Well, whatever I write, it’ll be a comedown from last week. Like an 80s sensation trying to try new material, my fans will be disappointed. I might as well be found dead from autoerotic asphyxiation with a pound of cocaine in my body and a sheep wearing a corset in the wardrobe and save everyone the trouble.
Moving swiftly on, I was back at the orphanage this week. The highlight of this was the pancakes. This is a regular yearly thing for Sabine and the orphanage, but it was great fun. The days before were spent teaching and watching some pancake videos. The sort of kids video where I can literally feel my IQ drain away. I walked in a solid 117 and left in single figures. Sorry Plymouth. After a few afternoons of locating flour and enough eggs to make chickens wince we began deciding toppings. These are Thai kids, so lots of sugar, Carnation condensed (sweetened) milk and chocolate cake filler (47% sugar).
We called in all the reinforcements we could muster, waiting for Matthias to return from trekking, enrolling Doris and calling James and Jack. Remember James from English Camp? Anyway, we all met at the orphanage, in the midst of a giant thunderstorm. Probably one of the biggest I’ve ever seen, second only to storms in the Himalayas. I was in the kitchen with the big knives, my home away from home. I was in charge of bananas and apples, and had a couple of the boys helping me. Finally, five years in the catering industry paid off. I remember Cat, one of my previous bosses, drilling into me the correct way to chop an apple, it’s now pretty much instinct. I had a cleaver, which was great fun. Never have I had so much fun chopping bananas than with a stupidly large blade. Spinning it was brilliant too, unless you’re Sabine or anyone else in my vicinity.
Matthias was cooking with some of the older boys, and the others were either amusing the boys or helping the batter. Eventually we served and it was my turn to be shocked at the amount of sugar they’ll demand. Bananas covered in sugar, with Carnation cream and a literal layer of chocolate topping. And some were still sneaking brown sugar on. These pancakes were really filling, I managed two. Though, that was mainly due to the chocolate – it was just too much. Sabine was surprised at how little they ate, though I couldn’t care less. My body was trying to cope with the chocolate equivalent to the lethal injection. Needless to say I skipped lunch.
Getting back from Chiang Mai marked my last 10 days in Nong Khai. Four months has really flown by. It was also my last month in Asia, as I’m writing this it is rapidly approaching my bus back to Chiang Mai, and from there it’s just a couple of weeks in Thailand and a week in Hong Kong.
For those still concerned about my ear infection, it’s still painful and I went back to an ear specialist. I got my ear re-treated, and now have six (6!) drugs to take daily. Peachy. I’ve got quite a collection of medical receipts claim back off my insurance when I get home.
We also say goodbye to Doris, the German lady who often helps out at the orphanage. She’s spending her summer back in Germany. We did the white thread tying ceremony, for me as well as her. It made everything seem a lot more real, and with that terrifying as I realised my bag is still unpacked and un-weighed. I leave on Thursday via bus, and start my cookery course on Saturday 14th. I planning to release a mini blog every day about the courses I’ve done and what I’ve cooked, so look out for those daily intrusions into your lives, and Facebook wallposts.
So, until then, stay classy.
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