The Fugitive

Me too! Running out of cash and poor health has been mentioned in the original article. I personally doubt U.K. police knew anything. It could be a tip-off from his 'friends' in Thailand? Maybe it seemed strange to them that he never returned to U.K. in 27 years and avoided questions about his home Country? Alternatively, he could have 'fabricated' locations and visits and somebody had seen through it?

Same with me. Accepted U.K. debit card Mastercard.

I agree! If Brian could cut down on only one thing and if that was cigarettes that would be great.

Run out of money. Health problems.

Very easy to get an arrest warrant against yourself. Non-compliance with a court order or non-payment of a fine for example. Doesn't necessarily make one a 'dodgy' person.

Do your solar panels run your air conditioning for free in this heat? I agree with you, especially if single. It's stepchildren and neices and nephews that can cost with university and college fees, living away from home expenses and their vehicles. Fortunately, mine are satisfied with 20 year old cars and pickups. However, the Mrs feels sorry for friends and neighbours and gives many interest free loans. She complains to me when they don't repay!

Unsurprisingly, it was lack of money and health problems that caused his return to UK. Difficult to prevent either when ageing.

Agree. Terrible problems in the West Bank. If a two state solution was ever agreed, no way would West Bank Palestinians want Israeli illegal settlers remaining there.

Understand. I can't speak Thai. A motor repair man at the rear of our house does everything for us. My Mrs asked him.

400 baht per month averaged out over 12 months. 3 bathrooms, 4 persons. A few potted plants watered most days. No lawn. Vehicles collected and taken away to wash.

We were more economical. Rolling up newspapers into tubes and tying a knot in them. Place sticks ontop then a few small pieces of coal.

By one isolated thoughtless avoidable incident absolutely nothing. Combined with dropping her new iPhone down a grid, her laptop into a river and when we were in a decent restaurant sitting and eating comfortably howling out 'I've left my handbag in the clothes shop where I was trying on......' Not forgetting picking us up from the airport and telephoning to ask 'Where are you? I've been here 20 minutes'. She was waiting in the departure zone instead of arrivals!

Don't need one. A mobile locksmith charged us 600 baht to make a key on the spot by taking an impression 'through the keyhole'.

The doctor almost certainly didn't understand that the OP was prepared to pay more for a complete examination. Communication breakdown as they say?

My Thai stepdaughter (university graduate) lost her bedroom door key whilst out and about (she had locked the door). We had given her all three spare keys that came with the lock. Guess where she kept them?

Happened to us with a Honda Scoopy. Mrs called a guy who took an impression through the ignition keyhole and made a key on the spot for 600 baht.

Very interesting and helpful, thank you. Never been checked for skin abnormalities myself but feel it would now be advisable. I had a friend who was diagnosed with skin cancer at age 32. He had 'intensive' treatment which made it go away for 17 years. He was diagnosed with it a second time and again received treatment. He was clear for another 10 years until diagnosed with kidney cancer. Unfortunately, he died 12 months later aged 60.

It's a popular belief (not only in Thailand) that you can proceed whatever the colour of traffic light providing you can see your way ahead to be clear. Flashing red and amber most definitely causes confusion (in Thailand). There are three sets of traffic lights in my town centre that are usually (but not always) switched from solid to flashing lamps at night. Some drivers don't vary their speed when approaching either flashing red or amber. The other evening a driver in front of us completely stopped at a flashing amber and wasn't for moving. We cautiously waited a little while in case there was something the driver had spotted that we hadn't (or had stalled) but there was no other traffic around. Eventually we went around him/her.

Absolutely. We have ours cleaned every six months too. No mess, the guy fixes a large plastic bag underneath the units to catch the dust. Noticeable difference in performance afterwards.

We have two bowls in the garden. Neighbour gave us some of his fish and some of the weed that grows quickly. Fill and top-up with hose pipe. Fish multiply like mad. Only use the cheapest fish food from Big C. Nothing else.

Hanratty case was/still is unbelievable. Police agreed in the 1990's review that the negative evidence (couldn't have done it) outweighed the positive. How he was ever convicted and hanged in the 1960's is mind boggling. DNA processing in the 2000's was performed using evidence that hadn't been stored correctly and cross contamination was possible. Plus it was subjected to amplification techniques that reduced accuracy. To finally 'put the case to bed' the judges claimed that the original positive evidence plus the new DNA now passed the 'guilty beyond reasonable doubt' test. They conveniently ignored the large amount of original negative evidence. An absolute con trick if ever there was one!

He wasn't convicted. He skipped court bail.

He may have held other passport(s).

Bizarre! Where did you go and what did they say was the problem?

Not extradited because he's never been convicted. Probably came up on airline list (outstanding UK arrest warrant for skipping court bail) or Heathrow Airport were tipped off he was on his way?