xylophone

A good ol song from Kiwi Shona Laing!

Talking of bloated politicians..................

Thanks for understanding my point of view, but "cos I can't see it it don't exist" isn't what I was saying, because I can't see electricity but I know it exists. Another poster was saying about how many billions of people in the world today believe in the afterlife/reincarnation, so if you take that over the many centuries we have been here, there would be trillions upon trillions of people who believe in this stuff, going back to the ancient Egyptians and beyond, yet not one of these trillions of people have been able to give us any proof.

I don't see many posts talking about a "universal fear that something may happen after our bodies go kaput" – – that's just your take on what you would like to believe. A bit like trying to have a discussion about how many fairies can fit on a pinhead....

Possible Doctor, now where's Mr Anderson?

That "sixth sense" is obviously that of a conman.

My birth was something which was seen and witnessed and actually took place, hence here I am, so not a fairytale, just an actual event. If the same could be said for "reincarnation" then I might just become a believer, as "The Monkees" sang. And as for our origins, well I'll leave that up to others to discuss on another thread perhaps?

Well I'll grant you that atheism is also a belief system, and one of course that I believe in. Whilst I can't help the fact that there are a lot of people out there (4 billion you say) who believe in reincarnation, much as the ancient Egyptians did, which is why they buried various artefacts with their dead, in order to help them in their "Afterlife", I'm a great believer in facts and when someone can prove that there is an afterlife, or come back from the dead, then maybe I'll change my stance. Despite what you think I'm not closed minded and I'm always open to discussion on subjects which can be proven, one way or another, not "fairytales" which have no basis in reality, just in someone's mind. Thank you for your advice about "try to look at what it is in fact that you are scared of when looking at afterlife", but I will forego that advice, because I'm not scared of dying (or the supposed afterlife) and I certainly know that I won't be back after that, or in fact living high and wide in my afterlife! Your responses remind me very much of the few times that I have been accosted by Mormons over the years, and I remember saying to a couple of them after they had said, "have you found Jesus"?, To which I replied, "I didn't know he was missing". Which didn't go down too well.

I don't really see that it will make any difference, but I don't really have a belief system, inasmuch as I am an atheist to all intents and purposes, and don't believe in an afterlife or any other such claptrap – – when you die, you decompose and no longer exist, simple as that. Although, religions, charlatans, hustlers and cults have made a lot of money out of getting people to believe otherwise. There you go........

Belief systems of some folk!!

Thanks to you I managed to watch the Rolf Harris doco via my Nord VPN and found it interesting, though not riveting (don't ask me why). It appears the main accuser was his daughter's best friend, and although there were other accusations of groping and the like, that was the most serious. It was suggested that he was a paedophile, but he had a liking for females in general, and also for groping them one way and another – – a creepy man, a pervert and a paedophile and I just can't understand how someone like that can get away with it for so long, especially when there were rumours circulating in the entertainment industry about his unsavoury behaviours.

It's a confusing picture according to the latest reports I've read, because the dam was built in the 1950s and there have been recent reports that it was in a "dangerous condition". In addition, water would readily flow over the dam when the reservoir was full, which wouldn't help the structural side of things one iota, and coupled with the fact that a while ago the reservoir was very low, so damage could also have occurred then. Meanwhile the blame game goes on...........

I bet you believe in Father Christmas too. Lol!!

Don't hold back......speak your mind!!! Lol

Didn't realise that that he died here, so just looked it up.........thanks.

I think I met one in Patong once, but then again.....................

Ah so, Grasshopper................

That applies to both me and Bangla, just to avoid any confusion!!

I wonder if it will be as successful as the Catholic Church hiding the information on their paedophile priests, because more and more of them are being found out!

