‎"telling someone what they have to learn is a long and tortuous road, often ineffective; giving someone the opportunity to explore what their brain finds particularly interesting at the time opens the gateway to optimization of that individuals potential" anon
Sep 262010
 

This weekend, with no visitors, we decided to get a start on our planned vegetable growing project. The food bill is one of our biggest expenses, so the more we can grow ourselves, the better.
As with everything here at Stratton House the plan is for the children to do their bit.
So on Saturday morning we set to preparing the ground for the first stage of the project.

First job was to clear the weeds from the chosen growing area.

Once that was done everyone piled into spreading gravel as the base for the growing area.

Once this was done we placed concrete “pipe’ sections, which will serve as individual vegetable plots for each child.
We also utilised some old garden fence, hanging the sections along the wall ready for climbers such as broad beans.
Today(Sunday), we will spread the remaining gravel and then allocate the vegetable “plots”.

The children will then paint their pots and paint their names onto their individual plots.

We have so much space available that it is hoped to extend this project in the future.

Possibly offering the chance for other children in the community to take part, splitting their finished vegetables 50/50 between The Foundation and their own family.
The concrete sections cost just 100 baht each, the gravel was 2000 baht for a full load that was enough for a 15 metre stretch.

We will need soil and of course vegetable seed. So if you feel like helping out, please do:)

For more photos please visit our photobucket album here.

Sep 232010
 
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And other news here at Stratton House is that the wayward pup that adopted us earlier this year, Dam Dam, is now a Mum. She had her pups early Tuesday morning.
Unfortunately, three of the six pups she had did not make it. But the remaining three are all doing very well.
Once she is passed the mothering stage she will be taken for nuturing as will the pups after 5 months. Five dogs on site is more than enough!
That said it is another responsibilty that the children seem to be rising to so I don’t see it as a bad thing.

Sep 182010
 
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I make no bones about the fact that I am an emotional man. The truth is I’ve shed enough tears of pain in my life to believe my self truely blessed to have shed the tears of joy that today brought me.

It can be a lonely road, doing my best to make sure that this Foundation succeeds and goes on to help as many children as possible. So when people like Li Li Tan and her friend Jessica start getting involved I can but glow with hope that something really good is starting to happen.

Words cannot express my gratitude enough.

Today our friend, and webmaster, Ally arrived with Li Li and Jessica about an hour before lunch. Li Li came with a whole load of art materials for the children to use. Jessica, came armed with rocks and minerals to give a very interesting lesson.

Jessica needed time to set up, so it was art with Li Li and then lunch.

After lunch Jessica held a wonderful session, teaching the children about how minerals combine to form rocks. What may seem like an advanced subject for children so young was very successful with the methods Jessica employed.

Using coloured flash cards and samples of minerals and rocks, and her own very engaging character,  she soon had the kids hooked.

One of the highlights of the day, for me, was watching Jack.

Jack often has problems with learning and concentration.

Today I saw a boy absorbed with what he was shown and I have not seen so many genuine smiles on this boys face in a long time. Jessica, thank you so much.

And a big thankyou to Heather, (Bpaaa Bonnie), too.

Shortly before lunch the postman arrived with a big parcel containing a late birthday present for Jack and other toys and stuff that all the kids get to use.

Jack deserves more  days like this.

Even Tai, who can often be reluctant to get involved with events involving the “little kids”, got drawn in.

Indeed, all the children let it be known that they enjoyed the lesson very much.

When our visitors left, mid-afternoon, a bunch of happy children got back to more art work.

Any one else who may feel like donating materials, please contact us as it looks like we need a constant supply to satisfy the childrens enthusiasm.

See the gallery below and for more photos visit our photobucket album here.

Also check out the videos below the gallery.

Aug 302010
 
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Ok, now I’m getting a little fed up with all this rain we’re having at the moment.

Unfortunately it meant no Bai Tio this weekend.

We had a bit of a break on Saturday morning with no rain so everyone pitched in to try and get on top of the rapidly growing jungle in the garden.

But Sunday was very nearly an all dayer so it was indoors all day.

Still we had a good English seesion learning, this, that, those and these, which was lots of fun.

I’m bracing myself for getting behind on website and some admin this week as I have allotted this week for major out and about work looking for sponsors and more sites for our collection boxes. another reason for hoping the rains stops.

Sorry for the further delay with the ‘Where to go and Find ‘ Directory , but should be live very soon.

Aug 212010
 
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Todays gallery is a few shots from our English lessons at Stratton House.

Aug 162010
 

At last I am starting to get somewhere with the Thai Schools English project, aimed at helping to promote English language learning in local schools.

With help from my friend Ally I have been learning to use the Moodle learning Centre software in order to set up courses for local children to follow via the internet.

These courses will include multi-choice questions, speaking practice, using videos of both myself and the children themselves, speaking English and much much more.

Just this weekend we managed to get some very good videos of the Stratton House children practising basic introductory conversation.

Some of the videos will soon appear on Thai Schools English as a practise aid for other children in the community.

Aug 102010
 
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Having made attempts to sort out a proper schedule for my weekly work, I have selected Tuesdays for work on the Thai Schools English project.

Today I  visited, and shall do every Tuesday, Huay Sai School to assist with teaching English conversation to Mattayom 1.

When that is finished I will then be working on building up the courses and lessons available to users of the thaischoolsenglish website, for the rest of the day.

I also hope to find time to visit and encourage more local schools to join our program.

Todays lesson was centred on basic introduction.

Although the children were a little nervous at first we soon broke through that and I was impressed with the students efforts.

For more photos please visit our photobucket album here.

If you are interested in the school website, please go here.

Aug 102010
 
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Sunday saw us at Huay Tung Tao once again.

At long last the water in the lake has increased again. Instructions were given to the children to bare this in mind and to be careful not to go too deep.

The parks administrators also had this in mind with supervisors spotted around keeping a watchful eye and blowing whistles if they thought children may be about to pass the safety line.

Although I often think about changing venues , it has to be said that Huay Tung Taow is the best for our purposes so far.

For more photos please visit our photobucket album here.

Jul 292010
 
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The children at Stratton House Childrens Home continue to respond well to our regular English lessons.

At present I am the sole teacher and it is all very informal.

Hopefully in the future we will get volunteers who may like to give me a break.

I have been very impressed by the childrens enthusiasm and rapid learning. Keep it up kid, if you all speak english my life will get alot easier;)

Jul 162010
 

Todays Gallery includes photos from the Pa-Ya-Nak Festival in Nongkhai, 2006, where Boon and myself witnessed 10 of the famed fireballs that shoot out from the river Mekon on October Full Moon. It is  phenomenon that has yet to be properly explained. The Buddhist belief is that it is Pa Ya Nak; the snake spirit that is supposed to have sheltered The Buddha from the rain, as he reached enlightenment; spitting its venom into the sky in order to join in clebrations honoring The Buddha.