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Recent facts have been bought to my attention. The recommendation I made above was in good faith and to maintain the same good faith I need to advise of items on public record that have been bought to my attention The document link below details the proceedings wherein he has been suspended as a lawyer. Make up your own mind. I will no longer recommend his services and have already engaged another local company to look after my legal afairs. http://www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk/Content/documents/9816-2007%20-%20Harper.pdf A search on Google for "Kevin Harper Pattaya" brings up other documents which in the process of "due diligence" should be considered before engaging his services. AK

ONLY 6 days to go before this offer expires Remember for a small price you can have your own "Deep Sea Debauchery tour"

Hi all, I'm back after having a losing battle with a car on my motorbike. Not something I'd recommend at all Anyway, to business .... For a limited number of bookings I'm offering 25% off (that's a 3000Baht discount) on day trips on my boat The price is 9000Baht (regular price is 12000B) Some conditions apply: - Offer ends April 23rd - All bookings must be paid for in full when confirming. - Only available for bookings up to and including May 7th - Day bookings only, booking time is between 8am and 5pm. Holidays excluded. - Price includes ice, bait and fishing equipment. Also includes fuel and staff. Food and drinks are NOT included. - BYO food and drinks OK. If you have a large group (up to 35) a surcharge of 500B may apply for additional ice etc - Special price is for the "near islands" area only, Koh Phai, Koh Khram etc attract fuel surcharges due to the distance. - All normal Terms and Conditions of hire apply to all bookings Great for a lazy day out on the water with a group of friends. Contact Ken at boatrentalsthailand@gmail.com or call me on 0870399353 Website is boatrentalsthailand.com or pattayapartyboat.com

For anyone who can read a synoptic chart this is the place to go. http://www.tmd.go.th/en/weather_map.php We find that they're about 80% right with their predictions and with looking at the actual charts and radar images available on the site we can improve that slightly as we can localise the information for our specific requirements. Just remember that the terminology is for people having some familiarity with meteorological terms so eg 85% rain DOES NOT mean it will rain for 85% of the day. Cheers : Admiral Ken

The Thai weather bureau has had warnings out for over a week - and they're usually pretty accurate as we depend on them every day. As of 7am (Thai time Saturday) the now "tropical storm" had still not reached the Eastern seaboard and you can expect more over the next 48 hours. If going out tonight an inflatable raft and life-jacket may be in order. Most boats at Bali Hai Pier are heading out for quiet waters tonight as we are expecting 2-3m waves in the upper Gulf. Tomorrow is NOT a good day to be on the water and if you have any sense DONT go anywhere near one of the Koh Larn ferries. They're unsafe in good weather!!! Cheers : Admiral Ken

Hi Shambley, sorry for the delay in response, I'm up in Udon at the moment as the boat is having its annual dry-dock experience. A "day" for us is 8am > 5pm or 7pm > 6am. If we dont have bookings for day + night we can be a little bit flexible but generally those are the times We have BBQ's on board and can arrange for a beach BBQ if you want. Website is pattaypartyboat.com or boatrentalsthailand.com (they should be in the signature unless they've been messed with again) Cheers : Ken

