1998
Diary for December
30th November
- 4th December
-SCHOOL RESIDENTIAL TRIP TO KHAO YAI-
About 200 km northeast from Bangkok lies Khao Yai, one of the country's largest National Parks. A large modern resort near the southern border of the park was the setting for the Year 7 residential trip.
Over 100 pupils and a dozen staff enjoyed a range activities including canoeing, hill walking, cycling, orienteering and swimming.
Special mention here for Simon... The Campus PE Director ... he found this diary and wrote:
JT
just spent the last 20 mins reading your diary - "gripping stuff", " a thoroughly good read", "captures completely the Thailand that I know" SIS - TOP WORK!!! Just 1 criticism: I looked up the Khao Yai trip to see if i'd had a good time, but there's nothing there! Get on top of your game.... again , great stuff. from one who is old enough to appreciate Spike Milligan, you clearly have a new fancheers
So I will now officially report that Simon did have a good time and gave an Oscar winning performance as the arms of "Tiny Tim" in the sketch the staff performed at the Talent Show on the final evening.
***
5th December
- 6th December
Spent the weekend in bed with a bad dose of gastroentiritus. What a waste of a couple of
days.
7th December
Public holiday for the King of Thailand's Birthday.
Thanks to Jon and Claire for the following:
A PENSIONER who admitted driving a bicycle powered by a lawnmower engine while he was over the drink-drive limit has been fined £100.
Norton Astley, 70, had built the 10mph cycle to save his legs from pedalling in the Derbyshire hills near his home.
As well as fining him yesterday, Bakewell magistrates gave him a conditional discharged for a year and endorsed his driving licence with six penalty points.
Clare Dolman, for the prosecution, said that two police officers had seen Astley astride the bicycle in a pub car park and were surprised to see him turn on to the main road and ride up a hill without pedalling. They decided to take a closer look and pulled him over and heard a sound of an engine coming from a trailer towed behind the bike, Ms Dolman said.
When officers asked if he had been drinking, Astley replied: "Of course I have." He told police he travelled three miles a day on the bike, which experts found to be extremely dangerous, magistrates heard.
Astley, from Tideswell, near Buxton, admitted drink-driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance. He said that, had he known the bike was illegal, he would never have driven it.
8th December
Staff Christmas party, poolside at the Novotel. There was a draw during the evening for a bottle of champagne. I had ticket number one so there was no chance I'd win it as number one never gets picked.
I won the bottle of champagne!
9th December
Christmas Celebration in the Auditorium at school. Carols and such like I think.
I say I think because I didn't actually get there. Myself and Mike were taken by some of the Thai staff at school to experience new restaurants and yet another late night live music venue.... very late but good.
10th December
Maths teacher's Christmas happy hour at my house! Started at 5pm so by 10pm I was fit for nothing else but an early night.
11th December
School final assembly. How will Santa arrive this year? He's dropped in by helicopter, arrived on an elephant and other strange means of transport in previous years... what will it be this year?
He appeared on the roof of school and was
rescued by a fire engine... well that was the plan. The main fire engine had been called
off to a real fire so we had the smaller version turn up to rescue Santa... but it
couldn't quite reach the roof!
12th December
Late night flight to UK via Dubai on Emirates.
13th December till 2nd January 1998
Back in England for Christmas
For all the mathematical readers.... what does this expression mean?