Week 24 (I think) - Busy Busy Busy

I have been really slack with keeping this blog up to date, it’s been over a month since my last entry.  In that time lots has happened but I will focus on the main points.

Work has been very busy, trying to get all the lectures prepped before I left for the UK, also had to write a quiz for the 4th year students.  It also not got any quieter since being back as had three lectures and a seminar to write.  As I write this I have just finished the seminar, it was enjoyable and I think I’m finally getting the knack of this presentation lark. 

UK Visit

Me and Jui went back to the UK for two week at the start of July 2 -17th, for her graduation.  It was really good to see my family & friends again, although we were so busy, didn’t have enough time with them.  It also rained every single day apart from the last day, I really wanted a game of cricket, but no such luck. :(

Graduation was very nice and was great to see three people from my old research group graduate.  Was just a shame the weather wasn’t great so the photos of everyone on the steps outside could take place.  

Other than graduation, we did plenty of work. Jui; experiments and meetings, me; fixing MY machine (look after it you lot!! ;) ) and meetings too.  My meetings were really good and got some excellent ideas to take forward.

Of course we had to do some shopping, I glad most of it was done online before hand though, but I did get some decent shirts from Bicester.

The flight back was tiring as we arrived in the morning and then had a 10 hour wait in Bangkok.  To pass the time we went and watched the new spiderman film was enjoyable if nothing special. So we had to suffer a few days of jet lag, but are definitely over that now.

On a personal note, we have almost set-in-stone the wedding date (May), and are off to see the place soon.  I’ve also some good goals to finally get into better shape.  The tour de France has got me interesting in buying a bike which I will hopefully have by the next blog and also try and find the gym.

PS - it was really good to hear so many of my friends are following this blog, and the compliments were surprising but very welcome to hear, seeing how I’ve always struggled with writing.  So it I leave it that long ago please get on my case :-)

Week 18 / 19 / 20 - Term starts

As I write this the second week of term has just finished, and I definitely had my best lecture so far this afternoon.

I am current teaching two classes, both to the undergraduates, one is analytical chemistry to the second year chemical engineers, this course also has a lab class which I help with but don’t teach.  The second class is polymer technology to the fourth years, and is an engineering elective course open to both the material and chemical engineers.  Before term started they both had 33 students, but now the polymer class has 55 students out of a maximum 61.  So I must be doing something right (or as my brother said they think it will be easy).

The analytical chemistry lecture is three hours in one go which is far too long to teach, for both me and the students.  Whereas, the polymer is two hours then one hour, so I lecture in the two hour slot and then have a tutorial and go through problems is the last hour.  This was the lecture I had this afternoon, and the multiple choice English questions got a very good response, so will keep doing them.

Since my last blog we also took Jui’s mom, dad and niece, to sukhothai national park, this time we had longer and went to the large Buddha image.

Week 16 / 17 - Bangkok trip

Have spent the last few days in Bangkok, as we had to go and apply for Jui’s family visit visa for the UK.  As we were both going we decided to drive, its about 350 km (220 miles) from Phitsanulok to Bangkok.  The drive was fairly straight forward with most of the roads being two or three lanes.  The only problem was the satnav playing up and directing us in Bangkok down a bus / taxi lane.  Where a police man kindly gave us directions for a small fee / fine (£8).  The drive home was totally uneventful apart from two separate lorries buried in the tree on the side of dead straight roads (must have fallen asleep), I had said on arrival here that I would never drive in Bangkok (this was a lie ha ha), and although it looks like chaos from the outside is kind of works when you are driving, as other road users knows you are going to cut them up as its the done thing.

On the first day of our trip, we had dinner with friends then they dropped us off at a roof top bar.  This was the bar used in the film the hangover part 2.  It gave magnificent views of Bangkok at night, although you do have to pay for the privilege, with two cocktails coming to £25.  The second day we went around the shopping malls, either side of the visa appointment.  Then meet more friends in the afternoon and then for dinner, was really good to see everyone again.  If we lived in Bangkok think, it would be easy to lose weight as we took the sky-train and walk loads, which we never do here.   I did think while I was there maybe I’d like to live in a big city to see how different it was, but think I’d get annoyed after a short period, maybe a month or something.

