tmd5855

First came here in 1983 when in the Merchant Navy. 2004 started living here purely for tax reasons while working offshore Indonesia, 2011 started building a house on land owned by a "Thai Company" 2015 left Pattaya when lease on villa came to an end, met a lady in the Shopping Mall, Korat. 2017 Married said lady, still happily married she turned 53 last year and still lovely. 2025 will be 70 this year, live in a house surrounded by dogs who guard my bikes, fruit trees and Koi carp. Life cannot get better. 1977-2015 Worked 38 years at sea with 70% of the time Asian crew and always picked up enough of the language to help with tasks. Learning some Mandarin after always speaking Cantonese with the HK guys were fun, knew I would settle retire in Asia. Learning Thai is so important, stopped by police many times on my bike (Ninja650) can laugh and joke in Thai, the Thais work out what I am trying to say in single tone Thai, make a policeman smile you are on your way, but, have a Thai bike licence. Will only leave here when going up a chimney

Plenty videos on YouTube of drivers going to hospital/morgue after showing a finger to the protect and serve guys.

The Tories and media ignored this "Problem" for reasons they should answer. Labour ignore, hand palm, dodge and divert this "UEXB" since a lot of their members and councilors. I see a perfect example on the rise of Reform/Farage in the UK as seen with Trump in the USA by average voters who feel ignored by mainstream politicians who are surrounded by special interest groups. So called professional politicians in the UK are happy to stick the fingers into the till, but, fallback in horror if asked to sign the receipt. No one wants to be "The One" who starts the ball rolling or signs the order at the bottom. This leaves the field clear for the Reform party who say the things polite company want kept quiet. The economy could tank in the UK even worse than it is, extremists then move in, demise of the 'Weimar Republic' collapsed and a Minority party grabbed control. Bit far of a stretch, but, Von Papen and Hindenburg thought they were in control, we all know the outcome. Or maybe Farage is the guy to sort out all this pussyfooting, declare a suspension of 'HR' deport a few hundred, have a word in the ear of a few hundred more, become more powerful and pass draconian laws....... Think it cannot happen?? Prevention of Terrorism Act in the UK brought in the suspension of common law protection, civil rights and more. It were so severe it had to be renewed every year by a vote in the House of Commons, when the reasons for the emergency decree were no longer needed. The good bits the security services and police liked were signed off into law. Section 43 anyone...... Google is your friend?

That is how the Thai were translated into English. More than likely they did not have enough "Aggression" in them to attack, bite and hold down so failed as security/guard dogs. Though the fortunate/unfortunate guy who broke into the workshop leaving blood and clothing behind would class them as vicious. See can mean the same in a different context. Term used from translated Thai were 'vicious'

Worked with Muslims in the Gulf states, North Sea and Indonesia. Saudis were really bad to work with and try teach on how to operate/repair equipment. Would disparage Western values and women, yet we were told not to reply same. Lots of foreign educated Muslims were great guys when in airport lounges, sailed with a number the Iranians being the best, I know, I know. But, remember the Bali bombings and the mastermind, where did his fundamentalism come from, who financed that Indonesian school/Mosque. Stepped out a chopper in Dammam, Saudi, 28th December 2014 aged 59. Packed it all in on arrival the hotel I were never going to work in an atmosphere that made me feel uneasy.

My wife and I started rescuing dogs when I retired out in the country. We have blind, brain damaged, epileptic fit prone and crippled dogs as the result of road accidents, have been given disabled dogs free by vets to free up cages when owners do not pay the medical fees. Rabies and normal jabs/checks add up to a lot of expense. R.T.A. gave us two sable GSD's one (Sniffer) who had lost a right rear paw in a trap down south and no longer could jump and another used only for breeding, she arrived at 9 years old and is now 13. R.T. Airforce (Korat) gave us a male and female GSD that were not vicious enough for guard duties. At one time we had 11 dogs now down to 8, we have kennels and our property is just under a rai fully walled all around. Locals who come our home for these past 10 years cleaners/builders/gardeners all remark at the docile nature of the German Shepherds who have all been trained as all large dogs should be. There are 4 motorbikes in a carport ranging from 650 down to 125 with lots of tools. Only one instance in 10 years we thought the dogs were attacking a cat/snake in the workshop whatever/whoever left some denim and a lot of smeared blood, they never went the local hospital since we called the police who went looking for a savaged bleeding guy, but, no one with dog wounds went the local hospital. Our house front doors are never closed, at night the dogs all sleep in the house with full access to go outside. So why or what is wrong with the wife and I having more than 2 dogs

The above is "Bang ON" pun intended. Have ridden bikes all my life now aged 69 and every training course taken over the years stress "Look where you want to go" Do not look "What you want to avoid" Described as 'target fixation' will get you killed/maimed. I ride a Ninja 650 and seen accidents coming together up ahead, so slow down or speed up to get out of the way, simple road craft would have saved him, just happy he did not have a pillion.

