This weeks Saturday work-slot was a major spring clean in the garden, including washing walls again.
After a general tidy up all round the children then set to painting the borders of the outer wall panels, making the garden look far more “finished”.
After work was finished there was the reward of more Lamyai with a helping hand from “Ar” Boon.
Another week passes and the arty atmosphere here at Stratton House continues. In between studies much of the children’s free time was taken up with yet more painting. the plaster figurines continue to be a big favourite and the best of these will soon be available in our online shop to help raise funds for more materials.
The children are also spending time on a colour drawing project where each child was given a word to consider and use their musings to inspire their work. Some of the children are now using their designs to make papier mache pictures using tissue paper soaked in paint and glue.
Hopefully the best of these designs will soon appear in a book to be produced for further fund raising.
As usual when not studying or at play all our kids have been doing their bit towards the general upkeep of the house and grounds.
I can’t say it too often, they continue to make me very proud. Kids are kids and we have the occasional problem, as any ‘family’ does; but all things considered there’s rarely a day goes by when they don’t leave me glowing.
As reward for all their efforts we made a trip to Huay Tung Tao on Sunday and were lucky to catch the sunny period inbetween the heavy rains, which started again just as we got home.
Despite recent health concerns life goes on happily here in Stratton House. This weekend all the children pitched in yet again in our constant battle to keep the rapidly growing weeds at bay in the garden.
Whilst all the other children set to with hands and shears, Tai went at it with our newly acquired strimmer. Good job done by all, but no doubt it’ll all need doing again next weekend with all the rain lately:)
Leisure time was taken up by the usual cycling, badminton, and this weekend Jig-saws and figurine painting came into action.
Nothing sad, just more progress. Yesterday Jack painted over his first mural with a new base coat ready to try again now that his concentration and other skills seem to have improved with the recent help from RICD.
To help towards the eventual decoration of all our walls Zak also base coated his allotted wall, assisted by his brother ,Tai.
It was a bit of a soggy day yesterday morning so there was no other “work” going on.
Lots of sewing, playing with the various toys available and drawing, and our now daily English language practice.
When things brightened slightly, in the afternoon there was lots of bike riding and use of the playground.
Another pleasant day.
Yet another arty day today with a little more work on the wall outside, lots more tapestry sewing and Pom Pom making and, today, extended periods of figurine painting that proved so popular that I had to go out and buy more.
Our Volunteer Roshni appeared to have lots of fun joining in with the children.
Art Relief International volunteers returned today for more dance practise and arranging a small performance by some of the children.
It is hoped that this initial attempt will build on their confidence and enable them to something similar to a larger audience one day in the future.
Great people, great activities, great children, great day!
Firstly I would like to apologise to any of the Art Relief International Volunteers who may have been upset by yesterdays post suggesting that the playground was not quite finished. We are all very grateful for all the very hard work put in by everyone and the children have already had lots of fun using the playground over the last couple of days. We would also like to thank all those that contributed to the Art Relief Appeals for funds to make it happen. Your donations have made the children here very happy.
Thanks to a rapid response to our appeal for funds to complete the fence this should be completed today and we look forward to seeing you all sometime in the week for the official “Opening Party”.
Yesterday all of the children got busy with paint brushes to brighten up the walls around the playground and look forward to working with Art Relief on more Mural work in the near future to make the play area even nicer.
Thanks again all…great job:)
Through our friend Li Li Tan we were kindly offered free entry to The Maeteman Elephant Park, close to Mae Tang.
So this Sunday the children of Stratton House were treated to a special trip out.
Our friend Ally arrived bright and early at 7.30am and supplied transport to both Li Li and our volunteer Eunjey.
The children were all up, fed and ready and along with my Mother we headed off in the Foundation song toaw.
Arriving at the Elephant park at 9.30 we were met by Khun Air who was our host for the day.
First off we were directed to the boarding platform for Elephant rides. It was a gentle ride as the huge beasts strolled down to the river, wading through the fast running waters and back up into the park a little further down stream. The official rides for tourist visitors are much longer, taking you up through the forests on the otherside of the river.
On our return we went to join other visitors waiting for the ‘show’.
From the wooden terrace the children sat and watched as several elephants performed various activities including playing football, golf, and the grand finale of showing off their artistic skills painting pictures.
After the show all our children got a much closer experience as the elephants came to meet the people. The kids fed them sugar cane, petted them and some were brave enough to be lifted up by the elephants and sit on their trunks.
We then took a gentle walk around, visiting the new born baby enclosures and generally enjoying the natural ambience of the park before taking lunch.
Lunch was buffet style with lots of great food on offer and the children really enjoyed it.
All the children and staff from The Stratton ABC Foundation would like to say a big thanks to Maeteman Elephant Park, Khun Anchalee and Khun Air for giving such a great day.
Just thought it would be nice to display some of our wall mural in greater detail. Thanks once again to everyone involved. And well done kids on your bits, I’m very proud of you all.
Still building up to the bigger event on our outside walls, the children here at Stratton House have just had a great weekend producing their first Mural on one of the walls of out small hut in the garden.
On Saturday Li Li Tan came along with Kira, from Art Relief and their friend, Jeffrey Warner, a photo journalist. Armed with various painting materials they set about organising the kids to produce something special.
Working from a drawing, done on the previous visit, they first sketched out the basic outlines in chalk.
Then it was painting time, again, just the outlines so they could play around making sure they chose the right colours.
It was amazing watching the progress through the day.
Starting at around 11am , with a short break for lunch, they worked through till around 4pm and got an incredible amount done.
The children all took their turns.
When they weren’t painting they had time to play games with Kira and help House Mother Wasanaa cutting up Bamboo shoots for use in the kitchen.
On Sunday, Li Li came on her own, a little earlier, but with her help the children managed to just about complete the Mural.
Using sponges and fingertips as well as brushes the end result was a fantasticlly bright and colourful scene.
It just needs maybe one more short day touching up here and there to make it the best we can but as far as I’m concerned its already a beautiful work of art.
As you will see from the photos the children enjoyed it so much.
Yet again we are endebted to our friend Li Li and all at Art relief.
Thanks also to Jeff for coming along and pitching in with the painting as well as taking some great photos.
If you are looking for someone to help you with promotional advertising, or do do an article for you let us know here and I will pass you details on to Jeff.
For more photos please visit our photobucket albums here
For a long time I have been thinking about what to use as a logo for the Thai Schools English program and website. With the increasing artistry around the place i decided to as Tai if he could come up with something.
On Saturday he did.
