Two years later

Monday marked the little fella's second birthday. Last year we celebrated back in the UK but this year for a number of reasons - notably my new job and the missus's big bump - it was Bangkok instead.

It is crazy how things can change in two and a bit years. I've been lucky to do a fair number of new things I'm proud of here in Thailand, I've probably done more than in the previous five years since graduating university. But nothing comes remotely close to the pride and love the missus and I have for the not-so-little-anymore fella.

From this...

...to this...

...in what seems like no time at all.

Here's to the next two years and beyond...with the next one due next month it'll be double trouble.

Red zone, Bangkok

I'm increasingly spending more time in Bangkok for work - whether that be writing, digital media or arranging my visa. This week it was a day trip on Thursday (on my own) and a return trip on Friday with the missus and little fella in tow.

Given it was Friday we decided to stay overnight to allow us to take the little fella around Bangkok both in the evening and for most of Saturday too.

Next day we headed down to the area-former-know-as-Central-Chidlom, now home to the main red shirt camp in Bangkok, around noon. With me the designated baby carrier (now that we're expecting again) photos are courtesy of my better half.

Before you ask, yes that is a red-shirt clapper in the little guy's hands.

Part out of fun, part out of the missus' sympathy for the reds (her mother is a fairly ardent supporter though my wife generally feels sorry and is understanding of the reds cause) we bought him a clapper.

Does this make him/us reds? Well...he is wearing a yellow t-shirt in red shirt HQ Bangkok...that should answer the question.

Yours truly on carrying duty (most definitely not my, or his, best picture)

Essential products for your average anti-government kitchen...I should probably add that we didn't buy either.

Last time I was here was for a (very) corporate press conference...couldn't be any different now.

There were plenty of monks around like this one with his holy water on wheels set-up.

The queue for a free lunch was unsurprisingly never ending around midday.

Pure contrast

Happy clapper

Board with messages, photos and letter of support

A rare English-language banner for the attention of international press like the camera man in shot.

A woman finds some shade whilst eating her lunch.

The main headline is dissolve parliament, which is supposedly the main focus of the protests (though this varies based on who you speak to)

Bonus pic...Bangkok's youngest Tuk Tuk driver...

Chinese New Year 2010

Today is Chinese new year, a big deal in Thailand where everyone seems to have Chinese blood in the family. The Missus's maternal grandfather is the China-link in the family, so I'm told.

For our little circle, Chinese New Year meant a visit to the local temple, noisey firecrackers (with subsequent tears from a 15 month old), a lot of delicious food and said 15 month old dressed in Chinese robes for large parts of the day.

That's two new years done, one more to go - Songkran, Thai New Year, runs 13-15 April. This year I'll be posting lots more photos and a write-up. I don't think I managed anything in 2009, was too busy having fun and water fighting.

Walk around the neighbourhood

Chris made a good point that I should post more pictures from life in Thailand. Guilty as charged.

With that in mind, here are a few shots from around my neighbourhood taken the daily morning walk with my little one.

Thanks to knowing some of the friendly neighbour we are allowed to go into the neighbouring private housing estate, here's the entrance.


The combination of a lot of grass/greenery with friendly neighbours makes it a great place to stretch his legs in the morning or evening.


He loves the chickens in the garden although he's yet to catch one, not for want of trying.



There are even a few well groomed peacocks strutting their stuff.


This is one of the main houses owned by a successful lawyer who is also a local politician - a handy person to know.


We stop by the Pasak River for some views and scenery.



Here's the Pasak looking East...



And West...


Back to the road we go, next stop home.

The Not So Little Monster

Now that he can walk and talk (albeit in gibberish) it is high time to upgrade his status to Not So Little Monster.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am now the proud owner of a fourteen month toddler. It's a heck of a lot more work and worry but it's definitely worth it - plus the in-laws are incredibly supportive too.

A few pics to mark the occasion.

Back up your hard drive...NOW

Just do it.

Take it from.

Today I lost all the data from my laptop which caught a virus after I borrowed a USB to help print a document.

Silly move.

Of course the work I have written is replacable with a little effort but, as I only backed up a small number of the near 1,000 pictures taken of the little one since his birth, I'm going to be missing lot of baby photos from my son's first year.

I'm not one to be overly sentiment but I was looking forward to going through them with him when he is older. Digital camera and seemingly endless digital storage enables parents to keep all kind of photos and videos of children - something that I can say, at the grand old age of 27, "didn't happen in my day".

This may in fact be music to his ear's as the by spearing him hours of agony as his dad goes through seemingly endless baby snaps which are a little over indulgent for him.

Either way I've learn the hard way and will be investigating back-up options. Expect to read something about that sometime soon.

Ironically I'm working on a cloud computing article, a concept of storing documents online - a concept which leaves documents unaffected by virus on computers.

