8 Days Until the Journey Starts

Today's song is: Don't Call Me Up  .. Mabel

We are leaving Ottawa in 8 days but I have already planned for our next arrival in Canada about March 8th 2020. One of the first things I will do is buy a new car. After much research and a test drive I have decided to lease a 2020 Volkswagen Jetta GLI. It is the perfect vehicle for me as it accommodates the family well, has lots of power (228 horses and 258 pounds of torque), but best of all, it makes me smile  :-)

We measured a zero-to-60-mph time of 5.6 seconds with our dual-clutch automatic test car, matching the best figure we've recorded for a GTI, and a still-solid 5.8 seconds with the manual.

The other car that I really enjoyed driving was the Dodge Charger, but it is $10K more, so a no go.

We are starting to empty out the fridge and freezer so we don't end up wasting any food. extra clothing has been parceled out for storage in Canada and we plan to go back to Thailand with half of what we brought to Canada. Live and learn, particularly in Thavorn's case.

Jaidan is looking forward to seeing his Thai siblings, Tai and Dun. He is also looking forward to seeing snow again  :-)

When we arrive back in Canada in 2020, Jaidan will enter 5 Year old kindergarten at March break. Hopefully it will not be too traumatic for him.

Once we arrive in Thailand, Thavorn will recover from jet lag and then head off to the village to finish the purchase of land and see her family. I will start coaching and I am looking forward to it.

TTYL

12 days of Thailand

Today's song is: Something Just Like This   .. Chainsmokers and Wake Me Up  .. Avicii

I imagine many men would like to have my life judging by the looks we get from everyday Canadians. Definitely not boring :-)

Just like the 12 days of Christmas, we have 12 days before flying, and just like the 12 days before Christmas we are very busy.

I am very busy as we convert the two Ottawa school boards to our new software.  A lot of the delay was due to board employees on summer holidays. However, this week, everyone is back so we hope to be live with the software by the end of this week.

Thavorn and I have suspected that Jaidan is on a growth spurt as he has been eating everything in sight. I just measured him, and he is now 4 feet tall (48 inches for you metric folks). Jaidan as always been over the 99 percentile. I decided to query Google to see how he is progressing.

It appears Jaidan is still ahead of the curve.  Thavorn's father was about 6'2" so I suspect he is getting some of that height. However, we are still in a booster seat for a while:

In Ontario, children under age 8, who weigh less than 36 kg (80 lb.) and are under 145 cm (4-foot-9) tall, must be secured in an appropriate child seat or booster. Once any of these limits are surpassed, the child only needs to wear a seat belt.

Now that Jaidan is 4 feet we will probably go to Universal Studios in Singapore while in Thailand, as he will be able to go on any ride. Ditto for Thavorn, who was pregnant last time we visited.

The old adage is that it is good to get away and good to go back home is true. The only problem is that I consider both Canada and Thailand to be home. Thavorn would side with Thailand, and Jaidan is on the fence.

My basketball team is awaiting my arrival and I am looking forward to seeing them. Great kids :-)

TTYL

17 Days to Flight

Today's song is: Sweet but Psycho  .. Ava Max

Things are starting to get busy. Today we headed out to renew Jaidan's passport and we took the bus to Parliament hill and then walked over to Place de Portage in Hull for the passport office. I am used to long waits, but we were in and out in 15 mins. I arranged for pickup in the same office on August 27th, not wanting to trust Canada Post.

We logged 1200 steps which is quiet impressive especially with Jaidan walking it. On the bus on the way home some 30 ish clown was wowed by Thavorn  and could not stop looking at her and gave her a big wave on leaving the bus.  I guess I had better get used to that in Canada.

We had lunch at Boston Pizza and I had not been there for years and it was resaobaly priced and good as usual. I had pizza, Thavorn had Jumbalaya and Jaidan had french fries. The meals came with a salad and we washed it down with a beer (cola for Jaidan). Jaidan kept himself busy with a coloring book.

The Thai baht is slowly falling so we ordered 100,000 baht in the bank today and it comes in in 3 working days. We will do another 100K as we get closer to flying. It is much cheaper than sending money electronically to our Thai accounts.

I read some sad news that Queens Park Plaza on Soi 22 will be demolished to make room for yet another hotel.  Bangkok is slowly being neutered so if you want a walk on the wild side I suggest you visit sooner than later.

Some pics from today's excursion:

TTYL

21 Days Until Heading back to LOS

Today's song is: This Feeling  .. ChainSmokers

I was really disappointed with my progress in the fitness center. I was running 3.25 km or 2 miles and I did not feel I could go faster than 6 km/hr.  The equipment maintenance person was in today, and I asked him if the machines were metric or imperial and he said imperial.

So, it turns out I was running 3.25 miles at 6 miles an hour. I am quite okay with that as I never broke 5 minutes for a mile in high school and at 68 years, I am happy with 6 minutes.

We have 21 more days until we fly in the big airplane as Jaidan calls it.  My friend Arthur just flew in from Boston to Bangkok, and all he said was, 'Fuck, that's a long flight!'. That is why we fly to Vancouver, spend a couple of nights and then do the 11 hours to Taiwan, and then 4 more after a break to Bangkok.  I call it 3 meals, 3 movies, and 3 naps, with about six 10 minute strolls up and down the plane to get the blood flowing and the numb bum a break.

