nidnoyham

Welcome aboard Nidge. Nice bike the Suzi SV. Your right about the little TG on a big bike, especily a cruiser, arms straight out, firm grip on the bars, quick tweek of throttle and so much control !

Crackpot, I can tell your a middle of the road man, but you hit the nail with the MOBO caper. You can have a song "Young gifted and black" but not "white". A film " White men can't jump" but not " Black men can't swim" Why do you think 750,000 people turned up at the England Rugby Team London bash ? They were just enjoying a very rare oppotunity to celebrate and share with others, being English and showing the world we realy do exist, 'cos the government seems to have overlooked the fact. Blimey in reality, the reception at number 10 should have excluded the Prime Minister, Chancelor of the Exchequer and leader of Lib Dems, they are all Scot's' dont suppose Robin Cook was invited anyway. And because the U.S can go where it likes, we too I suppose, terrorism is the only course for the opposition, they know a straight conflict will mean defeat, they just take off their uniforms, wait till the dust settles, and strike soft targets to demoralise the system and it's supporters. I have no idea if a strike will happen in the U.K. But it is just the thought that it might, that depreciates your quality of life. Hey, why do you think I go to Pattaya ? We'll survive !

Your right Crackpot, I just keep hearing Americans refer to it as 9/11 'cos they do month first then day.

Winston/Duffab. Even if we had the death penalty for treason, it would be almost immposible to charge a British moslem. Treason means treachery to your country or it's leader, as most British moslems don't consider this country as theirs ( nor do I ) They can't be charged. However, the death penalty for terrorism, would get my consideration. It is going to be the biggest blight on mankind, there will be no truce, or armestice, no end like conventional warfare. If you get killed in your everyday life by an "enemy", it's not going to be a soldier in uniform, or a pilot of a bomber, it will be the man/woman standing next to you in the station/airport/bus with that sports bag full of semtex, or slight bulge around the waist. And with the whole world on the move, we are more vunerable than 50 years ago, even football matches segregate the two sets of fans, immagine having them mixed up, there would be a punch up after every goal. It was the celebrations in Oldham by the moslem youngsters on 9/11, that got the B.N.P voted in a few months later in the area. Every action has a reaction. Will we truly ever live together in harmony and peace ? Well thats my thought on it.

Christo, I arrive 01Feb, pitty not 31st you could have had a 2 hour briefing in taxi to Pattaya. I will be in FLB & Seven Seas bar on soi Happy around then. Look ouy for a short middle aged Pom, fairly presentable, slightly ? greying hair with even shorter Thai Lady. I wont be wearing a red rose to identify me, but usually beige shorts & black T with, "Silently plotting my revenge" on it, among others. Should be about 3 old farts with wives etc together, your welcome to have a drink with us. Cheers.

Me too, Crackpot, I'd man a trench anywhere around this Island. Thing is, these blokes held at X-Ray, haven't as far as I am aware, commited any crime, other than being suspected of membership of old Osma Bins outfit. Seeing as the U.S was assisting them against the Russians in Afghanistan not too long ago, I assume they kept their names and addresses, then after Sep 11 decided to round the same freedom fighters up. I still think, that some day in the future, a line has to be drawn in the sand and these new Brits will have to declare their loyalties. What happens when we have a moslem running for Prime-minister or Minister of Defence ? Until then, my home is my country to fight and die for, for them it's just somewhere to live.

S'pose we will never know how much safer the West has been with those suspects held at Camp X-Ray behind bars. I am sure their names wen't just pulled out of a hat. As soon as our lot come here, I predict the protests will begin on Oldham etc to get them released. And with so many potential votes on the line, T. Blair & Co will most likely dooo-oooo it. Fortune telling never was my strong point though. ( Watch this space.)

Amazing, just when my prediction about British Passport holders needing a visa for U.S.A comes into effect, the origional post has been removed from the board. Not even the chance to say I told you so. P.S. Those Britt's you hold in that bay place (Guantalema ?) just keep them.

Gonzo- your cheek should be aching from your tounge in it ! Either that or you still have the Tooth Fairy & Santa visit you. Do you know which Oy it is ? I shouted that name out and all the girls in the bar turned around. Mr Lorpez, if you convinced those girls you are not here for mongering, they must be as nieve as some of the Frarangs that go there, there I go again, Mr Cynical.

O.K I'll have 4, make them toms 'cos you get more. Leave the eyes in mine, it will see me through the week !

