nidnoyham

Didn't have any problems when I first met my GF parents, Mum was cooking dinner, Dad was washing his fighting cock, they were happy to have a Farang stay at their house for the night. A crate of beer, bottle of Thai whiskey, a few bart on food at the market, a Thai singsong with the local politzie and off to bed. When I meet people at home, I just say hello- thats it, from then on they like me or not. Up to you !

My son only wears Ben Sherman/ Fred Perry polo shirts, they are up to 60 quid in U.K. from specialist shops. Along with tonic suits and leather loafers, it's a dear fashion. Not to mention its 60's Mod, -the old enemy ! Anyone seen the above shirts for sale anywhere in LOS ? I have looked in vain myself. :)

Eric, on the subject of being regarded as a Cheap Charlie or Flash Git, I would err on the side of the former. I don't think Thais really respect a big spender, just another mug to them. It is their way of appealing to your ego to prove you have money power and to prove it- you spend it- on them.

So... 8 Brits detained, 1/2 ton of fertiliser waiting for a gallon or 2 of deisel to be added. None of the suspects were from Camp X-Ray, guess I was wrong about those blokes released after all. Sorry ! The worse thing is this lot live in my Manor, serves me right I suppose. Just waiting for Crackpot and Valentino to start a campaign to get them released, with a free holiday at Butlins, full board of course !

April in Scotland ? Blimey you are going to spend the money you save on warm clothes and heating bills ! Glad you got the old visa tho', well done.

I had to swear an oath last year at solicitors, got the old bible out, and did the buis'. asked how they did it for non Christians, but can't remember her reply. And hey- the first people to swear allegiance to the Queen was only last week, about 15 people !

The meat is quite white cos they eat rice, seen 'em on a stick up country, would be interesting to try...... no I am kidding myself. Deep fried scorpion is my limit.

Just got my bank statement from Barclays, 20,000 baht ATM withdrawal cost £4. 25 charge on my connect card. Still not sure if it's my bank or the ATM outfit who cop the money.

How about the Thai Ladies comng to U.K. etc. Does anyone insure them for medical treatment ? Can you do it at home or in LOS ? And Crackpot- wiping your bum on a broken bottle is pretty silly too ! [smiley=yikes.gif] [smiley=yikes.gif] [smiley=yikes.gif]

I'm off to Weatherspoons for my first English pint & breaded plaice since last month, kick off with the Summer Lightning if they have it, then work along the pumps- avoiding the stout.

When checking in at the old Nautical Inn last visit, the desk clerk took great pains to check my visa expiry date. Never had that before. Mind you met a Brit' who was 14 months over his visa, p'raps that is 1 of the reasons. I wonder if the hotel keeps a check and is acting as unpaid immigration agent ?

FANCY a PINT ?

Crackpot. They can scan my e-mails, bug my fone, all they will get is the same bollocks I write in these posts. It may ruffle a few feathers or send them to sleep- 1984 has come and gone mate. Yes I am not impressed with the Hutton report, the sudden turn about by the rebels on tuition fees, the Euro, or the American influence in all countries regarding trade etc. However I stand by my convictions that international terrorism is a greater threat to the future of mankinds way of life than all of these. We are all potential aggresors and victims, how do you cope with that as a Government ? Israel and Thailand are building fences along their borders to eleminate the immediate threat, but in most western societies there is such a large influx of potential terrorists living alongside us, how do we determine who they are ? The IRA had sleepers here for years. Remember the American moslem soldier in Iraq who lobbed a grenade into the officers tent ? Can we recruit moslims into say, MI5 to assist with terrorism, how do you chose who you can trust in such a sensitve department ? It is the future generations I am concered about as much as the immediate situation.

Paid 700 bpn in C&N in Patong last november- nice and clean, new bathrooms, farang food room service etc-nice.

