herfiehandbag

I was a teacher. I am also the father of a teenage girl. They're always rebellious, emotions always rule their actions, all you can do is hang onto the roller coaster for grim death; that's one of the challenging and interesting things about teaching and bringing them up. This psychic is presumably also predicting imminent heavy rains? Hence the rather fetching bronze plastic anorak!

This certainly could take months, but never mind, we are fortunate to have such a competent and highly regarded "interim government" to rule in the meantime. Ministers are still in place, decisions are still being taken, policies mooted introduced and carried through, budgets dispensed; the country continues to move forward - perhaps an unfortunate choice of words but there we go! The further complication will be the delay entailed by boarding for and appointing a new Ombudsman. This chap certainly can't be in the job for much longer! As you suggest, the whole business, thoroughly and effectively managed, has got to be good for a year!

I've had a bunch lately, mainly from my daughter's classmates. I am a retired teacher, and this group of girls, who haven't bothered their admittedly pretty little heads for the last 5 years, have just discovered that you need some English to get into the two local universities. "Mr John, Lucy says you might help me..." Still, keeps me from being lazy!

Well as military men one would expect them to be familiar with the expression "no plan survives contact with the enemy"! There again, given the, umh, apparent skill set and selection criteria for this bunch, perhaps not!

Talking of heroin, was Sleepy Somchai's special advisor on Australian legal affairs one of those "floured"?

The Junta's first priority was to get rid of the immediate threat, Pita and Move Forward. They have got rid of the threat, now they can step back a bit, after all, they remain in place as - what do they call themselves - an "interim government". They have time now, first to eliminate Pita and MFP from the political landscape ( job for the courts) and then to hook Pheu Thai and play them on the line until they get what they want - a significant (and in fact controlling presence) in whatever government emerges. If that damages Pheu Thai long term support better still. If Thaksin returns, well make it clear that one step out of line and it is striped suntan time - oh and bring your own socks. Mind you, at his (Thaksin's) age there is always a risk of sudden blood disorders! Be under no misapprehensions, they intend to stay, to "keep peace, stability and order". Which should bring a glow of pride and moist underpants to some of the enthusiast's for the"smack of firm government" brigade on this forum! "Nicht so?"

I've just bought a pair of Crocs. Always steered clear of them, but now I find them the most comfortable shoes for my crippled foot. I have to say, where on them is the power switch? Are they battery driven or do you have to charge them overnight.

As I write this, sitting in a noodle shop next to VFS Chiang Mai office as I wait for my appointment I am most encouraged. Only down side was the 3 ¹/² hour trundle over from Chiang Rai on the "Green Bus" vomit comet! Dogs were not impressed with the O5.00 reveille back home either! As the VFS building is near the university the passing scenery at lunchtime is very pleasant! ????

The ignorance is a result of an education system specifically designed to keep them ignorant, for example in history lessons, nothing is taught about the development of modern governance, or really regional let alone global modern history, but the children are taught, expected to and tested and graded on an ability to name and order all the Kings of Thailand for the last four hundred years. Perhaps ironically, this emphasis on the monarchy is a result of the American emphasis on enshrining and supporting the monarchies of South East Asia in their struggles to maintain control of the regions. It worked (sort of for a while ) here if not in Cambodia or Laos. Anyway, back to the topic, the last ten years has seen a generation of young people educating themselves. Unfettered access to the internet, permitted because those in power saw it only as a placebo, used only for sending each other photos of their lunch(!) has rather backfired. It is now too late to reign it in! It will be very ironic if it is the B800 cheap Chinese smartphone which causes the downfall of what has become China's client state!

It will be interesting to see which emerges as the more powerful "force". Loyalty to Thaksin - which has proved to be durable and sustained, if largely geographically and class based; or a general detesting and desire to reform the political/military ruling establishment - which appears to have it's roots in the younger generation, and to be less geographical and class centred.

Surely you didn't expect him to actually go? Hanging in there for: 1)Formal appointment to the "Prem" role. 2) Regency ( connected to (1)).

I am sceptical about Pheu Thai emerging as the party of government, however perhaps this fellows saving graces are that he is: 1) a successful businessman, 2) pro democracy, 3) not a long term career politician, 4) not military. The collection of Louis Vuitton travel trunks may come in handy, something to sit on if they resume those mobile cabinet meetings!

That was 40mm rounds for a grenade launcher, and 5.56 "green spot" competition shooting rounds.

There is of course a world of difference between someone quoting a conversation with someone who may have got the wrong end of the stick and "fake news". What, for instance, if I advanced the claim that every cow I had spoken to had assured me that the bovine population were MFP supporters to a man (cow) and were refusing to produce milk in protest, would that be "fake news" or just me being silly (not entirely unknown)!

I am the butler to four dogs. They are partial to a little milky drink of goat milk at bedtime. I buy it occasionally for them as a treat. Expensive though, only seen it in UHT cartons on 7/11. Pack of 3x200 mil cartons some B75. One carton shared between 4 dogs.

I've never seen Thai- Danish fresh milk - only UHT (although it does taste better than other brands of UHT). Their yoghurt is "gurt lush", to use a West Country dairy farming phrase! Meiji, for me, is the best of the fresh brands.

Shall I tell you about my rabbit who had a taste for cheese toasties? 7/11 were out of cheese so I gave him a ham one instead. Next day he was really sick. The vet said there was nothing she could do for him; mixingmytoasties is invariably fatal!

It's the cows, I tell you. They are idle. All they want to do is stand around all day chewing grass.

Reluctantly, I think you are right.

For which he stood trial and was convicted - by an Australian court.

No, millions and millions of people want that as well. That's why they voted for him. More than voted for any other candidate. Respect, for what? The comic opera, bad tempered, avaricious general who seized power in a coup he had likely been planning since the military academy? The sleepy old fool who can't resist showing off his (unexplained and inexplicable) wealth with flash watches, who cannot attend a meeting for more than ten minutes without dozing off, and his advisor the convicted drug smuggler? The irrational xenophobe who sets his sights on high office despite having no support outside the province his daddy owns? Lots to respect eh? Strewth!

He wants to be careful. That serial complainer creature will start petitioning again and they will have him locked up.

It's the cows, I tell you. They are idle. All they want to do is stand around all day chewing grass.

Last seen sitting on a burger attempting to eat a barstool!

Given the almost total ignorance of World let alone European history in Thailand, I doubt that 90% even know who the Romanovs were, let alone what happened to them. What we would consider as "history" is simply not taught here.