Fatboyfat

US airlines epitomise companies that start off as world leaders and seem to think that that historical groundbreaking concept, and patriotism, is enough to keep them going. US airports in general, including immigration and customs, are relatively awful as well. I personally hate BA ( for very personal reasons I avoid them if at all possible) but at least they now try to compete and exceed, rather than rest on past laurels.

However a really good (top) chef WON'T cook a steak like that! They know best ... you know !?!

I've always wondered how one manages to open ones gob wide enough to fit those monster sarnies in..... or are they daintily eaten with a knife and fork. I often have trouble, even with a "bog standard" club sandwich!

As with Jacky; I too found the standard of steak in the USA to be probably my biggest disapointment about the country, from a very early age; again probably just expecting too much through the boasts in movies etc. However, last year, on my final work contract in New York, I mentioned this continual disapointment to the CEO involved; who took me to this Peter Luger restaurant. In fact we had that very meal, and my view of USA steaks has been forever changed! The "Porterhouse" nomer got me at first, as in the UK that cut normally does not include the fillet and bone, and is generally just the outer part: In general there is no discriminating between the two ends of the cut, and it would be called a T-bone. The bacon concept was also novel to me, but good, and you are right, my host frowned upon my enquiry about a "peppercorn sauce", and refused to ask for it! Absolutely the very best steak meal I have ever had anywhere, and it was free !!!! Next in line is Figlmuller in Vienna; on the recommendation of "Andy Cap"; for the ultimate Wiener Schnitzel.

Who threw up on that Burrito ?!?

DVDs still a good earner according to the "brother-in-law" , unless he or his like nabs them of course!

Agreed; Even as a supporter of one of the chosen few that continually contend the premier league, I really miss the days when literally any club had a chance of winning, and often did win, at the beginning of the season. Platini's appalling and grossly mis-named "fairplay regulations" will progressively stop this, as was the plan. Notice how the "huge spenders" for both transfers and wages combined, such as United, Barce & Real, and other "members of the G-14, seem to avoid any actions, whereas City, PSG and any others hoping to contend are shackled. Even Chelski have to really seriously manage their assets to avoid recriminations, and are alledgedly "walking a tightrope".

Well that's Liverpool stuffed ! Annihilated by an Arsenal side that weren't even at full throttle IMHO. To quote one of the tv "experts", they will now be in the fight to avoid Europa League qualification! I still feel Man City are under threat, but the only threat looks like being Tottenham.

I can guarantee the arsehole Niels Colov would be there.

According to my "tame tourist police seargeant": If they were going to pull him in, they would do so anyway whether he had a photocopy ( which is "in thai law" worthless anyway) or not; additionally if he was not given the opportunity to produce his documents from his hotel, the arresting officer would have to answer to disciplinary action ( my interpretation of his confusing explanation). He also reckoned that there must have been "reasonable" grounds to pull him in. My guess would be tip-off or more than likely he was the "farang spy used to set the raid up; see other threads for expansion.Not that it matters, but I have never, apart from when visiting long ago as a seafarer, carried id, passport or copy on me: The one exception being during the 1973 troubles, which were by far the most troubling of all the uprising/coups that have occurred to date. (Again- whether the said passport would have acted as a "suit of armour" back then is debateable, but I just thought it might help !)

I thought I read somewhere recently (Nation ?) that there was not a requirement for tourists to carry passports/ID around with them now, and that they would be allowed to produce them at their hotel etc. if required.

At last my "footballing" spirit has been lifted, after yesterdays match against Spurs. Although only watching it on the box, it was the best performance by far this season in my opinion. If we can manage that sort of commitment for the next 6 games, then a CL spot "may" be achievable.....And it "may" be at the expense of City.

May I congratulate you on your superb photography. Seeing the piccys always makes me feel hungry, even if I don't actually like the dish! BTW the food we had from your establishment recently was excellent.

Ditto. Especially with elders, which is a bit ironic, as I am probably older than most of them, just don't look it ! As for the head touching thing, from my experience, it seems to be far more relevant to males, than to females.

The "biz" seats on the 787 dreamliner that runs from edinburgh are excellent too, almost first standard. Not sure what aircraft is used from Manchester.

I've always found 2 seperate return fares to be the best option for that sort of itenary Sailfast, provided longer journey time acceptable for the return from BKK to NYC via Manchester, and physical transfer of luggage at that particular change point is OK with you. Just a quick check using Lufthansa or AA/BA for NYC-MAN section would be ￡564 and Qatar for the MAN-BKK section at ￡441; would give a total of ￡1005 or about $1515; all "cattle class", & depending on when you fly. (Qatar prices vary quite significantly with the day of the week, but all is clear on their website)

To quote Arnie; "they'll be back". Not totally sure on my feelings about their presence en masse, apart from knackering the Bahtbus system.

Ditto. There are many posters I despair of, but "short's motives seem unfathomable to me

I don't think Spurs are out of it either if you take their game in hand. As for my lot, United, we have a whole 2 months of difficult games coming up through March and April, after an extended run of what should have been considered easier fixtures. I am fully expecting LVG and his bloody "philosophy" (How I detest that term being used in football ! ) to be clearing his desk by the end of the season. Not sure on Pellegrini though, depends on who's available I think, rather than any knee-jerk reactions. Arsenal and Liverpool definitely seem to have the form at the moment, and my money would be on them for the final 2 CL spots. Chelski have already won it IMHO, but the "Posturing Portugeezer" needs to shut up about his conspiracy theories, they are not working, and his players seem to be the only ones taking any notice of them, and subsequently playing below par. I must admit to surprise wrt both Liverpool & Spurs' decision not to seriously contend the Europa League cup; I would consider that an both an easier, and a fallback, route to CL qualification; which is after all, the prime directive of those two teams.

Pure surmission on my behalf, but many airlines run their " cattle class " at a slight loss or barely break even, so the loss of capacity wrt reduced number of flights is likely to be secondary to overall profit margins of running just one more economical aircraft. The telling factor would be are the 1st and Biz classes at capacity with " full paying" fares and not upgrades.

Love it ! And Sailfast sums it up brilliantly.

Nearly all ocean going ships with a water making facility use the reverse osmosis procedure, especially those with high water consumption rates due to numbers of personnel, such as passenger liners and warships; and although the product is not particularly palatable unless certain "salts" are added, it is perfectly safe. Many years ago I was in company with a British Destroyer that continued to make water whilst alongside in Karachi harbour, one of the filthiest ports in the world at the time, rather than load the potable water from barges, which would be the more normal practice when in port. They rightly considered that source to be safer than the daily load option, and suffered no ill consequences. Careful maintenance of the equipment is the key factor.

Saw

Just putting a few things through the brain, but I was told that the French owner you are thinking of from Yamato ( Le Strogonoff restaurant), died a while back, hence no restaurant any more. However, Le Strogonoff 2 is still a going concern on Pratumnak so the reports of his demise may be premature; Could be a different owner tho'.

With typical Mourinho dupery taken into account, the Lukaku decision seems to be at the player's "insistence"; you would certainly think he is exactly the type of spearhead that Mourinho favours. Reading between the lines ( always dodgy !), I reckon that Lukaku was demanding regular selection, with a World Cup squad selection coming up, which of course a team like Chelski would not agree too, especially with Torres in the ranks. ( Expectations of him returning to form still seem to abound, even with Mourinho). The CL four seem to be settled now, as a "neutral" with respect to the 4 of them, I just hope it goes down to a 4 way shoot out in the last week !