Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Bangkok burning

I decided I wouldn’t keep posting about the state of things in Bangkok because it’s probably not all that interesting to you but that meant not blogging at all yesterday. It’s all consuming here; ever present and I can think of little else. Thoughts of exams are all wrapped up inside the state of Bangkok.

School was open yesterday and Daughter got to and from safely but after 10pm last night we received a text from school stating that it would be shut today. Talks had broken down and internet rumours suggested a dawn raid.

When I woke this morning, I could hear the wop wop wop noise of helicopters. It’s still present now in the distance, beyond the sound of my air con.

This is the view from my kitchen window this morning at about 8.30am:


















And yes, we have an exam this afternoon.

Update: 10.05am:


34 comments:

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Oh dear, please be safe.

Catherine said...

All consuming is right. I was on the roof early this morning taking photos of Din Daeng burning. Five minutes and I had to come down as my lungs cannot take smoke from burning tires.

Today looks to be crackdown day, but some are saying containment. But we won't know until it happens I guess.

Stay safe.

Jenny Beattie said...

Thank you Karen. We will make an informed decision... we can't put ourselves at risk but we can put ourselves out to stay safe.

Catherine, I saw your pic on Twitter. I can smell it from here - any closer must be horrible. Thank you.

Unknown said...

thinking of you. x

DJ Kirkby said...

Travel safe, not sure that maths exam is worth it!

Jen said...

God, it looks terrifying... it's almost unbelievable to think you're living in the midst of all that.

Son will never forget sitting his GCSEs, will he? Imagine the stories he'll tell his chldren one day...

- Susan - said...

Sawadee kah,

Hope you and your family is stil fine!

I am sitting here away in Germany with 2 tickets to Bangkok on Friday and two testing dates at schools next week. Patana told me we could come for testing or postpone to August.
My husband is already there and safe (in Tonglor area).
I am hoping from hour to hour that thing will calm down and we can go.
I am postponing my decision until tomorrow.
I know that I should cancel/postpone the flights....

Take good care - and please, keep writing about it (Bangkok Post and The Nation breaking news are somehow not accessible for me this morning)

Queenie said...

Actually, it's very interesting indeed. (Also slightly worrying when you don't post - not that you're obliged to, but it's so reassuring when you do.) I'm not surprised you can't think of anything else. I do hope you can make it safely to and from this afternoon's exam.

Chris Stovell said...

Thinking of you and your family. I nearly wrote 'take care' but what I mean is we want everything to be all right for you and yours.

Angie said...

Oh dear, that looks scary. I agree with Queenie, your posts on the state of life in Bangkok are interesting, as well as reassuring. And Jen's right, son's GCSEs will always be memorable!
Keep safe. I hope things clear up soon. xx

Sue Guiney said...

Oh, God. Nothing we can do or say except please take care, as I know you will.

Lazy Perfectionista said...

Good luck to your son! At least he won't do what I did in my maths GCSE exam - fall asleep...

Your Bangkok updates are really interesting, and as others have said, reassuring that you're all OK. I'm thinking of you all over there, and hoping that it calms down soon. Take care.

Talli Roland said...

Stay safe! Thinking of you.

Denise said...

Just listening to the news and it sounds like things are changing all the time. Can't imagine trying to get to/take exams in all of that!

Do keep blogging about it, it's very reassuring to hear from you.

Lane Mathias said...

Oh my, what a disturbing view that is.

And as Queenie has said , you're updates are far from uninteresting.

Stay safe (sounds trite but you know what I mean).x

Jenny Beattie said...

Liz, thank you.

DJ, oh my dear, you wouldn't believe what eventually happened...

Jen, no, he really won't.

Oh Suzie, I am so sorry ... what a difficult time you're having. Well, after today I'd say postpone it. It's not itself here in Bangkok at the moment. Lots of our friends have fled from the city. It would be such a shame to start your relationship with Bangkok under these circumstances... I have another post to do tomorrow but I'll blog again the day after about what's going on.

Queenie, thanks hon. It was difficult but we got home and thank god we're all together.

Chris, thank you. I understand. What can you say, really?

Angie, OMG, you won't believe what actually happened...

Sue, thank you.

Ellie, You fell asleep? Oh dear god. I won't tell my son that.

Talli, thank you.

Denise, thanks my love. I don't want to bore everyone.

Thanks Lane.

Lazy Perfectionista said...

In my defence, I had an EPIC migraine, and on the way home vomited on a village green (having leapt from my mum's car), interrupting a cricket match. The players all stopped to watch, which I think is just not, um, cricket...

Jenny Beattie said...

OMG, you've made me laugh and I really needed to laugh today. I've had migraines just like that.

Lazy Perfectionista said...

Always happy to help! I have good stock of 'hilarious' migraine stories. Just be glad I haven't told you the one about the friend's 13th birthday party in a 300 year old house (with gaps between the floorboards in the bathroom) and the projectile vomiting. That dripped into the kitchen. Cos that one's horrible.

Elizabeth Bramwell said...

JJ stay safe - your blog is actually really interesting to follow as the news coverage here can only ever show so much. Am thinking of you and your family, I really hope the situation improves soon xxx

Carol said...

I'm right in the middle of assessments at the moment hon which is why I've not been commenting much but I have been keeping a very close eye on the news and you have been in my thoughts.

Love and hugs

C x

Flowerpot said...

Been thinking of you a lot JJ. YOu take care now. xx

PT Writer said...

I see what's happening in the news and read it in the paper and I think of you and your family.

Please keep safe. It looks utterly terrifying.

Emily Tootsweet aka Paige (I never know who knows me as what anymore!) lol

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Every time I see this on the news I think of you and your family.

Hugs x

uphilldowndale said...

That is some view from the kitchen sink!
Thinking of you, keep writing if you can, we are not bored, oh no....

Liane Spicer said...

I'm seeing the headlines everywhere. Be safe JJ.

Liz said...

I've never met you, but your blog's fascinating - including your updates on what is an awful situation.

Hope life gets back to 'normal' very soon.

Julia Bell said...

Hi J, Keep blogging - news too thin on the ground over here - I see Central World is up in smoke . . . Is David's work OK? And you guys . . . thinking of you xx

Lorna F said...

Watched the BBC news earlier and was thinking of you - hope it all calms down and you all stay safe. Best wishes, Lorna

Jenny Beattie said...

Ellie, you made me laugh again. Eeeewgh.

Gemma, thank you. I keep thinking things will improve - have been thinking like that for more than two months - and it seems to get worse.

Carol, I know you'll be thinking of us. Thank you. I hope the assessments go well.

Flowerpot, thank you.

Emily/Paige/I know! Thanks so much. And honestly? It is terrifying.

Debs, thank you.

Uphilldowndale, thank you. Yes, more excitement in that view than I need.

LIane, thanks lovely.

Liz, that's kind, thank you.

Julia, hi hon. No David's work is in the middle of the war zone. They either work at home or at a site out by the school. Centralworld - I know - Hattie is distraught! So wish I could make the shed party... really gutted we can't just run...

Jenny Beattie said...

Oh Lorna, where's your comment gone? I was emailed your comment but it's not here. How very odd. But thank you.

lillian said...

Just adds alot of stress to daily life ! Hang in there and hope you get to leave for the summer break !

Susie Vereker said...

Oh, JJ, of course we are interested. Am thinking of you, & all the expats and, of course, the Thai people themselves. What a tragedy.
Pl take no risks.

kanishk said...

some are saying containment. But we won't know until it happens I guess.
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