Jane Dough

You make a powerful and superb case to stop smoking. All those reasons are so pertinent.

I started smoking when I was about 8 or 9 in the late sixties. I continued until I was 38 then quit cold turkey. Despite being a person of extremely high determination I was very proud of that and, after a decent spell of time, felt I was free from the addiction for ever.

The main reason I am writing is that this proved not to be the case.

Some ten years later I dabbled believing one or two would not be a problem. Then I took to having shisha and developed such a habit (it was still legal in Thailand) that I addicted myself to that and then back onto cigarettes. In 2012 on Valentines Day a teacher colleague remarked "You're hooked again". He was right. I felt such shame that I put out the last in the pack and told him I would never have another again.

I haven't, but I will no longer say I am "cured". Rather like recovering alcoholics I think it is safer to say "I am a smoker" - just that I haven't had one for nearly eight and a half years!

Beware going back and undoing all the good work. Quitting smoking for good is extremely hard and one must never let one's guard down. 

Rooster

2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Details, details. Don't bother the authorities with details.

It's taken them long enough to dream this one up.

 

P.S. for ten million Baht, I can remember seeing it exactly as the air marshall described.

The fact I live in Udon - pah, details again.

I was actually in Bangkok at the time and barely 15 kilometers from where it happened. 

Should I go to the Pahonyothin police with my suspicions?

Rooster

Try learning Thai.

It is, with a few variations, the language used for communication in Thailand that can help to resolve such situations amicably. 

Rooster

1 hour ago, Grusa said:

I have a complaint! I did not receive my email copy of TV until 12:30 today! I look forward to reading your contribution with my (not so early, about 09:30) Sunday breakfast: it's been getting later and later!....so now I am reading it at 19:10, and have to plough through pages of replies.

 

BTW, "minging": as a Scot, I understand, but do you expect others to do so, or take the effort to look it up..?..and is it a valid Scrabble word. Mr G and Wikipedia had some difficulties with it.

A simple google meaning search is enough for minger and minging, both Scrabble words in the world rather than North American version of the dictionary. I have written the term "mining minions" dozens of times over the years.

I like to include challenging vocabulary (sometimes in Thai or North American English) as an entertainment to those who know it and maybe an education for those who need to google or wiki it. TWTW is not dumbed down to anyone. I have some Thai friends who have requested links - I supply them usually with the warning that some of the words or references can be a challenge to native speakers or at least non-Brits let alone Thais. However, I won't be changing this style anytime soon. 

Regarding the time you can get it, it is usually available from about 7pm on Saturday evening. Try googling for it or perhaps look on Thaivisa on Facebook for your Sunday AM convenience.

Thanks for reading.

Rooster

10 minutes ago, GarryP said:

Totally confused me. I thought you meant Paxo, which made no sense at all. 

That was probably what threw me, Mr P.

I should be stuffed.

Rooster

1 hour ago, Fortean1 said:

Rooster- always enjoy reading your take on the cultural divide here.  We shall never know fully the culture here.  I've been married to a great Thai woman for 47 years.  The intercultural aspects are far more important than the so-called interracial aspects.  I could swear someone mentioned the teenager whose poor driving forced a van off an overpass (flyover) which killed nine law students.  What did she do to put her record straight?  My wife says she went to reform school.

 

Terry

( a few miles south of Hua Hin )

I have no problem never fully understanding the culture.

The Thais don't either. 

When I taught the culture at international school I deliberately chose more obscure, country based topic so that my urban elite Hi-So parents would be at a disadvantage. One parent once came to my office and asked why I was teaching such things. I closed my door and gave her an earful "in the nicest possible way". Thereafter I provided her and others mums like her with notes so they would not appear foolish when their children told them things they had learned in class that they hadn't a clue about.

Yes, I think the tollway girl did some community service, she was very young. 

Thanks for reading,

Rooster

1 hour ago, sambum said:

"whole pack of Paxa,"?

 

Not being pedantic, but I think you probably mean  

Goodness, 59 years old and senile! You're completely right. 

Thanks for the correction and thanks for reading.

Rooster

3 hours ago, Kalasin Jo said:

Me too. It's not so difficult to see why the US, UK and even EU countries are still seeing bad and rising numbers again. And the French just can't resist la bise. If you are going to kiss others at least once on each cheek every time you say hello and goodbye what can one expect? In the workplace it's a bise fest morning, noon and night. Family get togethers? Another bise fest. You get my drift. Its no wonder with restrictions eased the R number is rising again and above 1, which is the break even point for increasing or decreasing infection rates.

I can't criticise the Thais for keeping foreigners out. And wanting no easing of that. But they are being harsh on those here like me with spouse, family, who can't get an extension and must leave by 26 Sept now or face the normal consequence of overstay and not knowing when it is feasible to return, to some extent depending on the depth of your love and your wallet as those stuck outside in this situation are already finding out.

