Breakfast Thai Style

I'll have a bunch of photos to publish - but thought I'd give a sneak preview. Its mad here - completely wild, outrageous - with all the elements I know Adrian would hate - so like Egypt with the stalls and markets and being led down little paths into homes to view bags and shoes. Stuff you'd NEVER do at home and probably shouldn't here.. but you do. Haggling with marketeers for everything - its so invigorating - makes me feel so alive and vibrant and laugh out loud. Bantering with the good marketeers who see I have done this before and am treating this as a game - as I check prices - check out things a few times during the day and they greet me like a long lost friend.... just makes me smile thinking about it.

Its definitely a singles place to experience. I think our kids would be ok - but just a bit young at the moment - perhaps as they are tweens...

Rushing about everywhere on Tuk Tuks ( sort of like min vans with the sides punched out - or utes with a sort of top on it - but comfy lounge chair seats.) - Doesn't matter where you are going - its 200 Baht ( $8) .I know I am being ripped off - its probably more like 50 baht - but man these guys have got to feed families and make a living. and if I am too damned lazy to walk I deserve to have to pay.

Crossing the road - you take your life in your hands ( a bit like the middle or Rome - you just close your eyes and walk and pray... or follow a little black mumma) - scooters and motorbikes EVERYWHERE. no road rules ( like Greece a bit)

Phuket is a pure delight. I can't imagine anyone cooks at home - the place just comes alive at night with the markets and the food places being peddled ( literally) around. Photos just don't do the expanse of eating places justice. It stretches on and on.. really.

Here is breakfast Phuket style. He rides a little scooter and she cooks as he is going along - people just put their money out as they go past and food is exchanged with a smile. like I said .. its mad and I am grinning like an idiot. Makes me remember what a fantastic time we had traveling...

Swine Flu Shuts down School

Far out - things have taken a serious note here with the swine flu. Forgive me for sounding just a tad ... ummm skeptical... but its a bit noticable that as soon as we have low stocks of flu vaccine, that a new terrible flu gets discovered and horror of horrors - we all need to be vaccinated.

Despite our borders strictest surveillance - it only took two weeks for the swine flu to get in and start spreading. Schools are bing closed down - and Morgans school is just one of these. We have all been a bit under the weather and to be honest because I am off overseas I did take us all to the doctors to be checked up. Kids were fine - recovering - but I got some antibiotics ... and then I got really sick - tow lots later and a series of prednosone, still wheezing and crook as a chook. makes me so mad - esepcailly as I thought we were doing everythign - well 'right' as far as health.

So Morgans school called all of its 3000 students on Thursday the 18th late in the evening to tell everyone not to come to school till further notice. It was kind of a blessing anyway. Morgan was getting way tired. He had been taking days off for over a month and although loves school, jsut was tired and beat.

Symptoms of the swine flu include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. The 2009 outbreak has shown an increased percentage of patients reporting diarrhea and vomiting... so umm - like I said - just like a normal flu.

I think people should take flu seriously in anycase - not go to work and not send thier kids to school. If you are sick - stay the hell away from everyone.

We went to seaworld and to movieworld and had some really lovely days just hanging out. I was still pretty flu ridden and low energy but I think the kids had a good time.

Off to Grandmas on Monday - Kids staying there for three weeks. An adventrue for everyone I think.

The Terror at the Disco

We went to the Lollypops disco again tonight and I danced again to all the old stuff. Was knackered afterwards though. Kids were armed this time with glow sticks and had a hoot.... all except for one incident.

Very sadly there was a girl there about 8 years old who was clearly a bully. My kids came over a few times telling me she was calling them names and pushing them. I told them just to stay away from her. The kid went too far - twice - she apparently hit a smaller girl who came crying to her mother, who was sitting next to me. We comforted the little girl and gave her the same advice I had given mine and sent her on her way. We chatted briefly to each other and shook our heads.

And then I saw the little witch at the bottom of the slide. She kicked and punched each child as they slid down the slide. I nearly exploded. The girl took a swipe at Morgan just as I walked up to her. I didn't touch her but glared at her and said in my meanest teacher voice - "Are you supposed to be doing that?" She just smuggly looked at me, making me want to slap her face. I think that was the worst bit - if she looked a bit sheepish or sorry, I may have crumbled... maybe.... I very evenly asked her to tell me where her mother was straight away...... she shrugged and a little louder I said Show me where your mum is I want to talk to her right now.

the kid broke and ran howling off to her mother - who was sitting in a spot she really aught to have seen the whole thing.( and other incidences). As calmly as I could I looked at the mother and said." I hope you can help me out here. I was wondering the best way to ask your daughter to stop punching and kicking the babies and small children on the play equipment." ( if there had been a cartoonist there - they may have drawn hooting blasts of hot air out my ears and horns growing out of my head) The poor lady was shocked and asked her little toe rag child who was smothering into her breasts crying what she had been doing. The mother of the little girl from before came over with her child crying as well and told her what she had seen, the wails of her two year old punctuating the fact.

I did notice the little girl sat on her seat beside her mother much of the rest of the night, shooting hateful glances at me. Little cow. if I had not said anything - or approached her - what might have happened? where were other parents whos children were also being kicked?