I’ve been getting up at around 6.00am most mornings.  It hasn’t been hard to do, because we’re usually in bed very early and I’ve definitely been getting at least eight hours sleep!  I tend to creep quietly out to the balcony, where I can sit and catch up with Instagram, Facebook and my blog feed for an hour before the rest of the family is up.  I love listening to the waves crashing while the light grows stronger and occasionally little storm flurries pass through.  Stella usually isn’t all that far behind me, and creeps out for a cuddle before returning inside to watch Hi-5 or whatever other english speaking television she can find.

Breakfast was rather late.  We didn’t get to the pool until after 10.00am.  I went into the village briefly to visit the ATM and stock up on some snacks, while Dan and the girls went back into the pool.  Then I had the opportunity to sit and read some more.  Luxury!

We headed around the beach again to Peter Bar for lunch.  The tide was a fair way out, and there were little hermit crabs scuttling.  So cute!

I almost feel that I am becoming accustomed to the heat and humidity.  When you are near the beach and there is a breeze, or when there are fans available, it’s lovely to be outdoors.  The air conditioning definitely has its place too, but outdoors with air movement and the occasional dip into water is probably my preference.  I can’t say much for my appearance in a hot climate though.  My face is slathered in sunscreen all the time, so is always a bit shiny, and although I rarely wear makeup other than lipstick anyway I’m not even wearing lipstick most days.  My hair is a feathery mess, and I’m not wearing jewellery other than rings and earrings because necklaces and bracelets feel too hot against my skin.

After lunch the girls and I headed back to the resort while Dan stayed to finish his drink and chat a little more to the staff.  One  young man was originally from Burma (Myanmar).  He told Dan that in Burma about 90% of the population were very poor, whereas in Thailand only 10% fitted into that category.  He was clearly very proud of his Burmese heritage and the country that he had left, showing Dan a YouTube clip of the giant Buddha statue, but also expressed how happy he was to be in Thailand where he was able to provide his young family with a better life.

With the tide still out as the girls and I headed back we came across fish washed up on the beach and this clump of coral.  Stella said that she knew it was dead coral, because it was white and white coral was dead coral – the Octonauts had told her so.  See, kids learn things from cartoons after all…

There was more blue sky on Friday than we had seen for a little while.  Dan spotted a kingfisher in the trees when he wandered back to the resort.  He also discovered that if you chase the little skittering sand crabs for long enough they will eventually get exhausted and just stop and face you with claws held high, poised and ready for any attack.

We had massages booked for 3pm, one hour each, after which we returned to our room and rested.  I read more of my book, the kids watched more television, and Dan read the paper.  I eventually took advantage of the massive bathtub and lay back in the bubbles and read.  It’s SO long since I’ve done that – especially late in the afternoon!  We had dinner booked at the Talay restaurant (with one of our deal vouchers), which is the silver service restaurant at the hotel.  We were able to order from the kids menu for the girls, while Dan enjoyed lobster bisque then more seafood, and I had a delicious steak.  And Clare discovered that she really likes mango creme brulee.