 

At least France has always let those resident there in  during this crisis ie: with a carte de séjour of at least 1 year validity and bring spouses and children. Quarantining?. Yes, but in your own home and as a family.

I hear what you are saying about "la bise" - my dad was French and born near Le Mans. Our family holidays they featured the terrible embarrassment - for me, basically a Brit - of bise-fests with our relatives!

Thanks for reading. 

Rooster

4 hours ago, TPI said:

It must be Sunday, I've a mug of hot tea, a comfy chair and rooster! Only 59! Get some time up, you're a tourist! A lovely read and full of information as usual. I hope you enjoyed your birthday!

I usually loathe my birthday but this year was very pleasant. I was woken at 7am by my four year old saying "Happy birthday daddy" and both her and the older one had made a lovely card with a special message in Thai and English. Mrs R's preparation for the evening meal was a huge English Breakfast with lots of baked beans. 

No one cared to be very close to me after that....enabling me to enjoy Enable's victory at Ascot in serene peace.

Thanks for being one of my most positive readers. 

Rooster

12 hours ago, Saraburi121 said:

Thanks, a joy to read!

Happy to bring joy to Saraburi! Haven't passed you by for some time now. Five months in Bangkok with only occasional trips to Pathum Thani.

Thanks for reading.

Rooster

11 minutes ago, George Bowman said:

Much like you, I have lived in Thailand for quite awhile. Unfortunately, I know less today than I did back then. Anyway, here is another old photo of Bangkok for your walls. Last I heard the race track had been torn down. 

 

Your Sunday column is part of my Sunday ritual. Thanks.

 

Thanks for the picture...I am guessing that is Nang Lerng racecourse as RBSC remains open. I have happy memories of trips to both tracks.

It's always nice to hear that people read the column regularly and look forward to it. Cheers and have a good weekend.

Rooster

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

An interesting read as always.

While I am sincerely pleased that so few have gotten sick and/or died, I ponder the question of whether what Thailand is doing virus-wise is correct. And then, I ponder some more. Then, I re-ponder what I previously pondered and ponder if I pondered correctly in the first ponder.

 

I have written and erased 17 paragraphs of ideas; none of them seem quite right.

 

I need to ponder things a bit more...

 

Have a good week everyone!

 

 

 

I'm less ponder and more pond life..I don't know what to believe!

Rooster

I saw this queue at Makro yesterday and being British I pondered whether to join it though I had no idea where it led. 

Yes, it was 2 minutes to five. I went and got sausages and frozen roti and naan breads and scarpered.

Rooster

17 hours ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Ramsay  is a "Celebrity Chef". His commercial success is  based more on his foul mouth  than his culinary  skills.

 

Really. I think his top 100 tips on YouTube is some of the best advice any cook could want.

Mind you I am a gourmet.

Rooster

23 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I have been to Makro all over the country I have never seen any of them out of butter or cheese or beef.  In fact, they seem to always have an over abundance of it.

Maybe next time have your wife call the store before you go and ask them if the items are in stock.

If they do you can freeze butter, cheese and beef so stock up.

To add sorry, you made the decision to live one hour away from place being in the middle of now where can have its consequences.

Here endeth the lesson.

Rooster

1 hour ago, anchadian said:

I nearly choked on my cornflakes.

:)

R

1 hour ago, lamyai3 said:

Another 25 weeks until you hit that milestone, however you can still celebrate being a quarter of the way to the nonacentennial column. 

Blimey...my maths!

Cheers,

Rooster

1 hour ago, overt2016 said:

I really don't know what to think of this weeks' effort, so I' ll give it "no comment". 

This underlines what I always say.

Rooster

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Thank you for the kind words.

 

However, I am absolutely certain that TVF members, myself firmly included, would like to see Rooster carry on for many, many more years.

 

Cheers

 

Thanks for that. You are always one of the first to comment and always have something interesting to say.

This was column #225, a quarter millennium. 

Unlike modern day British batsmen, I am enjoying keeping the run going. 

Rooster

16 hours ago, JensenZ said:

Yes, but the article says it's "worth" 27 million baht. It most certainly is not worth that much.

It's worth what a buyer is prepared to pay for it. 

Rooster

23 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

How is your written Thai? ????

A little better after being a Thai teacher for twenty years and a TV translator since 2016.

Rooster

22 hours ago, blackcab said:

It's obviously fake. When one Thai government department (Ministry of Finance) writes to another Thai government department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) they write in Thai, not in English.

Indeed, and the English, while not perfect, is far too good for them!

Rooster

I find the innate cultural wisdom of these stories highly enlightening.

Rooster

54 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

No Way! I have it on devine authority that the numbers are................! ???? How gullible are these clowns?

Is that de grape vine?

Rooster