Things are "hotting up". Khun Rotjana is back from temple and her trip to Bangkok which means scrubbing floors, waterblasting and painting as everyone stresses about the riders coming in next week. In addition to that, we have the "BTN's Got Talent" competition the night before with a fashion show etc, for the supporters and spouses of riders at Le Meridian. The shop has to be well-stocked with new items for the riders and Jo (Gabe's sister) and I have been sewing eyes on fabric dogs!
Hannah and Meg have nearly finished their costumes and there will be daily rehearsals now for the little ones to make sure they are up to scratch with their performance.
Sue and Kay also arrived and Sue has her NZ family with her as they all wait for Andrew to ride in. It is wonderful to see her.
After going out for a lovely dim sum breakfast (gorgeous steamed baskets of very delicious delicacies) we were due at temple. There was a service for Kay Sinclair, one of the key supporters, who was at BTN this time last year and then was tragically killed in a car crash in Melbourne on her return.
The monks led the proceedings, which then became focused on the children honouring their teachers, of which I was suddenly one. It was a huge hug fest as the kids lined up for a cuddle and to say thank you. Very touching and hard to hold back the tears at times.
Mita, the Maori guy from South Auckland, will MC at the concert and he gave us song on the guitar and everyone joined in. There is promise of a haka for Andrew and Chris and the other Kiwis when they ride in next week.
Hannah, Meg and Tom got busy playing with the children and taking loads of photos, which was fun. Then, there was even more food and donations of money and food for the monks, after which we piled back in the truck to head back to BTN.
We managed to escape again to the waterfall in the afternoon and took some of the new guests and Gan and Gean, our two favourite boys. Tom was in his element and they had such a great time splashing around in the water, and swinging from the jungle ropes in the rain forest. It is amazing to stand under the waterfall for what becomes a very powerful head and shoulder massage!
We got back just in time for dinner and ate hungrily, yet again. I have no idea why we eat so much here other than it is very tasty! I saw Gean eat his plate of food and then start pinching morsels from the plates of other boys. I called him over and gave him some more food, omelette and Pad Thai, which he was initially embarrassed about, but wolfed down gladly. I think the big walk had worked up his appetite and this is a little boy that needs feeding up. He does not look 11, and apparently had tuberculosis when he was younger.
Jo and I joined Alison and Maya for an evening beer and discussed all the upcoming jobs, including making jelly tomorrow for all the children for my birthday. Early start tomorrow - the girls have been warned!
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