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Tuesday 29 April 2008

Work in Progress (part 1)





It isn't the easiest job in the world to find out what progress is being made on the construction of the house. Suffice to say everyone is very pleased and very happy. The main problem is that 'everyday' building words like 'reinforced concrete' and 'gable end' cannot be found in your average 'Learn To Speak Like a Thai in a Fortnight' handbook. Most of the time I have had to make do with lots of guessing and a vivid imagination. I have learnt the odd word like 'Wat-sa-doo' which means building materials and sounds very similar to that English favourite 'bill-i-doo' which is the old fashioned name for a docket, but that's of little value when you are trying to find out whether or not the house will float away in the first flood of the rainy season!


The first job was to 'make tall', and this means to raise the level of the building ground to such a height that it will not be affected by the flood water. Something that house builders in the south of England should think about. In our case the level was raised about four feet as you can see in the picture above. The foundation posts were then sunk into the ground and the space was then filled in with soil with the ground floor level then set to the height of the wall. I think!



Whilst this was going on the house was blessed by the local monks. This is a traditional and essential part of the construction and ensures that there will be happiness in the new home.


I have become very interested in Buddhism since going to the village in January and find its traditions and beliefs much more tangible than western Christianity.

So after lots of humping and dumping the make tall was completed and work started on building the walls of the house.




This picture was taken on 18 April and I understand that since then the roof has been put on and the upstairs floor is being fitted. But there again what do I know?





Sunday 27 April 2008

Thamuang village


Thamuang is about 20 miles north of Ubon Ratchathani in the northeast of Thailand. It isn't too far from the borders of Laos and Cambodia and the Mekong river. It has a population of about 400 and it is in a rice growing area.

I visited the village in January 2008 and immediately felt at home. Khamma lives with her mother and two children in a modest but fairly large house. Life is certainly not hectic and the daily routine is centred on the home, the temple and rice fields. There isn't a shortage of things to do whether cleaning the home, tending the animals or giving alms to the monks. The village is clean and amongst the locals there is a strong feeling of pride in their surroundings, culture and tradition. Everybody made me very welcome and I look forward to going back in May.

Khamma's marriage ended about three years ago and she was determined to give her children the best education they could get. Pell is nineteen and is just starting university in Ubon, whilst Yo is 13 and is still at the village school. Left with nothing after her marriage she moved into her mother's home and strived to make ends meet.

Khamma's mother gave her some land in the hope that one day she could build a home of her own. In January we looked at the land and talked and then decided to build a home together.
For me this is a life changing experience, for us it shows we have comittment, but for Khamma it is a dream come true.
We looked at some recently built houses and with the help of a local architect we decided upon a design. House construction in Thailand is very different from the UK and to some extent I had to put my trust and faith in the fact they have been doing this for ages and they know a lot more about it than I do!
Work started on 'our home' in February and is expected to finish in June - at least that what the builder says, but who knows?

Saturday 26 April 2008

So now I'm here, what about why I'm here?

First and foremost I'm here because I have a job of work to do. The company I work for and my boss in particular have pulled out a lot of stops to get me to Singapore. There is a real need to get worthwhile systems into our business in Singapore airport and if I'm not successful then I'm on my way back home.
After Khamma and I met we built up our relationship via emails and telephone calls and text messages. In September 2007 we had a short holiday in China and we realised that maybe we did have a future together. We had to find a way to get closer because being 8,000 miles apart isn't ideal. There are several possible ways of doing this but they usually add up to doing something drastic like packing in the job, and that means the money dries up and that puts a strain on the relationship. The other way is for Khamma to come to the UK, but the immigration people have devised ways that won't let that happen too easily and in any case my job involves travelling so much it was a non starter. So being seconded to Singapore is ideal because all these questions are answered. Of course, I am sorry to leave my parents, daughter and friends in the UK, but this is just about as good as it can get. Great job, closer to Khamma, and as a bonus the weather is better as well.

Arrived in Singapore

After a brief visit to New York to hand over the last bits of a project I caught a flight to Bangkok on Thursday 17 April at 11.30am. Seventeen hours later it was Friday 18 April at 4pm in the afternoon and I was greeted by Khamma who had flown in from Ubon at the same time.
We had a great weekend and spoilt ourselves silly in the Marriott Spa Resort, probably the finest hotel in Thailand.
Soon enough we had to go our separate ways and Khamma went back to Thamuang and I travelled on to Hong Kong to meet my new colleagues in the Asia Pacific head office. All this jet setting around sounds exciting, and if I am honest it is!
After a couple days getting my head around what is required in the new job it was on to Singapore, my final destination. My first impressions of Singapore are the humidity and the lush vegetation of tropical plants kept in immaculate condition by armies of gardeners. It is also an important port and this morning I counted 80 container ships anchored in the bay waiting to enter the docks.
My accommodation was at first a little disappointing but I am getting used to living on the 15th floor. I think the two Olympic sized swimming pools in the private gardens of Bayshore Park and the nearby East Coast Road beach front have helped a little bit. Well quite alot actually!