Nauticle Inn, Beach road next to Mikes shopping, has pool,with ground floor rooms in garden abt 5-600bht, bahtbus at entrance 60yds from hotel. poolside bar & food etc. I like it 'cos its central and near beach and bus.

What flavour are they ?

Just read the article again, you can only catch Sars if you eat the pussy- especialy raw.

No, he'll still be there next time, you worrier you.

I read in paper that Beijing is to put down 10,000 pussies to prevent Sars spreading, hope it doesn't reach Thailand !! But it could be O.K Its only ginger ones that are the problem- phew.

Yep my Vodafone service U.S. Tried 3 different people,came back message failed. Can call O.K. Bit of a pain in the Gregory.

Jack, last year I tried 5 different Agents in Pattaya for BKK/LHR/BKK 01June return 31 Aug, best I could get was EVA £500 ish, and I was told tickets were cheaper in LOS ! Now if you wanted to go in May......

Hi Tom, I think you have put the Imigration problem at T3 LHR in a nutshell, simply if you are transfering through LHR with a THAI lady, and arrive at peak morning 0630-0930, allow a good conection time for immigration delays. But because it is so busy Customs is usually a breeze- phew I made hard work of that didn't I? Yes it was my daughter that was interviewing the performers at Alkhazar, very welcome they made her too. She graduated this year with a 2-1 in Performing Arts, not sure if the trip to Pattaya swung it, but she's now addicted to LOS. Has talked her mum into going in May, they both get on so well with my Thai lady, that I have not been invited- a girls week in Pattaya ! Hmm, there's something wrong here. May try to swing it that they come back together, that's if I can get a visa this year for her. I'm off to LOS on 31 JAN to give it a try. HAPPY New Year

Eneukman- yeh I see what you mean, I have never connected at LHR to domestic airport but was pointing out that if I was, I would prefer a morning arrival as opposed to say 7pm EVA/TG916. Arriving in morning gives you all day. I still say allow at least 2 hours min' for connection. If arriving TG910 0700ish, you would be right at the peak time immigration wise and might be delayed. As you say Customs, wich is my point, is often unmanned and a breeze, where as MAN airport is Customs training airport, so you get a lot of keen rookies, only too happy to go through your kit, especially if you are from LOS. Torrenova asked if you would be held up at Immigration at LHR, so explained how easy it was for my GF last year at T3, but that was EVA evening arrival and pretty quiet at Immigration. I think that is what I meant .

RJ is O.K but I believe the return leg is an overnighter in Amman. A night there, is I less than Pattaya.

Just a word about connecting to flights at LHR. If you are coming from domestic airports, try to give yourself 2 hours connection time, even if the legal connection is shorter, these times are made up by marketing men who have their heads up their arse. Also when you arrive, if you have not been allocated a seat, go straight to the airline to check in. The reason I say this is, your baggage cannot be loaded until you have a seat number in your booking, then you can wander about shopping etc. I know how it feels to have your bag missing at BKK, happened to me last trip, but was just taken to cargo by mistake, even so a pain in the kneck.

I use West East travel 08702201001 in London.

I have not cleared immigration at Glasgow, but last year at LHR my Thai GF was at immigration desk about 15 seconds before getting her passport stamped, that was evening flight T3 EVA in June. If I was connecting through I would be happier with a early morning arrival. Then I would avoid Immigration at LHR. All the US flight are arriving, (Customs call it the wagon train ) and it gets very busy. I assume you will be travelling together, so price of ticket does matter when you are doubling up. If my GF comes over this year I think I will meet her at LHR, save 500 Quid.

I believe having casinos in Thailand, will be like giving a baby a loaded gun to play with. In my limited contact with Thais, it has become obvious to me that gambling is their big weakness. My GF familly once owned rice fields and more land by Tamphanin, but her old dad lost it all playing cards and cockfighting,now they just have the land around their house. Banks in Thailand love lending money with land as security. The Mamasan of her old bar lost so much money last year, her husband had to sell bar. I have watched a BG lose her money/ gold jewelry so quickly it could only be discribed as going short time. I am sure I have seen notices at Thai border telling you that the importation of playing cards is banned. Blimey lads, surely there is enough to do in Pattaya now, without loosing a nights beer money in minutes. I'll stick to beer, whiskey and wild wild women !

GUS- BR067 usually pretty much to sched arrival,I came back 04Dec 35mins early. Remember they only have 2.1/2hrs to turn around if on sched. Delays cost tons of dough, if you miss your airbourne slot you go to back of queue. I worked for Air Canada and don't remember EVA being regularly late.