Tales from the Village Archives - Graham Lawrence

Drinking Beer with a Gunman in a Temple at a Funeral

Graham Lawrence — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 06:02:38 +0000

As I walked through the temple to the kitchen area where the women were gathered preparing the food for the evening offering and meal on the third and final day of my mother-in-laws funeral rites, I noticed uncle Nim sat on the floor of the kitchen with two other men. One in his usual farming […]

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Sweeping Up

Graham Lawrence — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 04:24:16 +0000

It is almost two years now, and I suppose it is time to record the actual true events before they fade or my memory decides to exclude such things that don’t fit with preconceived and taught ideas typical of someone raised in the rational and heartless late 60’s and 70’s. It also seems fitting as I sit […]

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Holding Rice

Graham Lawrence — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 08:26:45 +0000

The sky was darkening by the minute as the clouds turned from white to light grey to a darker shade, to charcoal and now indeed black with a rapidity rarely seen. A wind had suddenly sprung up. Starting as a light breeze with a vague hint of coolness. Then gradually becoming a more noticeable breath […]

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Family

Graham Lawrence — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 05:33:09 +0000

Nim was a family man. Like many poor farmers in the villages of rural Thailand he held strong beliefs. All he lived for were his wife, daughters, nephews and any other member of the extended family. Not a wealthy man and one who was blighted by every farming venture he tried turning to dust in […]

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