I Was Disappointed...

that children did not play in fields beside and behind my house. When I first looked out the windows and explored, with my eyes primarily, the empty fields land marked by mounds of dirt and sticks, mazes of tall grass, and other interesting geological features, I thought for sure this must be a favorite of the local children.
It evoked, quite strongly, "the mountain," which rose at the center of an abandoned field (construction site in waiting) littered with wondrous locals and enchanted glens that only a child could possibly enjoy to the fullest. Surely, "the mountain" could not have been as grand as I remember it, nor the piles of rubble so elegantly arranged, nor the trees so mysterious and powerful.
The fields around my house, unimpressive to my adult eye, must have looked very similar to my mountain and it's encompassing kingdom. This, I thought, was evidence enough that it was a favorite play-place for the children of Nong Chang.
But there were no children. Was the magic of such things lost on Thai children? Were they too interested in television and video games (which, surely, were no less popular in my childhood, but the notion held a sort of older generation superiority)? I was baffled, although not too concerned because of the many other affairs that had filled my life.
Today, however, my first weekend day at home, no fewer than 5 children (that I noticed) in two separate groups made the fields their special place, whatever name they may have put to it, and I felt a sense of gratification and relief that far outweighed any sense of annoyance that may have bubbled up due to their intrusions.

On another note, my hot water heater was installed today. At a few minutes before 10, I locked myself out of the room that contained the bathroom where it was to be installed. No problem, I thought, I have until 3. Well, the installation men had the audacity to overlook the Thai habit of being a little late, and rang my bell no later than 10:05.
I panicked, and the neighbors, who have some attachment and reign over my house that I don't quite understand, summoned up several sets of keys, none of which opened the door in question. Finally, one of the workers scampered through the acoustical tile in the ceiling, crawled to my room, and dropped down in like fashion, opening my door. I removed the key from the room to be stored in the living room, and will make a copy at the next weekend market.
The heater itself is passable, although I can either have a very hot shower, or a very strong one, but not both at the same time. I feel a twinge of regret not purchasing a more powerful unit, although this is sated by the thought (as the lights dim whenever it is turned on) that perhaps it is a limit of my little house and not the heater itself as I have had showers better from less impressive machines.
Ah yes, by the way, "hot water heater" is by no means in the western sense. It does not provide a store of hot water for my entire house, but rather sits in my bathroom, quite dormant, until I take a shower. Then, and only then, the coils heat up the water passing through it.