Congratulations Paul. If everyone did things 100% we'd get rid of the garbage bar owners from all over Pattaya and the police would have to actually start catching criminals rather than extorting businessmen who haven't got all their 'i's dotted and 't's crossed. I decided to do the same thing when I took over my business and have not ever paid a bribe in any fashion. After the first 3 attempts with me telling them everything was in order and producing the paperwork to prove it I have not been approached for any money ever since. Considering the business I'm in that's probably unique. It would sure as hell stop a lot of bar-owners whining about the BIB but they bring it on themselves by not complying with the law. Som nom na, I can only think of a few bars that I know have done the right thing like you, they are few and far between. Try asking the "employees' of just about any bar you like about their "social card" and wait for the blank looks - their employers are cheating them, simple as that. Most girls have never even heard of the card let alone had one. The other advantage to the recipient is the benefits that are available after 3 months contributions. One of my staff had a severe motorcycle accident (outside work) and all expenses were covered by the fund, including partial wages for the time he was unable to work. some of these callous falang bar-owners must feel good about themselves cheating their staff out of a few measly baht every month - another reason I stay away from certain bars. From what Larry of Secrets told me his double hip replacement was done for free using the benefits of the 'social card'. Also don't take the "I only pay permanent staff social .... " excuse. The legislation clearly states that ALL employees (casual, temporary, etc etc) MUST have contributions made. Just talk to the girls the next time you're in a bar and see for yourself how few do it. My experience in this tells you that most business owners will lie about the truth in these matters so if you are looking for the truth be aware. One prominent BM when I asked him if his work permit was 'the old blue style' or one of 'the new green ones' proudly told me that had managed to get one of the 'new green ones'. Would have been good for him - if they existed Unless he reads this he probably still believes that there is a 'green Work Permit'. Cheers : Admiral Ken I'll have to drop in one day for a beer when I'm down your way. Stay legit and you won't have to keep looking over your shoulder.

Pictures say a thousand words, but in this case only 2 are required. The whole area really is a "shit hole". Cheers : Admiral Ken

So are there some other limitations or is it just plain discrimination with certain members?

All the Bhuddist (special) days are lunar calendar based. There may be an exception, but I cant think of one, so the date will change from year to year. The designations are usually of the form : the xth full/new moon of the yth lunar cycle. Cheers : Admiral Ken

The Yanks have been bastardising the English language this way for years - nothing new here. The final result however does scariiy resemble a text message from anyone under 25 in an English speaking country or something that the current group of students would produce as part of an 'essay' in those same countries. Cheers : Admiral Ken

The common name for them is "Slipper Lobster". Australians call them "Balmain Bugs" or Moreton Bay Bugs" - 2 different species. In Thailand the call them "Rock Lobsters" but on the other hand they call "octopus" & "squid" the same thing here. Thai nomenclature is hardly a shining example. They taste nothng like American Lobsters or Australian "Rock Lobster" (crayfish),, unless you buy them from the Russian joints over the water at Looking St where the real thing tastes like shit because the original edible flesh has been replaced by something cheaper.

Yes they had a localised problem - 'twas enough for me I'm now with someone else, much better speed and less than I was paying 3BB, hard to complain about that. (the technicians apparently tried to fix something and to say it went wrong would be a gross understatement - why dont you ask them? I had no problems getting through to them) Adniral Ken :

BigStuy and Maj. Tibbs are throwing a boat bash with a few lovelys on Friday 20th. Please contact Ken 0870399353 or Stuy 0800306802 to confirm your place and get details of when and where. Cheers : PS Please call opposed to PM as we are busy on a recon trip today and may not have time to monitor responses on the boards

Just ventured down Walking St and the old "Looking Street" appears to be gone. The new name seems to "WTF am I here for Street" as I gathered from many of the girls that I spoke to tonight. They seem to be bound by the GBOs (Greedy Bar owners) to fulfilll their day quota befor they are allowed to escape home for their New Year (Songkran) Istanbul Kebab was doing a brisk trade and the Russian lovelys were out in abundance, I was surprised that the Thai boxing near Dollhouse was open but noise was to an absolute minimum. No GoGo bars open that I saw on WS and a quick look down Soi 15 showed nothing but darkness from the WS end, not worth venturing into so I didn't. So "WTF am I here for Street" seems to be the norm for the moment. Even Simon 2 I walked down and instead of the usual cheers and come ons they were whispering, bloody funny when you know the place. High Season ???? What High Season ??? Welcome to low season gents. Oh and 2 days from now you can go to "Drenching Street" where you can get a free involuntary shower just in case you dont like washing. I'll stay home or on the boat. If I want to get wet I prefer that it be at my (or her) discretion. I must admit. however, there was one saving grace, the Arab quarter was totally closed and it's the first time I've been there for a long time without my ears be assaulted. Keep it up - Pattaya, the Family friendly city. (bugger forgot to mention the Dengue mosquitoes, stay tuned) Cheers : Admiral Ken