Thai Keyboard

I say Thai keyboard but, read multilingual keyboard. I was googling for "Thai Keyboard" when I came across Frontype. I know WinXP, Vista, Linux and probably Macs too have a screen keyboard built in but, this takes things a step further. Not just a multilingual keyboard but, a touch-typing tutor to boot! Within 5 minutes of me downloading the trial version, I bought the full version. I love it's simplicity. The trial version lasts for 7 days. Give it a try.

Boats

I'm just thinking...

I miss my old Hinemoa 'Sebastian'. I miss messing about on the water. Should I build or should I buy? The cheapest Hinemoa of worth is around £2,000. To build a Hinemoa is around £5,000. With second-hand boats, there is all the extras that come with them. Though with building a Hinemoa, the cost of the plans is £210 or £278 with the Tiki rig plans. The cost of the build can be spread over the time it takes to raise the finance. Though the build time is around 500 hours, this can be spread over several years, depending on the speed of financing. Should I wait another few years to go sailing? Should I take pleasure from the building? Where should I build?

I have been following Neil is his build project - 'Gleda' at www.gleda.org. We are of a similar age. I have the added responsibilty of a young family. Time and money is very precious now and to find either for myself is quite difficult. Perhaps, I can get my boys interested in building? Though, there is the concern of exposing them to the dangers of epoxy resin. Still much to think about...

Joomla

I've almost finished work on version 3 of my family website. The current version is a static website (where the content rarely changes). The new site is really only a mirror image of the existing website. The difference being the back-end. Version 3 is built and powered by Joomla. It has been an interesting learning excercise. All I need now, is to decide on a hosting company and version 3 will go live.

Joomla is a content manangement system (CMS). What is a CMS? Well blogger.com is a CMS. You simply login and add/amend/delete content and adjust the layout. I intend to use the knowledge to build other future websites as part of an ongoing project.

TT 2009

Well that's the TT over for another year.

It has been a good year for the bikers. A lot quieter than previous years and I've heard crumbles from many businesses that takings are down.

For the first time this year a new class was introduced for zero emission bikes. Very strange watching these bikes race. No sound except for the whine of their electic motors.

Back to normal life now until the end of August when the Manx Grand Prix takes place and the island is overrun with bikes again for 2 weeks.

Health

I'm just getting over a cold. It's been awhile since my last (unusual for me).

Today has not been a good day for me as I have been suffering for most of the afternoon with IBS. This appears to be triggered with alcohol consumption. I had a few pints on Friday.

Over the last few years my IBS always seems to follow the rare occasion when I have a drink. I am starting to wonder if I have developed an allergy to alcohol... C'est la vie!

Groudle Glen

Waterwheel
Originally uploaded by Evans-Amsri

I took the boys for a walk along Groudle Glan in Onchan, Isle of Man. The Bluebells were in bloom and the sun was shining (for most of the time!) We played Poo Sticks on one of the bridges, then William slipped into the water and filled his pants and welly boots with water. I had to drive back to Ramsey to dry him off and get him changed before returning to Douglas to collect Jeep from work.

Renewal of Wedding Vows

Happy Couple
Originally uploaded by Evans-Amsri

My sister Anne (Penny) and Robert renewed their wedding vows on 25/04/09, after 20 years of marriage.

I was happy to travel from the Isle of Man to Aberdare in Wales on Saturday to join with Penny and Robert in a triple celebration - Robert's birthday, retirement and of course their Wedding vow renewal. A great time was had by all, with pleanty of good food, drink, dancing and company. Unfortunately, Jeep was unable to travel with me. She stayed at home and looked after the children.

I travelled back on Sunday with Penny and Robert's friend and Pastor - David - along with David's wife Jean. I was dropped off in Liverpool and I cought the evening ferry back to Douglas. A quick drive over the mountain and I was back home by 10:30pm.

Songkran 2009

Phra Aod Titayaro (Right) & Phra Si Varapo (Left)
Originally uploaded by Evans-Amsri

This weekend two monks from Wat Santiwongsaram in Birmingham came to the Isle of Man for the Songkram celebration.

