Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Once again, Alan and I spent Christmas in Singapore with our friends the Chalmers.  My first port of call (well after buying a bar of Godiva chocolate) was Chinatown.

WELCOME SOPHIE GRACE!

Sophie Grace was born at 1:29am on Wednesday 28 December 2011.  She weighs in at a whopping 9lb 5oz!  Wow, I bet her mum is glad that delivery is over!  Sophie Grace's very excited grandmother forgot to tell us how her daughter-in-law is faring, but I assume she is as well as can be expected after giving birth to a giant baby.

I'm sure everyone who knows Chris, is picturing her as I am, knitting needles in hand and baby tucked very firmly under her arm.  Chris, you really do have to give that baby back you know!

Congratulations from The Coven.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANICE!

Once again our fearless leader is celebrating her birthday, though I think the whole 'Queen For A Day' thing has really gone to her head.  Here is a photograph of Janice's crowning ceremony.  Nice crown Janice!

Christmas Nails

I've just had my Christmas nails done.  Take a look.

It took this poor girl over an hour to do these two toes.  Thankfully I had vetoed having all my toe nails done.  By the time she had finished holding my toe like this, it was really aching!

A Busy Few Days

Wow!  I don't know about you, but the last few days have been busy, busy, busy.

Sue Hammond took me to a Chinese restaurant opposite Democracy Monument, called Maria's.  The food was really good, especially the spinach dim sum.  Janice, I had a delicious chicken and cashew nuts also, which made me think of you! Er, I'm not suggesting you look like a chicken.

My Confetti Quilt

Woodland Stroll

So here is what I made in the class.  I ended up really pleased with it.  It is very intense in colour and the figure in front really catches your eye.

To read more about making this quilt, click here

CONFETTI NATURESCAPE QUILT CLASS WITH NORIKO ENDO

On Sunday I took a quilting class with Noriko Endo, who (for those of you who have never heard of her) is a Japanese quilter.

The class took place at Central Chitlom.  We arrived to find that there is a complete craft fair going on.  I am hoping to get back over there to check it out before I leave for Singapore.

I'M BACK!!!

Oh good grief!

I take a few weeks off the blog to move, tend the sick and do a quilt class and what do I get?

Moan, moan, moan!

When are you getting back on the blog?  It's your turn now!  What's happened to Nora?

In order to stop this barrage, I have been forced to post an entry

Roger and I went to our very first Grand Daughter Dance Recital today. Being our first we did and we didn't know what to expect. Cute little girls bumping into each other, going in the opposite direction than they were supposed to, or standing perfectly still while the dance went on around them all were to be expected. What we didn't expect was the High School Auditorium which seats six hundred plus filled to capacity with excited family members waiting to see their little ones dance.

Record Winds

We occasionally get high winds coming through the canyons above Bountiful, Centerville and Farmington, but the ones we got this morning were record setting. They started around 2:00 am and by 6:30 am the power was off and the winds were up to 100 miles an hour. Pretty eerie not being about to find quiet place anywhere in the house, and fearful the roof might be damaged, if not blown off. I have a new appreciation for those who go through tornadoes and hurricanes on a regular basis.

The Paraglider

Our son, Daniel (father of three!!) recently completed his certification for paragliding and has taken his first solo and unsupervised flights over the past few days. He originally trained at the "Point of the Mountain" south of Salt Lake where on any given weekend you can find 30-50 paragliders and hang gliders in flight.

Ploenchit Fair Bangkok

Angela selling her cards and calendars

Due to the flooding and the threat of a possible high tide, the Ploenchit Fair (which, if we believe the advertising, is the highlight of our social calendar), was moved from Shrewsbury school to Patana school.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from the Teas: Ana, Livi, Allison and Rob Johnston, Roger, Raquel (Poky), Ethan, Daniel, Ingrid and Grace. I'm behind the camera.

Moab - Day Two

On Day Two we drove out of Moab to explore The Needles Region of the area. There was little hiking to do in the morning as we drove to overlooks to view the scenery. At times it felt surreal looking down on the terrain as if it were a scene from a moon exploration movie. We couldn't have asked for a better day to be touring. The sky was blue, the temperatures hovered around 50 degrees, but a light jacket was all we needed for the day. We also had the place to ourselves - no cars, no people all morning. Delightful.

Moab Trip - Day One

Roger decided to take the full week of Thanksgiving off, so we could have a short road trip prior to Thanksgiving on Thursday. Nine Mile Canyon was our first stop on our way to Moab and Arches National Park. Neither one of us had been here before, so my expectations and reality were a bit off. For one thing Nine Mile Canyon is not a box or dead end canyon, but rather a 40 mile canyon of gravel roads which during the late 1800's was a major road to and from Price Utah and important for the development of the entire area. This may be of interest to Kim, as the road was carved through the rugged canyon by the all Black 9th cavalry around 1886. Were

they stationed at Fort Davis?

The Flood Aftermarth

More photos from Sue,

Today we went out for a walk, a real novelty. We were able to go further today as the flood waters had receded. I felt sorry for the bin men who had to clean all the rubbish from the streets, but I'm sure everyone is exteremly grateful to them. 

