crumpled

You will notice, if you drive around Thailand long enough, that the police rarely stop a speeding mini-bus. A lot of the companies pay into a fund to stop this happening.

I often drove the g/f pick-up from Nakhonsawan to Cambodia through speed traps with many a mini-bus doing 110 KPH or more (in a 90 zone) not being stopped, but the cars were. I cannot see speed cameras being an option as that has a great possibility of decreasing the funds the BiB receive.

There are already speed cameras in operation in certain areas of BKK. I was stopped in the early hours on a quiet stretch of motorway, showed the photo and speed. I paid the fine and was on my way.

Whenever the then g/f received a speeding ticket - from the BiB hidden somewhere along the roadside with a speed camera - she would get in touch with the police and tell them she had no money to pay. She never heard back demanding payment.

I am not sure speed cameras are the way forward, to be honest.

Forethat - Post 75.

What on earth has a high school degree got to do with parenting and rearing children? Do you seriously think that people without this level of education cannot rear children correctly?

Actually, parenting styles varies and is very much dependent on the parents education. This is also directly linked to the child's performance and behavioural specifics.

Statistically, there's a lot to be learned from this. I am not saying that it is right or that it applies to ALL parents, but statistically speaking the lower the parents education the worse the parent. There are of course other factors, for instance environmental differences that contribute to the complex factors that must be weighed in to the equation when deciding parental performance and success rate.

Personally, I want to believe that a single mom with no education and a low paid job living in a neighbourhood filled with the problems that usually exist in that environment is faced with a job ten times harder than a rich family while at the same time working harder to ensure intellectual development, a view that is also supported by research: (Kathryn Drummond and Deborah Stipek (2004)), so the comparison wobbles, but statistics doesn't lie when it comes to the number of young people roaming the streets of a poor neighbourhood (Ermish 2001) and (Yaqub, 2002). There is also a LOT of research on educational qualification and similar comparisons between low educated parents and their academically experienced counterparts. The statistics doesn't lie. Sorry to be the one to break the news.

You should look it up. Here's a start:

parenting-poverty.pdf

The vast and amount of dysfunctional children raised by wealthy, educated parents that are into drugs, terrorism, murder and numerous other dysfunctional ways tells me that education and wealth have nothing to do with being a parent. There are many drunken, even alcoholic, rich parents. Voilent ones too.

Does being rich and educated stop you from raising a rapist, child molester or a murderer? I doubt it very much.

Parenting is not something you can teach people in a classroom. You can offer guidance and assistance to those parents with wayward children. You can advise on pitfalls. But every child is different.

These children are not robots that come off an assembly line pre-programmed. They are affected by many stimuli both inside and outside the home. They are affected by peer pressure and numerous problems as they grow up. They also have their own set of genes that also help to dictate what sort of person they grow up to be.

Many great and ordinary people in this world have been raised by parents or a parent from a poor backgound who have had nothing more than a basic school education.

Parents can guide, advise and do their best in raising a child but the child has to want to follow those guidlines.

Your final throw is that statistics do not lie. Since when do statistics not lie? Statistics are there to be manipulated by whoever wants to turn them to their advantage or to the disadvantage of others.

Forethat - Post 75.

What on earth has a high school degree got to do with parenting and rearing children? Do you seriously think that people without this level of education cannot rear children correctly?

A 500 Baht fine is too little. Jail time should be the exmple set here for such a vicious attack on a 70 year old man.

IF this guy is not guilty, having his name and phot splattered all over the internet is really bad news.

On the other hand if he is guilty as charged at least everyone will know who he is.

Guilty? He deserves everything he get in the way of punishment.

It is a normal bus, not a minibus. Luggage is placed on the floor of the bus, not down to the hold (which I guess does not exist), but there is plenty of space.

The one I mean is a mini-bus. The same one that Theo007 is thinking about. Leaves from the food hall. I have never used it with a large suitcase before, hence the question.

Usually for a very large luggage with all mini vans (a less confusing word to use than mini bus which can be a small bus) you have to pay for a seat for your luggage if there is insufficient space.

However, my query is why would be taking a mini van between both airports rather than the free shuttle bus which has ample space and takes arouns the same amount of time journey wise???

I really can't see the advantage at all of a mini van in your situation.

I was not even aware there was a shuttle bus. Do you have any details on that, please? Frequency, where from, how much?

Never even seen her with a lottery ticket.

Cadburys Creme eggs are great from the fridge. Harder to lick out. From the freezer they can be a tooth breaker. Brought to mind by Cadburys Screme eggs on sale for Halloween. Whoooooo!!!!

edit cannot spell fridge first time round.

It is a normal bus, not a minibus. Luggage is placed on the floor of the bus, not down to the hold (which I guess does not exist), but there is plenty of space.

The one I mean is a mini-bus. The same one that Theo007 is thinking about. Leaves from the food hall. I have never used it with a large suitcase before, hence the question.

Yes, I have twice taken a large suitcase on that bus and the staff carried it for me.

Thanks

I was debating a flight to Khon Kaen or Roi Et. Roi Et being 80kms nearer the village than Khon Kaen it is easier for the family to come and pick me up.

