Kinnock

My wife said she wanted one for local trips to 7-11 etc, so I tried a few. I thought EM Bike looks the most reliable brand. Made in Thailand, so perhaps less likely to catch fire when charging, unlike the Chinese ones, replaceable battery, with extra batteties available on their website, good LED lights, decent brakes. Their models with lithium batteries look to be the best for range. I tried one and it was surprisingly quick off the line, althoigh the top speed is not 'motorbike fast' but quick enougj for local trips. She saw it as a good alternative to a bicycle, with the advantage that you don't have to pedal so you don't get so hot. In the end she decided Grab/7-11 delivery was a better option, so we didn't buy one, and at around 30,000 THB it would be a waste if it's not used regularly. https://www.em-bike.com/

Yes ..... and yes I'm joking ????

Doesn't the original post have a whiff of racism about it? No mention of the country of origin of the person receiving the insult, but the protagonist was specifically named as a German. So isn't there some underlying assumptions about Germanic people in the OP? I sport a rather large nose myself, and some Thai friends have made comments about it, but that never struck .e as racism, but when a German makes the comment it's somehow racism. Stereotyping, yes, rude, probably, but racist - no.

Was your colleague from Turkey? It's a well known fact that everyone in Turkey has a big nose.

Brilliant film ..... takes the p!&& out of racism. And if I ever need cheering up, I watch the baked beans scene.

Sketchers GoRun Ultra. I bought them for running, as I get sore feet running on concrete paths in the local park, but I found they were too cushioned for running .... but they make excellent walking shoes. Supersports sale, 70% off.

Personally I think hybrid is a marketing trick rather than a genuine environmental benefit. Manufacturing involves the worst of old and new technology, then at end of life there's the challenge of disposal of the toxic batteries. Then there's the concerns about long term reliability, especially in a country where driving through floods is common. I'd guess that a tough, old tech diesel engined truck or SUV that probably has a useful working life of over 10 years is actually less harmful to the environment than a hybrid with its shorter working life due to battery degradation and low resale prices making repairs uneconomic. Sure, a diesel creates more local soot pollution, but when considering total life cycle impact on the environment, they must have a lower impact than an electric car that carts its own generator everywhere. I get full electric cars, so long as the electricity is from a renewable source (so not in Thailand), but hybrid has the disadvantages of old and new technologies, and the only theoretical advantage is better fuel efficiency, but you can achieve this more effectively by just buying a smaller car.

We're looking for a replacement for our X-Trail, and I looked at the H6 and Jolion. They look good and the interior design is very nice, plus the feature list is impressive. I also like that GWM is investing in Thailand. My main concern was the unknown factor of depreciation. In Thailand, if you stray from the Toyota path, you get punished at trade in time. There's also no 4 WD option.

Cook my own food? Do you guys really live in Thailand? My wife intercepts me if I even make a move towards the kitchen ..... she's a better cook, and (allegedly) makes less mess. If I'm 'home alone' for any time, she fills the fridge with prepared food and leaves instructions. We also enjoy eating out, but even then she does the ordering, including those extra dishes that arrive part way through the meal, (Thai women seem to be able to order via telepathy).

I have some winter coats etc I bought when working in Korea - they are just taking up space, as I don't do cold countries any more. Happy to give them to you free if that would help? In the UK it helps if you have an address, as then you can register at the local benefits office. A shared house could be a start. An address will also help you get a job - kitchen porter van be a way back into the job market. You"ll need just enough cash for the initial rent and deposit, but that's not much compared to the cost of the return flight to UK these days. I wouldn't recommend UK without an adress and a roof over your head. Best of luck mate, and hope things look up soon.

Spotted a new Raptor in the wild last week. Didn't know they were available yet. It has a very striking appearance with bulging arches and wide wheels ..... has a very different 'stance' compared to the standard Ranger. Not for me - but it looked amazing.

An F150 would be a better option. That way they could also have a Raptor.

1909! <deleted>, ancient history, nobody alive who remembers or really cares.

Yes, the older but financially secure partner can be the wise choice, but regarding your wider point .... the poor and poorly educated are prolific breeders, whereas the well-off and educated are choosing to have only one or no children. Reverse evolution in action.

UK needs to find a new source of cheap, foreign labour ..... ideally people who want to actually do any work this time.

Yes, such a stale cliché that's been recycled so many times it smells like expired pla raa. After reading many posts from ex-pats who've been happily married for 10, 20 or even 30 years, I reckon the success rate of 'asymmetrical' marriages in Asia is better than the rate for conventional falang/falang marriages in the West.

The latest X-Max and Forza are so closely matched it would be tough to choose one over the other, but the ADV 350 does seem to have slightly better suspension and a different look. For me, the Kawasaki Versys X300 or Honda CB500X are better options. With luggage added they are as practical as a large scooter, but they have the dynamics of a motorcycle. The X300 is also lightweight and easy to handle compared to the comparatively bulky Forza.

In theory you should ride on the side 'frontage' roads where they exist, and not on the main highway. If no frontage road, we're supposed to stick to the left lane, where the trucks have a better chance of running you over. This rule tends to be ignored by most Thai riders - especially riders of larger motorcycles and scooters. I tend to bob in and out, depending on traffic, shade and road conditions. Of course the toll expressways are not use-able.

I tried 'the Old Weed Man' cafe in walking street. I tried the drinks and the brownies, but I guess they are at 'legal' levels as I felt no effects whatsoever. There was a hand made sign offering joints, but I don't smoke, so wanted to try the edible options.

If we look at this from another perspective, it may give us a clue about the spread. In general, men tend to like sex more than women, and we tend to be more open to multiple partners. In practice, women limit the availability of sexual activity for heterosexual males via rationing or via charging. So the MSM scenario involves more sex with more partners than the MSW or WSW situations. Hence more opportunities for direct skin contact with multiple partners - ideal for the spread of a contagious virus. The masseuse situation should also be an effective way to spread the virus, but perhaps Baby Oil acts as a barrier, or maybe it needs broken skin to enable the virus to enter the body. But the lessons from HIV have shown that the initial mode of spread was really just the first to be identified, and it later becomes clear that other sectors of society are equally at risk. Orgies must present an equivalent risk, as would prostitution if it existed in Thailand. Whatever way this new pandemic develops, it does highlight the benefits of monogamy, especially if your partner can also give you a foot massage.

If cooking good, tasty food is a Wife requirement, then Thailand over Philippines any day.

A 'Prawit denial' has become street slang for absolute confirmation that an allegation is totally true. E.g "Never believe any rumour until you get the Prawit Denial".

True ..... but as the manager he also had a responsibility to ensure fire exits were clear and properly signed. He should have trained his staff in emergency evacuation drills too. If he had survived, he'd be in jail now. The customers were the true victims of the combined failures of the owner and the manager.

Ah yes, I get that too. She carefully selects the best combination of flavours from the range of Thai dishes on the table, and puts the combo on my spoon. To be honest, she's really good at it, so I just go with the flow and enjoy the culinary experience. I thought it was just us - so I'm happy to hear it may be a general Thai Girl thing.

Mine's a stunner from Samut Prakarn ..... 11 years together and she still peels my grapes. When does the grape peeling phase end?