There are a few neighbours I know.....

June 1977 joined the Merchant Navy, sailing from Singapore up to Hong Kong charterers were told by the company we would stop and pick up anyone in the water "Rules of the Sea" which would mean a delay in landing cargo, a few countries refused to let boat people land. More than a few charterers would specify a route, since they paid for the fuel we did. what they wished The amount of souls already weak that perished at sea is heartbreaking. Policy (health) were that no dead bodies be brought on board since heat and wetness accelerates decomposition, the number of dead babies that skeletal mothers brought onboard we allowed them to keep. Kept them sane, remove, insanity would appear/follow. Long story?? In February 2015 retired from the sea/working on water after 38 years, seen things wish I never had

I better not mention what I seen thrown around when working West Africa in 1980.

First time you smoke weed it leaves you bereft of choice??. My post if you read between the lines is how you start off of with soft which leads to stronger. After my sons death, met many of his druggie friends and one thing I got from them were chasing happiness. No matter how good life/work/relationships were they wanted to get up to that next level. Getting up to that next level is a choice.

Have no sympathy.... Why!! Brought up a son who started smoking weed at "Primary" school, weed maybe safe for adults, but, it does strange things to young boys minds going through puberty. My other son wanted a padlock on his bedroom door, then they wife wanted one on our bedroom door. My ex tried to understand and gave hundreds of last chances, I told him that taking drugs would end up in one or two ways, Jail or death. When folk who are not smart think they are we are getting into troubled waters. I used all my contacts, influence and money to keep him out of jail. I were working abroad when 4 uniformed cops, 2 plain clothes came my home with a sniffer dog. He were no longer an addict, now a pusher, he were not home when cops arrived he were out and told to head straight to the station, phoned me out in Indonesia asking me to fix, told him I cannot fix this time. I were the bad one. Done jail time and jail got him onto harder drugs. UK jails have drugs freely available. On the 29th December 2016, my son took his own life aged 27. No drugs he would be still alive. Taking drugs is a choice, nothing more. Drugs never end up well, it splits families and creates wounds that will never heal.

Hope you seen the link before it were deleted.

Chauvin has form for kneeling on necks, search 'YouTube' for him, he beat up a child in his own bedroom who ended up in hospital. Chavin did not move his knee when the medics arrived and tried to check the guy out, so playing safe sent him straight to the hospital. Guys like Chauvin should never be policemen

1985 to 2007 were married, those were the wilderness years were I no longer could do what made me happy, my ex even gave my dog away when working 3 months in China 1996 she had no idea what she had done, nor that I would never forgive her, it that were first 6" nail in the coffin lid. Worked overseas all my life from 1977 to retiring 2015 (38 years on the water, dive/drillships and rigs) getting away from my ex were the cause of staying so long, cash rich but no happiness or contentment. 2004 aged 49 company sent me to Indonesia and like many folk I worked with used Thailand as a base for tax reasons. The older I got the less happy I were since I felt curtailed. When my ex 2007 sent me to hospital in an ambulance made the choice to walk away and live where I worked as a new bachelor in Pattaya, behaved like a feral cat from 2007 to 2015 which were the happiest days of my life, started collecting bikes when ridden brought smiles, barfined many of Pattaya most beautiful women. On retiring met a woman when visiting Korat who made me happy and most important felt relaxed when with her, when lease expired on the Pattaya Villa moved to a (My) company owned house in Chaiyaphum built in 2011 . This lady helped me start rescue for European dogs abandoned by farangs owing to Covid (Long story) one time 11 big mutts more than half Alsatians/GSD's, changed out all my bikes for bigger (faster). Have private and state pensions coming in. A dream of an angel as a wife, together 9+ years, have a lovely home, garden pond filled with Koi, no stress, no deadlines, no breakdowns to fix with off hire penalties survived snake bite that put me in hospital for 29nights, 8 of those ICU leaving me with a bad lower left leg, but, still alive, to me opening my eyes in the morning a silent prayer goes to whoever is up there and in charge, thank you.......... In six months will be 70 years of age, have time, have money, have conserved energy for special tasks. Children all gone supporting themselves just my wife, my bikes and my now 8 dogs to be concerned with. So "Yes" there is a benefit about getting old if you have been sensible, avoided drugs, gambling and smoking, only faults for me have been soft female bodies, beer and bikes. Enjoying the fruits of my working life when sadly, many of my former work colleagues and all my class mates from High school are gone into the ground or up a chimney. Getting older for me has been good, no complaints except more than a few Kgs heavier, but, if you enjoy your life then that can only be "Good". Apologies for the long inane ramble if it does not make sense.

