jacko

It is Thai duty they want not UK duty! And they are quite draconian if they catch you smuggling, a fine for each bottle, you can offer to 'leave it behind' but it isn't the soppy UK customs. How much would you be saving do you expect? You can buy on arrival in Bangkok although subject to the same limits. Try checking out prices in Thailand, except for premium stuff and wine it might compare. Here is Tops. https://www.tops.co.th/en/beer-wine-and-spirits

Add the Mercure behind the Avenue on soi 15. If you like curry and slop for breakfast with guys standing in your way it would suit you fine.

I used to carry a few old padlocks under the seat for that very reason, but for the more heinous crime of parking behind and really blocking me in, especially with the steering lock on! Happened a lot at the post office! Now, with age, I park where this is less likely. Too many cameras about. But boy can they park like twxts around here.

The Imitation Game.

I did one Friday....

People who park a motorcycle touching mine... can't get in to move mine. Those walking in front who suddenly stop, or simply stand in the way at a doorway. Idiot drunk men who get up and dance on a GGB stage. I'm so cool people who put their feet up on tables. Bodybuilders. Signs at 5ft 10 height, I am 6 ft! I'm 64 and grumpy, I could go on forever,

Appears just to be keeping it's nose above 39 this morning (Thai time).

And for me can they get their bloody shuttle down from Manchester there on time! I think it is going to be a poor high season from Europe to Thailand, so maybe fares will drop late... but I still wouldn't be on BA! I have to change aircraft anyhow so the Middle Eastern Carriers are extra options for me.

The bus you talk off will drop you off on Sukhumvit near the motorway flyover, not not much better really. Hand baggage only, a WIN will work from there. Or as suggested, you have to pre-book the Bell Bus which goes to the North Rd Rung Ruen bus station, and there supplies a mini bus to your hotel. I think the first bus is about 7am. I had a friend hang around from a 4am arrival because he was too cheap to spring for a taxi. I was non too pleased to find he was standing around at the flyover on Suk, while I was waiting at Rung Ruen on North Rd. Another time I had to go to bloody Jomtiem to get him. Personally I am getting too old for all that messing about and have a car wait for me at 1200 baht.

Well rather than watching BBC Parliament it will be the rugby for me!

Crikey Butch, it must be as bad as mine, Steptoe would pass it by.

All based on Boris' optimism!

That's better than I got from Transferwise over the weekend!

Used to be quite common in the bigger places, I am going back to my early days when I didn't know my way around and had a fear of arriving without a hotel booking, so I would book and pay in advance at an agent in Bangkok. I was soon a regular at some less salubrious places that didn't have a joiner fee! Some that did were real asses about it, had security knocking on my door asking for the 500 baht because it was late morning and they judged I owed for the next (that) day! Also Merlin (now Hard Rock) used to hit you for 500 for their crappy small rooms. I remember moving out of one place and chucking away 3/4 prepaid days, non-refundable Thai style... it was cheaper to pay for a new room. Became a Lek Hotel regular or Lido Beach, then Residence Garden. The hotel reviews section was popular here and I bet most were checking for joiner fees. Nowadays it is joiner fees and whether they have certain coach parties arriving there!

Yes, I have a friend who opened a Sterling account in Pattaya. Yes, certainly in Pattaya. It needs to be in a Thai based account and the money is immediately accessible.

Siam Bayshore?

Yes, I was onto Transferwise, and too late remembered it is a holiday here Monday and will be waiting for the transfer to land. I suspect a collapse in optimism and the currency with it!

Wow that took me back, reminds me of my first trips. That sure is a nice looking girl. A few of those pictures remind me of my first Pattaya hotel, one out over the water on a pier on the South end of Walking St, had to cross the street to the booking office... and I too stayed at the Lek quite a few times. Although my early trips I remember the Bangkok bus brought us all the way to near the North end of Beach Rd, or was it the West end of North Rd? Good times....everything was simpler.

Well we have been having a good bit of that and it might explain why I can't get my pool to clean up!

Back to sub 37 for Sterling...... 36.95

Ghostbusters (The feminine one).

Personally Butch, when I got home late drunk as a cxnt, not ready for sleep, I would put a DVD on. My Mrs has been woken up by Wagners Ride of the Valkyries more than a few times (from Apocalypse Now).

Wouldn't be seen dead with one... old school. Just something to lose track of or have lifted.

Certainly never taken my own towel to any of the places on soi 6 BR Jomtiem, I haven't found them too bad. I may have passed comment that the towels do lack fluffyness, seen more material on a paper towel. I bet some of them are ancient. I usually visit after immigration but now, as I do my 90 day online, it is a rare occasion. Thanks for giving me an alternative idea.....

Yes, but usually MPs have clean towels of their own, having to carry a wet used one home seems inconvenient!