Keeps

Is that an Indian tribute act to Pavarotti?

Fair question. They would have seen that my return date (same ticket, same airline) was more than 30 days after my original departure date. They should, in theory, want to know if I have the appropriate visa to stay in Thailand for in excess of 30 days. My explanation that I shall obtain a 30 day extension whilst in Thailand to my original 30 day visa exempt has always been accepted.

I would just keep quiet and let the check-in staff ask the questions. I have checked in at London Heathrow numerous times without a Tourist Visa but with a plan to stay in Thailand for longer than 30 days. If they ask, I reply that I will obtain a 30 day extension to my 30 day visa exempt whilst in Thailand. This has always been accepted. It may have helped that in each instance, my return leg of the journey was within 60 days of the original departure and on the same ticket. Other times, I have had a SETV but not been asked to show this. I have pointed this out to the check-in staff and they have then entered details of the Visa onto their computer system. It can be a bit hit and miss but I've never been denied boarding.

Yet another thread goes pear shaped due to you two girls bickering with each other like a couple of 7 year olds. Just waiting for the "he started it" post....

If you do decide to split your week between Samui and Koh Phangan I've made a suggestion above for Samui. For Phangan I'd consider heading to Buri Rasa resort at Thong Nai Pan Noi beach. It's away from the crowds. They can arrange private speedboat transfer from Samui directly to the resort or collect you from Thongsala pier if you make your own transport arrangements from Samui. https://www.burirasa.com/phangan/ I've stayed at both of the suggested resorts and found both excellent.

If Samui/Lamai beach then Pattra Resort is nice and fits in with your budget. Not directly on beach but only 2 minutes stroll away and smack in the centre of town. https://www.pattravillresort.com/

Sticking with the Christmas theme and the general misery expressed on this thread so far, I see that Shane MacGowan from the Pogues has passed away. Fairytale of New York is one of the great Christmas songs. Up there with Slade and Wizard. Shane would have been on for a massive royalty cheque come January which he will never get to spend. fa la la la la......

Went to Mae Sot a few years back for family reasons. I stayed for a week which was precisely 7 days too long.

One baht, two baht, three baht, four baht...................

He has at least 25 million baht because he tells us that most days......

Probably because he wants to own a US$5 billion company. For some people, enough is never enough.

What's with the new profile picture Bob? Looks like Joe Wilkinson to me?

When they were giving out sh#t for a brain, you were first in the queue or When they were giving out sh#t for a brain, you went up for seconds

Your mum is so fat, she has her own postcode.

Let's see what happens first shall we? Let's see if common sense prevails?

That's the liquor. A kind of parsley sauce but made with the stock from stewing eels which us strange people from in or around London eat called jellied eels. These are also slavered in malt vinegar. Peculiar chaps aren't we? I will forgive you just this once for not using the appropriate apostrophe in "what's"

I think your friends wife needs to hone her dinner party skills if that was what she served. It's pretty much viewed as an emergency meal in the UK, maybe if you've got one in the cupboard but can't get down the shop due to an earthquake, flood or alien invasion etc Regarding the pastry, you have just described all that is good about it 555

Pie, mash and liquor. More of a London thing. The liquor made from the juice they stewed the eels in for jellied eels. Pie cannot be anything other than minced beef, none of your fancy chicken and mushroom... Lashings of malt vinegar

Not the easiest things to navigate but got myself a decent tin opener. Gives the guns a work out too. I hasten to add I don't indulge too often. Years ago when I was spending a bit of time in Udon (past life) the next door neighbours little girl would come around to "Kin Steak" as she would say. 4 years old and couldn't get enough of a Fray Bentos, bless her.

If there was a dribbling option (mouth, nowhere else!) to click, I would have. A minced beef and onion pie sandwich with brown sauce, food of the gods.

It was Haddock - kudos! Came with a pickled onion as well and just hiding under my fork was a bit of gherkin. 310 baht which I think was reasonable as you can get utter c#ap for 250+ baht. Thoroughly enjoyed it, not oily and piping hot. Again, good spot on the haddock front

Top tips from Viz - absolute quality! haven't thought about that in years. Thanks for the memory. Just posting those tips as separate topics could crash this site. Don't know why you pulled that from the recesses of your memory but awfully glad you did

I'm quoting myself here but I told you so! I notice the OP ducked out of the conversation early doors...He knew exactly what he was doing 555