Baby moonwalker

This has to be the best value baby product we've bought to date - beating more than a few worthy contenders.

It comes at a time when The Little One has just turned one - an age at which he has the energy and desire to rush around the place, sadly this isn't matched by his legs which allow half a dozen or so steps before sending him crashing down to earth.

The moonwalker (not a tribute to MJ) supports his weight, unlike reigns, allowing him to practice and train to wreak havoc and terror by walking completely unassisted - where the fun starts.

It is really simple to use too, it's wearable like a set of pants, with secure clicks providing safety and the puppet like strings to control and prevent tumbles and keep him on the straight, and hopefully, narrow.

Best part, The Missus found it on a Thai website for less than 300 baht (£6). Highly recommended, a true bargain and, most importantly, one happy little punter.

Back

And yes, I'm back.

Coming back in to Thailand this evening was a little strange, so far everything seems fresher. We definitely picked the right time for a break.

Usually we'd fly direct but, with the recent one year old birthday boy in tow, we decided a two legged approach may help break up the flight for him, making it easier for us. That was pretty much the case although the outbound flight proved difficult to satisfy the typical all-action, exploring needs of said one year old in the cramped environment of a plane.

The return leg was far easier being as it was around The Little One's bedtime meaning he spent a lot of the time sleeping and being pretty relaxed. Result.

One early observation of the trip is a renewed memory of why I hate so many of my fellow Brits. Much of the conversation and general rudeness and poor attitude of the flight was too much for me to bear.

Brits abroad.

Sadly I'm hitting the ground running this week so don't expect masses of updates (been a week already, after all) right away.

With Great Grandpa

This photo alone makes the 24 hours plus of travel time, jet lag, (many) tears and lack of sleep from our Thailand-UK roundtrip worthwhile.

For the record, that's an 86 year age gap - quite amazing.

Thai Mother's Day

Mother's Day in Thailand is the birthday of the reigning Queen (just as Father's Day is the King's birthday), after all, she is the Mother of Thailand. As Queen Sirikit's birthday falls on 12 August, today was วันแม่ (wan mae), or Mother's Day in English.

As a public holiday (so no work!) the day was spent enjoying quality time with The Little One and The Missus, lunch with the family and a trip to the Pasak Jolasid Dam in Saraburi with some extended family in tow.

Slight comedy was provided when The Missus was spotted by a student she taught when working as a university lecturer a few years ago.

After a brief chat with this awkwardly gangly, overly made up, excessively feminine girl, The Missus came back telling me how her former student could not believe she was settled down with a son and a foreign man. It was "quite a surprise" to her, apparently.

"The funny thing," The Missus said, "is that I really didn't recognise her at first, she used to be a boy when I taught her."

And with that, the gaggle of katoeys (lady boys) wandered off, giggling as they passed us by.

Sometimes you just have to laugh and remind yourself, This Is Thailand.

Raising children in Thailand

It's amazing how many emails I get asking for advice about moving to Thailand.

I don't do individual case studies and, even if I did, moving to a foreign country is not a decision to be made lightly, it can ony be made by the individual themself.

Assuming you want to be sociable and non-reclusive, the one thing a foreign arrival to Thailand needs is thick skin. If you plan of living away from towns with an established foreign population, such as of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket or even Udon Thani, then make that skin extra thick because you are gonna need it!

In towns with low numbers of foreigner you will be a novelty value. You'll quickly come to learn, and regularly hear, 'farang' - the Thai word for foreigner - and you can expect to be photoed, gossiped about and starred at every day.

Now factor in a child and multiply the levels of patience until they are almost off the scale.

I've blogged about being talk of the town before, it doesn't overly bother me plus my life, Missus and Little One, is here in Thailand so I have to accept some things I don't like, so long as they are harmless.

However, lately I've seen a few things that have tested my patience and self-declared thick skin. They've also made me realise that, although I enjoy my life here in Thailand, it won't be a permanent stay as we have plans to head back to London 'at some point'.

I won't overly bore you with the details but one scene was played out during a visit to the hospital for the latest of Little One's scheduled vaccinations.

As a shy man at heart, I begrudgingly accept the stares when the three of us go to the local hospital - after all, there aren't many foreigners here in Saraburi, and fewer still with Anglo-Thai kids, particularly as cute as mine.

However, what is beyond my tolerance is a standing in the doorway to the private vaccination room to shamelessly gawp at my child receiving his injection. A combination of floods of baby tears (ask any parent about how it feels to watch your child cry), the lack of privacy and sheer outrage at this woman's actions saw my 'jai yen' (cool heart) combust and a volley of Thinglish expletives and hand gestures rain on this woman. I was so pumped that I was, literally, shaking with anger.