Valentino, This is about Brit's commiting terrorist action abroad & being held in Cuba. Crackpot says you can't lock up people for what you think they may do! So we dont need a prevention of terrorism act ? We shouldn't be holding 15 suspects at Belsize Prison ? Just let them run free and pick up the peices after they do what terrorists do? I am not banging on about Sep 11 as if Americans lives are worth more than others ( PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD WERE IN THOSE BUILDINGS ) I was merely pointing out that, the average western mind, would not have believed a fellow human being would commit such an attrocity. and with the flimsy evidence; had they been aprehended and charged, would never convince some people of their true intentions. Crackpot says, what they do when they are released is irrelevant; not if your family is standing next to them at time of self-destruct it is'nt. If such an act is commited in the U.K. can you immagine the civil unrest it will cause, that is why the Government is trying a " Prevention is better than cure approach" I was not convinced with the reasoning for the invasion of Iraq and it was never mentioned as an aggenda.. In my job at LHR I met several Iraqi people and was impressed with their calm gentle nature. the job involved missing baggage from R.J. and they gave no greif to me or my colleges. Most days a week you could come to my house and find in my front room, sharing a J, 2 Iraqi lads,an American, a converted moslim and my skinhead son, all getting on fine as mates, that's how I would like the world to be. Its the bad guys from anywhere I wont tollerate. I get enough lectures from the aforementioned lads about the American system, I really dont need anymore. wev'e got the Micheal Moore books thanks.

Origionaly this post was started, to show my dismay about terrorist acts being commited around the world by British passport holders. I was asking how long before a crackdown on all such passports holders begins. For instance, if we had a dual passport 1 for indigeonous and 1 for immigrants, it would not affect us all, but that is not the case, we re all lumped together and must all be treated the same, ie USA, after several years of visa free travel, has changed its policy. I just happenned to mention that I would like the Brit's held by the US in Cuba to be kept there, heres why. If on Sep 10 2001,12 Arab moslems had been arrested by anti terrorist squad and the reason was they were susspected of planning to hi-jack 4 civil aircraft full of passengers, using only a small Stanley knife, take over the controls to fly them into the W.T.C/ Pentagon etc, you would probably have thought it a bit fantastic. Now up to that date all they had done, was learn to fly a commercial aircraft, buy first class tickets for commercial flights, and pack a small sharp object in their hand baggage, not very much to go on is it ? Now I am willing to be proved wrong if these people are released back to my country and live completely innocent lives. I will hold my hands up and admit it. However if they are released, because they have commited no crime and weeks later they blow themselves and a dozen innocents to peices, how will the liberals among you feel ? Look around the world- Israel, Turkey, Iraq. As far as the death penalty is concerned, it is irrelevent for such people, you cannot bring a dead person to trial. Reds under the bed did not bomb as far as I am aware, and of course the staff at MI5 is growing, the threat is growing, they probably need people to tanslate 6 different languages for a start. The average copper could have a terrorist standing next to him planning something on his mobile with his mate, and would be none the wiser. My point about us being mixed together so much also brings in the reaction to such an act. Years ago if you had reason to protest against say, Pakistani Moslems, you had just the High Commision to gather round, now there are mosques all around the country to attack, and then the shite will hit the fan. I am just a working man with familly, who has an oppinion, probably nowadays intrepreted as a racist. I'v been called worse !

John, sorry about the faild test, dont be too hard on the tester, he may have saved your life ! A 250 can be like a monster, I remember picking up my little Virago 535 from shop, not been on a bike for 20+ years, I was shown the indicators, ignition & how many gears there were and waved goodbye. I couldnt even work out how the helmet strap went. If I had been on a test, the same woud have been said about me. Got home and my kids still remember my face when I got off, That was a few years ago now. My Thai lady was not happy on the back in U.K. Slipping between traffic was no fun for her, she used to the open country up her way, but the only Thai food shop was at place where parking a car was out of question, so out came the old 2 wheels. Take it easy son, be confident dont ride too near edge of road, claim your ground, even on a 125.

