Remember, remember, November

With so many guests, visitors and jobs underway, I got a bit tired of looking at a p.c. screen and hence the lack of posts for weeks on end......
Lots of photo's taken during the "silence" and so I'll bring you up to date with a mainly picture story!

This scene is our attempt to simultaneously release 13 sky lanterns in celebration of the 13th anniversary of Juniper Tree Chiang Mai! John and Muriel Davies were here and it was John who negotiated the purchase of the original "Holiday Resort" that became JTCM. As Elliot Carey's photo shows, staff and guests combined to light and release the lanterns; it is a good thing we had spares because we discovered exactly how long you can keep one alight without releasing it!  We also had to contend with one young guest doing his best to blow out the lights!! (He was given the priviledge of blowing out the candles on the amazing chocolate cake that Phet( one of our cooks) made to help in the celebrations!

John gave a potted history of the JTCM and prayed a brief, thankful prayer before the cake vanished faster than a blink.

The kitchen staff are so proud of their efforts and they work so hard for the guests, who can sometimes test their skills to the max!
It was a blessing that John was here to adjudicate in a dispute between our builder and her foreman; we are hoping that the buildings will be finished in time for their first residents, who I have booked in to arrive on the 2nd Jan. That seemed a very cautious date when the foundations went in over 12 months ago!

No windows, no septic tank, no bathroom fittings, electrical fittings, curtain poles, mozzy nets........ 3 weeks and counting!

If you look closely, in with the biscuits are 2 visitors! Still eat them (the biscuits) One other four legged resident of the JT got made homeless this week, he is a Tokay lizard (gecko) who was hiding among a pile of wooden roofing shingles that we sold for reuse.

These guys are responsible for the extremely loud calls in the night that most people think are birds calling. If you've never heard it, Wikipedia has a good sound clip! tokay 

Khamsi supervising whilst Joachim, Don and Chai fight the good fight with a very reluctant tractor. Having stood idle for a good number of years it needed a lot of persuasion but Joachim's patience and determination paid off:

The internal telephone system and Juniper Tree's motley collection of bicycles also came in for the same thorough treatment!
The sale of the tractor is hopefully going to pay for the air conditioning units needed for the new houses.

Since we came to JTCM we have often heard the well worn observation about how it's a small world; however, meeting the Hartley's just goes to show..... They have supporters at St Anne's in Fence (a mile or so from Higham) It was good to share a few Lancashire moments so far from home!
More Lancashire moments with Pat and Bob (Joan's Sister & B.I.L.):

We visited the Zoo with them, managed a Jazz in the Jungle, night (more later) various meals around Chiang Mai, but Pat & Bob managed to get some really good birding done (see Pats blog)

Part 2 will follow soon: too much to do in one go!!

O is for: Observations on Oriental, October, Occurences

In case you've forgotten what we look like:

It isn't a romantic hug......I'm stopping her running away from a camera!

We took Lynn and Shelley the the airport this week, but not before they gave us one last day off! We are missing them already, it's nice to meet folks from so far away that you see eye-to-eye with, in so many ways, good, good times, Guy's!

We headed off up to "Sticky Falls" to suss out the lay-of-the-land, ready for the long awaited Staff Picnic on Monday. The water levels are safely down and the ground is less water-logged so it's full steam ahead. Mr Teera will arrange a 14 seater, fully air-con bus (the Staff's one stipulation!) Will post more after the event!
Whilst we were there we did the climb up the water falls just to make sure that we could still make it, before we are there with the staff! 
After this we went to check out the Jade Factory on Doi Suthek Mountain. Many guests go there, but we needed to make a visit for purposes related to jewellery that can't be mentioned here, due to the fact that a certain person is likely to read this and spoil their surprise!

With no Shelly and Lynn, days off are not really viable but with Ruth's help the odd half day have been lovely.
A return trip to the Zoo to try out the mono-rail and give Joan a chance to reacquaint herself with the hippo's was welcome.
The view of Chiang Mai was good from the mono rail and you had a good view of the animals you can't see so well from ground level. We enjoyed the ride but got the giggles when we realized that 5 Thai people could comfortably sit on their side of the car, whilst 4 Europeans were squashed into ours!
Decided to walk a bit further after that.....
We saw the beautiful white Tigers this time, they must have been sleeping somewhere last time we came.
We also enjoyed the special Chair with the attached table they have given the panda.
The orchids are flowering much more now and so the grounds looked wonderful.
As we hold Thai driving licences, we get in for only 70 Baht (£1.40) so we didn't feel obliged to stay all day.
JT will be busy for a while ahead as we have a number of visits ahead of us: Pat and Bob will be here soon as will John and Muriel Davies (Trustees and long term JT workers) and Joachim, a volunteer from Germany. An engineer who we are hoping will get tractor working and the internal phone system back in full working order. (both maybe over optimistic but nothing ventured....)
Only a short blog today; possibly a mammoth one next time!