We’ve all been waiting for this to happen which is why I was I perplexed by the BBC’s correspondent when he was quoted saying the martial law came as a surprise here. Sweetie: you should be spending less time frequenting Patpong, and more time sober and talking to people. It was a surprise to you maybe, but not to the rest of us. The only surprise was that it was initially just martial law and not a coup –well not for long!
On that topic, how smart was it to just invoke martial law saying they were only interested in keeping things safe and help a peaceful resolution? The follow that by getting all the leaders in one room and, after a bit of dissent, detaining key players and taking control. Well played sir, well played.
Don’t you just love how I say this as if I’ve experienced a bunch of them? My brother was in Paraguay for the ’89 coup so I am claiming expertise by association.
Many friends have wondered how this is affecting me. Apparently some people are flying home. If this is true, they are using the coup as an excuse to get out of here. Thai coups are typically sedate as far as coups go and those in power make a big effort to keep things as seamless as possible for foreigners and tourists.
Here’s my list of why, so far, it has changed nothing:
1. Schools are closed for five days, two of which are the weekend. I homeschool so nothing different here.
2. All TV broadcasting is off incl. international news channels. I don’t have an antenna or cable connection for my TV Again no change.
3. Ten pm curfew. Bawhahahahaha. I homeschool two kids 6 and under. I am in bed drooling wine by this hour watching Game of Thrones and pretending to prepare tomorrow’s lessons. “Kids, this is how you brew mead!”
4. Um, I can’t think of anything else for the time being. But I’ll be sure to update you all.
So, it’s official. I am a coupbie! Yes that’s coup + newbie. Genius right? Sadly not my creation but credit given via twitter. Yes that’s a please follow me on twitter @multilingualmum! It’s also where I am RT some of the more salient stuff related to the current coup.
Readers please note, I am not trying to make light of what is going on here. Well, perhaps I am a bit but that’s my coping mechanism. I just hope that Thailand can find a way to resolve this peacefully and find democratic and lasting solution.
Multilingual Mama 
Have been thinking of you since I read about the coup in the paper last night! I’m glad all is well so far. We went through 2 attempted-coups in Kinshasa but that was pre-kids so quite different. Instead of being like the “snow-days” I remembered from childhood, we got to stay inside and binge-watch 24 because of a “coup-day”! And now your days are still basically the same, mama teacher! My only advice is to make sure your phones and computer are always fully charged and possibly to fill bathtubs with water in case something happens to that supply. Will keep following the news and your posts. Good luck and will be thinking of you!
Oh how I dream of having a bath tub! I doubled up back during flood season on the large drinking water bottles so should be fine. Historically there hasn’t been issue with access to water/food, etc. Thanks for the kind thoughts!
And good advice! cx
Every time I read your posts I crack up laughing – and I never thought I’d be cracking up with laughter when reading about a coup. Hope all does resolve peacefully, and you enjoy your curfew “lesson planning” coupbie!
If I made one person laugh, that makes my day. Thank you so much for letting me know!
This is how I know we’re friends: “I am in bed drooling wine by this hour watching Game of Thrones and pretending to prepare tomorrow’s lessons. ‘Kids, this is how you brew mead!'” Seriously, though, really interesting perspective on the coup. I look forward to reading more about it (so I can add coup expertise to my resume).
Thanks. I’ll definitely try to post some more. But it’s sort of like fight club. The first rule is you don’t talk about it. Maybe when I am in Mexico shortly… From Meade to tequila!
Good to hear you’re getting on fine. People keep saying coups in Thailand aren’t so bad and we’re booked to go there in the not-too-distant future, so I’m hoping that’s right and watching the news.
A couple of journalists are make a big deal about differences this time compared to previous times but I’m never sure how much of that is their editor wanting to sell newspapers.
It’s difficult to know which way things will go and yes there are indeed differences this time around but no one can say for sure what that will translate to down the line. We hear people who are happy about the matter being in a third party’s hands and many who are not. Only time will tell. Message me via my contact me page.