Niall

Yes he's a physical marvel but he's also gone through chemo and believe me that comes at a cost. He certainly keeps dodgy company. Try this: http://www.arpuerta.com/040917.html Having said all this good luck to him.

My American friends who live in Houston seem certain he'll run for Governor as a Republican. As for pro cycling. Chris Boardman was the best cyclist of his generation but never got anywhere in pro cycling because he wouldn't take the drugs. Sorry but given that 99% of pro cycling is dirty then either Lance is the most outstanding cyclist of all time by a factor of 5 or he's found some way to beat the tests. I have to say I suspect the latter.

Wombat, Should have added The Vault is a very famous New York S&M club.

I had always assumed from the name that it was some sort of S&M place. Not then?

I have posted frequently about how much I hate BA. They sent me a customer survey last week and I had great pleasure in filing it out. My best example was LHR-Abidjan-LHR UK£3,000 business class. Abidjan-LHR-Abidjan bought locally US$1,200 FIRST CLASS. Hate them hate them hate them.

Couple of points: 1. Emergency exit seats. People often try to blag these on the basis that they have some slight disability, need to straighten out leg, old and infirmed etc. If you say this you will NEVER get these seats as under CAA rules you need to be physically fit to sit in them. If the plane crashes your supposed to be able to operate the door and get out not block the exit. A point often overlooked. However on the up side they don't put the tiny shit machines, sorry little darling babes in arms, in these rows. 2. This is probably unhelpful but you need to know the airli

Got an email from someone in the game. APPARENTLY a conversation went like this: Bernie: 'You wouldn't dare'. One of the Michelin running team leaders: 'Just fucking watch us'. Also American 'fans' throwing glass bottles in front of F1 cars...

TV money next year is based on points this year so the other two teams had to run as it was likely the only points they will get this season. Ferrari are a different matter. Agree they and Bernie will kill the sport. A1 Grand Prix anyone?

Mr Dang did not reply to my email so had to go with Krong Fa. Driver had to wait four hours as the Eva flight diverted to Dubai to unload a sick passenger but he was there no problem, they charged me an extra 200 baht which I thought was fair.

AC's story also demonstrates another important point. The guy from the shop was being a twat and in any culture deserved a slap but in Thailand you take one Thai on you take them all on including the police. I know a few guys who have made this mistake...

Who would have thought that booking a cab would be such a trial but TIT. As Ting Tong says never use your real name and tell them the hotel next door to yours so they can't track you. Then when you book a cab if he's there all well and good if not do a deal with someone else. You can march up to departures and pick up a Bangkok Taxi for 1,000 baht plus tolls. I have used Krong Fa before and all was well but last trip two things happened: 1. The driver was there with my name on a card, he took my bag, took me up to the entrance to the car park and said wait here I get car (same a

He's a typcial MU fan. Lives 6,000 miles away has no connection to the city and knows nothing about football.

Terrible news and one more reason if one was needed to stay off those damn scooters.

This is worrying news indeed. I would never use a credit card in Thailand, odds on it will be cloned. I would never use those front desk two key 'safety' boxes. The staff have access to both keys before they give you one and all night to play. In room safe where you set the code or lock stuff in your luggage and secure it to something solid. Travellers cheques? Too much commission. Access my on-line bank account from a Thai internet cafe? Not likely... I thought ATM and pin used during the day when sober and keeping an eye out for shoulder surfers was fine but if the i

As I always say when this subject comes up, bring in on! Hell make it 11pm. Benefits: 1. End of bar fines. Just meet the girl after work. Bar fines really only work for us old codgers who want to be in bed by 1am and can't be bothered hanging around until 2am plus, 2. For those who want to drink unlicensed sellers will pop up and mini street/beach parties will evolve. Cheaper beer! 3. The 'aving it large Ibiza type crowd will go elsewhere. Top stuff. Bring it on!

Quality is variable and you get what you pay for. If you take the 42 suits and 100 shirts for US$50 or whatever deals then you get what your asking for. Never ever let them measure you up. Despite the fact that most of their customers are falangs they never seem to get the fact that we have chests thighs and arses. For suits and shirts take your favourites from home and say copy this EXACTLY. Mr. T is being a little negative. I get work suits and shirts. About £50 for a good suit (£200 in UK) and £3 for a good shirt (£20 in UK). I use the tailors next to Jomtiem Boathou

Russell, This may be of no interest to you but the place was called the Winchester Club. The Winchester Club was a fictional private drinking club frequented by characters in a 70's UK TV show called Minder. The show was about dodgy but essentially goodhearted villains. A comedy really. The Blind Beggar as I believe the place is now called is a pub in the East End of London made famous by the fact that Ronnie Kray (an East End gangster and head of the Kray gang with his brother Reggie) shot a man called Cornell (a member of the rival Richardson gang) there in 1966. Bit more nasty.

April? I should coco! More like June/July for me. Some of us have to work you know!

Cheap bastard never rang the bell for me! Russell, remember the suposedly posh bird from Bangkok with her own beauty parlour and English boyfriend who got pissed and ended up sleeping upstairs with the other girls at Shagger Bar? Happy days. Niall.

FBF, Flew business class around the world with most airlines and first class BA in and out of Africa for 10 years during my time working for oil companies. Reason we flew first class BA was because we were going regularly so we bought a return business class ticket (typically UK£2,500) from London then cashed in the return leg and bought return first class tickets locally (typically US$2,000) from then on. All airlines do it but BA's differential pricing is outrageous. The planes for most airlines are pretty much the same, it is the service that counts for me. On BA for examp

Airline Network. http://www.airline-network.co.uk

Roland, You been on the waccy baccy again? Eva business class is as good or better than BA/Qantas first class, except for the flat beds! Eva first class is heaven in the air and £1,700 is a damned good price, mind you business is usually around £950 and so good I would not pay the extra for first but thats just me. SAS lounge at Heathrow is OK. Cold snack type food, bread rolls, cheese, ham that sort of thing, but free booze and internet access. Eva Evergeen Deluxe lounge in Bangkok is pretty dire but again free booze and internet access (one computer tucked round the co

Went to the Hacienda once. HEAVIEST club I have ever been in. Metal detector on the door. Moron bouncer looking to cause more trouble than they stopped. 99% of the club looked like they'd just come out of Moss Side (probably true) for the evening. Dance Club? Dump more like. Now Wigan Casino, that was a dance club...

Days in Pattaya tend to be very short. As you won't get in till 04:00 likely you won't be out of your pit until say 14:00. Breakfast, swim, afternoon beer and its 18:00 before you know it when its time to get ready and go out again. As for being on your own, as a wise man once said unless you WANT to be on your own the only time you will be one your own is if you go to the toilet AND lock the door.

Or that Canadian who boxed for Great Britain. Shhh...