xylophone

I'm just getting used to the second-hand Apple iPhone SE which I bought a couple of years ago (although I think it is a 2015 model) and people keep saying that I should get LINE, however I don't think this model has the capabilities to make it work if I read your post correctly??? However I'm not unduly worried because this thing has a mind of its own and one incorrect touch on the screen can send me anywhere into the bowels of it, without really knowing where I am, so I'm thinking of switching back to my old Nokia flip phone, which has served me well for years and is a delightful little tool. That is apart from the camera which is very poor indeed, but then again I've never really needed it. I only ever use it for its telephone and messages and nothing else, so the Nokia fits the bill..........and no bloatware!!!!!

Not dissimilar to my thoughts on this CharlieH, although I would move on when I got used to somebody and when the "magic" disappeared, I would prefer to be alone. Quite a few years ago now when I first came here I calculated that I've had over 350 girlfriends in the UK and NZ, and although I was married for under three years, I was probably only in love for the first few months, and the rest of it was misery. I did have a "steady girlfriend" in NZ and my idea of bliss was that we would meet up two or three times a week for a night on the town, or a dinner party at my house, or an outing with friends, and that was all I needed from a relationship, and she was happy with that as well, being an independent person. Independence has been by "watchword" for the best part of my life and although I was in a relationship here for five years, and that was the longest one I've ever been in, that had faded two years in and it just dragged on after that. I often look back upon my life and at all of the girlfriends I've had and how many of them have been for only a few months at a time, and I wondered why I was like that, because I really don't need a steady girlfriend or wife, and now that I've moved to Thailand, there's even less reason to have one. I remember hearing these words from a George Benson song and thought how I related to it............. I decided long ago Never to walk in anyone's shadows If I fail, if I succeed At least I'll live as I believe No matter what they take from me They can't take away my dignity Because the greatest love of all Is happening to me I found the greatest love of all Inside of me The greatest love of all Is easy to achieve Learning to love yourself It is the greatest love of all

People eating same foods every week I have been told by many friends that their fathers would eat just about the same meal every evening for most of their lives, because they liked it. Others allocate meals to particular days of the week and do it for most of their lives. When I was a boy, we had no choice about what we ate, if it was cheap and available, then we ate it, even if we had to eat it day after day. I drink red wine every day and have done for most of my life, and I'm not about to change now.

I'll send you the phone number of a girl I know as she seems to fit the bill!

And he'll show that he has no intention of and cannot engage in logical respectful civil discussion and debate. Agree with that comment and even though someone with an an average amount of intelligence could do that, this person doesn't have the capability to get anywhere near "average".

I find it quite amazing that you believe the investigation into the January 6 events would be forced to close if the Republican party wins back control of the House and Senate. So what you are really saying is that it is okay in America, and for the Republicans, for an insurrection/takeover/storming of Capitol Hill in order to overturn a democratic election, decided by the people of America, with damage being done and people being killed, to achieve their desired outcome – – it is beyond belief that anyone could write this, let alone believe it. Do you realise what you are saying?? Absolutely unbelievable, that you could believe an insurrection which threatened the very foundations of US democracy, could be brushed aside without any ramifications whatsoever – – whatever next.

Would have to be a trump supporter with a meaningless sentence like that.......so who is defiant, and about what??

They were wearing T shirts with "I love Putin" on them. I think that was a give-away!!!!!!! But just my opinion......????

Blue Beach Cafe and Restaurant..........If one were to go to the bottom of Bangla where the beach is, then turn right for about 50 m, there is an alleyway down to the beach and the restaurant is at the end of that alleyway, actually on the beach – – and for further directions, it is almost opposite Savoey restaurant. The sign is above the alleyway entrance, and there is a massage place there, mostly staffed by ladyboys I think????? Would be interested to know what your friend thinks of it HP.

Most were late twenties early thirties with a few slightly older ones who looked quite wealthy by their attire. I did see some younger guys in Patong who I would say would be mid twenties, and were in very good shape, so didn't really want to be in the "firing line" (sorry about the pun) for the compulsory call-up.

And I have a good idea where they are, having just returned from a trip to Villa Market in Chalong, where I would estimate that 70% of the customers were Russian! I stopped off at Big C (Patong) on the way back and sure enough the Russian contingent is growing there too.........

I do recall about 10 or 11 years ago that we had a flash flood here in Patong which was horrendous, and the water cascaded down from the "new middle road" and its environs into Rat-u-Thid road, and carried me and my car with it, actually lifting it off the ground with the volume and sheer force of it! I ended up desperately trying to steer the car at any time when the tyres touched the road, which was very infrequent I have to say, and it was quite an unnerving feeling being carried along and having no control whatsoever over the car or where I was going!!

