1st  September

Hmm.. September sounds so autumnal ... but it's so hot, ...hard to believe. School is now well underway and as busy as usual. Lots to see and do and so little time to sit here writing this diary.

2nd  September

Had tour of Bangkok University. I was impressed with the buildings and the campus. The lecturers have microphones even if they are in very small, classroom sized rooms. The students have a uniform just like ordinary schools.

3rd  September

Full campus assembly addressed by our new headmaster, Dr Beresford Hill.

4th  September

Didn't realise just what was south of here. Have often travelled in other directions but never down to the region wher the river meets the sea.

Saw Samut Prakan Wat and visited the Crocodile farm.

 

5th  September

Rainy season is here good and proper. It's OK coming back into Happyland as the taxi drives through the floods no problem. .. but getting out can be a soggy experience as you need to wade through the flood to reach the main road where you can catch a taxi.

6th  September

Trying hard to spice up this diary I once again resort to an email received from Nick:

"Not much happening really, unless you count the incident that happened on board that BA flight recently.

The cabin crew accidentally switched on the announcement that said that the plane was about to crash. The passengers stayed fairly calm, all except one woman who stood up and began to shout, "I can't die yet, no one has made a real woman of me." So one of the men stood up, ripped off his shirt and threw it to her shouting, "I'll make a woman of you. Iron this."

That's all."

8th  September

Occasionally I get an email that's not intended for me. Some sort of wrong number I guess. Here's the latest:

Hi,

I am interested in your services for my wedding reception on 11/20/99, Saturday. I am located in Youngstown, OH (outside Cleveland).  Please let me know if you are available & what your fees & services are as soon as possible.

9th  September

Today's the ninth of the ninth ninety nine!

10th  September

Lamb Kong, the new building, finally opened tonight. A huge affair which attracted hundreds of people due to the fact that they were giving away free food and drink.

Since the original Lamb Kong burnt down a few months ago, we have been watching the construction of the new building with eager anticipation. It's huge and to cope with the grand opening many extra staff had been recruited. The down side was that they couldn't really cope with the numbers and service was very slow. I ordered food at 9:30pm which didn't arrive till midnight.

Needs a couple of days to settle down I guess.

11th  September

Joined a friend at some unearthly hour this morning for a jog around Lumpini Park in the centre of Bangkok followed by a mass outdoor aerobics session. It was more of a dare really but it's one of those things you can say in years to come,,, "I was there."

12th  September

Latest news from The Sahotas:

13th  September

Latest news from Nick:

Hello

Hopefully this should reach you.......from us at the Corfu Internet Cafe on the island of Corfu, Greece. Weather here , wish you were lovely...

Speak soon

Nick and Greeny(fresh and tight)

14th  September

Borrowed electric drill from school to put holes in walls here in house for pictures. Got arrested by guards as I left the school as I didn't have a release paper for taking school equipment out of school. Ah well .. the damage is done!

15th  September

Latest news from Shep:

The organisers of the Millennium Dome have asked 30,000 members of the
public to vote for 100 things they feel should be in the Dome.  They will go in the
National Identity Zone, and should characterise Britain.  The most popular choice
was Princess Diana.  Scouting and Guiding came in at number 57, ahead of Rolls Royce, Marks and Spencer, Cream teas, Black Cabs and The Monarchy!  (Daily Mail, 12 September)

16th  September

Hello Mr. Tranter.

This is a, admitted, rather strange enquiry, but I was using the Altavista search-machine with the words : Birmingham and christmas, and your school came up, so I wondered if you could/would confirm the following statement: I've read an article here in Denmark stating, that there's no more public Christmas decorations in Birmingham; apparantly not to annoy the muslim population. Is this really true? Feel free to tell me about other similar changes.

Best regards

Peder Skodborggaard

17th  September

Now back in England, if two blokes came to your front door and said " Mornin' Guvna ... we've come to sweep the roof", you wouldn't give them the time of day... but here in Thailand that's exactly what's just happened and as I type this they are up there sweeping away!

B.T.W... they didn't say "Mornin' Guvna" ... it was more of a "Sawasdee kap".

18th  September

Probably the most dangerous thing I've done since I've been here. This evening I was taken for a boat ride down the canal (river?) which runs from the World Trade Centre to Bangkapi. Large boats do this route all day but after 7:30pm, the large boats stop running and small thin speed boats take over.

We got into the seats... wait... they weren't seats but slots in the floor of the boat. It was really uncomfortable but that was the least of the worries as the boat shot off at at least 50mph down this very dark narrow canal. If anything had been in the way we were surely doomed as there was no way this boat could stop very quickly. The only concession to safety was that occasionally a very bright light would be shone out ahead but this did nothing to ease the tension of the ten passangers.

This was not a tourist boat. All the passengers were locals aiming to beat the delays of Bangkok's notorious traffic. I tried to take some pictures but it was too dark and I was certainly not in a vantage point to see much anyway. The photo below is the only one I got of the boat and I've had to lighten this picture in Paintshop Pro!

19th  September

Bangkok Post  .. today:

Baht's fall brings various reactions

Though the weakened baht, which on Thursday touched 40 to the dollar again for the first time in over a year, means increased costs for importers, local farmers and exporters are more enthusiastic.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Thailand has asked the public not to panic about the weakening baht as doing so would cause confusion and aggravate the situation.

Today's figure means I've lost exactly a hundred pounds since a couple of weeks ago.

20th  September

"So I rang up my local swimming baths. I said 'Is that the local swimming baths?'

He said 'It depends where you're calling from.'"

21st  September

Getting my Thai driving licence today. Apparently I just need to do a colour blindness test. Mike says they ask you to recognise colours through your own interpreter ... so if your interpreter isn't colour blind you're OK!

22nd  September

Dear Whizza, just browsing the internet when I came upon this interesting, but little known fact about the Titanic:
   .............I suspect  that there  are a good many stories related to the sinking of the "Titanic." Some have  just come to light due to the success of the recent movie. One, for example, is that most people don't know that in 1912, Hellman's mayonnaise was manufactured in England.    The "Titanic" was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after New York City.  The people of Mexico eagerly awaited  the first delivery and were very upset at the news of the sinking....So much so that they declared a national day of mourning which they still observe today. It is known, of course, as "Sinko de Mayo".

H&K
Sam Price

Hmmm ... don't get it!

p.s. Don't ask why she calls me Whizza!  ... It's a long story that I've completely forgotten

23rd  September

Sonia, one of my Year 13 students, is an increadibly talented person. She is very good at all her academic subjects, is a gifted singer and an amazing artist. Here's one of her cartoons:

24th September

As it was raining, the show at the worlds largest restaurant, in the next street wasn't running so we had dinner at the top of the world's tallest hotel. This was followed by drinks and dancing at Planet Hollywood, Bangkok... which unfortunately is not the biggest in the world ... I don't think!

25th  September

Guess where I was today. It was in Bangkok. I've taken a photo to give you a clue!

 

26th  September

Bortanewbike:

27th  September

Pauline (Maths Teacher) sent me this:

BREAKING NEWS

Yesterday scientists revealed that beer contains small traces of female hormones.

To prove their theory, the scientists fed 100 men 12 pints of beer and observed that 100% of them gained weight, talked excessively without making sense, became emotional, couldn't drive, and refused to apologize when wrong. 

No further testing is planned.

28th  September

Played Tennis