I have a Ninja 650 and Kawasaki brochure advertises my machine 0-100Kmh 3.54secs, the rev limiter cuts in at 160Kmh in 4th and my bike is only a medium sports tourer. Photo shown below. These BMW 1000RR are out the box track bike, under 3 secs to 100Kmh and electronically limited to 300Kmh, it has 205hp from a 999cc 4 cylinder, not a bike for a novice. Going wide around a bend tends to have a novice take his eyes off the road and see a post, this is called "Target Fixation and you hill hit what your staring at. I am 69, raced production class bikes in the 70's, but, I would never just jump on a 1000cc bike with my son on the back showing off. All my bikes are single seat so any errors on my part only affect me. Requiescat in Pace to the 13 year old

But, when the start behaving badly like Boris or Randy Andy you vote them out. You cannot vote out this guy for 'adultery'

1982 the Argentinians near "School House" displayed a white flag and two paras approaching got shot. Not many prisoners taken after that little trick. Hamas uses human shields without a second thought!!! Methinks a couple of white bed sheets is fair game

You say revisionist as if what I wrote is not true. Putin wanted to join NATO showing that after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact that NATO should evolve into a type of EU where armed forces could reduce lowering tension Worked with Ukrainians and Russians when working offshore, not much between them, the problem is money and power. The ordinary guys like those guys I worked with never really get the spoils, but, are expected to shed their blood so the instigators get their spoils. 2nd Iraq war and the fall of Saddam, who benefitted, not the average Iraqi or the region, who benefitted. Libya and the deposing of Gaddafi did his removal usher in stability for the region and prosperity, who benefitted. Departure from Afghanistan following the loss of thousands of sons and fathers, when Russia left the regime they left lasted 8 years........ The Biden installed regime were it 8 hours or minutes. Who benefitted. Any country that joins NATO has to standardise their armed forces with NATO compatible equipment. Who benefits??

Cannot understand why many folk believe that Putin woke up one Feb morning 2022 and said, "Serge, Ivanov, lets invade Ukraine?? I love the timeline 2014, US covert action in the 'Orange Revolution' depose the democratically elected president of Ukraine, this Ukranian President wanted to stay neutral, outside NATO, so had to go. Guess who were US, VP then??? Guess whose son got involved afterwards with the Ukraine gas/energy business (A book in itself). Crimea which Russia took from the Ottoman Empire were transferred from Moscow rule to Kiev in 1954 by the then half Ukraine president Khruschev, Russia took it back in 2014 (50 years later) when the now ruling regime in Kiev asked to join NATO Russia had been told that Nato would not advance east of the Oder & Neisse rivers on German reunification, where is the NATO border now?? Where is the Warsaw pact that it were going to fight. Ukraine had a paramilitary unit called the 'Azov' brigade that the US State department proscribed as a 'terrorist' organisation and were banned from using any US supplied weapons after their behaviour against civilians in the areas of the Ukraine with large numbers of Russian and Russian speaking populace. These restrictions were lifted in 2024 this unit is now part of the Ukrainian armed forces. Google their banner and flag 'A308' The celebration of the Ukrainian raised Waffen SS Division (Galicia) with statues and memorial days after the 2014 coup had Putin talking about Nazis in the Kiev government, since this Waffen SS division were now 'freedom fighters' fighting the Red (Russian) army. Zelensky and Putin had a pre 2022 agreement including neutrality and autonomy in a document called the Minsk Accords. Russia, Germany, France and the UK had signed it. Biden (Now president) told the scandal ridden UK Prime Minister to go to Kiev and tell Zelensky not to sign, EU and NATO would support him. Months later Johson resigned after half his government resigned over his lies, deceptions to the House of Commons Shortly after Boris had visited, Zelensky withdrew from the agreement Russia having stated this were a red line attacked, a war many folk could see coming for the past 8 years now happened. Joe Biden crossed a number of Putins red lines and got away with them, Minsk accord failure were one red line too far. Trump for all his (Many, many) faults would have frog marched Zelensky to the table and sign saving thousands of lives and no invasion Joe Biden now allowing US/Nato supplied weapons to destroy targets in Russia is a cliffhanger of a redline. To program these US missiles and the UK/French cruise missiles need satellite provided co-ordinates, Ukraine does not have this capability, but, NATO has........... Will be interesting to see the origin/make of the first missile to land in Russia, privately France and the UK are heading out of the room not hearing a word, Germany has already said in a roundabout way reprogramming their donated 'air' launched missiles will not "Change anything" No doubt Trump does not want WWIII on his doorstep on taking office, the phones must be red hot..