I’ve started back doing some exercise, I brought some boxing gloves and a heavy bag, and have been doing 25 mins on the days when I don’t play football.  (although have had a few days off) 

Work wise I have been doing nothing but preparing my lecture (with a few meetings thrown in) as the start of term is approaching fast, I feel I’m on top of them but only just.  The new and old students have mostly returned and are preparing for “shows” I think, as there is many noisy drums and dancing happening in the afternoon of most days.

I’ve been reading lots of updates that the UK is finally getting some sun! Just to rub it in a little bit, that would be called winter here!  The rainy season is coming soon though, we get thunderstorms every other day at the moment usually only for 15-20 mins of heavy rain.  Have to say I love it, the weather cools down to 29-30 from 35 and a lovely strong breeze. 

Week 13/14/15 - Bit of this, bit of that...

Been a bit lazy with writing the blog as been busy writing lectures as term opens the start of June and other things.

In the final week of April, there was an Industrial engineering trip, this was to discuss how to improve the quality of the courses and teaching.  It was in the neighboring province, in some a mountain resort (prob more like large hills), the place was very picturesque, even though there wasn’t any air-conditioned rooms but being that bit higher up, the weather was that slightly cooler, so not to make it unbearable.  The only problem was no wifi or phone signal!

The actual meeting was a little over my head as it was all in Thai and as I haven’t taught anything and it’s hard to give suggestions, if you are unsure of what is already in place.  Afterwards we socialized and drank over dinner.  The dinner lasted about 4 hours I think, I’m not sure where Thai people put all the food!  Did my usual and was joint last to go to bed at 2 am.  Got up at 7am and went to breakfast feeling surprising spritely, although some people wanted to take me sight seeing for 3 hours, no one else wanted to go including me so after some gentle persuasion, we headed back to the uni, even though it was only 150 km we had to stop 3 times again not sure why but seems to be a Thai thing.

(NB - haven’t lost my pro evo skills, played one of the secretaries sons and beat him 2-0 don’t think he had a shot)

Since coming back, I finally got paid (well half), me and Jui booked flights back to the UK for her graduation (3rd-16th July) and this week, we have had two more bank holiday’s, and I’ve also had my first cold since arriving, which I think I've finally shaken after 4 days.  Went to the cinema to see the Avengers, was fun to watch not much plot but more than enough action to make up for it.

Mini Rant

The one thing I won’t ever get used to is karaoke, I just don’t get the point of karaoke, I’d rather hear the songs sang professionally by the original performers.  Also, in the shopping malls they play modern songs but not sang by the correct singer, I’m not sure how many bad renditions I’ve heard of bad romance by Lady Gaga, but it’s a lot.

Will try and get back to writing more regularly now things have settled back down....

Week 12 - Thai new year otherwise know as a big water fight

Last weekend (Fri-Sun) was Thai new year called Songkran, the theme of the festival is water, in washing away the old year to bring in the new.  This means that the 3 days just become one big water fight in daylight hours.  Anyone on a scooter gets flagged down and soaked, or just get water thrown at them if they speed past. 

On the Friday we went down the road in the morning, where people from the local village were for a blessing from some monks, after this everyone had a water fight.  Even though it was 35 degrees, ice in water makes it freezing! After this back at our home we did a private blessing for Juis parents then soaked each other, (yes this theme continues) and then filled up a large container and any passers by got a blessing (I mean soaking).

Later on I wanted to see more of what was going on in the town so we drove towards the city center.  We shot the video clips embedded, we didn’t manage to get all the way to the center as the traffic was a nightmare, could have easy on a bike - yeah right would need a snorkel for that

On the Saturday we went to Sukhothai to see our friend and there family, where we had a lovely meal, a blessing for their family, then you guessed it another water fight.  In this water fight I came to realise a bucket beats a water gun at close range every time.

