sadman

She who must be obeyed has decreed that we shall both be coming, wherever and whenever it's on.

I don't have a problem with the girls, but I do have a problem with some of the farang who hang around there.

My daughters are older, but I have a 16-yr old son. Since he was about 12 I have taken him into a beer bar for a Coke and a game of pool, and made no issue of the girls. He has always been well-treated and treats the girls with the same respect as he would anyone else. So do I.

As it happens, I go there for a beer and a game of pool and nothing more, and my wife often comes with me. The girls know us and don't try it on, and I have never worried about my son there - although I wouldn't be comfortable about him going to other places that we don't know on his own.

As for dignity - my son gets a good example of it from the girls, and an object lesson in the lack of it from some of the farang who get in there.

ESPECIALLY the "Indian" (read: paki, bangledeshi, etc) tailors. I know it's not your question, but related I think. One of them started yelling at me when he asked me where I am from. I said "I live here" he went off on me, "I didn't ask where you lived! I asked where your from!!!" really yelling. I wanted to deck him. The questions come at you so fast that if you chose to respond, there is not time to answer one before the next one is posed. I end up just laughing it's so crazy. God I hate Patong. I don't understand why anyone would want to holiday there. It's a million times more enjoyable walking the relatively calm streets of Kata and Karon.

If I have to listen to "luvverly jubbly" one more time......

I agree about Karon. I stayed there the first time I went to Phuket in 2000, and although it's changed quite a bit, I still like it.

Maybe the pics aren't flattering, but I have to say that I've seen many, many nicer places (although not as big) for far less. Frankly, I prefer my house to that - and mine cost a fraction of the price. I don't have a seaview (couldn't afford it) but I look at the mountain and fields and I love it. I know that it can change through development (well, probably not the mountain) but I'm not going to worry about what may or may not happen at some stage in the future.

And the furnishings and art are, IMHO, pretentious nonsense. Probably cost more than my house, though.

However, if the $8m asking price is realistic, I'd like to offer my 2 bedroomed house at the knockdown price of £4m (or £2m in cash in a brown envelope); my 5-yr old truck at £200,000 and my services as a gigolo at £10,000 per night. Don't all rush.

I don't generally watch cricket; barely understand it, actually, but the Ashes is something special. There is something great about it, a bit like the FA Cup or the 6 Nations - an atmosphere that makes the contest more important than any other.

I look forward to the next Test, especially as I shall be back in Phuket to watch it.

Just out of interest, the BBC website is showing this story as the most widely-read in Australasia at present.

England have just bowled Australia out for 406, thereby winning the 2nd Test by 115 runs. Flintoff took 5 wickets (for the first time) and it's the first time England have beaten Aus at Lords since 1934.

About time, too!

(So now we'll just lose 3-1, I suppose).

For what it's worth, I've watched the videos several times and am of the view that the female was shoplifting. I would imagine that the man was involved as well, but she seems bang to rights.

Yes, they probably were scammed - but they put themselves in that situation in the first place by stealing. Their protestations of innocence may have something to do with the fact that they would be sacked if convicted.

This has to be a troll, most balloon chasers deny that they do it

I agree, but forgive my ignorance - what's a balloon chaser?

For everyday wear I wear brown Birkenstocks, but I have black ones for wearing after dark or in town, as I have always been taught. I bought 3 absolutely genuine pairs for 300 baht off a stall. Great value - it just shows how much tax we pay on footwear in the UK, where the prices are 30 times that!

On the beach, I like wearing different coloured ones so that I know which are mine. I wear one yellow one and one red one. They cost me a fortune and were put together specially by the stallholder, so imagine my surprise and disappointment when I saw that he'd sold an almost identical pair to someone else as well! At least they weren't quite identical - I have a yellow left one, but he's got a yellow right one.

Well I guess it is dependant on if you see yourself as having a 'home' place..

I was born in one country and left it months later.. Lived in another until 4.. Another from 4 until late teens moving around every few years.. Plus maybe 2 years in arab north africa spread in that.. Since leaving home for the last 15 years I have lived in 3 Euro countries, the states, spent large portions of time in N Africa.. And now 8 or so in Thailand, I have lived longer on Phuket than any other single place in my entire life.. I hold a passport of one country with rights to 2 others (with some work these days on the oz one, that is no longer defacto hereditary). So wheres 'home' ?? Where am I not a guest ??

Home to me is where I live, where I have 'automatic right to live' depends on the immigration rules of where I currently am and would include all of Europe in places I have never spent more than a holiday.. If I had spent as long in many countries as I have in Thailand I would now be a citizen with the passport etc. That is not a guest, the only reason I am still 'a guest' in your terms is Thailand has fairly xenophobic rules about becoming naturalized. If a Thai was in europe as long as I have been in Thailand they would not be a guest would they ?? They would be a citizen !!

I find most of the people who trot out the 'just a guest' kind of lines, lived in the country of their birth most of their lives and see it as a place they have connection to or can return to. While that may be your view, its not mine.

I suppose I would say that I was a guest in any country from which I could be deported; i.e. anywhere where my continued stay wasn't contingent on someone else's permission. If someone has to give you permission to stay, are you not a guest? (I'm not playing with semantics here, it's just my take on it).

As for a Thai being naturalised in Europe - no, even with indefinite leave to remain they can be deported. Also, look at Mohammed Al Fayed - his children are British subjects, he pays UK taxes, lives in London, but he has been repeatedly been refused a British passport.

Finally, I understand your point about people living in the country of their birth, but have found quite the opposite. In my experience, it is generally those who have been more geographically mobile who have a greater appreciation for different places and cultures, and aren't arrogant enough to believe that wherever they lay their hat is their home by right.

