owl sees all

My mate Mick got his Marmite confiscated at Swampy, on the way in, a few years back.

A lots of jokey posts on this thread. But on a more serious point. Was the paperwork in order. Thailand is such a stickler for proper paperwork.

So are cucumbers, bananas and sausages out of fashion now?

One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind and commonsense. The first European country to push the domino? Billy G will not be happy bunny over this.

Messi every time. Ronaldo just couldn't be bothered to break sweat when I watched him.

And the answers were; Q1 --- b/ Arsenal - Arsene Wenger Q2 --- c/ West Bromwich Albion - 2004/05 Q3 --- d/ Bobby Moore Just a teaser to finish off the close season quiz. What have Arsenal, Charlton Athletic, Middlesboro and Leicester City all have in common? a/ All were beaten by non-league opposition (outside top 4 divisions) in the FA Cup, on the same day in 1957. b/ All played, at home, against Moscow Dynamo, during the period 1955 to 1959. c/ None have changed their first-choice shirt colour since WW2. d/ Their goalkeepers all scored from the penalty spot in one Season (1955/56). e/ All have been involved in 6-6 draws. f/ Their goalkeepers all saved a penalty on the same Saturday in October 1958. Unfortunately a dinner date with Nok is not now possible. She went off with an American chap. And he wasn't interested in either footy or chess. Just goes to show. Her sister went back to Laos. That's life I guess. Never mind. Answers on a postcard please.

And when Paul was having his problems. It was Vinnie who stepped up to help him. I heard Vinnie took him fishing for a week (somewhere in Hampshire). Tried to give Paul an insight into his life. A true pal as it turned out. At his best, Paul was world class.

Dave Mackay grabs Bill Bremner's shirt. White Hart Lane. Spurs v Leeds 1966. Don't know where Alan Ball came from.

Been some great pics down the years. Here are a few. Do that again Alan melad, and you won't have any. Didn't I tell you to stay away from the ball. Do you want to know a secret? You have lovely hair. Not; who let the dogs out. Who let the girls in? Jayne at the lane. Focus on the game. Must be half time. What was the question again; Miss? England fans; look away now.

Been waiting 3 years for a Richard Dawkins book. Been to local Ban Dung, and Udon main PO. Both say it is probably being kept in a Bangkok warehouse for safe keeping.

I played amateur and some semi-pro until retiring at 42. I was getting injuries and couldn't shake them off. Got a groin injury, in Lincolnshire somewhere, and it stayed with me all season. Time to stop. There was a match in Hainault. It was wet and muddy. I was watching the game and a player went off injured. They had no sub on hand (although at that time there was none allowed in the higher levels). I had my kit in the car boot and offered to take his place. Accepted by all. The ref came over and said not to head the ball. Well; I plain forgot. Nearly knocked myself out. The dizziness stayed with me for days. I couldn't drive home. Good job the wife was with me. Who was still a learner. Never heard the end of it.

Until quite recently, a muddy pitch was quite acceptable. The change - at least as far as the top flight was concerned - was the formation of the EPL. There were quite defined rules on pitches. Suddenly the Head Groundsman was recognised as being more important than the tea-lady. But back in the day; mad was quite acceptable. Champers has (earlier post) pointed to the Baseball ground mud heap. But being a Londoner, and not often able to travel outside the capital, meant that I saw the worst mud on the London pitches. The big three were; QPR, Charlton and The Bridge. QPR overcame it, as did Luton, with plastic turf. That soon died a death however. Sturdy boots and shin pads were essential wear. A couple of Charlton pics. QPR. What's going on at the Bridge? Away from London it must have been just the same. Here, Leicester are trialing their new soil spiker. Man City, Spurs and Black Cats played on one of the worst pitches ever. The ground-staff, in Hong Kong, were famed for over-watering the playing area. They played in a close-season tournament in 2013 Here, Negredo (Man City forward) tries cooling the blood. As the Flanders and Swann song goes. And the Hippos would be quite at home in this European ground. Next post; snow and ice, and all things nice.

What a lot of nonsense! What a waste of money! Have these people never heard of Klimate Change? In just a decade, Bangkok could be under water. Not all of it of course. Those living on the second floor and higher will be safe. But they have to get about. Do they not? Better to invest the spare dosh in boats rafts and canoes. On another serious point. Why not lift up all the vulnerable buildings; say 3 metres? Like they do up here in the Isaan villages. Also build a causeway between Pattaya and Hua Hin. Making sure those Chinese subs are on the right side of the construction, before the pumping begins. Have to think more in a futuristic way in Thailand.

''Named the sports photograph of the year, the ‘splash’ image as it came to be known stars the legendary Tom Finney sliding on a waterlogged Stamford Bridge pitch, with Bellett behind the wall of water thrown up. It was the inspiration for a statue and fountain outside Preston’s Deepdale ground.'' Quote taken from https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/wally-bellett-1933-2022

The best pic I've found was in The Guardian paper. Another at The Bridge. More recent. Chelsea v Bolton.

Recognise the stadium? The terracing profile and dog track give it away.

Certainly a mud heap that.

Three good wins on the spin now. Steaming up the table.

How times have changed! There is little doubt the game has changed a great deal. Has it improved though? The days when footballers were asked to play three times a week, in mud up to their ankles, are indeed gone. The days when footballers were injured, but played on for the team, are gone. Some rules have changed too. There are now red and yellow cards and substitutions. And the constant fiddling with the offside law has led to many a controversy. VAR; don't even get started on that. That has certainly altered the beautiful game. But what hasn't changed is the pitch. Still the same shape. still the same markings. Eleven players on opposing sides, and three official, is still the order of the day. But those basics aside, the game in England is far different to yesteryear; but in different ways. Remember the orange ball? Rolled out, occasionally now, but at virtually every ground during a past season. They are now a collector's piece. And, if you have one autographed by some well known players - like Steve Gerrard - you are rich. Jack Kelsey played for the Gunners. In one match, a steward wandered over to him as he kept goal. Jack was astonished to meet the guy. And even more to hear what he said. ''Jack, the games been abandoned.'' True enough. He was the only player on the pitch. Couldn't happen nowadays. And here's the goalie in clearer view. ''What do you most recall about that day Jack?'' ''When I finally got to the dressing room the lads were all drinking mugs of hot tea. I got a cheer when I walked in.'' ''Who said he went up the pub!'' One of his team-mates quipped.' Poor light, snow, mud and atrocious conditions. Those were expected back then. Back in those days; rain was definitely wetter. A drop of the wet stuff didn't stop the games. In fact the only match I went to, that was abandoned; was at Brisbane Road when the lightening got a bit too violent; and close. Tom Finney showing off his water-skiing. Next post; ''Mud, mud, glorious mud.''

Wouldn't it be nice to get on with yer neighbors. Russia and Israel; are you listening.

Good if you can do that. I know two people who have had their UK bank accounts terminated because the banks found out the account holder lived in Thailand.

And if the card gets stolen, lost or damaged?

If yer gonna use the wife; may as well get an account for yourself.

The whole point of the OP was to highlight that you don't always need a bank account to stay here legit. Interesting indeed. How does he get his dosh to live on?

Hope she didn't smoke during her recent pregnancy.