Just a glimpse...

[kerrensimmonds]

Glad you are OK, Phil!
I am forever calling my animals by the wrong name, just as you describe your mum working her way through the names before she got to the right one (my mum did the same....) - but I love 'Cowpat'!
Presumably it means something different in Thai?

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

I'm SO glad that I am not alone , in forgetting, or mis-placing names----
I tend to call my Son by my Grandson's name --- and vice versa,
Fortunately the elder Grandchildren are Female -- so I have avoided calling the Grandson --- "Zoe" and getting decked !
The Blessed Anne, says I am exhibiting the first signs of Dementia (At 81) My only defence is to ask "Who are You ?"

There is a lovely story of Mrs T visiting an Old Peoples' Home and asking a frail old Dear --- "Do you know who I am ?"

Reply-:-------- "No -- but if you ask Sister -- she''ll tell you ! "

[midget]

My mum was also a serial name-guesser, which was a bit disconcerting when I was called Fred, Will, Rene, Mary oh Yes, PEG. (Fred and Will both died in WW1!)

[J.R.]

There is nothing worse than being at a social do, or sports do and seeing someone you haven't seen for a while, and walking up and saying.

"Hi, er er er. (Long Pause...) Hallo there !"

I now blame my age.

[kerrensimmonds]

Then there's the story of Sir Thomas Beecham bumping into the Princess Royal in Fortnums. She greeted him by name but he couldn't place her. She mentioned her brother - so quickly he jumped in and said 'Oh yes, your brother. What IS he doing now?' The sweet reply came back 'Oh, he's still the King....'

[Ajarn Philip]

I'm great with faces, but useless with names. I therefore have a number of useful alternatives for use as appropriate, ranging from "my dear old chap, how lovely to see you" to "wotcher, mate, how's it hanging!" (My problem doesn't seem to extend to the fairer sex...)

Today's glimpse is irritating, as in itchy. Both my body and my doctor (apparently my triglycerides[?] are low) are telling me to get more exercise. I hate exercise simply for the sake of exercise, but I do enjoy an hour in the pool (albeit with a good book...). Unfortunately I seem to have developed an allergy to chlorine, and at the moment I'm itching like bug#ery. Does anyone have an instant solution to my problem? (Other than going to the beach...)

[kerrensimmonds]

Piriton, Phil. Ostensibly for hay fever but also excellent in terms of damping down any allergic reaction to anything. Can you get it in Thailand...? I do hope so. Especially because of your newly married status. Must be very frustrating.......

[icomefromalanddownunder]

and at the moment I'm itching like bug#ery. Does anyone have an instant solution to my problem? (Other than going to the beach...)

We always have a bottle of Caroline (as my offspring call it) lotion on hand. Ultra messy, and water resistant, so has to be scrubbed off, which sometimes negates any healing it may have promoted.

Aloe vera gel - magic stuff. Be sure to get pure gel. I once made the mistake of buying a brand that included SDS or some other chemical, and it hurt like crazy when I applied it to a chemical burn.

Lavender! If we have run out of the essential oil I pick a bunch, pour boiling water over it, leave to steep until the water has cooled, then slosh on where needed.

And, if a trip to the beach is out of the question, why not dissolve some household salt in water and bathe affected areas with that?

Happy scratching

xx

[kerrensimmonds]

I know people who grow aloe vera in pots in the kitchen, and when any healing is required (e.g. for a scald, or a burn), they just break off a leaf, tear it open, and apply the gel direct to the spot. I understand its extremely effective. It's very nice and cooling to apply to the skin anyway.

[jhopgood]

I know people who grow aloe vera in pots in the kitchen, and when any healing is required (e.g. for a scald, or a burn), they just break off a leaf, tear it open, and apply the gel direct to the spot. I understand its extremely effective. It's very nice and cooling to apply to the skin anyway.

We have loads of aloe vera, which seems to multiply like a weed.
My wife has used it on her skin and we have used it in juices, to no apparent ill effect.