When you live here for a decade or so, pay your taxes here (to a very uneven level to Thais), have a home, have a family, etc.. Your not a guest.

Demanding fair treatment, equality under law, protection from persecution, and other sensible issues are fair demands.

I would disagree with your view on being a guest. If you choose to live in a country where you don't have the automatic right to live, I would say you are a guest, albeit long-term. That was what I meant.

As to your second point, I agree wholeheartedly. What I was saying was that taking the overall package, I would rather live in Phuket than anywhere else. I would guess you feel the same, otherwise you wouldn't be there. As my original post said, I am fed up with the one-eyed Phuket bashing that seems to be going on, not the balanced views that criticise certain parts of the lifestyle.

I agree that Deans is a tremendous coach, but I think the strength in the AB's coaching setup is having all 3 outstanding coaches - they all bring something to the party.

I have to say also that the AB's recent lacklustre form seems to me to be more down to those on the pitch rather than the coaches.

I have no wish to court controversy, nor to troll, but I do get a little fed up with the Phuket bashers' one-sided observations.

I am extremely lucky and travel quite a bit; I get around Europe a fair bit and have just got back from Africa. All I want is to get back to Phuket, which happens in 2 weeks. I generally visit 3-4 times a year and have done so since 2000.

I'm neither blind nor stupid; I have been a victim of crime in Phuket, have seen many of the things that go on and that are discussed on this forum. I just love the place and cannot wait to live there permanently. I take the whole package - yes, I know there are bad things and bad people, but when I look at the whole, I would prefer to live there than anywhere else.

Might I suggest that if the main criteria for people coming to Phuket/Thailand is for cheap living, cheap beer and bargirls, perhaps it is little wonder that they don't seem to be appreciated. Funnily enough, such people aren't overly-liked anywhere else, either. Ask the locals in Tenerife, Malaga, Benidorm, Dublin, Riga, Prague and anywhere else where the tattooed, Union Jack t-shirt-wearing brigade descend (and wherever their Australian, American or any other counterparts go).

I never forget that I am a guest. Just because I'm lucky enough to have money to spend doesn't somehow give me the right to behave badly or to demand that the country or people should change their ways to suit me. If I didn't like it, I wouldn't come back.

I got back on Tuesday, having spent nearly 3 weeks in South Africa following the Lions. Notwithstanding the series loss, I have to say that it was some of the best rugby I have seen in years (especially the 2nd test) and an absolute privilege to be there.

One has to wonder, however, how good would the Boks be with a good manager?

My wife is a hypnotherapist and has had many successes with people giving up smoking. The only hypno we know of on the island is Lisa Ryder in Bang Tao/Surin.

So that would be your wife, right?

No. We are in London at present and my wife isn't insured to practice abroad.

On the rare occasions I've been into such bars, I negotiate the beer price at the door, before setting foot inside. If it's reasonable, I go in. If not, I don't. I've never yet had anyone go back on their word or try to increase the agreed price.

My wife is a hypnotherapist and has had many successes with people giving up smoking. The only hypno we know of on the island is Lisa Ryder in Bang Tao/Surin.

I get over on 25th, accompanied by lovely wife, 2 sons and son's friend, so I shall miss this. I would, however, be keen to meet up with members again as we did a couple of years ago. To that end, I'll post nearer the time and just say that we'll be in such and such a bar on such and such a day, and if anyone fancies a beer, see you there. If not, no probs.

Have a great time and see you soon.

You've missed the boat! Imagine my delight and surprise when my emails this morning held not one, nor even two, but THREE - YES, THREE - messages telling me that I have got through to the last stages of a competition I never realised I'd entered in the first place, and have won £100,000.

Added to the $10m I inherited last month from a Nigerian uncle I never even relaised I had, and I'M MADE!!!!

Ha ha, so long suckers!!!!!

For anyone who either has a home elsewhere in the world or knows someone elsewhere with good tv, might I suggest Slingbox and Slingcatcher? The manufacturers are Slingmedia and they obviously have a website. The simple idea is that the Slingbox is attached to the tv (including satellite, cable, dvd or whatever) and sends the signal by internet to the Slingcatcher, which is attached to your tv (you can also send it to your pc without the need for a Slingcatcher).

It seems to work ok with sky tv from the UK and removes the need for UBC etc. No costs after purchase, which is about £400 for the whole kit and caboodle. Personally, it suits because the effects of the credit crunch mean that I can spend only about 1 month in 3 in LOS and the rest in the UK, and I can't do without good rugby coverage.

The thing that nearly caused me a problem was the exchange rate. When I first started coming to Phuket the baht/sterling rate was around 75. When I finally decided to buy and signed contracts, it was 68. When it came time to part with my hard-earned cash, it was 63 and I only just managed to raise the cash (no mortgage, through choice and the fact that I have neither a Thai company not Thai wife.) Now it's 52 and I wouldn't have a snowball's chance if I were buying now.

I know next to nothing about the overall Phuket property market, price cuts etc, but perhaps the thing to look at is the exchange rate. I believe the baht tends to follow the dollar.

They should all be thrown on a boat and sent to live on the other side of the wor... Oh, sorry, apparently that's been tried already

That was the Brits, stupid!

... and we've still got plenty. If you are running out, I'll crate up a few thousand £10 poms and send them over.

And I agree with 1927's post - cheap long haul flights from the UK would be an absolute nightmare for anyone looking to have a decent family holiday in Phuket. We've ruined much of Western Europe and are making real inroads into Eastern Europe.

I'm told that many British tourists in Pattaya are similar. I've never been and I'm not sure I want to.

But what about "The Magnet"?

and in comparison the gazette is the gold standard of independent journalism

I don't know about that, I'm just commenting on the Daily Mirror.