Snappy Sue Sends Super Shots Of Stinking Streets!

I just had to get that title in!  Our damp correspondent from across the river sends her latest pictures.  Thankfully, it seems they are out of the worst of it. 


At last we were able to walk out of the condo!!! 

Not a very pleasant experience due the amount of detritus lying around, but it was great to see the water virtually gone.

News From The Smelly Side

More from our non-roving correspondent over in Pinklao.


Life on the river is quiet at the moment, without the barges and Express Boats making their usual way up and down the river. However, their is always an upside for someone. This time it is the fishermen, who are able to go about their business unhindered. We have watched from our balcony as they haul in one huge fish after another!!!! They must be so happy.

Loy Krathong Festival

Thailand's Loy Krathong festival or Festival of Light, takes place every year, on the night of the full moon when the tide is at its highest, in the 12th lunar month.  Translation - it usually takes place in November.

This festival is celebrated all over Thailand, with the most spectacular celebrations taking place in Chiang Mai, where it also coincides with the Yi Peng festival.  I would love to visit Chiang Mai during this time as Yi Peng is celebrated by flying off into the air hot air balloons made from rice paper and heated by a little tray of oil.

Latest News From Smelly Bang Phlad (er, that's a district, not Sue).

Sue has sent us some more photos from her neck of the woods.  


These photos show our latest shopping trip of two days ago.

As you can see the water is filthy, and we have just found out that Bang Phlad (our area), is one of four districts in Bangkok with extremely polluted water. Full of chemicals, waste products and oil. So we are trying to aviod going near it as much as possible!!!  Nevertheless, we are determined to enjoy ourselves, despite all the gloomy news. 

Mary's Day Out

These are photos from Mary's trip into the dessert to see the Sudanese pyramids.  I know she is going to post some photos eventually, but as she is busy, I am giving you a taster.  I hope I haven't just blown out a post for you Mary!

From her email:
that is one harsh envirornment!!  It was just amazing to see the land, the people and their lives as well as the pyramids (they were great too).  Hot, dry scrabble kind of existence.  One place we stopped the local elder was telling our driver that the well they had (and there were lots of camels drinking there) was 250 feet deep and dug by hand...can you EVEN imagine?!?  People come from all over with their plastic jugs tied to their donkies for their only water--and I don't think they are using it for showering

Alan's office takes no chances

Alan took me to look at the water defences at his office.

 Coming around the corner from Jim Thompson's cafe.

Latest Pics from Pinklao

Sue has sent some more pictures from her area.

Some Funny Flood Prevention Photos

Alan managed to capture a few funny signs whilst we were out walking.

Not much to say to that one really is there?!

Shopping By Boat

Here is the latest missive from Sue over in Pinklao.

Latest Pics From Roving Correspondent Sue

Sue is keeping us up to date still, on the view from the other side of the river.

Last night the trucks were loading sand bags onto army trucks on Pinklao bridge. Then when I awoke this morning I saw lots of Navy boats going up the river loaded down with more bags.
This morning the water is at a new high!!!! The houses next to our condo our now under about 5 feet of water, the smell from the polluted water in their homes must be really unpleasant.
The condo grounds are badly flooded with a lot of soil erosion occurring, which is not helping the situation.
Access to and from the condo can now only be made by boat!!! Sandbags at the gate are keeping the water levels down within the grounds to about 12inches. However, as soon as you climb over them, to get into the boat, the water rises to chest height. Once out in the streets the manager told me the water is 5 feet deep!!! I'm definitly not going to go walking around in that!!! However, a ride in the boat to get provisions sounds exciting. Once our stocks start to deplete I will try to make the trip to Banglampoo for more supplies.
If you look closely, you will see one of the guards with a fishing net over his shoulder at the condo gate. He was about to go fishing!!! The manager told me that last night they cooked their own rice, and ate the fish they caught in the flood water.
Our manager thinks the water might be around for approximately 4 weeks now because it is so deep. We'll just have to wait and see.

Supermarket Blues

Yesterday we popped into the Tops supermarket on Sathorn, by the British Club.  This is what we were met with.

The bottom two shelves were empty on every row, presumably to keep the goods out of the flood water.

Photos From Your Dry Correspondent - Still!

More flood related photos.

Looking out towards the swimming pool from our apartment.

Happy Halloween!

Brini Boo

 Made by the very scary Chris B!

More Pics From Sue

From our roving correspondent Sue's email about the flood.
...the walk to the 7 Eleven, which I made yesterday in water over a metre deep for most of the way. It was quite dangerous, because it was impossible to see a curb or pot hole. Despite losing my shoe in the water twice, I made it to the 7 Eleven and managed to pick up 12 small bottles of water which I carried back on my shoulders. The walk which usually takes about 15mins there and back took 1.5 hours!!!! If I had realised how deep it was going to get, I don't think I would have gone. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the experience (sort of), the locals were so up-beat as usual, and of course they were very surprised to see me, and I got some great photo's.
Not sure I will be rushing out again, as the water is now a good deal deeper and set to rise even further!!! It will be quicker to swim!!


