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Songkran sounds really interesting and lots of fun too! I remember being a bit worried when I went to live in Thailand about how I would get from my house to my school without getting completely covered in talc and water during this unusual festival I read about in the guidebooks! Luckily I was always on holiday during Songkran, so was usually lying on a lovely Thai beach, sipping fresh coconut juice, and didn't mind getting completely soaked when I was there!

The only day that we have over here that's a bit similar to Songkran - in that people behave in a way they wouldn't normally - is April Fool's day. On 1st of April (but only in the morning), we're allowed to play practical jokes on our teachers, bosses or families, or dress up in funny costumes or clothes.

I always had high hopes of making a bucket of water fall on my teacher's head when she opened the classroom door and unintentionally set off the booby-trap we pesky students had laid for her. But in reality my friends and I were always too wimpy to ever actually execute such a daring plan. Who knows maybe next April will be my year (so the boss had better watch out!)

Today I thought we'd have a homework-free blog. It's time for you to celebrate Songkran and I'm in a holiday mood too, so I think we both deserve a break from the rigours of English language tasks and exercises!

I'm due to fly off to America on Monday so I'd like to say goodbye to you now... except I can't because I'm not 100% sure I'll be going anywhere for my holidays! I don't know if you've heard the news, but all flights from the UK have been suspended. There's , which has floated over from Iceland, which is now high up in the skies above Britain, so at least until tomorrow (Saturday), flights have been grounded.

So this might be goodbye or it might just be 'au revoir' as the French say. I might not be blogging with you again, Lyn, or I might be back in the office on Monday!

So if this is goodbye, well ... goodbye! It's been lovely getting to know you and finding our about your life in Thailand. And if this is goodbye, you'll also be meeting a mystery teacher blogger next week. Lucky you!

But if this isn't goodbye, well ... we'll be writing to each other next week, as usual!

So either way, all the best and bye for now.

Nuala

Vocabulary

volatile - likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly or suddenly become violent or angry
solution - answer, outcome
sipping - drinking small amounts
soaked - very wet
had high hopes - was very hopeful
unintentionally - not done on purpose, don't mean to do something
booby-trap - something dangerous or unexpected that is hidden somewhere that looks safe
pesky - troublesome, annoying
wimpy - not brave, fearful
execute - complete
daring - brave
watch out - an expression we use as to tell people that they should be aware of some kind of danger
rigours - forceful or very strict set of rules
suspended - stopped temporarily
grounded - (used to talk about a plane) kept on the ground and not able to fly
au revoir - French for 'goodbye' but which also means 'I'll see you again'