February 2007

Well, things are moving along nicely. I am now back working at Sunrise Divers, where I had been from 2001-2005. It's like being back home. I learned new things at Dive The World, but really the work was rather dull and I had no chance to express myself. At Sunrise, well some days are hard work since not only am I updating websites and replying to email requests, but also managing the whole shop, making bookings, dealing with customers in the shop, sorting out equipment etc... So when it's busy like now I accept that I may need to work some extra hours.

In the last couple of months we actually had some income from the websites. My blogs (Jamie's Phuket, Phuket Weather) have Google ads on them, from which I have made a huge 170 dollars so far. Also I signed up for a hotel affiliate program and just got a cheque for 7,000 Baht (200 dollars) yesterday. Also have around 50 dollars made from an insurance affiliate..and it's early days yet. Would like the blogs to bring in a useful extra income on a monthly basis.

We have had a busy time recently. My mother was here for 2 weeks. Not a normal holiday, in fact very odd for her to be away from my dad, and while she was here I was working much of the time (though managed a few days extra in between jobs), and Jessica was at school (mum, a former teacher, enjoyed seeing the school). We did some trips including a tiring day to Phang Nga Bay. Mum is now back home and starting "BCG" treatment for bladder cancer. Not fair really, I think she suffered enough when she fought cancer many years ago.

Jessica had a test yesterday for the English programme at her school. She will start in the English class in May when school starts again. For now she has 2 months off and likes to tell me she is lucky (and I am not since I only have Saturday off). She is doing pretty well at school. She passed the test and the teacher told her she was clever, which she proudly told me later!

John boy is chattering away, starting to talk a lot, as well as laugh a lot and eat a lot. Also I am happy to say he likes trucks and football and airplanes. And he loves his bear.

So, holiday time! Well, not for me. I will take about 2 weeks off at the start of May. Before then I think the rest of the band will go to Chumphon for a visit. I have to work hard, especially since part of my deal at Sunrise now includes a percentage of the profits!

A picture is worth a thousand words, so here's my family during February and March.