jacko

Yeah, my Mrs is horrified when I pick them up bare handed and toss them over the wall. They sit there on my lawn like they own the place! There is actually a restaurant that has toad on the menu nearby (my Mrs insists it is toad and not frog), amongst other delicacies. I am informed they have to be prepared carefully to avoid toxic parts, akin to blowfish.

That does look chaotic....... We shall see traffic issues as we head into the high season and nicer weather.

Seriously! I only fly to the UK once a year and go Biz Class, and this 'arrangement' will make me prefer alternative carriers. Shame as I like the A380 service, and Emirates offer the limo. I could have understood getting rid of the bar, or sliding everything forward and removing first.

When I flew with Qatar the upper deck economy was at the back though.

Your last sentence is a biggie, they do it on the right too. My first trip out in the truck I nearly crushed a woman trying to go straight on in the right turn lane, as I turned right, indicator on. Looking for stupid motorcyclists before turning left will become 2nd nature. Not just danger when moving, motorcycles will park close up behind you when you are parked too so you have to take a look before getting in and reversing. I still think a bike for nipping around town quickly is needed.

My pool boy keeps digging out the frogs from their holes and eating them.

Patrick Stewart.

Josef Sommer

Do you mean a booking deposit or a deposit when you arrive? Some places I stayed at on a special monthly rate required me to pay up-front. I can understand them doing it though, you are requiring them to reserve the room for a month and if you were a no-show they might be stuck with an empty room. Mostly I book with a credit card, but 1 nights stay is taken at booking and can be lost if I am a no-show.

Are there steps at the back? I was wondering as most planes unload from the front and it would seem strange for Biz Class to have to walk forward through the bar and upper deck economy cabin to disembark.

Yes, you would have been in a world of pain had it bit you. Also had it been closed toe shoes like Crocs you would likely be in your local hospital now. I started being a bit more cautious putting my footwear on at the door after I came across a toad in there.... the shoe ended up half way to next year.

My good Buddhist lady continued her self imposed alcohol ban, as she did for the whole period of Buddhist Lent. She went off to the 7-11 yesterday to get a bottle of her favourite tipple, Regency Brandy, but they weren't selling it, or any other alcohol.Won't even let you prepare to break your fast!

You could also get a small duck or eight of something, as the words sound similar in Thai. Penang and massuman (I always call it mamasan to annoy my good lady) are great curry/ coconut milk dishes, but not particularly spicy (normally). Tom Yam can be, as they liberally pour chilli oil on it too. Yes try saying mai pet as suggested, most places will understand. Sadly, what often seems to be a problem, is getting your instructions passed to the kitchen. I hear my Mrs say 'mai pet' as she orders often, but it seems to get ignored judging by the results. Plenty of rice with it!

Well it is now in effect....sort of. Thailand Back to the Booze Ban Future. BANGKOK — There was little noticeably different Friday in Bangkok after a ban on alcohol sales in the “vicinity” of schools and other vaguely defined areas was reauthorized. About three months after a vaguely worded ban on alcohol sales was shelved for study, the little-changed order published Thursday – and in effect today – again did not give a distance to the prohibition, leaving authorities to enforce the law at their own discretion. “No person shall sell alcoholic beverage in areas or places near educational institutes or dormitories that are close to educational institutes,” declared the order signed Oct. 12 by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Uncertainty reigns.

Clint Eastwood

Yeah mine can be switched on and off pretty easily and quickly from a laptop. You can configure it a variety of ways.

I happened to do a similar check yesterday to a UK server and got similar results to MM. Namely things were much faster without the VPN. Slightly surprised me...... Again this morning getting 19Mb/2.5 without VPN, and 5.0/2.0 with. Getting 10Mb+ to a UK server is a rarity for me though, I have seen numbers below 1.0Mb mid-afternoon. As long as my target isn't The Daily Mail non-VPN wins out!

Ruth Gordon

Another day I saw a few guys messing about with concrete...it was a half arsed attempt, you might be able to see the new concrete. Probably beyond the means of the owner but it looks like it need boarding up and a truck load of concrete pouring under there.

This picture was taken near my place, where, a month ago the bridge was completely under water, and twice the bridge has been repaired, as it was damaged by fast flowing water. I am sure the guy who lives here on the corner does not rest well on rainy nights. He must dread a rumble and shift of the bed.

Yes that prior problem seems to have sorted itself out and I too seem to be able to watch things. It might give me the spinning circle on occasion into the evenings. (I have BBC World News on my Sophon cable anyhow).

On the balance of probabilities, as Judge Rinder would say!