Crackpot, thanx for puting me right on the swearing an oath. So they can be tried for treason- good ! The difference between Ausies & Kiwis waiving their flag is, they are mostly visitors working in the local pub to get enough money to do Europe. Not claiming to be Brits'. If people won't play cricket for this country, they aint gonna put on a uniform and fight for it, thats for sure. Ausies & Kiwis, decendants from here, are more likely to. And it was Norman Tebbit that made the remark about the flags not me ! I was just explaining why Nasser Hussain made his comment- steady on son, this forum is getting like a battlefield

Baron, my statement about British muslims not considering this country to be their own, was based on 2 things. 1. As far as I am aware, the granting of a British Passport involves no swearing of an oath to serve the Queen and country, only a written application form. 2. Nasser Hussain, Englands cricket Captain, recently made a statement that British Moslems should be proud to play for their country. The poor bloke was ridiculed by the Pakistani and other Asian youth who thought he was barmy, if they were going to play cricket it would be for their Motherland, I felt quite sorry for the man. He was trying to counter Norman Tebbits remark, that they are British when it suits, then when their county come to play England they are waiving Pakistani flags. A match played at Edgbaston against India or Pakistan must feel like an away game. Cookoos born in other birds nests still turn out as Cookoos I suppose. Whats worse, I just got back from LOS and its freezing.

Banks ! I 'ate 'em. My entire earnings for the last 26 years went through my account, a few bob I can tell you, but they still charge you for going o/d past your allowance about 20GBP A DAY! All it needs is you to fone to increase o/d and its all o.k! Got 27k in an account getting 3% interest or so, lending the same to some poor sod at 14%. Not a bad profit margin. It still takes as long to clear a cheque, even drawn from same bank as it did 30 years ago. where is that money for the 5 days ? My student daughter got an account with cash card and 1,000 GBP 0/d at low interest, and she was not even employed - lead us not into temptation ! I worked my arse off for 3 years rather than her owe them a penny, time well spent. I feel better now.

I've sent cash 3 or 4 times inside a card and it has always got there, but that is to an address up country. Maybe the Thai Postman Pat looks out for mail to Pattaya with fe-mail (get it?) names. GF gets better rate of exchange too. But I wouldn't chance any more than fifty quid that way.

RJ is not a bad outfit, use to handle them when I worked for Air Canada. Two things put me off them, first the local manager supported Sadam in the first ruck in '91 and probably still does, secondly, they used to and may still, have armed guards on board, a right crew they used to look too. I wouldn't have trusted them with a cheese knife. But for the price its a fair deal.

Nidge, As far as trusting a TG on a bike in pattaya, I dont think anyone is safe there 100%. Where my mate lives on soi 17, the only taxis are m/bike, but I dislike them so much, we walk to the nearest bahtbus. Every time I get off a bike I offer a silent prayer of thanks. But up country, my GF is a more cautious rider than me, I get told off if I pull out of a side road when approaching traffic is less than 100 yards away. As she keeps telling me, its not like at home where you are insured, and you will have to pay for any damage. The only thing I find ammusing about the traffic in LOS, is the tollerance of locals on bikes, they expext you to walk in front of them etc and are prepared for it, back home road rage would be eppidemic in the same situation as Pattaya.

Thanks lads for all the info' I have a mate with DVD player in Pattaya, what I'll do is go to the places recomended, then try them out. Dont know what his house guests will think of it, but they can always leave the room. Crackpot, Enuekman- As far as I am concerned, there is only one member of the Seakers that I could pick out in a crowd, yep Judy - THAT IS A WOMAN, she could take me to the promised land anytime, not a bad singer either.

Has anyone ever bought those DVD's that are for sale along Beach Road & Walking Street ? do they work in U.K ? We only have a PS2 to play them on at the mo'. I have bought some moody CD's and they can be a bit iffy. When I stayed at Penthouse Hotel, was tempted to try a naughty one, but not sure if it would work back home.