lovely friends and neighbours, the Jacksons of Wellington (NZ) and went off to the Spa today at 4.00 in the afternoon (the escape was a luxury in itself). We had been given to believe that we were needed as models, yes that is correct I said Models, for a brochure that the Spa were producing. They wanted some extras in the background in the ‘baby massage’ section and we were they. On arriving we were told that they had finished the baby filming (oh yes; movie and stills….) but would love us to be photographed anyway. I was given a robe and then was required to relax in a fantastically comfortable chair while my feet were washed (for about 20 mins - they must have thought they were dirty) in scented water and then massaged for a further 30 mins with oil. I noticed that Esther was watching closely and can only hope that she absorbed some of the technique. I really feel that it could be an enhancement to our marriage if she were to offer this service to me after I get home from work……)

Following that we both had an oil massage. I got the back and legs done while Esther got the feet and face. Esther’s only complaint was that in having both ends done at the same time she could not decide on which part to focus her faculties of enjoyment.
We were then asked graciously if we would not mind ever so much going in the sauna for some further shots. We had to make smiling small talk for about half an hour while they did their thing (no small achievement when you have been married 14 years…)

After two and a half hours we were released accompanied by their profuse appreciation for our trouble and we were told that we could go back again at no expense for the full works but without the bother of the cameras. A right result we thought! But only correct; after all, I think they rushed my left arm a bit….

Yours greasily, Andrew

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Adrian

Hi again - Andrew here this time. It is a very wet Sunday evening. The rain has arrived after months of sunshine and it is a very big relief. It has been raining solid for about 3 days now - not too heavy but enough to drop the temperature from 38 down to 26 - lovely I can tell
you!
This has been a easy week with Monday and Thursday off school - great! I have no idea why really….probably some Thai or American holiday…who cares, the result is the same. Monday we went to ObKhan National park just 20 mins down the road and swam in the gorge there. It has been so dry that the river is about 1m lower as it goes through the rocks and bits that were previously unswimmable due to strong currents (yes mum we are very sensible really!!) we were able to explore.
In the evening jacob went to Scouts as usual and jumped up 2 levels in one evening from Tenderfoot (American scouts name) to First Class Scout (there are about 4 levels above it though which have names like Eagle and stuff…).
We are having a bit more time after school to go down to the Fitness suite (impressed?) now that the swimming season has begun as jacob and Mollie are both in the squad and training 3 times a week. We chuck the others in the pool with the dingy (rubber boat - how is it spelt?) and
sneak off like caring parents (not far Mum - just up the steps and round the corner….).

Thursday morning we slithered down to the snake farm and saw some great snakes and other reptiles like dinosaur things ( the name escapes me at the moment). Nice looking brutes that photographed well. One rather alarming feature of the place was that most of the snake cages had doors with the sort of padlocks you would expect to find in a Christmas cracker. What is more most of them were not even locked and could have been opened in seconds by any small child. We are talking large pythons, cobras, vipers etc. The show was good at the end and jacob and Luke had their photo taken with a python around their necks (it was perfectly safe mother..really…)

Esther made her debut teaching the 7th grade (12-13yrs) on Friday! My AP Physics class have exams on Monday and I wanted time with them to do a bit of last minute training so she stepped in - I was proud! She taught them all about aseptic wound treatment with a demonstration
involving ketchup and a student’s leg. She taught it to 2 separate classes. I am planning her further involvement. She has confided that she enjoyed it. (Just on the quiet, with the other two science teachers leaving after this term and no definite replacements lined up she may
be getting more work than she wants - don’t mention a thing to her mind!)

4 weeks to go until the end of this school year and the graduation ball - who shall I ask to go with me? What a dilemma! What shall I wear? Oh the trials of youth…

Esther has gone to bed. I have worn her out with my boring conversation. We have 1 lesson in Thai every week here at home and have to practice speaking to each other. The only problem is that with our limited vocabulary (’how many children have you got’, ‘what is your name’, ‘do you like boiled egg?’, ‘what do you buy at the market?’ etc) and the fact that we know the answers anyway, the conversation does not really drip with fascination for either of us. When we try to stray from the learned material we either have to fill in with French words or if desperate, English. French always sounds like a gesture in the right direction so is used where possible.

And with that, and the fact that Esther is calling me from above,

Sawat dee Kraap, bon nuit, and cheers from me for now.
Andrew.XX