A regular occurrence in villages I have been to. No father on the scene and mother comes home to visit once a month from Bangkok or Pattaya or wherever she is working. Many feel it is better to send money for the family than to be there to raise the children themselves. That does not mean the parents do not miss seeing their children.

How about a channel from the goverment on car and m/c driving safety issues. I will always remember a UK car safety ad about using your mirrors to see what is behind you. It was an elephant in the rearview mirror.

The Thai government could have it's own horror show showing brains and bits of bodies splattered over the road. Thai people seem to love, blood, guts and horror. Think of the revenue the government could rake in from whisky and beer advertisers on a channel like this

Nope. 80 is not a cup size..sorry

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

cup size is ALWAYS a letter. Globally.

http://coopco.com.au/coopco_bra_sizing.php

Not globally.

I finally cracked it after deciding I was getting nowhere with it. Often the case when you are about ready to give up.

The sizes are Chinese

I gather the Philipines use this measurement too.

If you look at the labels in the attached pictures you can see that the first is a 36/80 and the second is a 38/85 the second number being the cup size. Further investigation gives the information that 36/80 = 36 C (although, I have to agree that, that does not necessarily match every C cup size and that not all women are the same).

I also have to admit I would have agreed with you had I not known differently after shopping with the g/f so many times and hearing many complaints about her not being able to find her size.

But if you ladies ever go to the Thai markets you will see most bra sizes are listed with numbers XX/YY and not letters.

Thai bras are made for Thai bodies. Chest size and shape is different, but am rather surprised your girlfriend doesn't know her own cup size. Its rather key to purchasing any bra.

Out of the 36/80. The 80 is the cup size and 36 being the inches which is why I stated 36/80 as opposed to 36/A,B,C. In the same way she tells me she is a 36/80. Maybe she has never even seen an A,B or C cup.

I remember a long time ago going out with a lady who was a 34/50. And 50 being the cup size.

Maybe it is a Thai thing, or the way the sizes are at the market stalls in the small town near her village. Same with the market stalls in Pattaya and true of the big market on Soi Boukhao (sp)., when we used to go shopping there.

I've got the ultimate of luxuries an electric blanket! Looked all over for one here but couldn't find one to buy, eventually had to get a friend bring me one from New Zealand. I read yesterday that it is estimated that 25,000 people, mostly elderly, will die of hypothermia this UK winter because they cannot afford to heat their homes. I wonder what the figure will be in rural Thailand. Impossible to estimate I would say.

I remember a big spread in the BKK Post about this about 10 years ago. It was all about desperate pensioner poverty in the UK, poor housing conditions and fuel costs and how an estimate XX,000 people would die this winter because of it.

And with the recent rises of 10% on gas and electric here in the UK., a lot more people will die this winter. If they heat their homes they will be warm and die of starvation. Alternatively, eat and freeze.

Are they giving out free blankets in Issan again this winter? I recall a lot of older people inThailand do die from the cold weather.

I have fond memories of life in the village, sat round a blazing fire outside and drinking a beer or three.

No shops in the UK refrigerate eggs. There is no reason to. I see no reason to do so in Thailand either. It's not as if they are going to hatch if outside of a refrigerator.

That would give some a stiff upper lip.

Will they give her, her dark skin back for any Vogue editions in Chiang Mai / Issan?

This skin colour alteration is ridiculous IMHO. It shows the workd what a sad, pathetic bunch of people there can be in places like BKK.

I cannot, for the life of me see how they would get one 5m high chinese of any calibre

19 degrees, that would be heavenly at the moment compared to chilly England where I have the cental heating set to a pleasant 24 deg. Snuggled beneath my quilt at night, all alone

Roll on December and I am back in Issan away from the cold.

I have to admit the family in Issan are now enjoying the benefits of a hot shower on a morning since I bought them an electric shower earlier this year. Blankets might also be a good investment, though I can picture everyone sleeping in the g/f bed because she has a quilt and they do not. Good job it is king sized

Don't leave your brain at the airport. Don't start ringing bar bells in Pattaya or anywhere else for that matter. Ringing that bell can cost you a lot of Baht, especially as you will be buying for everyone and the bar girls will make sure you pay BG prices for all their drinks.

What the h_ll. Go, have fun

I am wanting to fly on to Roi ET after arriving at swampy. I have used the mini-bus downstairs before to get to Don Meuang, but not for baggage. Does anyone know if they will accept a large suitcase as well as hand luggage?

Thanks.

Sex, drugs, prostitution, burglary and all manner of other problems can easily occurr with a child of 14 out until 02-00 hrs. She needed stopping. As it is, the end result is what counts. One persons way of dealing with things is not the same as anothers. In the same way, each child will react differently to different forms of discipline. Your way worked, OP. I am pleased about that.

For anyone who says that a good parent should know where their children are all the time is very misguided in my opinion. Children tell lies and unless you are actually with them, you cannot know where they are and what they are doing. That is life.

That is nearly as much as my outstanding mortgage !!

Credit cards are only good for those who understand them and if you have had debt for a long time like that and only able to pay the minimum each month, you should have cut them up earlier IMHO.

I have one credit card it is 0 balance. Used in Thailand for 0% transfers, booking flights and similar. Long may it stay that way and also means I have emergency funds if and when I need them.