Bushcraft

Too true flighty, we of the baby-boomer generation have indeed been lucky not to be embroiled in any wars involuntarily, at least in western Europe. As Prime Minister, one of the few good things that Harold Wilson did was to keep Britain out of the Vietnam War despite American requests. As young men we were very conscious that Americans and Australians etc. of our age were fighting and dying there, not to mention the Vietnamese, and that it could have been us too.

Les Misérables has for years been referred to as "The Glums" in England, looking forward to the film too.

My previous students incl. the OP have gone back to the UK for a while, but I'm still willing to teach. PM me if interested.

Where's she gonna sit?

Hear, hear, went to see Skyfall last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. I too thought that nobody could possibly top Connery as Bond, but Craig has made the part his own now. IMO the worst interregnum stand-ins were George Lazenby (1 film) and Roger Moore, who played Simon Templar (The Saint) very well on TV but perhaps should have resisted the temptation to play the same effortlessly superior, smug 1960s character in Bond films. Fleming's books and the Bond character are nothing if not gritty, and it's nice to see that the pissing-around has stopped with Craig in the role.

This just gets worse and worse, especially for the BBC. David Icke firmly believes that the world is ultimately run by a lizard-like species living in the depths of the earth, and that e.g. HM The Queen is a direct descendent of these supercreatures. That doesn't give him much credibility in my book, indeed I think he's two sandwiches short of a picnic, but his comments on paedophile rings and their influence are indeed disturbing and can't be easily dismissed. It is for example quite true that Hamilton, who shot and killed all those children in Dunblane was a known paedophile and procurer of children for the influential, and that the major papers on the massacre of the schoolchildren have inexplicably and outrageously been locked away for 100 (!) years. Something stinks here, somebody is being protected.

They are indeed very friendly people, apart from being a very good band who deserve to be playing to a full house every night. FLB is one of my favourite bars, I've had wonderful times there, and I hope it has a very good high season this year when the 'regulars' arrive and come out to play.

That's a shock, was only talking to Fah about Mick today, wondering when he'd show himself in Patts again. If anybody has any news, pls post it - good bloke indeed.

This is so sad. I don't know in detail what led to the confrontation, but a human life has been bled onto the street over something that can surely only be ascribed to an alcohol-fuelled over-reaction reinforcing a misplaced sense of "honour". The killer will live to regret what he did for a hopefully long time, his victim died for absolutely nothing of any importance as far as I can tell - wrong place, wrong time, encountered someone who might become his friend in other circumstances, but male ego got in the way and acted disastrously for both.

Good for you mate, Pattaya is addictive because it's unique and paradisical for the sensible single male. Glad you had a good time, but personally speaking it's also the interaction and sheer fun with other punters/residents that makes the place so wonderful - next time hitch up with a few kindred spirits and enjoy both private fun and public exposure (sic) even more.

I think he's fairly safe from having that thing nicked!

I've of course had no involvement in the organisation of the London Olympics, and far less competed in them or even been in my homeland while they were going on, but I find it very heartening to read such positive views on Britain's organising and competitive effort - thanks chaps. I thought they did a great job too, and am proud. Many people have written GB off in the past several hundred years, and we're the absolute tops ourselves at knocking our small island nation, but you underestimate the people of Britain at your peril when it counts.

Billions, you've captured this wonderful, unique street and its fauna beautifully, many thanks to you for posting these pics.

The equivalent of Banzai! I guess. The Japanese girl certainly has style, I saw her snatch earlier, and it was very slick.

Knew there had to be some Irish somewhere ... oh Dannie Boyle, the pipes, the pipes are calling, from glen to glen ...

I've never stayed at MA, and only darkened its doors once when with a group of chums, but I have to say that I've never, ever heard a bad word about either Dennis or his place. It seems that hard work, a good eye for staff and attention to detail - oh, and aircon, cut the mustard here as they do anywhere (hot) in the world. Good to know that, well done that man!

IMHO Walking St. is here for the duration. There is huge money tied up in those properties and establishments, a lot of it put there by some very influential people indeed, I suspect. I really can't see it being torn down and replaced by several thousand tons of sand and some palm-trees, atmospheric fishing-boats and clog-dancing yokels, in fact the very thought is ludicrous.

Fah and I had a bar named Chanpen right next door to this place. By all accounts the rooms are very nice, a good bar and sitting area, clean and tidy. The owner is a Dutch curmudgeon who seems to get on with nobody, but that needn't bother guests as his Thai lady is quite amenable. The twice-weekly market will only bother you if you're motorised, i.e. access to the hotel is practically impossible on wheels during those 2 days. It means a short walk from Soi Buakhouw, that's all. Good place to stay I reckon. Big hug for you and Paul.

I think there's a way to avoid the pitfalls, minimise costs and have a whole lot of fun - provided nobody gets emotional and lubbed up/jealous. Simply rent a big enough house and invite bargirls/freelancers of your choice or theirs (after vetting by you) to live there with you for free, meals included (which they cook, for you as well if you want). They are free to come and go, do STs and LTs, but not in the house. But any of them not away for the night are to be available as bed-warmers of your choice when you want. They decide amongst themselves who cooks and cleans when. Any noticeable bitchiness or arguments between the girls - OUT. No question of slavery, exploitation here, you could sleep 6 girls at least in a 3-bedroom house, one bedrom being yours of course (they have no problem sharing). I think this would work quite well, you pay them practically nothing (only for food) as they are self-employed, and you get variety as well as a changing bunch of girls as they come and go from Pattaya. I reckon you'd have no shortage of takers.

Thanks so much for posting these pics of a very moving place. I visited it almost 30 years ago on my first visit to Thailand, and have always intended to go back. Seeing all those very English names (and of course Anzacs, Dutch and more) on those gravestones so very far from home touched me then, and will do so again.

Bring some Kleenex and an open mind. Adam (Hammer) and I have repeatedly gone to Sapphire to check it out as a possible barcrawl stop for 12-15 BMs - we have been consistently totally ignored, although there were a few ladies present who preferred to chat amongst themselves rather than give paying customers even a hint of a welcome. I know Adam is ugly, but I still scrub up well. Forget it. I think we've given up trying to put this place on the barcrawl map now. The attitude of these primadonnas is far from the high quality of the surroundings, what a shame.

RIP, great singer in one of the all-time great groups.

Quite right, I suppose we have to go with our hosts and grin/bear it, but this retail and Beach Road closure is a royal pain in the arse for anybody wanting to get anywhere reasonably fast. In view of the one-way system on the major north-south road (2nd Road) nearest to the action, closing Beach Road is a major nuisance to all. Certainly someone is making big Baht from this endless row of vendors selling more-or-less the same crap, so that in itself justifies the whole thing I suppose. No real complaints though, we chose to be here and can only look on with bemusement.

I'll be there following the afternoon barcrawl to the gentlemens' clubs - sounds like a good monday on the horizon for us poor unfortunates who are left here ... stir...stir... never mind lads, someone's got to console the broken-hearted wenches you casual visitors have left grieving. Bring 'em on ... no muff too tough .. we dive at five.

Weird, went to Chow Soy restaurant in Soi Chayapoon yesterday evening and could not get a beer with my meal. Every bar and most restaurants in the soi were closed. Then the outside fans failed and I was sweltering - double misery.