herfiehandbag

Well I am sorry, but I think both your initial and subsequent posts demonstrate that you know very little, and understand even less, about how our monarchy works.

Oh, I think we will survive. It is very sad indeed that we have lost our much loved Queen. But the UK existed before she came to the throne. How does it go: The Queen is dead, long live the King. Perhaps you are indulging in a little bit of wishful thinking?

I had that problem with a series of sets of glasses, all bought from "upmarket establishments". After two years the coating deteriorates. My last pair ( nearly two years old now) I specified no coatings - they are fine.

Your underlying premise is right - but I would argue that it is an institution, managed and maintained by a number of parties rather than an individual. Change however can come rapidly and unexpectedly. It needs a catalyst; a catalyst need not, of itself, be such a significant event. There have been a number of things which I have, in the past, thought may have been catalysts. I have been wrong, but that does not of itself disprove the idea.

It is good to see, looking at the bloke in the "Officer and a Gentleman" outfit that the blue button badges with a portrait of Elvis Presley are back in vogue...

I take it you don't relish the Irony of him being removed by the constitutional court! Yes, it is my interpretation. If you have a different one, why let's hear it!

The court ruling to suspend him is a clear message that those in real power do not want him in post any longer. Now whether they are enthused by Prawit's dynamic leadership style, or are lining up their chosen replacement, or are merely open to bids from interested parties ( let's face it, all the top jobs in the country are sold) we don't know, but Prayut is out.

No, but you are entitled to the service you paid for - a flight. Even if it has no seat back TV or free food and drinks. If the cancellation email was sent by the airline then that indicates that the airline had acknowledged and accepted the booking, it is the airline's doing and not the ticket agency.

Come on, it was a classic "palace coup". The Constitutional Court is a favourite instrument for removing Prime Ministers.

I can't imagine a lack of "substance" is exactly evident in Prayut's case!

Meechai limbering up for the next coup/new constitution?

I thought that the justification for an all appointed senate was to curb the practice of "political clans" appointing there junior members to posts on the senate staff?

I imagine that is the game plan! Mind you, if the GOP in its current form takes control many things will fade, including hopes for democracy and the rule of law continuing. If Trump gets back in then it will be game over..

Which will leave a gap in the market - I wonder which shade will move to fill it, brown, khaki or green?

Which is not quite the same as the outgoing president stuffing documents into boxes and taking them home with him when he leaves the White House.

Ambulances have sirens. Sirens make a lot of noise - that is rather the point of them. One presumes that you live on one of the main routes to Prachanukroh Hospital, maybe near an intersection which requires the sirens to clear the way. Personally, having been taken to that hospital in an ambulance last year, I was pleased that they made lots of noise so I could get there quickly, and get something done about the pain. You never know, you might need one yourself one day. Of course, back in the day ambulances had much more restrained bells - but I believe many complained that they would never sell ice-cream going that fast!

Now give me access to the trough - sorry I meant a consultancy role...

Interesting reactions to Liz Trust from within the Westminster bubble reported by the BBC. On her declared intention to act within the week to put in place measures to help with energy bills, and in the longer term to tackle the supply problems: the Lib Dems said it was lacking in detail - for the Lib Dems to attack ideas and intentions as lacking in detail is frankly hilarious; Emily Thornberry described her as "lightweight", which compared to Thornberry's somewhat more, err, "well upholstered" physique she undoubtedly is.

Umh, he was holding on to classified government documents, which as a former President he had no right to retain, and he was refusing requests to return them. That alone justified the raid.

Silly. Holding opinions on the current political situation in the country, even sharing them amongst other expatriates is one thing; going public is another!

Has this verdict established that wearing your hair upside down is some kind of sign of rank or seniority amongst these proud chappies?

But are the Military and Ammat united on this, or are there "factions"?

Hmm, nice to see them getting a return on their investments.

I have just watched the National Geographic documentary film "Rescue". A first rate film. Definitely one to keep on my hard drive. Living in Chiang Rai I remember the whole business. The main thing I remember about it was the way that so many: locals, Thai civilian and military and people from around the world did whatever they could to help, from the team of cave divers (magnificent men) down to the local ladies who washed and cooked for the people on site. I particularly remember the helicopters flying the rescued boys into the hospital.

You used to be able ( in the UK) to get kits to refine old cooking oil to use instead of diesel. Given the howls of anguish about diesel prices it seems a cheaper way of reusing the stuff. I would be a bit wary of flying in an airliner powered by the stuff.