Whilst Noi, Jeep and others were preparing for the festivities, I took the monks on a tour of the Island. The highlight I think was the Laxey Wheel (Lady Isabella). We all climbed to the top. Neither PJ or William were worried about the height. It was quite dizzy looking down from the top. We even put on hard hats and went a short way down a mine, including the monks.

After refreshments at our home we arrived back at Noi's house later than expected. The monks immediately retired for their evening meditation.

Susan Boyle

I watched this video 3 times! Susan Boyle sings I Dreamed a Dream

Unbelievable pitch. What a vocal range.

This show should be renamed Britain's Got (Hidden) Talent!

PJ & William in the Snow

PJ & William in the Snow
Originally uploaded by Evans-Amsri

After all the recent snow in the UK we couldn't wait any longer for snow in Ramsey. As of today - 7th February 2009 - we still haven't had any snow in Ramsey! So today I took the boys up to the mountain. There was sufficient snow at this height for the boys to play in the snow. We didn't stay long as the temperature was below zero.

Nostalgic 50s and 60s music

I stumbled upon a brilliant website today. If you love music from the 50s & 60s then visit Marilyn's nostagia website - http://www.stinalisa.com/Nostalgia.html

Please take the time to visit the rest of her site. You'll love it.

Thailand Holiday - Postscript

It's been a week now. As usual nothing seems to have changed at home or work. It's as if we never went away. We are all missing Thailand. The holiday went so quickly.

I wrote a letter of thanks to the British Ambassador in Bangkok - His Excellency Quinton Quayle - Now there's a Manx name! I commended his staff for all the help that they gave me in my hour of need.

Now it's work and save for our next trip to Thailand. Possibly in 2010.

Thailand Holiday - Day 21

Sad day today. Everyone was locked in their own thoughts. We visited Wat Luang Pa Nak to say goodbye to the senior monk. Back home, we finished packing and then we set off for Udon airport.

Many tears were shed at the airport. No-one wanted us to leave and no-one wanted to leave, but leave we did. PJ and William were inconsolable. Mai was equally upset at seeing her two grandsons leave.

On arrival at Bangkok, a taxi ride from Don Muang (Domestic) to the new Suvarnabhumi (International) airport saw us checked in and silently waiting for departure to the UK.

Surprise! Uan and Pui turned found us in the airport and kept us company until our departure. The Thai Airways 00:30 flight - TG910 - was on time. After a dramatic 48 hours we were finally on our way home. We all slept quite peacefully throughout most of the flight and arrived at London Heathrow at about 06:15 the same day. Time differences does strange things. We collected our hire car and drove to Gatwick airport, stopping off at a Little Chef near Horsham. The burgers were great!

The Flybe 12:35 flight from Gatwick to the Isle of Man went without a hitch. Another surprise! Dang, Noi, Leonne & Joanna met us at Ronaldsway airport with our car. We loaded up the car and drove the final leg home, exhausted! My ears are shot to pieces after 5 flights in 2 days.

After the rest of the weekend to recover, it is back to work on Monday for me, work on Tuesday for Jeep and back to school for PJ on Monday.

Thailand Holiday - Day 20

I cought the red-eye flight from Udon to Bangkok Don Muang airport this morning. On arrival I grabbed a taxi and went straight to the embassy. The two Thai ladies at the embassy - Khun Pareena and Khun Siwaporn - were extremely helpful and curteous and helped to ease my anxiety. It was decided that I will have to apply for an Emergency Passport - cost about £55. I would have to return in the afternoon to collect it. In the meantime, I kicked my heels around Surkumvit (which is close to the embassy) and wondered past the many bars and massage parlours (quite quiet at this time of day) I visited a couple of the glitzy shopping malls in the area and had some lunch. At 3pm I returned to the embassy to hopefully collect my EP. I had to wait in the queue. I should have returned earlier.

It wasn't until 4pm that I got my EP. Now I only needed to replace my entry visa and get that stamped on my EP. No entry visa - no exit visa! I quickly started to walk towards the Thai Immigration office. Big Mistake! It is further than it looked on the map. Time was ticking by. I grabbed a taxi bike and hurried on. The Thai Immigration office is due to close at 4.30pm!

