After doing a couple of hours of that Monday morning, we went out on Re-cycle collection, first to our friend Blues’ house near Wat Suan Dawk, Chiang Mai and then calling in at the American Pacific International School Kindergarten in Hang Dong Road.

Whilst at APIS we got confirmation that the schools Main Campus wishes to join in our project and we will be contacting them this week to sort out collection details.

On the way home from there we also picked up a decent haul from Kwan Wiang Moo bahn.

Picking the Mattayom students up on the way we then returned home.

Emilie then switched to Volunteer carer mode and joined in fun and games with the children. As well as some karaoke going on Emilie did a great art exrecise with the children producing “sand pictures”

In the evening there was a Buddhist celebration going on at Wat Mae Salaab and we took all the children along for an hour after dinner.

We first watched the parade headed by a “Prince” on pony, before taking the children to the fair that was set up, where the younger ones spent time on the Bouncy Castle and the older ones had goes on Balloon popping and shooting games.

Then it was back home to get that all important homework done before bed.

Tradition has been formed that a show is put on every Xmas Eve, with performances by local residents and school children.

Year we watched Yong doing her bit on stage and this year was the turn of Jor , who with her Prathom 6 classmates put on a contemporary dance performance to the jolly sounds of Jingle Bells.

Other performances included on exercise routine by elderly members of the community, hula hoop dancing by Mae Salaab schools little ones and a Nativity Play by some of the older children.

Free food including Pad Thai and other local cuisine was provided for all who attended and many gift prizes were given out in between the performances.

yet more prizes were given out by Santa who arrived around 9pm at the end of the show.

Our children benefited by many small prizes including snack food, washing powder, toiletries and, most impressive, a toaster.

It was a great show and everyone had lots of fun…loved Jors dancing…though I’m not sure she should give up her day job..555

With the children home for 4 days over the Kaow Pan Saa period I finally got my memory in gear and purchased the necessary nets.

So on Friday morning the children set to emptying, cleaning and refilling the fish pond. The water had got pretty murky and it was a nice surprise to see just how many new fish we now have.

And as we do our best to waste as little as possible here the old water was tipped onto the vegetable plots.

Arriving shortly after 9.30 it wasn’t long before the many volunteers were getting stuck in.

First operations have been digging out for laying foundations for a block built “Castle” in the far corner and the construction of a tunnel.

With cold season well and truely over its hard hot work and I can only say many thanks to all who are pitching in.

The children are all very excited about the idea and were very keen to draw out their choices.

Once all the drawings were done each child explained their ideas to the group.

They are all looking forward to some of their ideas becoming reality in the not too distant future.

Along with five of our children from Stratton House the workshop was also attended by five local village children.

Pee Bat was the leading instructor, with the other volunteers helping the kids out when they got stuck.

The workshop went very well and was popular with all the children who attended.

I was impressed with their attention and how well they all listened and followed instructions. The class was very relaxed and informal and all the children clearly had a lot of fun.

I think the volunteers had as much fun as the kids did too.

Everyone here at Stratton House looks forward to the next workshop and doing much more with our friends from Art Relief.

Once again I was particularly happy seeing Jack so enthralled and proud of himself afterwards, as he came speak to me, checking that I had seen that he had listened closely and done a good job.

He didn’t need to tell me, I had noticed and was  so happy to see his self esteem rising.

We have started to see a vast and sustained improvement with Jack and more of these sorts of activities are sure to enhance those changes.

A big thanks to all the Art Relief Team for giving the kids such an interesting activity.