Obviously never spent time on ships or shipyards?? Keppel Fels yard in Singapore employs Indians in their thousands the majority 90%+ are fine fellows, but, their supervisors want to be recognised as a boss, a Capo, a King. Had problems with these bosses installing/fitting gear and wanting it signed 'off' before any FAT is done. Spent 2 years in Samsung Shipyard, Geoje Island doing Commissiong and FAT for 6th Generation drill ships were some Indian officers would arrive to observe during 'sea trials' (Enough said). If you think Indians are treated badly by GoGo bar and beer bar owners in Pattaya you do not want to see what the Koreans owners or staff did, as for the Pilipino hostesses my mates and I thought they were cruel. But, their answers to our questions were same, "You not know what they want us do to them and friends"............ Nuff Said. Sailed with Indian crew and found 99.9% of them great guys until they are out of their bubble. Bit like Brits/Ozzies who go abroad for the first time. PS, I am an old Brit who last worked in the UK in 1976. From that date worked overseas all my life, retiring Saudi, 2015 so seen somethings, do not get me going about West Africa 🤐

Actually it is current flow that will kill you, you touch a live terminal!! You feel a tingle do not touch anything else with your other had or you complete a circuit across your chest/heart. Just google the milliamps required to stop your heart or check the milliamps in a pacemaker.

Been Thailand since 2004 working offshore, for tax reasons spent most of my leave in Thailand, on December 29th, 2014, stepped out of a helicopter for the last time aged 59 and retired. Mortality becomes a thought in the back of your head more and more as more of your age group leave this world, friends and work colleagues in ever rapid succession.. Lost my youngest boy in 2016, then work colleagues started dropping off the radar, 2020 my best mate in the UK found dead in his bed, former pupils at my old high school no one left from my years 1967-72. Girlfriend I met in 2015, never put a foot wrong so married her 7 years ago (20170 so she can get a widows pension from my private pension when I hit the buffers. Wifes Mum has died, ex father-in-Law (Good man) has passed and now one of her three sisters has terminal cancer, ex sister -in-Law same age sudden death, two uncles passed. Went back UK, March/April for my remaining son's wedding, he took me to a few of my old locals, no one left there, if alive housebound and invalidated. How am I still alive, wonder myself!! Living here in Thailand out in the sticks as a near teetotaler, never smoked, eat Thai food and my wife drags me to the hospital every 4 weeks for blood tests, have a couple of 'Sports' bikes I ride too fast, have 8 dogs remaining from our initial rescued 11, 4 remaining are GSD's. Love DIY, love my dogs and my wife and knocking on the door of 70yrs old. I think I have been bloody lucky. All farangs around me are all gone now, I am the only known farang for miles and miles.

A "Contender" you say, some probs getting a gum shield to fit and keep her hands up and still.

Love the "Sharp as a tack" comment, though it has been hammered in and yanked out a bit going by Joes eyes??. As for Harris, need to insert "Rambles incoherently about future past imperfects, she is the one to unravel convoluted quagmires only she can fix"? Or did I just ramble....