We understand that trouble has started in Chiang Mai. Random fighting continues in Bangkok following the army offensive this morning.
School is shut tomorrow. Children are delighted!
Living away from the city centre, we are probably more removed from trouble. However we will be staying put...
Just in case some clever person decides to set fire to the telephone/internet centres and cuts Thailand's internet, we are okay...
Update - a "facebook reporter" can be found here
Looks like by the time Europe wakes up later today (Wednesday), it should be all over for the red protesters...
And the quote for the day is:
"Metropolitan Police deployed about 1,000 rapid movement troops and if they find looting, arson or anybody inciting unrest, police are authorized to shoot immediately," said police spokesman Major General Piya Uthayo.
Sounds like they have learnt a lesson or to from the American wild West - "shoot first, ask questions later" - or in this case, "shoot first, don't bother asking questions because they are dead..."
If you are like me, a bit confused about reds, yellows, blues, greens...this website has an excellent summary of the last 10 years.
I have copied the images off just in case it ever disappears...
Despite apparent reports from the BBC and CNN that there is all out civil war in Bangkok, or even in the whole of Thailand, and that the New Zealand government is reported to have told all Kiwis to leave Thailand ASAP, the above cartoon depicts the reported general feeling of ex-pats in and around the "war zone"...
From our point of view, our tea supplies are sufficient...
This CNN Report makes me laugh... - the reporter is wearing bullet-proof vest! This is Bangkok, NOT Baghdad!!!
And there are no American soldiers around, so no chance of "friendly fire" - those were unfriendly stray bullets...
We are completely safe in Chiang Mai.
We were in Chiang Mai town today - life was completely normal.
By the sounds of things, certain parts of Bangkok are completely unsafe - more like, DANGEROUS!
The only "struggle" we have is a national water shortage - we had no running water supply for 4 days last week. Fortunately we had more than a weeks water in our large storage tanks, so did not completely run out - unlike other families who ran dry. Drinking water is separate.
We had a fair amount of rain today, including up in the mountains. Which is good, because last weekend the children's home in Hoay Maw's mountain water supply was down to about 1 litre/minute. The thunderstorms that they appear to have had will hopefully provide lots of water - muddy and dirty water. Fortunately all their water filters have now been services, so should turn the muddy water into clean drinking water - a good test for their filter back-washing procedures...
Meanwhile, the government has announced a national holiday on Monday and Tuesday in Bangkok to allow the arm to re-gain control of the situation.
As part of the May Day celebrations, Grace International held an "International Day" and invited all the nations to run booths and provide "entertainment".
Unfortunately we were not allowed to run a beer tent - that was our number one choice, and judging by the number of people who came to us on the day, would have been VERY popular.
So instead, we ran an "English Tea Garden".
When I say, "we", that is the royal "we"...
The ladies ran the English Tea Garden, while us men...
Well, being typical English husbands, we did as our wives' told us. After all, it was they who masterminded and organised the whole event.
And to make sure that we English husbands could not escape, they tied bells to our legs...
Their (the wives) brilliant idea was to demonstrate a bit of real English culture...
...in the form of...
MORRIS DANCING!
Having never seen a real Morris Dance up until now (care of YouTube), we got down to some hard work practicing in the height of Thai heat wave, there we were jumping up and down in long shirts and trousers...with bells and ribbons attached...
Actually, later, during confession time, one member of the group (family name starts with the letter "M" and ends in "Y") owned up to being the son of a "real" Morris dancer...so no excuses.
During the afternoon, we also ran various games, tombola, and cricket lessons, after a very noisy and patriotic entrance to "Rule, Britannia!" and various other "Last Night Of The Proms" favourites.
Meanwhile, our friends from across the pond, who had in previous centuries, foolishly thrown the tea overboard, now realised what a mistake that was...
The was a real team effort, directed by our wonderful wives, and coordinated by Josie Plumber - well done.
I guess you want to see the video of us dancing now...
Another version of the same thing...
