Part of my contract is that I give up some time to entertaining the boarders in their free time and also that I run a club.On the club front all staff are expected to run one club a week.We got given a piece of paper within 4 days of arriving in the country to say what we wanted do and what day.Being the organised person that I am I missed the deadline and was living fear of being given chess club or worse.Mike came to my rescue.I am now the assistant at the lifesaving club, sounds right up my street, the pool bit is fine, but the 1½km swim in the sea down at Rayong may prove more of a problem.

Throughout the course of the year we are expected to do 3 days of boarding duties.There are a number of things going on, day trips, shopping, holiday trips etc.Having missed the night bazaar on our previous visit, Felicity, Angela and myself signed up last Saturday to take the 25 boarders over and have a wander.Well the political problems here meant that it was deemed not safe to take the girls over to the bazaar.The plan was changed to a very taxing evening of shopping and cinema.I took two of the 6th formers to see Bangkok Dangerous.It seems no-one has heard of this film, it is the new Nicholas Cage film, the general gist is that he is an assassin and comes to Bangkok for a job.The film is really good, but the best thing was that I had been to and recognised some of the sites they visited.Everyday on the way to school I pass a building that is completely out of place; it looks like a big Dutch barn, anyway this place is called the Caribbean and sells itself as a musical theatre.From the scenes in the film I don't think the Thai version of musical theatre quite matches the conservative British view.It was more Moulin Rouge.The girls loved it and I can happily ticked off ½ day boarding for doing something I would have done anyway.

Today I took my first trip out of Bangkok and headed off to Rayong, along the coast. Mike lives out there with his wife and as part of Clean up the world day, 51 of us cleaned the beach outside his house, cunning plan Mr Matthews!The students did really well and collected about 30 bags of litter. They did get the chance to relax with a bit of sunbathing and swimming.We were hoping to get a few sit on canoes out on the water, but the waves were a bit on the big side.I had been warned about the sun out here and it's hidden strength, so I brought some factor 35 sun lotion.Kept slapping it on and at the end of the day was proud of myself, as I didn't look like a lobster.That was so true until someone pointed out the back of my knees, thanks Colin. Somehow I had managed to burn a three-inch strip across the back of my knees.I can tell you it's a great look.