atlas2

As long as you're not being 'pendantic' Martin... We'll let you off. As is often the case we can turn to the ........... writings of the Bard. The earliest known citation of the phrase is from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, 1596: 'Bated' is simply a shortened form of 'abated', meaning 'to bring down, lower or depress'. 'Abated breath' makes perfect sense and that's where the phrase comes from. What should I say to you? Should I not say 'Hath a dog money? is it possible A cur can lend three thousand ducats?' Or Shall I bend low and in a bondman's key, With bated breath and

Pattaya lies facing the Gulf of Thailand and is always under the influence of the sea. This being the reason, its weather differs from southern, northern and in-land Thailand. Pattaya weather does not undergo any sea change, as the average temperature remains 29°C (85°F). The Pattaya weather pattern follows three seasons the winters, the hot season and the rainy season. November - March Cool season. Winters in Pattaya, commence from November and last till March. Most of the tourists visit Pattaya during the cool season but temperatures run to 30°C (90°F) during the day and well above 20°C (

Good post Jacko As Einstien said: "It's all relative!"

I think the vast majority....(useful phrase that!), know the lines not to be crossed without them having to be carved in tablets of stone and brought down from lightning struck Mt. Pratamak, by a baleful Martin in his, 'shirt of many colours'. (Confused image but you get the drift). It is however, useful for our own safety to have pointed out to us the limits of 'political' comment and the level of salaciousness admissible here. But the rules of behavior we all already know. There's no excuse. The heat being generated here is only about our conduct towards each other isn't it?. And

Yes when I've needed the help urgently the NHS came through.

Reasons to be cheerful Part II Feet up either side of the bath taps. Shoulders sunken under the suds. I tug on my scrotum and juggle my balls. Shit! Shit! SHIT! Six months before I'd sold my house and contents. Let the powers 'that be' know I was taking early retirement. I'd already transferred most of my clothes, books I was keeping and guitars to my condo in Thailand. My bags were practically packed, flights booked, some goodbyes already said, and in 3 weeks I'd succumb to Thailand's beckoning...... as if it were a soi six smile. I was so excited..! And now........ NOW I've found

I feel the sameway about rather feeling a stranger in a foreign land than a stranger in my own. As for the NHS, if not for the prompt and excellent emergency treatment I recieved in 1997 there would have been no point in ever coming to Thailand unless it was to look at Wats and elephants. That story is a little embarassing to put down here.

You hit the nail on the head. Marley' "Much happier..not stressed........smile all day" One reason I'm happy is that in 2010....'tax freedom day' for the UK was 30th May.....5 months of working solely for the Government. My income from savings & investments and pension is half what I was earning before I retired ......but I keep nearly all of it. No bills to speak of....It's all 'sweet money' Lovelyjubberly!

Important caveats: 1. I bought my condo and my car at 69 baht to the GBP. 2. How I spend 'my' time is likely different to how you spend yours. My expenses and yours will differ. OK With all the 'Doom and Gloom' on the board lately I'd thought I'd give myself a reality check! Am I just, 'a cock-eyed optimist' or 'Pollyanna as Tomcat says? Or did I get it mostly right when made the leap and retired out here in 2007? What follows is a comparison between Pattaya and England. I can't argue with those who say the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and such-like are head

Before when you scrolled down you could see who was reading the thread and who had visited now I just see my name and zeros.

You don't get songs like this in South America........ Not better or worse, just nothing like 'this' anywhere, except America/USA. Great to hear them again after 50 Summers .......still sounding uniquely American. "It's paradise when I... lift up my antenna" OK he's no Bob Dylan and I always thought Mike Love was just too pervy but there's a place in my heart for their songs http://youtu.be/VAmk-Wk2pNA

If you ask someone in the UK........Or Australia, or New Zealand...........Or Russia,France,Italy blah blah where do Americans come from? They'll likely say America or the US........In both cases they mean, The US. Here's a 'Geograffy' lesson. It isn't completetly....... un-biased. Worth watiching.

Rooney replaced Paul Scholes as my favourite current player. I confess I watch Man U largely because of him. I like his footballing intelligence and 100% commitment. I want him to stay. Man Utd are a great club. If he leaves it will be for somewhere like PSG and I don't fancy following French football.

It looks like Fergie may sell Rooney this Summer.

I haven't stayed for over a year........But from 2001 to '07 I was spending a few days of every trip there. Some years I was managing 5 trips. I saw about 3 roaches in all that time. Obviously a number acceptable to me because I kept coming back. However, I read about roaches at the Penthouse dozens of times. Didn't put me off. I work out at the Royal Cliff....seen them there. Before it was Fairtex.....seen them there. I walked through The Dusit to get to the Thai Airways office. Saw one in a corridor there. The Penthouse is one of a kind. I've had a lot of fun in the rooms. Girls th

yes good one.......When we tell the time in Thai, from 7pm till 11pm.......they use 'Tum'...Nung Tum, Song Tum etc.....The 'Tum' is the sound of a loud gong beating the time. After midnight it they used a smaller gong or maybe a triangle making the sound tee..So, 1 a.m is 'nung tee'! The Thais use onomatopoeia a lot. Though calling Pork 'Moo' I found very confusing.

Sorry Teelack 'Fakkhue'.......Does indeed 'sound like' "Fuck You' so we know what you're getting at and it's funny But as Fuck doesn't 'sound' like any sound connected with the act of sex it therefore isn't onomatopoeic to begin with.......whatever the context. Fakk and Fuck are homophones.....spelt differently but sound alike. 'Hue', 'You'..... and one you'll know well , (but not too well I hope) 'ewe' are homophones too. Onomatopoeic words sound like a...' sound'......Cat's meow.......Cow's Moo....Dog's 'Woof' A few months back I read Sherlock Holm's, 'The Case of the 5 Orang

I had an unexpected, gap in my diary and consequently a 'free night' (which is necessary if you want to stink the condo and the bed out with curry), so I got myself a take-away from the Jomtien Market. Quite pleasant and I can thoroughly recommend it as a diuretic.

Excellent!

"On a mat a pee a' is what we sniggered at in mock Italian. Of course this funny thread isn't an example of 'onomatopoeia' Rather an example of a 'homophone' Still funny though.

Got me 'Bang to rights!'

Another 'Yep' award!

Yep!

My guardian Angel's called Evil.......... I like that.

Just noticed I got a red one for this post......Bit harsh!