Mr Derek

The frau works for a large bank that thinks it must transport everyone several times a year to some resort or other outside Bangkok for bonding sessions. These events are normal in the industry and they probably see it as a treat. I am against this practice, not just because it's a stupid management fad, but because it involves being driven in a minibus on highways by unknown persons for several hours each way (these places are usually a bit remote with no alternative transport option). Mrs D does not understand my objection (being Thai, she is compliant to authority in all things), and it would not be good for her career for her to refuse to go. However, I am dead against her making unnecessary journeys on Thailand's parlous roads, especially in minibuses, especially on the busy highways leading out of Bangkok. Road safety-wise, it would probably be better if I hired a car and drove her out to these places myself. However, I have a heart condition and don't want to be driving unnecessarily. Must one really put up with these things? I can't be the only one with these objections. Is there any diplomatic solution?

So those central hatchings are supposed to prevent locals turning on or off the road in the village, requiring them to drive a long way up the road to do a U-turn every time they leave the house? Seriously? Fail.

This debate is between those who played football in the street as kids, and those who didn't. Simple as that.

After looking into the concrete effect a bit more, I'm now convinced they used 'microcement', which is apparently just a 2mm or so concrete-like layer plastered over any surface and then polished to a nice sheen. Again, I'd never heard of this. It sounds easy enough. Anyone had any experience with it?

What's with all the posts above? Are we now that infantilised? I can easily believe this. I went for a sigmoidoscopy in a well-reputed private hospital in BKK (no names for fear of litigation) and the consent form I was given beforehand said 'colonoscopy'. I said whoa - I want to speak to the doc again to make sure he knows what he's doing because I was having it done without a sedative (my choice due to unrelated heart condition). Did so, and he agreed. Then he proceeded to do a full colonoscopy resulting in unspeakable agony. I had to yell out to him to stop when I saw the thing bulging out of the top of my abdomen like John Hurt in Alien. One of the worst experiences of my life. And afterwards he still managed to sell me a bag of expensive but pointless medication. Incidentally, I never did sign the consent form.

Strange fact about the population of Kherson: 20% of the population is ethnic Russian, and yet 45% of the population are primarily Russian speakers (according to Wiki). This means that a proportion (about a third) of 'ethnic Ukrainians' in the city primarily speak Russian rather than Ukrainian. I'm trying to get my head around how that could be. It's not like, say, Indian immigrants in the UK start to speak primarily English rather than Hindi, as English is the ethnic language of the nation, so the adoption is natural. How then can ethnic Ukrainians come to be speaking primarily Russian? I don't get it. Can anyone shed any light on this? Could it be that Russian is actually the original ethnic language of the region and that it has become 'Ukrainianised' more recently? I should mention that similar discrepancies in the ethnic/language populations of many cities in Ukraine are to be found. Demographics is obviously an important issue in this war yet I suspect that few people know the demographic make-up or history of the region.

Saw a carved eagle on a balcony in Mae Kampong recently. That should work, and maybe that's what it was for.

Thanks for above pointers. I can't see AcquaTint in Thailand but the search has led me to concrete stainers such as this, which seems to fit the bill: สีกรดย้อมคอนกรีต อมตะ สีทาพื้นปูน สไตล์ลอฟท์ Solvent Based | Lazada.co.th Sandwashing sounds beyond DIY capability. I was hoping it would come in a package that ordinary mortals could use. Now I'm just wondering if mortar or grout mixed with grit would do the job, seeing as it is just for gaps between tiles of an inch or so and for bare-feet use only.

Powder sounds easier but I guess that will produce a uniform colour rather than the rustic effect used here. And there was definitely a special surface to it which gave it a nice glow. Inside they went for a darker. blotchier effect: As to sandwash, Homepro, Thaiwatsadu, Lazada and Shopee seem not to have heard of it. It's going to take some finding...

Never heard of sandwash before. That'll definitely be it - thanks. I'm going to try that with the cracked tile floor.