An interesting night out, and info about bars and café's to follow........ I met some friends for dinner in "Blue Beach Café and Restaurant", and it was fairly full, and as always, the hosts were looking after the diners and of course the food was good as it always is. There was a duo playing some music, with one of the guys singing, and the owner of one of the large Sois was also in the restaurant and encouraged me to get up and sing a song, which I did, three or four in fact, which went down well. I was then told that there was a "Princess" (Royal family) dining and that she wanted to get up and sing, which surprised everybody because Thai royalty (she is the daughter of the King's sister) just don't do that sort of thing, but she did, and she was good, as was her English. So I walked across to congratulate her and the staff were incredulous that I was approaching her, because apparently it's just not a done thing here, and whilst there I asked if she would like to join me in a duet, singing Tina Turner's song, "simply the best", but she declined because she said she didn't know the song and paid me a compliment on my singing, so I reciprocated with hers and we did a sort of low high-five, which again left the staff with sagging jaws. I have to say despite all of the misgivings of the staff, this lady was just like an every day Thai and was polite with it, and it was a pleasure meeting her. Up to Bangla after that and a few drinks at the "Black Horse" before my friends decided to make an early exit and leave for home, so I trotted across to the new "Smiley Bar" to talk to the owner/manager, as I've known her for years (the wife of Shaun) and also chatted to a very attractive, almost stunning girl I have seen there a few times, and she spoke very good English and was well educated, so we got chatting and I decided to delve into the reasons she worked in the bar. What was surprising was that she said she would not be bar-fined and earned her money from commission on the drinks, and I believed her because she was a very sincere young woman (actually 30 years old although she looked more like 23). So I asked a very cheeky question along the lines of, "what are you going to do with your life", and the answer was surprising in a way, but then again? She said the main aim at the moment was to earn money to send to her parents, which many Thai girls do, but in the meantime she wanted to find a man who she could love, and who would love her in return and....... get this, was rich! Of course I asked why she hadn't found this already being that she was so attractive (and intelligent) and she said that she had a couple of farang boyfriends, but they were only interested in "short time liaisons" and were only after sex, and love didn't seem to count in the relationship, leaving her despondent. An interesting take and I'm not a gullible person, so I believed her and after a few more interesting topics, I decided to wend my way home. I was tempted to pop into "Red Hot", but I had a fair amount of wine and a couple of rums, but wasn't sure about that until I got to the place and it wasn't that crowded, probably about 40% full, and the band has changed, so I made my mind up not to go in and sought out my usual motorbike taxi driver to take me home. All in all an interesting night. Now for the other topic I mentioned earlier on – – whatever is happening to the previous Italian restaurant, "Loft" has quietened down, although I did spy a large pizza oven being installed, so one can only assume that the previous failed Italian restaurant is going to be............yes, you guessed it, an Italian restaurant! On the subject of restaurants, almost directly opposite that place was a little restaurant called " Dars Burgers" and I suppose the name of it gave the culinary fare away, however I never saw many people in there and it now appears to have been closed for at least a couple of weeks. Almost immediately next to that there is a small restaurant which does have some customers, but never many, so I wonder how long that will survive? In Soi Banzaan, what was once a bar and small guesthouse called "Canada House" which featured in a sad event where the owner's girlfriend decided to hang herself; then changed ownership into a "Gentleman's Club" which had next to no customers whatsoever, and in front of which they had put a large wooden door, to give the impression of an exclusive club, which it wasn't. Anyway that has closed and is now on the market. Opposite that, is a bar at the bottom of a small guesthouse (six rooms perhaps?) which has just been sold to some Russians for a tidy sum, although they have not been seen in attendance, so I suppose the previous management are helping to run it. Could well provide a bolthole for any Russians wanting to escape Russia for obvious reasons. Bangla was reasonably busy as we are getting into the low season, however there was a long queue snaking out from "Illuzion" and blocking the road, with reasonable attendance in some bars and not in others. Slowing down, but still alive!

No apologies needed Tug.....you get your points across well and I concur with them in the main. Keep posting as I enjoy your posts.

Thanks......have got Nord VPN which can access UK sites; will give it a try.

Still looking for the Rolf Harris doco, but cannot find it. Anyone any ideas?

Well United have certainly done much better under ETH and supporters should be thankful for that, considering where they were. United were in the main, outplayed by City, although the match couldn't be described as a classic in any way, shape, or form. Now time for a big clear out and some new players, hopefully better than others we have signed recently. Just a couple of points on yesterday's game – – Rashford was injured for about the last 15 minutes and should have gone off because he could hardly walk let alone run. And it was pleasing to see AW-B in good form, because a while back he looked to be totally lost with his game, so the change has been quite remarkable.

He was the Golfer in Chief. And then when he was supposed to be working he was grifting. A speller there perhaps........didn't you mean gofer and grifter in chief!!!!