We (actually Thavorn) just noticed that Jaidan's passport needs renewing so we will do that on the 19th when we have a car rented. Oops, just noticed the 10 day waiting period.  Guess we will put the application in this Tuesday, the 13th.

TTYL

Today's song is: Sweet but Psycho  ... Ava Max

It has been a great week so far. Yesterday one of my longest and best friends and his wife came to visit us. I have known Kerry since great 5 and Janet since grade 10. They are wonderful people despite having left Canada for the USA and grand kids prevent them from coming back. They do, however, have a cottage on Bob lake that they visit every summer so Thavorn, Jaidan and I are hoping to reconnect every summer. It was fascinating to get caught up as I had not seen Kerry and Janet for about 7 years. They had not changed much, except for being gray haired now. I have decided to nickname Kerry, the 'Silver Fox'  :-)

On another note, Jaidan turns 5 tomorrow and we have bought him a few things for his birthday. The big gift is a bicycle as we plan on using August to get him off training wheels do e can ride as a family next summer.

The next necessary gift was a life jacket that he will wear in August as we plan on teaching him how to swim. It was the first I have found that fits him well,. He doesn't seem to mind that 'girl' colors.

The other toys, Jaidan got to choose himself at ToysRus. Typical boy toys, cop car, remote controlled python, and 4 pull back cars. He is enjoying them immensely.

Meanwhile Thavorn is enjoying buying her favorite sports clothing, Adidas and preen for the camera.

I am drinking a mug of ice-chilled beer and simply enjoying life.  It does not get much better, except, perhaps, out with my buddies in the Big mango.

TTYL

What's Worse?

Today's song is: I Don't Care  .. Sheeran and Bieber

I can only remember one time when Thavorn got ticked off at me. She said, 'Mai sun yai' which translated into, 'I don't care'. That's the only time in 6 years. I can't even remember what we were discussing  :-) Hence the today's song.

What is worse, a leftist politician in government or a red neck with a pit bull? As I sit on my balcony I marvel at the City add bicycle lanes and more trafficking calming to the street below. The street already has speed bumps and a solar powered speed alert sign that flashes your speed at you as you drive by. The latest trafficking calming is to install 5 foot pylons that get nailed down in the middle of the street between double yellow lines that were just painted on.  Of course these pylons need to be removed before the snow falls and inserted once again when spring arrives.

One may wonder why I disagree with all of the above? First off, I have been here 5 months and no one speeds along the street, at least in my observation. Secondly, hardly anyone uses the bike lanes in Ottawa. Most bicyclists use the bike paths that are all over the city. Thirdly, the streets are falling apart, with way too many potholes that don't look like they will be repaired before winter arrives again. Riding the city but results in your teeth being jarred by the bumpy ride.

You won't find too many groups that are so passionate about their 'thing' other than bicyclists and dog owners. To each their own.

Meanwhile, back at home, Thavorn is reveling in the fact that she is loosing almost all of the weight she gained in Jaidan's pregnancy. Speaking of Jaidan he turns 5 this Wednesday on the 31st. I think we will buy him a bicycle for his birthday.

38 days until we land in the LOS. It is good to get away and it is good to get back  :-)

Some pics of Thavorn reveling:

Thavorn waking up and checking with family and friends back in Thailand

Jaidan, turning 5 years old, watching morning cartoons

My new smart watch

After waiting 3 years for smart watches to evolve to where I would actually buy one  . it happened and I bought a Hua Wei Watch GT and I am very happy with it. Why I like it:

• 2 week battery life, so you can actually track your sleep unlike the Apple watch that needs charging nightly.
• It actually looks like a watch, again, unlike Apple.
• It is thin enough that it doesn't catch on things and fits under a long sleeve shirt.
• It was affordable at $247 Canadian through Amazon.com (Global)
• It pairs perfectly with my Hua Wei phone.
• Hua Wei updates the OS regularly, adding new features.

Highly recommended!

TTYL

50 days and Counting

Today's song is: Leaving on a Jet Plane  .. John Denver

It is 50 days until we are back in Thailand. We leave Ottawa on August 30th and spend that night and August 31st in Vancouver and then we fly out to Bangkok on September 1st, arriving on September 3rd (lost a day crossing the international dateline).  I am looking forward to it as both countries have their own unique qualities, but a mix is just better.

A big plus is we live much cheaper in Bangkok, $590 a month for apartment in Bangkok vs $1800 for an apartment in Ottawa. Living expenses are also a bit cheaper in Bangkok, but I tend to spend more on entertainment in the Big mango. That is to say, I have more fun in Bangkok. My usual saying is, "If you can't have fun in Bangkok, then there is something seriously wrong with you!'. Among other things, playing pool is one of my favorite things.

I also tend to spend more time working out in a gym in Bangkok, so I tend to be better fit. That is a trade off to more alcohol and air pollution  :-)

Some pics:

Jaidan and his buddy Spidey

Thavorn and her buddy Fon at my sister's lake

At the Thai festival at Landsdown Park

Just another selfie moment

TTYL