Ah, poured concrete into a frame. That must be it. Curved edges must be tricky though. Looking into the antique effect, I've discovered that concrete can be coloured in various ways - I had no idea that was possible. In this case, I guess it is something like this: Stone tone concrete acid stain

Some more of the stonework:

Went to a resort near Chiang Rai recently and liked the Roman-style feel of the balcony. Thinking of doing something similar at home but I've no idea how they did this. Broken tile floor should be easy, but what is used between the tiles? It has a gritty texture and is hard as rock. The balcony walls look and feel like solid stone but I guess it might be concrete with a special coloured and highly polished coating. Anyone know how to get that effect? Would Homepro have all I need? Appreciate any help.

So this one is even less lethal than omicron? (Meaning of course per-individual, not per-population). Where's the data? I have done a modicum of research and have found no scientific paper that contradicts my theory that it is impossible for a virus to become more transmissible AND more lethal. If that were possible, humans would logically have been wiped out by viruses aeons ago. Someone above cites ebola etc to the contrary - but those are not widespread enough to mutate as rapidly as the coronavirus. If they were, they would surely become less lethal over time. In any case, any illness is going to kill the most vulnerable. Evolution doesn't want the weakest to survive and breed. Viruses are arguably part of the natural process of maintaining fit populations. If humans prevent that happening, the long-term result will be a population of weaklings who have to live in plastic bubbles... By the way, what's so scary about "oxygen assisted breathing"? There are oxygen concentrators widely available for a few thousand baht nowadays (and pulse oximetry gadgets for a few hundred) - you can sit at home with a tube in your nose all day if you need to boost your oxygen level. It should be part of normal self-treatment. No need for hospitalisation for mild cases.

No chance that Russia will nuke Ukraine's towns and cities - there is a sizeable population of Russians in urban areas right across Ukraine. Russia might nuke an out-of-the-way corner of the countryside as a warning though. They could have done that in the beginning, which is proof that Russia is actually pulling its punches and opting first to fight it out mano a mano. By the way, for those above who don't yet understand, liberating the Donbass, most of which is majority-Russian, is what this war is all about that. The way to resolve this war is to consider the demographics and history of the Donbass (and Crimea while you're at it). Something the west has so far refused to do.

West Side Story: "Smoke on your pipe and put that in" (most genius moment in movie history) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels: "This is what I want! I want this!" The Barefoot Contessa: slap scene (Rossano Brazzi & Marius Goring).

Usual knee-jerk op-ed stuff. A British nurse is currently on trial for killing 7 babies. Deep problems in British society? Let's talk instead about deep problems in human nature.

The worst won't happen. Before then, the west will surely decide "to hell with it - let the Russian majority in the Donbas rule themselves - what are we fighting for?". The west surely has that much sense... er... don't they...?

Same issue here, not a pain but a kind of constant internal ache a couple of inches inside, just below the corner of the pelvis, some days stronger than others. Seen several doctors here and in UK - lots of prodding and an ultrasound scan - they do not have a clue what it is nor any reasonable suggestions. Absolute shower, the lot of them. Didn't get round to a colonoscopy. It's been there over 14 years so I assume it won't kill me and I've got used to it. If you do have colonoscopy let us know how you get on, or whatever you find out about it.

I wonder if the killer watched "Apocalypse Now" recently? Brando's "horror has a face" monologue (which he wrote himself) might be some inspiration to a deranged mind.

Actually, it started today because I just saw the first swallow of winter. They're back, and they should know.

It ought to be illegal not to have a number on a house, and it's just common sense when it's on a street of similar houses. Apart from that it's just a courtesy to everyone else. The owners screwed up through negligence or apathy. This is the result. No sympathy.

I heard there was no number or name on the house. Isn't that a legal requirement so that police/emergency services can find it? If they didn't display a number, it will not help their legal case.

20 baht at Pattavikorn Market. Took a vintage tapestry worth a few thousand baht to a local laundry shop for dry cleaning the other day - they had signs on the wall advertising dry cleaning and the frau made sure they understood it was for dry cleaning only. Went back next day and saw it hanging on a washing line outside. Yep, they washed it. The thing shrank by a few centimetres. Funnily enough, I didn't go running to the police about it.

Just leave the place alone and it will rehabilitate itself.