We made the arrangement for Saturday lunchtime with me happy that yet more people are stepping forward to help but with no clue as to who these new people were.

At 11.30am Saturday morning I got a very nice surprise as we were treated to a visit from Bpaa Ohm and her generous group of friends.

Prior to starting the Foundation, I had run a business in the centre of Chiang Mai for 2 years and for the majority of that time Bpaa Ohm was my next door neighbour, with her own business. We got on famously then and I have often wondered how she was and remember those times fondly.

She was equally surprised, having no idea that I was running this Foundation. Our old landlords secretary, who worked above Bpaa Ohms shop was also in the group.

So it was a particularly happy welcome to this lovely group of Thai citizens, plus one “Farang” , Ian, who came and donated not only a fantastic lunch of Hang Lay and other traditional Thai food, but also bedsheets, kanom, kitchen supplies, such as cooking oil and sauces , and a generous cash donation of 4000 baht.

We would like to thank them all very much and hope it won’t be too long before we see them again.

This years festive season comes with many positive notes for the Foundation as friends, old and new,  step forward with their support.

This post is to say a big thanks to our old friends Mary and Bruce who, having visited our Foundations home last year, recently donated a significant amount of money with a view to sponsoring each and every child here to the tune of 10 pounds a month for the whole year, to include 1 new child who is expected to join us in May.

They have also indicated that they are prepared to consider help with funding extra educational needs for our hardest working students.

I am moved and delighted by this gesture and all here at Stratton House wish to say a huge “Thankyou” and wish the Grays a very enjoyable Festive season and a very very Happy New Year.

They popped in on Monday with a trunk load of supplies for our kitchen and we would all like to say a very big “Thankyou”.

Steve and his partner Pah, were kind enough to deliver, saving us transport costs. It was a quick visit and I didn’t manage to get a photo of the helpful couple; next time I hope.

We hope to have flyers, out and about in Chiang Mai advertising this project, very soon.

Our first collection run will be on Friday, midday-ish in the Hang Dong area, so if you live in the area and spot this article and want to donate your re-cyclables please get in touch as soon as possible.

This morning I popped along to City Life’s Canal Road Offices and collected the generous gift which is now in the girls lounge upstairs.

The girls were all very happy having been managing with a much smaller “portable”.

Thanks again Khun Pim and all at City Life.

Thankfully we have already sourced a second donation from a Thai family who are just finishing some new building at their home near Chompoo.

We went for the first load yesterday afternoon. The Mattayom children finished early as usual on a Monday and came along with me to help out.

I have been again today and will likely be going everyday this week to collect the huge amount of rubble at this site.

Hard work, but its ok, I could do with the work out

We do still need much more after this , so please we are still waiting to here of any more possible sources.

Doing a couple of loads a day, with help from Somboon on the last day, that rubble is now down on our “track”.

But as you will see from the photos we are still in need of much much more.

If you have any rubble you need clearing, or know of any sites with a likely looking pile we could enquire about,  please let us know.

Roshni Kaur spent time here at Stratton House recently and was so impressed that she pledged to make The Stratton ABC Foundation the beneficiary of funds raised by her school initiative, “Small Hands Do Big Wonders”.

All through the past school year the delightful looking children of K2 , Raindrops Montessori School in Indonesia have been donating bits of their pocket money in order to help other children in need.

Last night the children of Stratton House got together for a small video thank you to Roshni and the kids from K2. The video will be shown to the K2 children on their “end of year” day this weekend.

With a total donation of a little over 3000 baht I would like once more to give thanks for the generosity of these fine young individuals.

Added thanks to Chiang Mai Living for organising the event, only wish I could have made it there myself.

Li Li managed to sell over 700 bahts worth of our cards etc, and theres money to be counted from the collection box to.

Thanks to all who purchased or donated, be sure your money will be put to good use and please feel free to come and visit at anytime, (phoning or emailing ahead is good just in case we are out and about).

Heather heads the Faa Gamma fund raising team in Australia and featured on this site when she and her family visited and helped out with prepping the Home here before we opened.

She was recently in Thailand again to collect William, a Thai child that she id now fostering in Australia. Unfortunately , due to time restrictions she was unable to come to visit us here but arranged the posting of her kind donation of clothes. There was also a lovely letter for Jack , who Heather sponsors monthly.

Thanks again Heather, love from all at Stratton House to you and all your family.