Donald Bright

Some 35 years ago i called in on a friend and his wife and while sitting in the lounge room talking, they had a famous operatic pieces playing in the background. I was not taking any notice of the music until a particular piece started playing and i was transfixed with the beauty of the music and the voices. The piece was the famous Male Duet from the "Pearl Fishers". I had never heard it before but by the end of the duet i unashamedly had tears running down my cheeks from the sheer beauty of that piece. I went out the next day and bought it and still love it to this day. Strangely enough although i don't dislike opera, i have never been an operatic fan.

In 15 years in Thailand i have traveled around about half of the country Whenever i have come across a restaurant that serves western food, i have tried their fish and chips if they are on the menu, as i like fish. I have not been too impressed with most of the fish and chips i have tried and cannot remember some of the earlier ones that were OK. However since being introduced to the "Swan Bar & Restaurant" in ( Buriram that i frequent once a month for my shopping), i have to say that their fish and chips, English style is definitely the best i have tasted in Thailand. Just my opinion but if you are traveling through Buriram, give it a try and see what you think. Their breakfast by the way, is huge and will keep you fueled up for the whole day.

I have a Honda Click. I travel 76klms, 38klms there and back twice a week, weather permitting. I find i have sore shoulders, arms and buttocks, afterwards. I have never associated the soreness with the bike not having been a bike rider before coming to Thailand. Does the Click and the Wave have the same problems in making you feel sore after riding.

Best fish and chips i have eaten in Thailand is at the "Swan Bar" in Buriram, real English style chips also.

If money was no object, a condominium on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

They are not getting into the house, security there is OK. They are coming onto the block at the bottom end which is partly like a swamp in the wet season. There are posts with barbed wire but that only keeps oy the buffalo. If i can't use a pellet gun it looks like i will have spend a lot more money building a secure fence.

i am barred from Lazada and for some unknown reason cannot open an account with Shopee.

I thought that one or two bursts with the plastic pellets would be enough to keep the dogs out of my place without doing any actual harm, only the stinging sensation of the pellets hitting them. I take your point though, thank you.

I need a plastic pellet gun for troublesome dogs. Does anyone know if there is a shop that sells them in Buriram, Khon Kaen, or Korat. I believe there is a supplier in China town in Bangkok but i never get down to Bangkok. I would appreciate any help. Thank you, Don.

I live in a village where everyone knows everyone, almost. One of my next door neighbour's is an elderly widow who is disliked by all who know her especially those that live in close proximity. It is believed that she has cancer and many say she can't die quick enough but shows no signs of doing so. She has got eight adult dogs and six pups from a recent litter. She refuses to get the females spade, also will not get them injected. The entrance to my place is through the property of one of my wife's aunt's, which borders this old woman's block. Quite often the dogs rush out growling ready to attack by going through the wreck of a fence. I have kept them at bay so far by using an iron tubular steel pipe but i can see these dogs attacking one of the young kids that come in and out and it could be fatal. I have thought of rat poisoned meat and a few other nasty things but i don't fancy spending the rest of my life in a Thai jail if caught. The local Tabyi Bahn (not sure how to spell this one) does not seem to care partly because he lives half a mile away from the problem. The only positive thing about the situation is that there is a hospital in the village if required. Unfortunately there is no police station here to report to. It looks like we are going to have to wait on this old biddy dying , but i can see some one getting mauled by the pack as that is what they are now. Any reasonable suggestions would be appreciated.

The government passed a law a few years ago that stopped all expats marrying government employees from getting free hospital care. Those that already were married to a government employee retained the free hospital care but expats marrying from that date on did not get free hospital care. I have one friend who has been married to a school teacher for twenty years and is covered for all hospital expenses and another friend who married a nurse two years ago and gets NO free hospital care at all because of the law change.

What is the 3 day rule ?

Unless you are 75+. I know several people around Isaan all over 75 yrs (one an ex pilot) and there is not a health insurance company anywhere that will cover them for health insurance, or travel insurance. It is something you have to take out when you are younger and continue with until you die if you want cover when you are older. For anyone under 70yrs though, i agree there is no excuse for not having travel insurance.

Thank you , i will try a consult and see what she has to say.