[Ajarn Philip]

Today's glimpse needs current photos. It concerns an orphanage (Thai/Christian run) called Mercy House in Pranburi, just a few miles from where we live. The following link is a day out for the children a few weeks ago on my friend's boat (the same boat on which we had the wedding reception)...

http://teakdoor.com/thailands-beaches-a ... coast.html

...but today, that same friend organised a day out for them at another friend's fishing lodge...

http://www.huahinfishing.com/home

I'm not trying to sell any of you a holiday in Thailand, so take these links for what they are - a little background info.

Care for orphans in Thailand seems to be a bit 'hit and miss'. The extended family set-up has many advantages, but more for the elderly than for the young (who run the risk of being treated as 'unpaid help' if not worse...).

Mercy House is 50% backed by a Swedish Presbyterian church in Bangkok, but has to find the rest of its funds itself. There are about 30 children there from 3 to 18, and a more delightful bunch I could never hope to meet. Today 25 of them went to the fishing lodge, the older ones helped the youngest, when food was served there was no 'diving in'. Discipline seems to come from the way they have been treated, by which I mean naturally. There wasn't a voice raised in anger during the whole day, and no chastisement necessary. 'Mother' and 'Father' (both Thai) were completely unobtrusive, almost to the point of invisibility.

The behaviour of these children was exemplary, and it was quite obvious that they had a wonderful day. There were trophies for the child who caught the most fish (4) and the heaviest fish (5kg - and the little fellow didn't weigh much more himself!) I was there as 'Uncle Philip' just to help out, not that I know anything about fishing, but there really was nothing for me to do, other than encourage them to speak a bit of English.

It was a fantastic day, and for everything that the kids got out of it, I got just as much myself. As soon as the photos are avilable, I'll post a link.

[Ajarn Philip]

The Mother of all Storms has been overhead for quite some time, with thunder so loud you can't hear yourself whimper. It 's never been a problem for me, beyond the loss of satellite and sometimes electricity, but this year we have two terrified dogs - HELLLP!!

[lonelymom]

My advice is for you and Mrs Philip to act as normal in front of the dogs. My friend's dog is terrified of fireworks and for years she has cuddled him when the noises start, all to no avail. Her vet recently told her that is the worst thing to do, the dog picks up on your different body language and realises something isn't right, making him even more anxious. The vet told her to act as she usually would, to make normal everyday noises, not make any more fuss of him than she always does, and, basically, keep everything the same. It worked with my friend's dog, he was still a bit scared, but not anywhere near as bad as before. Hope it works Fortunately neither my dog or my cats are frightened by storms or fireworks (maybe because they're actually quieter than the level of noise from within the household at times!!)

[kerrensimmonds]

Oh dear Phil. What a responsibility! My (current) dog is terrified by fireworks and thunder - and she wasn't too happy about the CH Band at Old Blues' Day yesterday. If I am at home, I ensure that all the curtains are closed and I have the TV, radios etc. going full blast to provide continuous background noise. My last dog used to try to get inside the washing machine when there were bangs outside... this one just wimpers and runs around trying to find a closely confined corner in which to hide. If the bangs happen during the night, she gets into my bed and I cuddle her tightly under the duvet.
Good luck!

[Ajarn Philip]

My advice is for you and Mrs Philip to act as normal in front of the dogs.

You mean huddling under the dining table?

Panic's over now, thankfully, but we did let the dogs into the house until the storm sauntered off to terrorise someone else. The pup (Pat Thai) was confused and a bit frightened, as she's never experienced this before. Our older adoptee, Cobweb, was simply terrified, quivering, tail down and hiding, but it has to be said that if she were human she would definitely be in therapy, storms or no storms... Anyway, they are both back outside now, Mrs Ajarn is in bed, and all seems calm.

Strangely enough (or perhaps consequentially) fireworks (particularly firecrackers) are a common event here and don't bother the dogs at all.

I have to say that the storms here during the monsoon season are nothing like anything ever experienced in the UK! The whole house shakes, the windows rattle, the trees bend alarmingly - every instinct tells you to hide! You can really understand the thinking behind the old sayings concerning the wrath of God.

Thank you for the advice, especially about normal treatment (makes sense, but I'm not sure Mrs Aj will be able to manage that) - this was the first big storm of the season, and there will be many more. I think we were right to let them in, and I think limited sympathy sounds like a good idea.