We had good flights in and out of Paris and Bangkok and the only slight hitch was a delay of 30 mins leaving Paris meant a mad run across Bangkok airport to get our connecting flight. Air France came to the rescue, however by sending a graduate trainee to meet us off the plane and to run ahead of us, clearing the way and chivvying the immigration officials to ensure we made it in time; I don't think she thought her training would include a sub 4 minute mile every time a plane is delayed!
From day one we have been thrown into the melee, as Elliot, Simon and Melanie's son, needed to go into hospital for a few days; Melanie staying with him. This left the poor residents of the "Juniper Tree" at the mercy of 2 jet lagged and inexperienced managers, thank goodness we had Lilly with us! Lilly is the King Pin in the office here, as she speaks excellent English and Thai.
I am pleased to say that Elliot came home on Saturday and is making a good recovery. He is back at school this week but needs to return to hospital each day, after school, to have further indignities perpetrated on his leg!
We are gradually getting used to things now (Wednesday 7th) and finding our feet with most of the office routine. We have already got to know some really interesting people and hear lots of news about amazing things happening around the world. We have people coming from Siberia, China, Cambodia, Singapore, Bangkok, Canada, Bangladesh, India......the UK and, of course the USA. It is the people from the States who are avidly wanting news of the election results today.
Other less welcome visitors to the site have included a green tree snake, a tokay gecko trapped in a wardrobe and various spiders and insects. This grasshopper is, according to Joan called Cyril!
On the 5th Nov. Simon had bought some fireworks and paper hot-air balloons which we let off as soon as it went dark. The Thai fireworks seem much more explosive than ours! As it was a very still evening, the air-balloons seemed to go on rising straight up for ages, they had fireworks tied onto them which made a fantastic display too.
Along with the basic admin jobs I have also been installing various multi-national electrical sockets into the rooms, to avoid using so many adaptors and so reduce the fire risk. I am planning to install electrical earthing to many of the existing rooms as, at present, only the showers are earthed.
Time is running away so I need to get back to work, more to follow! Tim & Joan x
