Day 10. I now realise just how much I am not used to manual work. Spent the morning painting and the afternoon mixing concrete by hand and then carrying it to be laid. That together with a concrete mattress means that my back is complaining big time! I am shattered tonight. Here you are just filthy dirty all of the time. I also have two names here. Most call me Will but some including some of the staff call me Pappa so I have to listen for both in case they cal...

Day 11 well didn't think I would have much to write about but it's been another interesting day. Went to Phuket to a temple where the monks collect things for the orphanage. This is a women only monastery - never knew there was such a thing but there you go. The staff then decided to go to the shops and because my back was sore they booked "pappa" in for a Thai oil massage !!! It was so funny. A woman. Aged Kate's forties early fifties came in and I told her it...

Day 9 Sorry this is late. someone changed my keyboard to Thai so I have been sorting it out . Another interesting day. Started to paint the tables from the coffee shop while the other girls went to the local school to teach English. Found a large frog perched just above my head as I was painting. While the paint dried I did a bit of sweeping. The leaves here are never ending and I mean never ending. It was so warm that we went to the waterfall for half an hour to...

Day 8 not much to report today. Went to Phuket pier to pick uip a new volunteer from Germany called Eva. Also now joined by Sarah from USA . Came back and did some gardening. Met new species called the giant beetle who was trying to get into my room so kicked him out. Now just chilling before dinner think they will be great for the kids as they have more energy. I have to be honest but once I have worked in this heat for the day I have very little left.

Day 7. Spent the morning cleaning all the plant trays ready for a new batch to be placed on the long trays. After that it was more mixing cement and laying bricks which is pretty interesting work in flip flops !! At Lucy time I was told I was tiered and as it was so hot it was decided to take a break for a couple of hours and return to it later which is what we did. Mid afternoon a couple we met at the market turned up with their 2 year old on their bikes so it w...