This email was all the more surprising when I tell you that Sue is the latest addition to my list of geographically challenged friends, she can't find her way anywhere!  I am mightily impressed Sue, that you found your way there and back, with the landscape so changed.  

Flood Preperations

In my part of town, we are all now braced for the flood.  I am still the lone voice saying it won't come, but as I have said before, that is probably more wishful thinking than anything else.

These are some photos I took walking from our soi up to Asoke and back this morning.

 This is a relatively new shop.

Rationing in BKK

I have to say that I never thought I would ever see rationing, but here it is in Bangkok.  I took this photo this morning in Big C on Rama IV.  Eggs, rice, toilet tissue and some soft drinks had these tags.  There is no water to be had apart from a few bottles of expensive Perrier - and then just over a box full.

Chef Ben Does It Again

Everyone has a bit of a moan about guests, no matter how eagerly anticipated their arrival.  'What shall we give them to eat', we all groan?  Well, when Ben Chalmers rolls into town, your worries are over because Ben takes over your kitchen.  Yes Chef Ben to the rescue!

Chao Phraya River

Yesterday Alan and I went to see for ourselves just how full the river really is.  As you can see, it is very full.  It was also fast moving.

Can She Do It?

I am keeping my fingers crossed--it has taken me over two hours just to figure out how to switch Google Blogger from Arabic to English!! Baby steps, baby steps....if this works, stay tuned to more!!

Water Water Everywhere But Not A Drop To Drink!

Wednesday evening I was told that the supplier of our drinking water (Sprinkle), could no longer provide us with water as their factory had been flooded.

That was followed by the news that some of the drinking water in BKK had become slightly contaminated by flood water.

On top of that, we were then told that we were going to be hit by the flood water today or this weekend.  I have to say at this point, it feels bizarre talking about the place flooding.  It is bright sunshine and hasn't rained in a couple of days.  I am positive that the rainfall in BKK itself is lighter than normal.


Anyway, as it was evening, I decided to wait until the next day to buy a few bottles of back up water.

Bag Lady Brinnistool

Chris sent photos of her latest project.  She has now officially become a bag lady.  Apparently she got started accidentally.  She was making pillowcases for her extra large bed pillows, needed for her extra large head, and thought they would also make good bags.  JUST KIDDING!!!  But this is Chris and it IS her head and no digital effects were used I promise.  Er, obviously there are digital effects on me.  My mouth could never be that big!

Yummy!

This photo is especially for Janice.  Next time you visit the supermarket and buy some processed fruit juice,  spare a thought for what I'll be drinking!  Remember?

Jill's Baby Quilt

If you follow The Battys, you will know that Blondie and Little Red now live with Jill.  What I didn't tell you was that as well as the batting, Jill also took home some African fabric that I had.  Jill and her friends make and donate quilts they make for babies.  Jill kindly sent me a picture of one of the quilts she has made, using some of the African fabric I donated for the backing.

Flood Prevention

As I'm writing this there is an enormous downpour going on.  It has been a typical monsoon type of day in fact.  A bit of sun, a bit of grey, a bit of rain.

We went out for lunch and I took a few photos to show you how Sukhumvit is preparing itself for the flood (should it come).

Terminal 21, Bangkok's Latest Shopping Mall

For all you ex Bangkokians, here is Terminal 21, the latest shopping mall to open in Bangkok.  It is situated at Asoke junction.  It opened on Tuesday.  Today I trotted along with my little Nikon, to see what excitement there was to be found.

Bangkok Floods

I think our neighbour is taking this flooding business way more seriously than I.  Mind you, maybe I would be more concerned if I lived on the ground floor.

Tom & Jerry's area is one of the areas designated as likely to flood.  I guess all those klongs around Sathorn make it an easy target.

Dutch Ovens Continued

Remember on our religious walk that covered a church, temple and mosque, we visited a Portuguese cake bakery.  Isn't the method they used to cook those cakes the same as your Dutch oven?  I am really curious about this method of cooking now that I have seen how the Dutch oven works.

Dutch Oven Cooking

Allison, our daughter, and her husband Rob have long (a couple of years) experimented with Dutch Oven Cooking and they have invited us over for some great desserts in the past. Daniel, pictured below, also has a dutch oven and raises rabbits and chickens, all of which can prove very handy when it comes to planning a dinner. Roger and I just bought our first dutch oven so last night, Saturday, we combined our efforts for a total dutch oven dinner at our home. Roger and I cooked the potatoes, Allison and Rob the dessert, and Daniel and Grace the main dish, Rabbit stew (that's chicken stew when the grand kids are around).

Challenge completed

Challenge, What Challenge?

BUT CAN SHE COMPLETE A CHALLENGE?

We ALL know how fearless our Janice is:

Whether admitting she is lost again (ouch!)

SNOW!

This morning I woke up to rain, low clouds and predictions of snow in the mountains. By early afternoon, it was 39 degrees F (or 3.8 C) and snow was on the tops of the hills surrounding the valley. The temperatures are supposed to be back to the 70's next week, but I realized today that I am not ready for winter. Kim, hurry and move into your new apartment and make sure there is an extra bedroom - I don't know if I can take this winter thing after seven years of Bangkok!