jacko

Vinnie Jones

I have ridden down Suk Northbound recently trying to get onto the motorway and then the Railway line bypass on the bike. Real dodgy, barriers in the way, and the road is being resurfaced and has been scraped which take the wheels off wherever and a bit of a ramp to negotiate to get on the flyover. These last few months are the most difficult for traffic.

Soda water, 140 baht I think for a case if I return the empties, 24x400ml bottles, 6 baht each! Beer hits the thirst spot for me, but the first couple just take the dust off. Sometimes, just sometimes, I will have a G&T, gotta be Tanqueray. But the way I make them I might be falling in the pool before dinner.

Just restocked my fridge, well actually 2 fridges, and was thinking how it is all a bit more expensive than it used to be. I was pondering the mark-up made by beer bars and GGBs for the pleasure of a nice environment and entertainment.. A case of Small Heinekins (24x325ml bottles) is 945 baht. A case of SML (24x 330ml bottles), 950 baht. Bought from a Naklua distributor.... So SML, despite being mostly water, some would say something else, is 5 baht more, but you get 120 ml more, nearly a half bottle! Heinekin decides it's drinkers don't hold the stuff well so give you less. Both are 5% Alcohol. Each is pretty much 39 baht ....call it 40. Big bottles are cheaper by volume, 810 baht for 12x630ml, 68 baht each. For those who say 'I never drink at home', I can only say that a cold one, chilled to a perfect temperature, that you have waited a hot afternoon for, tastes real good as the sun dips and you watch her go down, the sun that is. Jeez, I need to get a life..

Lennox Lewis

Notting Hill

George Clooney

I will stick with Google...

Yeah mine does that too,,, not long after take-off. Could have saved myself a grand or two by putting her in the back while I drank champers and port on my own!

I prefer to get inside, as outside in small places, whatever food I get is often spoiled by someone smoking nearby.

Thais can sleep on a clothes iine!

Where's your salad at?

Hard to stop them knowing already these days...... Seems an extra step to switch to Line (which I haven't got) or another Messaging App. Quite a few mail order companies (and service guys) ask for a phone number these days and if the guy just called sending an SMS is easiest than trying to find him on these other Apps. I even got a call once while I was sat in the barber's chair. I copied the link of the coordinates of my house so that I can use them even when not at home, sometimes adding my Mrs number. She gives far superior directions than me in Thai! Ting_Tongs comments notwithstanding. My place is a little awkward to find,

Last night at TT....

Simply called 'Send My Location'....

William H Macy.

Thanks for that 'test'..... I have a little App on my phone that can send my location as a SMS, that can then be opened in Google Maps to show my location. I just hope the guy has a smart phone and is smart enough. Shipping companies is exactly why I go it.

Well, to conclude. Picked up the passport today, they sat me down, stamped 'Good Guy' on my forehead, took my picture, patted me on the bottom and said 'behave yourself' and sent me on my way.

Well the bank letter and copies of bankbook are meant to demonstrate and confirm the required money, be it 800k or 400k has been seasoned for required 90 (or 60) days.

Is it an electronic display?

Just like to add that I had an easy peasy time in Jontiem yesterday. My required retirement extension renewal date is late December, bad time, so I decided to do it rather early before all the tourists poured into town Prepared all my copies and forms at home early morning, no Embassy letter needed as I keep the required 800,000 balance in a savings account and do not go below it. Went to Bangkok Bank at about 9.45am (I don't believe in getting to Jomtiem before immigration opens, I live on the North side of town and that would require a very early start, You only end up behind several other early birds). Updated bank account pass book on arrival. Got a ticket, the letters are now issued by regular tellers rather than the seated Bank staff. One of those girls is really cute and super efficient! Letter took about 10-15 minutes and I grabbed a free calendar on the way out. (Luckily some left, as I waited I saw a motorcycle taxi guy wander in and help himself to 5 of them!) Arrived soi 5 Jomtiem, straight into the copy office to get a copy of last page of bank book with the recent (todays) update. Signed it, and included it with the previously made copies, this completed my checklist. Double check, all copies signed. To the girls on the front desk, waiting behind another person who has forgotten to sign a few sheets and between him and his Thai lady, who he cannot function without, neither has a pen. Girl gives me a ticket without looking at my papers much, I have that 'been here before' look. My ticket number shows 3 ahead of me, I have got in at 10.55, lunch is at 12! About 15 minutes wait, number called, hand over all my sheets, she looks at them, a bit of reordering, she says all OK, very good... perhaps that doesn't happen all the time! She begins to ask and I hand over my passport, she begins to ask and I hand over 2000 baht. She has me sign these 2 pre-printed sheets, I just sign, what do I care. I get another number card, 100 baht change, and am told, come back tomorrow after 10 to get passport. Done for another year. Re-entry Permit can wait a bit, I am going nowhere and rather neurotically don't want to do it until the new 'extension' is running! No questions of my Facebook account or TM 30s or whatever.....it is 11.15, I have another job to do in Jomtiem but I am thinking of 'something to do for 90 minutes'.... Well done Jomtiem immigration, a slick performance. Jacko gripe.... why do so many idiots go there without a pen? Where did they think they were going that day? #2. What's with the dopey slow driving in Jomtiem?