herfiehandbag

Well if it's Atlantic cod it won't be, it's not exactly cheap in countries adjacent to the Atlantic, and has to be shipped (frozen) a long way to get here! Still, nothing quite like the " peace of cod which passes all understanding"!

The problem, as the Chinese see it, is not so much conventional criminality as control. The Chinese state is very much based upon control, and "conforming". Accordingly wherever large numbers of Chinese citizens gather, either as tourists or expatriates, the Chinese state feels the need to have a presence to remind them, and if necessary ensure that, they conform. It is I suppose a logical extension of the regulated and all pervading "social credit" system (shèhuì xìnyòng tǐxì) they have set up in China. As China has a policy of building and manning infrastructure in countries which interest it, so they feel the need to "police" that infrastructure. A particularly concern should be that they seem to be interested in extending that "police presence" to places which have a significant emigre or "ethnic" Chinese population - as we have found in parts of the UK for example, or the North West Pacific coast of the USA and Canada. There of course it is much more clandestine, but very much present. Here what is proposed is rather more open, Thailand is, after all, the " little brother". I wonder how Singapore handles it?

I'm pretty sure Mandarin is compulsory, certainly in Matayom (secondary).

Sir Winston Churchill is a rich seam: "Mr Churchill, if I were your wife I would feed you poison!" "Madam, were I your husband I would gladly eat it!" For, myself, I do rather favour: " Have you been on a course, no one could be that stupid naturally!"

If you fail the test, will a young lady from the bar take you home and take care of you until the morning?

If you, as a UK or US citizen do or say or publish something which displeases the Chinese, and if you are subsequently picked up by Chinese Police operating in Thailand, under the authority of some "memorandum of understanding" or whatever, do you think that Thailand will actually do anything to protect you? You would be on the next plane to China.

Yes, it has long been an open secret that police "offices" have been part of the operations of many Chinese diplomatic and trade operations in other countries. They exist to monitor and control Chinese people, both citizens and émigrés in those countries. Most of them have been harmless if sometimes irritating "Walts" (Walter Mittys) who like dressing up. The Chinese police operating extra territoriality are for real. Thin end of a wedge... There are investments and infrastructure to be built which will need to be policed and protected... Perhaps liaison for that will be handled by ISOC?

Yes, but at least he takes a consistent stance on the matter!

There is probably plenty of room in Albania - most of their young men have moved elsewhere!

Besides, these vests restrict access to their shirt pockets, making informal fiscal activities inconvenient.

Umh, Thailand doesn't really have a winter. Admittedly it can get a bit nippy up in the mountains in the top North on the odd occasion, and we've occasionally had a touch of frost for the odd hour or so of a morning on the peaks, but winter in sweltering Bangkok?

Surely, that is the whole point of the Pub! Managed to post in 27 seconds!

I will help out - The Royal Military Police are known throughout the army as "monkeys"

Oh I say, that is unkind, the aircraft carrier can be used as a helicopter carrier. Or it could be if all the helicopters hadn't been fitted with comfy seats and were fully committed to ferrying Admirals around! A few years ago the best hotel in Chiang Rai was block booked for a week by the Royal Thai Navy. Helicopters buzzing in and out, VIP van convoys all over the place, Military Policemen hanging from the trees and scratching themselves (ex UK military personnel will understand the allusion). I used to take my daughter there to swim, and have afternoon tea as a treat! The foyer was awash with Admirals in starched white uniforms looking like extras from "An Officer and A Gentleman"! Chiang Rai is about as far from the sea as you can get in Thailand.

Before my time I'm afraid ...

Masonic member?

I suppose it depends on how many "points" you have - and points mean...

So you have bought a submarine without an engine, and broken half your F16s!

Of course, the intent is to have the whole thread going around in circles, until everyone gives up and go off to do more rewarding activities, like watching old episodes of "The Magic Roundabout" on YouTube! Then he can believe/claim that he has won the argument! Boing said Zebedee, time for bed said Florence!

No I won't have a go at answering your question - it is purely an attempt at deflection.

I see a notice has appeared on my screen indicating that I am now a "Ruby Member" and need another 1500 or so "points" to progress!

I suspect that the IDF doesn't bother with staff cars. They are somewhat more focused on reality!

It is not suggested that people do not do any of the things which you list. You exaggerate in a pretty obvious attempt to deflect from the arguments. What is suggested is (not unreasonably under the circumstances), that demonstrations are not held on the Saturday and Sunday which together, this year, constitute Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. Most years Armistice Day (the 11th) is separated by several days from Remembrance Sunday. By long standing tradition they are not associated with political activity. The suggestions are not "right wing" or Zionist dog whistles. The preceding three weekends have seen a series of demonstrations, each more vitriolic and yes, at times, violent. There have been chants calling for genocide - let's be honest, that is what "from the river to the sea" means. It is a slogan adopted if not coined by Hamas, whose founding charter calls for genocide of the Jews, and a task upon which they enthusiastically and with obscene inhuman savagery embarked upon a month ago. The Home Secretary is absolutely correct in describing them as "hate demonstrations". There have been attacks upon people who have ( in my opinion) been foolish enough to attend such marches with Israeli flags, or placards supporting Israel. A war memorial has been defaced (Rochdale), statues vandalised ( Central London), a Policewoman videoed taking part in the chanting - has any action been taken, likewise the train driver who misused his train PA system to lead chants whilst driving his train. The Police have arbitrarily closed down a demonstration portraying the hostages taken by Hamas (including children and babies remember) on mobile billboards on the specious grounds that it was likely to lead to a breach of the peace. There is a very real possibility, indeed likelihood, that there will be violence this weekend. Elements, quite sizable ones, within the demonstrators are spoiling for a fight. They are being benignly treated, in my opinion, by a politicised Police Force which is hostile to the Home Secretary and this government.

Yes, and Armistice Day is Saturday.

Yes indeed.