xylophone

I came across a movie I'd never heard of before, starring Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker, called "City of Lies" so I decided to download it. Based on a true story and IMO it was good, although I don't think that the IMDb rating was particularly high.

So the Pope goes to Canada to apologise! To apologise for the fact that the Catholic Church has been a haven for paedophiles/sex offenders and whatever else fits that category for centuries, and nothing has been done about it. But to apologise for what has been found out as regards the treatment of children in schools in Canada, so I find it hypocritical that someone who by his very position, defends the fact that the Catholic Church is riddled with corruption of all sorts, when it goes to great lengths to hide and cover up the evil practices which have gone on in that place for centuries – – evil in itself. Even as far back as the 16th century, the Catholic Church was known for its paedophilia and similar practices, and yet now many centuries later it still prevails. Fast forward to the turn of this century when the Boston Globe investigated the very same thing in its local catholic churches and found a history of cover-up and denial, whereby offenders were moved to other areas so that they could be hidden and start their evil ways again. Rotten to the core, and an apology from an overfed/corpulent Pope will do nothing to change the ways of this evil institution.

I should have looked again at my post, because thinking that the government might do something which would not only help the farmers, but would help the air quality, reduce allergies amongst the people and also improve their health, as well as helping the climate – – silly me.

There has to be a better way of getting rid of the rice stubble, or whatever it is and I'm surprised that the government hasn't come to the aid of the farmers with some sort of rotary ploughing machine which rips the stuff up and buries it in the ground. There is no place in the world for this massive burning which takes place, and really no excuse for it given that we are in 2022 and we are well aware of the problems with climate change and similar, not to mention the health problems that come with the smoke.

Pic of me (front right facing) on the NZ grade 5 around the early nineties!!

Yes it can be, and I have done a few white water rafting trips in NZ, mostly on the lower ranked runs, however I did try a level 5 and nearly died!!! Although I was fully kitted up, the rafter leader said that we were going over a couple of high rocks and would drop down with the water, and there was a 50% chance the raft would overturn (or thereabouts), and it did, and in the struggle to get out from under the raft and find some air, I was pushed over to the far side of this particular stretch, which had a sort of cliff face, under which the water was gushing, and it was gushing. They'd had some problems there in the past so hanging from this rockface were a couple of ropes with knots in, on which to hang, so I grabbed hold of one and hung on for dear life, all the while with the current pushing me against the rock and underneath it, which terrified me. A couple of guys managed to throw a rope to me which was supported by miniature buoys, and it drifted my way and I gladly grabbed hold of it, and was pulled to the other side of the river. I was exhausted and needed some time to get my breath back before we set off again. I learned later on in the day that this was the most dangerous part of the river and just a couple of months previous to that a young man had died when the raft went over in exactly the same place, however he didn't surface, and he was later found (obviously dead) under the water with his foot wedged between a couple of rocks, so even the small lifejacket didn't help. Moral of the story: – great to experience this on some of the lower ranked rivers, however if you get up to the number five river, then be prepared for some danger.

Well we're going to have to disagree aren't we, because although the cast may have been good, the acting wasn't, nor was the plot, nor IMO the movie, hence my comment. As regards your next comment, well I like to know what I'm supposed to be watching and knowing what type of movie it is, makes it more enjoyable for me......give me an action movie so that I can enjoy and appreciate the action, give me a comedy so that I can enjoy the comedy, but don't present a childlike mishmash of a movie with comic-like scenes when it is supposed to be an action thriller and expect me to like it.

Not at all, and it seems you've missed my point, because if I was watching a comedy and knew it was supposed to be a comedy then I'm sure I would enjoy it, however if I was watching what is supposed to be a CIA/spy movie, but it is nothing more than a CGI/Marvel rubbish nonsense juvenile flick, with very little going for it, then that's the difference. The skill of the moviemaker, the actors, and the subject makes it for me, and this one just didn't cut the mustard, whatever it was supposed to be!

I don't know Giddyup as have never watched movies like that as I don't like them. For me, I either watch something which is pure fantasy, and know it to be that, like "Lord of the rings" for example, or straightforward movies with plots etc and those with a believable storyline and action. For that reason I don't watch the likes of Spider-Man/Marvel movies/similar, however give me a good movie like "Bridge of Spies" or "The Shawshank Redemption and "Castaway" and I'll be happy!!

IMO, this movie was an absolute pile of cr@p with a totally improbable storyline, which almost makes it a fairy story with the amount of ridiculous action scenes. Furthermore after watching it through to the very end, I still don't understand it, and for many it seems that it was just a nonsense. Whatever it was supposed to be, it comes nowhere near the good CIA/Black Ops/spy movies of the past, those without all of the totally unrealistic "action" scenes. It should have been labelled a comic – strip movie.

Yes I can also highly recommend this Dr, and although he didn't cure my problem, he did all the tests to ascertain exactly what the problem was, which no one else had been able to do up until that point. Nice clean hospital with good, friendly and attentive staff, and Dr Charuspong is a caring individual and speaks very good English.

My mistake Giddyup, as I thought it was a series, but am pleased that it's not, because I rather prefer a movie where I can remember everything that has gone on previously, whereas with a series it's not so easy.......

Same here, and I wasn't expecting much of it, however I did enjoy it which was a nice surprise – – aiming to watch the first episode of "Grey Man" tonight, although some feedback has been mixed..............