Looks like it will be added to this impressive list of trump failures:- Trump’s failed businesses: 1. Trump Steaks 2. GoTrump 3. Trump Airlines 4. Trump Vodka 5. Trump Mortgage 6. Trump: The Game 7. Trump Magazine 8. Trump University 9. Trump Ice 10. The New Jersey Generals 11. Tour de Trump 12. Trump Network 13. Trumped! Trump companies that sought bankruptcy protection: 1. Trump Taj Mahal 2. Trump’s Castle 3. Trump Plaza Casinos 4. Trump Plaza Hotel 5. Trump Hotels and Casinos Resorts 6. Trump Entertainment Resorts Can't wait..............!!!!????

Certainly would by the way it looks!!!!!!

I'd be happy with that Adrian................seems about right.

@adrianc I have just spoken to a friend of mine who owns a motorbike rental business, and he says that it is written into the rental contract, that the renter is responsible for any damage which occurs during the duration of the rental – – in other words the renter is charged for any damage, which includes flood damage. On the bright side, he said that the bikes are rarely "written off" due to flood damage, and although some electrical parts may need to be replaced (LED lights etc), the rest is all about cleaning, removing any mud/sludge/sand and completely drying it out. So you might not be up for a lot of money, perhaps just a few thousand baht??

I have to say that I do like real massage, not particularly the traditional Thai type, but a relaxing one without all of the pressure from elbows etc, this especially as I seem unable to sleep on many occasions, and I can certainly nod off for 30 to 60 minutes when having one of these. Luckily enough here in Patong I have located a couple of great massage places, with fully trained staff, certificates etc displayed and no funny business involved at all, so they are my main ports of call when I feel I need to go (been going to them for more than 10 years now), either because of lack of sleep, or as a result of the many football injuries I've incurred over the years in my youth, giving me some grief.

Not a night to venture out old chap, esp as have got a bad sinus infection, but no doubt all of the sights, sounds and peculiarities of Bangla will be on show next weekend!! PS. Apart from the ladyboy sleeping in the lobby of your building, but then again..........

And I'm afraid it's not going to get any better with the Muppet Charles now as king, with his wife shortly to receive the official title of Queen Camilla. Queen Elizabeth the second was a great Queen and I don't know anyone who didn't look up to her, but "sausage fingers" Charles is a bit of a dork whose main aim in life at one time was to become a tampon so that he could be "very close" to Camilla. Then of course we had the tantrums when he was signing some documents very recently, and the pen didn't seem to be functioning properly, and I had to smile when I saw this newspaper clipping about the incident: – "King Charles' pen tantrums expose him as an overindulged man-child....... There is no escaping that the new King is a man who has been waited on hand and foot his entire life. But a new video showing the King having – another – tantrum while on the job raises the question, is he something of an overindulged man-child? Spot on!

what is needed is to address the wrongs which took place on January 6, a very serious event/events which threatened to overthrow a government elected by the people. You mentioned "the fathers brought a vision for America and Americans", but what you fail to realise was that this vision of a democratic country ruled by democratic principles was almost undone on January 6 by the action of a gang of mindless morons, led by an even more mindless leader, who stormed Capitol Hill and tried to overturn the basics of what America was built on. Now stop ranting on and deflecting from other posts, and try to see reason, and the first action to enable you to do that is to take down all of your MAGA posters, your trump pictures and posters, and perhaps throw the Kool-Aid down the sink and try to climb back out of the rabbit hole by not listening to any right-wing propaganda. But then again, there is more chance that "pigs will fly" than you being able to see reason.

I implore AN posters to read trump's response in the Washington Examiner to see just what mental condition the former president has sunk to – – – good grief, just what will it take for trump's followers to accept that there is absolutely no evidence/nothing proven with regards to the election being rigged and/or stolen; AND this has been proven time and time again. I think the former president is deranged, and this has been a steady downward trend for the last few years. There is only one solution, and one which he would be very familiar with: – "lock him up". Stop wasting time and put him behind bars

On the positive side of things, at least we created a hatful of chances, but average finishing and a superb display by their goalkeeper kept us at bay. I'd be more worried if we weren't creating the chances in the first place!

You may also wish to view posts on Rezum by @GarryP as he underwent that treatment not too long ago.....may help with a different perspective.

Which reminds me that I'm due a visit!!!!

The latest from MedScape on Multivitamins............ Unexpected results from a phase 3 trial exploring the effect of multivitamins and cognition have now been published. Findings from a phase 3 study show daily multivitamin use, but not cocoa, is linked to a significantly slower rate of age-related cognitive decline. Originally presented last November at the 14th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) conference and reported by Medscape Medical News at that time, this is the first large-scale, long-term randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of cocoa extract and multivitamins on global cognition. The trial's primary focus was on cocoa extract, which earlier studies suggest may preserve cognitive function. Analyzing the effect of multivitamins was a secondary outcome. Showing vitamins, but not cocoa, was beneficial is the exact opposite of what researchers expected. Still, the results offer an interesting new direction for future study, lead investigator Laura D. Baker, PhD, professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, told Medscape Medical News. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/980785?src=wnl_tp10n_221013_mscpedit&uac=241165CN&impID=4742695#vp_1