Even for Thai standards the behaviour was absolutely disgraceful and I spent a few days wondering whether this country is for me, 'how quickly can we fly home?'. I've since calmed down, just about.

The Missus and I have never been 100% sure on our future. We've always been interested in returning to London, it's all about the Little One and we're playing it by near now as we look at what we could do.

I've always felt a town where the attention, gossip and starring from locals is too much for many adult foreigners, is not an ideal place to raise a half English child to be normal. When even just a trip to the market produces such attention, it's hardly the environment to keep a young child balanced.

Then there are the schools. I could write a thesis on the subject but you'll have to make do with a new post at a later date - particularly given that, as I current work as a teacher, my comments will need to be carefully positioned.

So while I do love life here in Thailand - the food, language, weather and lifestyle - we aren't putting roots down here just yet. It's all about the Little Man.

I'd love to hear the views on some of these issues from other expats raising children in Thailand.

Proud

Had to post this video of my little man singing in his cot because I think it's adorable and it makes me very proud. It's hard to believe he is only 7 months old.

The new party trick is to stand up holding the bar on the cot. He can't quite get up there himself so, for now, he relies on the missus or I helping him up there.

I think he's telling me he needs a bigger bed.

Happy half birthday to my little monster

My little man's half birthday (six months) fell yesterday, Saturday, but I was unable to post due to ongoing internet access issues from my ISP, TT&T - not flavour of the month with me.

It was a good excuse for some delicious Thai cake, although Little Monster didn't partake - hardly the same fresh out of a blender is it?

So here is a little photo of my li'l hero to mark the occasion.

Four months ago today

It's hard to believe that four months ago today I become a Dad with the arrival of my little man, Tobias, to be honest it feels longer!

I still vividly recall waking up in the hospital the next morning, 19 October, to be greeted by an enormous grey hair protruding from my dark brown fringe. It looked me straight in the eye and screamed WELCOME TO PARENTHOOD SIR! Not seen any more greys since then although in time they will come, no doubt.

I'm so proud of my son and the Missus and I just can't picture life without him. So I couldn't let this landmark slide without posting a cute photo of the man of the moment, could I?

Passing the four month mark is also the perfect time for me to discuss my experiences of Thai culture and the differences of life here compared to the UK. 

Just living here alone is hugely different let alone bring up a child as you can see from this great post from Canadian expat Lana on her blog, Serrated Edges. 

Lana gives gives an excellent overview of some of the key differencing in parenting Thai-style versus the more traditional Western way, including: transport safety, skin tones, the role of grandparents and the reaction of the community to her brood. 

Look out for a soon-to-come post from me on the subject.

Children's Day In Thailand - 10 January

Last Saturday (10 January) was Children's Day, a date dedicated to children across Thailand. It’s probably comparable to Christmas, which most of Thailand doesn’t celebrate, as kids get presents and there are shows across the country.

That meant no usual Saturday lie-in for yours truly, in fact I was up at 5.30 am looking after The Little Monster (below) so the missus could catch on her sleep. 

We then set off for the local wat (temple) at 8.00 am where we presented the monks food which my good lady had prepared. In turn, they blessed TLM with holy water and prayers. The wat was teaming with families up early to bless their children and loved ones. I don't take photos inside the wat as it is a little disrespectful but a picture of it from the road is below. 

After the wat we jumped in the car and drove to popular tourist spot Ayutthaya, about an hour and a half away, for a day of site seeing. Although I tend to steer clear of tourists this is a definite must for any visitor to Thailand. 

Ayutthaya was once the capital of Siam and it contains some of Thailand’s most spectacular ruins within the historical park.

Elephants are also a major site to see in the town. As well as elephant shows, visitors to Ayutthaya can get a unique site of the place with an elephant ride through the streets.

As we have a little one we didn’t take this offer, although it is quite novel enough to be a passenger in a car which is giving way to an elephant taxi.

This was a gentle introdution to Childrens' Day, I fully expect next year to be much more energetic as the little man will be just over a year old.

Best Of 2008 Meme

I don't usual do them but Chris from My Egg Noodles tagged me in his Best Of 2008 meme and, as I haven't written anything about this crazy year, it seems like a good idea to me...

1. One of my fondest memories of 2008 was:

The feeling I got boarding a plane with a one-way ticket to Bangkok from London.

 

Other highlights include being crowned Hotwire’s 100m sprint champion (read it and weep Masih), chilling in Sicily with my brother and the Hotwire away-weekend in Paris (the Algerians in Sacre-Coeur!).

 

2. One of the happiest moments for me in 2008 was:

The birth of my son, Tobias, on 18 October 2008. A load of cute photos here.

 

3. The best album I downloaded/bought in 2008 was:

The Stanton Session by Stanton Warriors. Not new in 2008 but highly recommended nevertheless. They have the Midas touch.