The 'Lost Passport' desk just closed as I arrived and the two young ladies were preparing to go home. After much pleading and wai'ing, the girls had a change of heart and re-opened their desk and processed my visa. With my EP duly stamped I left Thai Immigration. I phoned Jeep the good news and started my journey back to Udon. Another taxi ride back to Don Muang airport through the evening traffic. That journey took about 90 minutes! I managed to get on the next flight out of Don Muang to Udon, departing at 18:35.

Jeep collected me from Udon airport and after some late night shopping we drove home.

Phew! What a day!

Thailand Holiday - Day 19

Still no reply from the embassy. I called them. The Thai staff were not very helpful. I guess they were very busy and phones were an interruption. Eventually, I was put through to a British member of staff - Mr Callum Stevenson. From here on, things got less stressful. Mr Stevenson was very helpful. He quickly confirmed that my passport could not be used. Which, basically meant I was stranded in Thailand until I got a replacement. I was due to return to the UK in 2 days!

I booked a flight for the next day with Nok Air, departing Udon at 07:30, arriving in BKK an hour later. We'll see how I get on tomorrow.

I phoned JimboPSM and Doug today. We'll meetup some other time.

C'est la Vie!

Thailand Holiday - Day 18

Ooh! I have a bit of a hangover!

I replaced the tax and insurance discs in the car this morning.

Mai wash my trousers early this morning. Unfortunately, my passport and international driving license were still in my pocket. The driving license was completely destroyed, The passport was destroyed also, all except the plastic coated biometric page. I spent the rest of the day in contact with the British embassy in Bangkok via email and phone. I got the remains of my passport scanned and emailed to the embassy. No reply today.

Thailand Holiday - Day 17

Jeep and I drove into Udon today without the boys to do some shopping. Another snake 2-3ft long crossed our path. Police were out in force this morning with traffic checks. A falang behind me got pulled over. We were lucky. I discovered later that we did not have the car documents in the car (legal requirement) also we were still displaying last years tax and insurance discs (we had them, just weren't displaying them) Oops!

We bought a rice steamer and a water boiler to take home to the IOM with us. We did a little Christmas shopping. Jeep traded in some of here broken gold jewellery and bought some more. Later, we collected Plai from the bus station and returned home before it got dark.

That night I drank a lot of beer with Toey's wife and got drunk.

Thailand Holiday - Day 16

Suan Hin Pha Ngam
Originally uploaded by Evans-Amsri

After breakfast we all drove to Suan Hin Pha Ngam (The beautiful cliff stone garden) also called Thailand's Kunming, after China's stone garden in Kunming, Yunnan province. The limestone outgrops are between 230 and 280 million years old.Uplift and erosion created the spectacular cliffs and hidden gardens. We climbed to the top of one of these outcrops for a fantastic vista. Poor Mai, it was a tough climb.

After returning to the car - a 16 seater Toyota mini bus - Gulab let me drive. It was a pleasure. What a smooth ride. The Toyota just glides along.

On the way back to Gulab's house, we stopped by a roadside resturant next to a fish pond and ate lunch. Once we arrived at Gulab's house it was a tearful goodbye and swap cars to drive back to Ban Phue.

We had a wonderful time and after we arrived home, it was a quiet bathe and then to bed - exhausted!

Thailand Holiday - Day 15

Gulab's Guest House
Originally uploaded by Evans-Amsri

Saturday saw us travel to Loi province again and visit Gulab and her family. We arrived late in the evening after a delay at home looking for a car for Jeep's sister Pui. This time we took Jeep's dad with us. He was perking up quite a bit. We all sat down to a tasty evening meal under the guest house. Jeep and I had a sleepless night tending to Pa's frequent need for assistance. Not that we minded, Pa was enjoying his visit.

Thailand Holiday - Day 14

Si Sa-At Road, Ban Phue
Originally uploaded by Evans-Amsri

A quiet day today. I rode around town on Jeep's motorbike with PJ and William and took many photos of the town. I wanted to make a street map of the Ban Phue but Google Maps does a good job - only the minor roads missing and some of the temples. Jeep visited a nearby dentist and we were so impressed I had a clean and polish myself. Very good, very quick and very good price. We tried a Skype video call to Mum in Spain, video not too good, internet quite slow.