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He means Thaksin's populist policies, using tax payers money to influence voters, was a form of bribery. Although not enough judges considered him guilty to have him banned from politics, Thaksin's ' honest mistake' back in 2001 shows his criminal intent. For years millions of baht was hidden in the names of his drivers and servants. For what purpose? The only logical conclusion is stock market manipulation, buying and selling stock under ' unknown' names to avoid suspicion. If Thaksin came back I'm sure the deal he would cut with the elite would do nothing to take the country forward, rather it would marginalise those looking for change and reform in Thailand.

Every EU country had the sovereign right to set its own vaccine policy. Here's an article showing the devastating effect of Brexit on UK businesses. https://centralbylines.co.uk/the-uk-is-now-a-third-country-britains-supply-chain-crisis/

Well OKA (to differentiate the owls), it has been the driest rainy season I have ever known in 23 years in Ban Dung. The monsoon has just not happened. Last year was bad but this is worse. Turning to happier topics, the longer I live here, the more I appreciate Ban Dung. Small enough to be devoid of traffic congestion, it's still big enough to have a decent hospital, clinics, mobile phone repair shops, repair shops for car and motorbikes, a fresh as well as a night market, plus restaurants here and there. If it only had a river it would be ideal!

Happy Birthday to Robert Plant Phil Lynott was born on this day, MD posted a song above. Here's another.

Jim Reeves was born on this day Oh my, Dave Brock is 80 today!

Not much to taste in British supermarkets these days. https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/19431618.lidl-blame-empty-shelves-brexit-lorry-driver-shortage-uk/

Sadly probably true. And now a chicken shortage. Time for all those portly Brexiteers to turn into vegetarians. https://news.sky.com/story/food-industry-supply-chain-chaos-result-of-brexit-british-poultry-association-says-12384770

The best constitution Thailand ever had was the 1997 version before Thaksin came to power. Real checks and balances were undermined by Thaksin with his enormous wealth, buying up the whole of the NAP MPs, over 80 if I remember right. He understood monopolies, he had one in the Telecom sector at first and replicated that in politics. He was no friend of democracy, domination was his game, which is a tragedy because he had an opportunity after his first election win to bring in good people to government, he proclaimed he had no need to be corrupt he was rich enough already, but he was the instigator of policy corruption. No old dated brown envelopes style, simply change the laws to benefit his and his friends' companies. Thaksin belongs in the past but I can envisage him striking a deal with the elite, ' Look, I can bring millions of votes to your side, let me come back, offer some populist policies, I won't challenge you, we3 can work together'.

As you know we are now a third country regarding trading with the EU resulting in companies facing realms of red tape and costs in dealing with the EU. whilst previously trade was seamless. Its inevitable we at least rejoin the CU and SM.

We have to rejoin the Customs Union and Single Market. Every country trades most with its neighbours

I don't think so David, I sent a photo of my visa with my application. When I registeredit rejected both my middle names, Hugh and Gordon, said they were not English!

The same email I received.

I got rejected today on visa grounds. I mistakenly entered B as my visa class when it should have been O as I'm on a retirement visa. A face to face application would have rectified that as would have the photo of the visa I sent in

I

Classy blues from SG above, great playing and what an expressive voice she has. Kevin Ayers was born on this day.

Singing the John Prine number

Love her version of The Stones number, No Expectations, uplifting.

A great R'n'B riff from Dr Feelgood. and from Rory

Happy Birthday to David Crosby And to Maddy Prior

A similar vein to Feelgood

At boarding school we had transistor radios with one ear phone. I did the same thing, tuning into Radio Luxembourg, or was it Caroline?, under the blankets after lights out. One night I listened to the whole of Abbey Road with Ringo talking through each track.

Happy Birthday to Mark Knopfler