Also for songkran everyone wears shocking shirts, I don’t know why but they do 

Week 11 - Traveling to the North

As Friday and Monday were a bank holiday we decided to have a long weekend and see some of our friends who live in the north of Thailand.  Chiang Mai is about 350km from Phitsanulok, I was a little worried when google maps said it would take almost 7 hrs, I don't really understand why though, as almost the whole way was dual carriageway.  It took us a little less that 4.5hrs, the drive was easy apart from one section and it didn’t help that we were running low on fuel.  I had said we would fill up at the next petrol station as there was ~100km of the dash, then we didn't see another station for 85km. The satnav said the next station was in 18km with only 15km remain of fuel, we stopped at a small village to ask if they had any or knew where the nearest station was and luckily there was one 2km down the road which was a massive relief.

We arrived at our friends house just after 7pm, after doing a small blessing for songkran (more on this in the next blog) we went to a lovely restaurant on the outskirts of the city.  

Our friends in chiang mai, were Jui’s lecturers when she was a undergrad student and were also one of the first PhD students of our PhD supervisor.  We are in the same situation as them although 34 years later, and there advise has been invaluable. 

The next morning we meet at Chiang Mai university were Bob gave me good advise on a range on topics.  Then we headed to see some cricket at the Gymkhana sports club, which was hosting its 25th anniversary six-a-side tournament.  The club was founded in 1898 by British expats working in the teak trade.  Outside the club house there is an amazing tree which is also the symbol of the club.  There was close to 40 teams playing in the tournament of various abilities, I definitely would like to enter a team next year!

The next day we headed to Chiang Rai, the road twisted through the mountains (see pic) I absolutely loved the road, and was one of the few times I wished I still had the Vx.  The 200km flew by and there was very little traffic.  It was really good to see Joy again and meet her boyfriend Francois, we had a great meal and then a few beers at a club getting back to the university where we were staying late.  After having a long lie in the next day we had brunch then visited Doi Tung in the mountains close to the Burmese-Thai boarder which has some spectacular views and a lovely garden.

We headed home early the next morning stopping of first at Wat Rong Khun (the white temple) we had been there 4 years early, the area just gets larger and larger and we be extremely beautiful when its finished.  In this case pictures speak louder than words.

We also stopped off in Phayao where Jui used to work for lunch.  Phayao is situated on by a large lake about 100km from Chiang Rai.  After the stop off at Phayao we drove the remaining ~300km.  The car was faultless the whole way, and the roads were not very busy.  The only hold ups being the police check points.  We got stopped twice out of the 5-6 checkpoints.  The first I just showed my Thai licensee and on we went, they were more interested in checking the pick up tucks.  The second was a larger check point, as we had come from Chiang Rai (where nearly all the drugs are ferried though from Burma (Myanmar)) we had our car searched, this may have been as I was a foreigner and they were just interested in talking to us.  It didn’t take very long and we were soon on our way again.  We have another long weekend next week as it is Thai new year (songkran).

Week 9/10 - Two for the price of one

Really haven’t been up to anything of real interest the last two week.  Just more lecture prepping. I am half way through one course and am now starting the other to mix it up and keep things interesting.  After my swimming in the last blog I haven’t managed to go again, but have managed to play football twice a week.  Scored an absolute screamer to win the game, half volley outside of the foot in off the post.  Then I realised that meant we’d have to play again as its winner stays on, should have missed it!!! as it was still 35 Degs at 7pm.  

I finally got round to getting UK tv, and access to sites restricted to the UK, so can listen to test match special and at home even watch the cricket, its not HD quality but watchable.


Today got my visa extended to match my work permit which has got a weight of my shoulders, now if I could just get paid everything would be perfect!


Am on holiday next week so hopefully the next update will be a lot more interesting!! :)

Some random photos below: 

• My staff sport competition top - hope pinks my colour
• Yummy icecream which cost the same as 5 meals lol
• How many can you squeeze into the back of a pick-up records (10)
• Watching the cricket :)
• Working