What I Have Been Up to Lately

1. Invigilating, yes, its final exams this week.
2. Coping up with the end of the semester deadlines.
3. Foreseeing my work next week, what with the English Camp and exam. paper marking plus this never ending paper work, I'll surely manage with careful planning.
4. Thinking what to do on my next holiday.
5. Planning my Christmas shopping.
6. Planning home lessons for my son.
7. Wanting to go shopping for some nice girl stuff, but cannot find the time to do so.
8. Updating my 3 blogs, ,my Facebook and Flickr accounts for an hour before bedtime.
9. Praying constantly for family members especially those far from me and for a bright future for my only son and
10. Getting in touch with long lost friends.

Have a nice day everyone !

Gel Candle

This miniature gel candle was made in JM's handicraft class. The candle was decorated with colored sand, shells, dried flowers and foliages. It's so pretty we used it to decorate the headboard of our bed together with his Doraemon diplay frame.

Pretty Work of Art

Here are two of the projects that JM made in his handicrafts class. Above is a baseball cap made of yellow recycled green tea boxes and sewn together using a crochet thread.

The one above was proudly presented to me this afternoon when he arrived home from school, Garfield in a picture frame made from tiny bits of recycled styrofoam glued together and painted with watercolor when all the glued parts have been completed.

My son JM with his work of art from school. Every work of art he makes is a treasure I'll keep and cherish. I have a blog just for his artworks and handicrafts, http://jmsartjournal.blogspot.com/ . I'll have something to look back on, mementos of his childhood years when I'm old and grey. Mom loves you so much JM !

A Cold Cola Makes My Day

After several days of having a bout of flu which goes with the abstitence from ice and cold drinks, JM finally had his first cold drink today, but with a limit, just a glass of cola with ice. We are observing his condition, the persistent cough is still there, but the sore throat is nearly healed. He is headed to a complete recovery in two or three days. Thumbs up to JM !!

Lingering in My Thoughts

1. A week just passed, the weekend spent productively, another new week to look forward to. The early morning rush to finish chores, a quick breakfast, preparing a child for school are the usual things that occupy my weekdays. And lastly, the early morning trip to work.
2. I need to spend more time tutoring my son in science, English, social studies and Cathechism during weekends. The daily home chores is driving me crazy. I have to manage my weekend schedule better.
3. I realized recently that my son is now in CCD grade 7, the Confirmation class. Time flies, it seems it was only yesterday that he received his First Holy Communion.
4. Tons of paper work awaits me tomorrow morning. I'll manage all these before next weekend. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
5. Thinking where to go next Sunday after mass and CCD. Amusement parks is a big NO, NO. Still thinking, still planning.
6. And of course, I have to update my three blogs, my Facebook and Flickr accounts and experiment in making really nice videos to upload on YouTube.
7. Remembering the third death anniversary of my dearest mom in October.
8. And lastly, anticipating my weeklong holiday in October.

Weekend Shopping

Phanthai Norasing Shrine

After our lunch , we drove back home and along the way, we saw a big sign in English that says Norasing Shrine. I've never been to this place before, so we decided to drop by for a visit. The entrance to the shrine is guarded by a couple of giant cock statue.

A couple of Garuda (bird) statues holding lamps also guard the entrance to the shrine

Here is the left side of the Norasing Shrine. It is surrounded by big and small cock statues placed by visitors whose wishes have been granted.

JM poses for a souvenir photo with the shrine as a background.

A replica of the ancient boat decorated by colored nylons. Placing colored nylons on anything sacred is a sign of reverence for Thai people.

A front view of the replica of the ancient boat.

The authentic hat worn by Norasing is enclosed in a glass case for safekeeping and worship.

Another shrine revered by Thai people. So many are these with different dieties inside, I decided to take a photo of one, not completely knowing what is inside.

Cool Lunch !

We're back, we've booked the hut last week and we ate lunch here today.The environment was perfect! We waited for dolphines to come up near the shore, but the low tide prevented them from doing so.

I went to the bamboo bridge to have the photo of JM and dad taken in the hut that we booked
last Sunday. The place is so cool !

Rocks lined the sea shore.

Father and son.

Patiently waiting for lunch.

Finally, food has arrived. We were all starving.

A view of another hut from a distance.

More huts are visible from where we were.

Sea View

A view of the Gulf of Thailand from the bamboo hut.

There is this place somewhere in Bangkok where you can have a good view of the Gulf of Thailand and eat fresh seafood at the same time. We had a look at the place and we loved the atmosphere. A particular bamboo hut overlooking the gulf was booked for next Sunday's lunch.

This is a photo of the bamboo hut we booked for next Sunday's lunch. The oyster farm was visible from the left side of the hut because of the low tide.

The oyster farm extends way far to the deep part of the gulf.

JM in a souvenir photo outside the bamboo hut.

Father and son in a souvenir photo on the bamboo bridge leading to the hut.

Three Years Ago

This video was taken aboard the HTMS Maeklong.

Three years ago, we took the then 9 year old JM for a tour of the HTMS Maeklong. When I took his photos on the same place last Sunday, and compared it with the ones I took three years ago, I was awed by the difference in his physical appearance then and now. My chubby 9 year old has transformed into a tall pre-teenage boy.

A video taken during a boat ride around the mangrove.

Mangrove Here We Come !

A view of the mangrove forest, trees that survives in mud and saltwater abounds the place.

No mudskipper was in sight.

JM on the wooden bridge which gave a good view of the plant and animal life that lives in the mangrove forest.

Exploring the place some more.

We found this umbrella fashioned shade where we rested for a while.

It's cool in here !

We visited next the park with antique ammunitions, then, the HTMS Maeklong and finally we had lunch in a seafood restaurant overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

Have a nice week everyone !

The HTMS Maeklong I

Twelve year old JM poses in front of HTMS Maeklong.

Another view of the grand old lady.

JM and dad on board.

The twosome explores the different parts of the ship.

JM on the part of the ship facing the Gulf of Thailand