Double trouble - Diesel & Elias

Shaven head

On Thursday night, I pointed out to Diesel that he needed a hair cut, Diesel instantly replied that he wanted to have it all shaven off. I asked him if he might want a grade 6, 4 or 2 all over, to which he replied no all of it, all of it like Elias.

Now let me explain Elias is one of his best friends, who has been suffering with alopecia for about a year now. Elias’s alopecia took a turn for the worst over the Christmas holiday with 90% of his hair falling out over the three-week school break.

So Diesel informed us that he didn’t want a 6, 4 or 2 he wants it shaved completely off not just with clippers but with a razor, so he can be just like Elias. So I sent a little email to both Diesel’s teacher and Pre-Prep management –

This is to inform you that Diesel has made the decision to shave his hair off this weekend. This was his decision and is fully supported by us. I know that this will break the school dress code, however, we are backing Diesel's decision.

We have discussed the reasons why he has chosen to shave his hair off, and the main one is to support his best friend Elias. He has informed us that there are a couple of his peers, who Diesel believes 'pick on' and 'name call' Elias. We have discussed how the negativity may be directed towards himself, however, he believes that the small act of shaving his hair may lighten the negativity towards Elias and that is his goal.

After reading this, I hope you too can fully understand and support us in shaving Diesel's hair off over the weekend (unless of course, he changes his mind, between now and then).

Edit - The Management of Pre-prep replied expressing their full support to Diesels decision.

So yesterday after school Diesel decided to follow through with a pair of clippers, to say we are proud of him is an understatement (and so is Elias, photo of then together below).

School trip day 3

school trip day 2

School trip Day 1

Tie-Dying with Natural Thai materials

And we're off, school trip to Nakon Sawan here we come.

Chippy

Here in Thailand the choice at the local Chippy is - Fish and Chips, Squid and Chips, Shrimp and Chips or Sausage and Chips.

Neo's first Triathlon

Bubbles

Last night of Christmas holiday's

Diesel dreaming about the fun he will have at school tomorrow 

Gizmo chilling watching tele

Sunset at Bangkok River Treehouse

Lush Thai food and a great sunset

Smiley happy Neo

It maybe two more years, before I turn into a teenager, but I'm practicing early

Family selfie

1st day of 2020

1st Day and 1st Tooth

Day Seventeen - Lazy day

Today has been been a fairly chilled out lazy day, with a slow windy drive along the southern coast from Hiriketiya Beach to Bentota Beach, which yes you guessed it, it is another empty golden sands beach. Once checking in to our hotel, we went for a wander down the beach, to see yet more sand and gentle waves, before spending the afternoon lazing around the hotel pool (and a Pina).

Day Sixteen - Lush beaches

Neo and Diesel spent the first part of the morning playing cricket with a group of local boys. Before going to the neighbouring town Dickwella (Dan says not to be confused with Paul Weller) for a couple of supplies. Whilst we were there we thought we should check out their beach, yet another stunning virtually empty beach with soft lush sand and calm clear blue water.
We returned back with our supplies to discover some visitors sitting on and around our balcony, Diesel was fascinated in the monkeys and one of them was fascinated with him too. We later returned to our beach for the boys to enjoy the waves again.
This evening we took Bob out to get some tea, when there was a sudden down pour of torrential rain, this only lasted for about 20 mins, but that was long enough for the little roads into streams. Dan enjoyed the challenge of driving Bob on the small bumpy dirt tracks/streams, this was the first and potentially the last time we will have driven Bob in the rain (as we only have him for three more days, before moving onto Sri Lankan railways).
After tea, we returned to our hotel where the boys ran around trying to catch the fireflys, with no success, before returning to our room only to discover one trapped inside.

Day Fifthteen - Catch up

Today was a special day of our trip as we met up with some old friends, Neo made last time we were in Sri Lanka seven years ago (we had kept in touch via post, but unfortunately during one of our many moves we lost contact).
We also took advantage of the quiet roads in Yala to record the little video below, before travelling to Hiriketiya Beach. Where once again the boys enjoyed the clear blue Indian Ocean its waves.

Day Fourteen - Elephant Toll

Back down the very steep windy road, where we had to avoid a Black Mamba snake, several different types of monkeys and a ruddy mongoose on the road.
An hour later and we're driving through yet another national park (Yala) which not only has the friendly police checks, but its own special toll which excepts bananas as payment for passage.
Dan and myself spent the rest of the day lounging around sipping cold drinks attempting to watch the local wildlife, whilst the boys ran around like wild animals (hence the word attempting).
ADDED EXTRA - We popped out to a local bar and met a Sri Lankan Cricket player, then on the  driveway back into our hotel Dan gave the boys a mini tuktuk driving lesson.

Day Thirteen - Train trip

Today was a fun day of drinks and trains, This morning, we chilled out watching a local cricket match, before catching the train from Ella to Badulla (and back). This is listed as one of the top train journeys to do in Sri Lanka and its easy to see why, with the jaw dropping views of Sri Lankan tea plantations, its Nine Arch Bridge and the Demodara Loop (the only looped spiral trainline in the world).