Thujone

Food for thought. I wasn't optimistic about getting a council to help, thinking more of a homeless shelter, but I'll look into the council route.

I'll probably be landing at Gatwick, but apparently Heathrow Travel Care will give advice for any airport, so I'll get in touch. Cheers.

One piece of good fortune I've had is that I've kept some good quality winter clothing during my stay in Thailand. (Sometimes to my bemusement...) As much of this as possible will be coming with me. The short-sleeved linen and silk shirts will be left behind. Laos, Cambodia will be given consideration. I hadn't thought of those possibilities. Thanks for your input.

This has some potentially very useful leads. I had reached a point where I was stuck for ideas, but now I've got some leads to pursue. Thanks Charlie. .

Due to drastic changes in circumstances, I am leaving Thailand and going back to England. I haven't been there for more than 10 years. I've lost contact with friends, no family, so I will be homeless to begin with. I thought I'd go to Brighton as, well why not, and if I've got a chance to pull things around, I've as much chance in Brighton as anywhere else. But...where will I leave my suitcase? A homeless person lugging a suitcase will be a target and I doubt I will hold on to it for long. Does anybody have any ideas as to where a suitcase can be left as cheaply as possible, which I may be able to adapt to leaving it in Brighton? The train station doesn't do luggage storage.

That looks like a good Soi to check out. Cheers, Larry.

Thanks for the suggestion. Looks good. Certainly in the right area.

Could anybody recommend a hotel/guesthouse in Jomtien that would do a good/reasonable deal on a month-long stay? Basic is fine, bed, bathroom, clean, secure, (safe in room an advantage, even though I've been told they are next to useless). Swimming pool, dining room etc not required. Hopefully somewhere between the Beach Road/Thappraya Road junction and Bun Kanchana Road.

'You would certainly get a few envious stares when you go back home on holiday and walk down your local high street with your 25-year-old Thai wife in tow.' Maybe I'm being cynical, but I'd guess that if 70 year old Bob walked down the local high street in his original country hand in hand with his wife who could be younger than his grandchildren, certainly younger than his children, it's likely he would run into trouble, which could develop beyond verbal trouble. And as for family gatherings, he should be prepared to be ostracised. Even people in his original country who have seen the P4P situation in Thailand may display a totally different attitude to Bob when amongst their original community.

IF you die!?! Optimist of the Year award goes to Robin.

Kee neow. I've been told it means kind and generous person.

There's always the possibility that this is a delaying tactic while brother/hubby gets his mates together to come visiting. Pay her, then just to be on the safe side, do a runny from Koh Changy.

They didn't think they were going to live this long.

Ah yes, the Party 7s. Somebody would arrive with one at a party, open one side of the can with a church key opener and Whoosh, beer fountain for 10 seconds or more. All part of the fun. But, back on topic, Guinness.

Living in Pattaya, it's rare to see a cheerful Thai. (Unless they're pulling a fast one.) But then it's rare to see a cheerful whitey either.. Mme Thujone and myself are quite cheerful. Maybe we should write a book, and sell it online. 'Reasons To Be Cheerful in Pattaya, part 93.'

Ducking to avoid the swinging handbags, chill out, chaps.

Maybe when they arrived, the party atmosphere they felt they had found in the drinking establishments seemed wonderful, drinking anytime of the day with one or more dusky maidens paying attention and laughing (on cue) at jokes. But...the exchange rate changed, beer went up in price, bars and bar-goers soon get boring, and fart-breathed females asking you 'Where are you come from?' and 'How long stay Thailan..?' soon gets old. And they may have been badly stung financially by one of the maidens. So, stuck for any better plan, they continue, but their depression at the situation they have arrived in shows.

Sonny Barger in less peaceful mode.

The benefit is to see there's no point to getting to that stage. Without them as examples, I might think very old age will be OK, as you obviously do.

One of the benefits of living in Pattaya is seeing the shambling old wrecks staggering around, probably 80 or thereabouts, and thinking Why? Why bother? There's no point in getting that old, as far as i can see. Or leaving any money behind. Spend it on a last whoopee.

Fair point, but I sincerely hope I don't live until I'm 80. And I doubt I'll ever change my mind on that.

Please give us a clue as to which bar that was, so we know never to go there.

Whoever wants to arm-wrestle for the 100 baht I'm likely to leave is welcome to it. Unless something unexpected and sudden happens, I intend to spend all I've got.

So it's not a tip. It's a protection racket payment. Those who don't pay are punished. Those who don't tip shouldn't be intimidated into funding somebody else's poor career choice.