I noticed in another thread that it was said, "Phuket is being boosted by Indian/Arab visitors" or words to that effect, and although I haven't been out to Bangla/night-time for two weeks because of this damned sinus infection, a friend went out a couple of days ago as he had been away for two months, and remarked how many Indian and Arab folks were around the place. He said there were quite a few small groups walking up and down Bangla, but none in the bars, which has been fairly commonplace over the years, and it got me thinking that although visitor numbers from those countries are up, I don't think spend will see the same incremental increase. A while back I was thinking that Patong in particular was on the up and up, however I don't think that is the case at the moment, judging from the feedback I've had from a few small businesses I know of. One lady massage parlour owner is into some pretty big debts to the local "moneylenders" and has fled her shop and is hiding out somewhere, whereas another delightful lady I know who owns two such shops is struggling big time with just about no business to speak of. A small bona fide massage parlour near me has been closed now for about a month and I've no idea why, however couple of small bars nearby have also been closed for a while, one of them which has seen several reincarnations, all unsuccessful. In addition, the Italian restaurant nearby has been closed for a while, although a sign on it said that it was closed for the holidays?? Having said that, the furniture appears to have all been moved out as have some of the fixtures and fittings? Also I have noticed that the number of shoppers in Big C has dropped from what it was even a couple of months ago, so all round I don't think the uptick which I had written about previously, is being sustained, despite the TAT "positive spin". Although one has to remember that it is the "low season" so millions of visitors and billions of baht are not the normal expectation for this time of the year. However one high note for those people who love kebabs and similar, is the fact that my friend was very surprised by the number of kebab shops, not to mention those of Indian/Arabic origin, that have opened up in Soi Sansabi and I do believe there was mention of it by another poster, Patong2, who visited the newly opened Arabic restaurant on the corner of that road and Rat-u-thid. I am keen to get out again and sample the food at Blue Beach Bar and Restaurant, and have a nosy around Bangla, so I'll give it a few more days to make sure this damned sinusitis/allergy/whatever has cleared before doing so.

It was mentioned in a follow up article that he had skin cancer.......not serious as a rule and very commonplace, in sunny climes.

I wasn't suggesting that you missed anything, just pointing out that once the word "serious" was added before the word "Covid", then that would have been factual. He is prone to the occasional verbal gaffe, but IMO because of age rather than purposely lying or being dumb, as per his predecessor.

I concur with your sentiments, however reading about his malaise really has brought it home to me that at 79 years old, he is not a sharp and steady man (with respect). Despite a few comments to the contrary, I believe he's a good president, however at his age, and he certainly shows it in many ways, is he really the president the US needs at the moment, especially after the last clown in office. I wish him a speedy recovery, and I also hope that the US can line up a few good strong Democrats in the coming local elections and for the future presidential race.

I can sort of sympathise with you, although I am not desperate to stay in Thailand, however similar to you, it offers me the best lifestyle I could imagine on my pension and assets, certainly more then it would in NZ or Oz (I have relatives there). Again, like you I do feel comfortable here and knowing everything around me in Patong, does give me a sense of comfort as I tend to be a creature of habit these days. Like you have said I could probably live somewhere else, but at the age of 75 this year, would I really want to? And just to add something to that, I have been "under the weather" with a bad sinus problem and I went out yesterday for the first time for a while to get a manicure and pedicure in my local shop, mainly to give them some income rather than anything else, and the lady owner, said that if I wanted anything I could telephone her and she would get one of her girls to go to the shops to get it for me.......likewise the same from my friends girlfriend, so not sure that I would get the same sort of support elsewhere.

Interesting point you make, because one definition of religion is: – "the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods". So it could be argued that those who worshipped the likes of Thor and Odin were also religious in their own ways, and this idea of religion became hijacked and made into powerful and money spinning business by the appointing of a "one and only God" to be worshipped. A great business model was introduced and many "organisations" have made fortunes out of it.

The heading is: "You still think you can live on less than 50k a month?"............ Well to be honest, I never thought that I could!! I budgeted for twice that amount before I moved here, and I am there or thereabout at the moment, and would be well under if not for the price of my red wine. I don't eat out much, as I enjoy cooking at home, and I do cook some Thai food as well as Indian, French and Italian, so my cooking "skills" (and I use the word skills lightly) suit my needs, with the occasional meal out at a friends restaurant. When I read forums like this I really do wonder how people manage, and good on them if they can, but not for me I'm afraid.

I don't have a UK bank account, as I left the UK in 1984 and of course I don't have a place of domicile there either, so that option is not open to me.

I'm definitely going to have to look into this again, and maybe the fact that your pension money is paid into Citibank Ireland is the difference, because thinking back I do believe that Citibank UK handle my pension transfer to Bangkok Bank, and charge £20 – – going to have to explore this, and thanks for your input, and I will let you know the outcome.

For what it's worth, I thought the same about the Siam Reap!

Oh well, it looks like I'll have to explore this avenue again, although last time it was tedious, but I'm pretty sure I pay £20 a month for every transfer and I'm not sure whether it is converted to baht in the UK, or when it gets to the bank here! There was a mixup in the early stages, and that set the scene for lots of telephone calls and emails, so perhaps I'd better revisit that scenario again.

That's an option I would love to explore, so is there anything I should know about it, because the options I explored all included a fee charged either by the Bangkok Bank UK, or Citibank (who do the transfer apparently) or indeed the bank here in Thailand.