We visited some temples this afternoon - they are everywhere in this city. The monks like to chat to English speaking tourists to help improve their English. So we got roped into chatting with some monks. One was from Laos so we talked about Vietnam. Gareth says I will have bad karma now as I made our excuses to get us out of staying and chatting all afternoon!
We arrived this morning in Chiang Mai - in the North of Thailand by sleeper train. It was great fun. The guys came to bring us food and beers, before getting our beds ready and tucking us in for the night! The only problem was up on the top bunk (where I was) it was freezing and had a bright flourescent bulb, while Gareth was warm, dark and cozy in the spacious bottom bunk. He let me swop in the early hours of the morning. Got to our hotel, which only costs 10 quid a night (I was a bit dubious) but it is perfect. Chiang Mai is a city surrounded by a moat. It's really lovely looking and I've already spotted loads of great antique shops. Hopefully we'll take it easy today then do some walking to Wats (temples) tomorrow.
Having a great time here although the weather is crazy and it keeps on pouring down at just the wrong time! I have some photos to put on but the computer here is not allowing me to upload them so they will have to wait.
Went to our end of term party last night. It was grat fun but we're all a bit worse for wear today. For me it's been three nights out in a row and I feel really shattered. I can't wait to go on holiday and really get a rest.
Bought a lovely new ornament for the house. I spotted this buddha ages back and have wanted to buy it. I saved up last month and finally splashed out. I'm running out of space to put all my things though, so I suppose I'll just have to save up and buy some more nice furniture!
Had a good night last night. We went to a party organised for the end of term - we have some really talented teachers who put on a bit of music. On Thursday we had our management dinner at the Sheriton buffet. The food is amazing, I ate tons of seafood, and it's free-flow wine all night. I was very well behaved and was the only one without a headache at school the next day. 
Just 3 more weeks of school. When I write it down it seems like a really long time left we are all ready for a holiday including the kids. Been so busy with school stuff so not much news. Hopefully I should have lots of great pictures when we go traveling in Thailand. I'm so excited!
Here are some photos of the past few weeks. Some from Melanie's wedding, some of us in the pub after and see if you can spot the one of me the morning after. It's not hard.
Went out for our freebie buffet last night. It was free-flow wine and delicious food for hours! We both have a bit of a headache today after taking advantage of the free wine - it's very expensive to buy good wine here and this was good stuff so we just went crazy. We started on the roof-top 23 floors up where you can look right out across the city and we had some cocktails. Then we went down to the restaurant where the seafood and meats were amazing. I just wish we hadn't got full - I'm sure we'll go back though. It's a great place to take visitors. After the meal we went to Vascos - a bar in town in an old opium refinery - it's a really nice place. One downside is I always meet parents there. I suppose at least they always lay on the drinks - and they are just as embarassed at seeing me there too. I'm off to get croissants and coffee to wake us up! 
Meant to put these pictures on ages ago but since we've been beack from the UK it's been really crazy! Last Saturday was Melanie's hen night (teacher in my team at school). We went for the most amazing buffet at the Sheraton - ate so much seafood! Then we met up with some other people in a very cheesy pub in town. Good night but had a killer headache the next morning. I was fit for nothing and ate take-out all day! 