 

4. The best book I read in 2008 was:

Struggled with books this year but Danny Wallace’s ‘Friends Like These’ was enjoyable and I am still getting through Sir Ranulf Fiennes’ autobiography ‘Mad, Bad And Dangerous to Know’ and ‘Twenty Something’ by Ian Hollingshead.

 

5. The best movie I watched in 2008 was:

‘I Am Legend’ – released late 2008 but I watched it in 2009, I think.

 

6. The most beautiful place I visited in 2008 was:

Difficult to choose between Barcelona, Paris, Sicily, Chiang Mai and other Thai cities – a great year for travelling!

 

7. The best quote I heard/received in 2008 was:

There have been a few but one springs to mind as it is useful for life in general...

 

“Just don’t fuck up” – from a senior boss on my first day at Hotwire. I’m not sure I kept my side of that one!

 

8. The best gadget I bought for myself in 2008 was:

My laptop, Acer Aspire 2930Z. The days of desktops are behind me.

 

9. The best website I came across in 2008 was:

Predictably (for those who know me) I can’t live without BBC Football. FootieTube is another – essential viewing for anyone wanting to catch up on action.

 

10. The luckiest moment for me in 2008 was:

I can’t think of any specific events of great fortune but I survived 2008, a year that got pretty crazy at times!

 

11. A new food/drink I discovered that I really enjoy:

Soya Milk, Som-Tam and SangSom – originally discovered in London but better acquainted with in Thailand.

 

12. The best restaurant I dinned at in 2008:

Esarn Kheaw, Shepherd’s Bush, London – the best Thai in the capital and my first taste of authentic Thai food.

 

13. The best bargain I picked up in 2008:

The Hugo Boss shirts from London, my Tiger trainers or the countless buys from ASOS.

 

14. The best blog post I wrote in 2008 was:

It was only born in October so far too young for highlights.

 

15. A blog I discovered in 2008 which I highly recommend is:

The Lost Boy was the first Thailand ex-pat blog I came across. Although Matt has moved on from Thailand his blog remains a recommended read.

 

16. The best Xmas present I received in 2008 was:

Thais don’t really do Christmas but the photo of my family back home in the UK was a favourite.

 

17. My 2008 addiction was:

My BlackBerry – RIP, it departed when I left my job in London. Gone but not forgotten, we will be reunited some day.

 

18. A goal in 2008 that I did not accomplish:

Not going to Las Vegas. After planning and running projects for CES 2008 and CTIA 2008 trade shows I was hoping to get out there for at least one of them.

 

19. But that’s okay, because I did accomplish:

Finally started a blog after two years of um-ing, err-ing and lost thoughts. 

In other news...I moved to Thailand, but we know that already, right?

 

20. The website I visited most in 2008:

iGoogle, my personal window to the internet.

I'm going to attempt to send this meme to global (UK, Finland, Australia) by tagging Big Tim, X, Dom, Ben and Emily.

Woolies woe

I'm going to be the one squillionth person to say how sad I am to hear that Wollies has entered administration.

I hope it's still around in current form when I am back in the UK so I can at least relive my childhood pick'n'mix memories with The Little One, a little for myself too - rude not to.

Babies & F1

Reflecting on looking after The Little One helped me produce 5 reasons why caring for a baby is just like Formula 1.

• Babies are like drivers - you want to find one? Look for the gaggle of doting women, some of whom will be holding parasols to keep the sun away.



• Like babies, drivers are pampered so that they every need is covered.



• Babies, like drivers, let everyone in the vicinity know when they is just the slightest thing wrong with their set-up. Then it's all hands to the pump with a dedicated personal assistant.



• Feed time is just like refueling an F1 car. Car/baby put in position, refuel agent added and off he/she/it goes



• Nappy changing time is just like a pit stop. Baby/car put into a stationary position (handbrake engaged) and the old clothes are removed to be replaced but a new clean set and off he/she/it goes.

Lewis Hamilton would be more than happy to own this speedster, it's the fastest thing on the block here...and certainly the only one with suspension!

Luk Kreungs

Luk kreung (half Thai) babies are doted on by Thai society. The majority of the country's celebrities are half-Western (for exampke), and they are a fascination to the people with their mixture of Eastern and Western looks and personas. For marketing people they fuse a dream combination which offers a Western influence (which is still seen as being cooler) and yet relate to 'everyday' Thais.

Now Nong Ling ('Little Monkey', aka The Little One) had scarcely been in the world for a few hours and already there were a queue of people who had heard a Farang (foreign) baby was being born, and they wanted to check him out.

This is the excitement, which includes me being stopped around the hospital and asked (in Thai) how the baby is getting on.

It went so far that, whilst we were in the market before he was born, random people would come up to The Missus and ask how it was all going and when they could see him.

People truly are excited to see him in this town and long may that continue.