Gladiator

I've lived in Asia for 25 years. During that time I tried to get back to see my parents at least once every few years. In their latter years they lived in a Retirement community in Florida, each family with their own apartment with kitchen, but with a central dinning room if they didn't feel up to cooking for themselves. There was a nurse on duty 24/7 and a doctor on call. The nurse makes rounds each morning to check every family. Each weekend there were activities and trips that they could be part of if they so decided, and of course, there was the all-day card games/mah jong games around the pool. When it was time, they would call me and say " I think it would be a good idea if you came for a visit... right now." And I'd come. A few days after I left my father passed over... He passed away 15 years ago. My mother was active in the community until she was in her late 80's (She loved going to Chippendale's with her girlfriends. I can only imagine...) This past winter she sent me e-mail saying it was time for me to come and say goodbye. She knew it was her time to go. She was 92. We arrived on Christmas Day, and spent seven days with her, leaving on Sunday. We were able to say all those things that people wish they could say to their loved ones but so often don't get the chance. We were lucky.

The doctor told us she passed away in her sleep Monday night.

We might love our parents, but we are not our parent's 'playground friends.' They have their own friends and most of the time, although they may love their children and enjoy visits, most would really rather spend their time with people their own age. I love my son, and I cherish the time when he comes to visit with me or I visit with him. But I don't want to spend ALL my time playing with him any more than he want's to spend all his time with me. We both have lives of our own. There are points where those lives intersect, but we don't live in them.

Very well put.

My father died over 40 years ago and my mother died about 7 years ago as I was in the process of moving to Thailand. She never said any thing about it. She was in her 80s and had been a world traveler into her late 70s I am sure she respected my decision to come here. I was fortunate to be over there when she passed away and attend the funeral. I have a uncle in his mid 90s now just going into the hospice system. They are going to turn off his pace maker. I will not be able to return this year a fact that I am sure he would understand. He was traveling through Africa in his 80s and he informed me that I had come by my wanderlust honestly.

I have passed it on to my youngest. He has been here visiting four times now and is coming back for Loi Kertong. he is hoping he can stay until mid December for my birthday. Like you say he has his life and I have mine. Last time he was here he found a girl friend and got to see a lot more of the culture than I could have showed him he basically lived his own life and I mine.We were in contact every day but he was not depended on me for every thing as he had been on his earlier visit's.

The question now is what do I do to prepare my family for my passing away here in Thailand. The wife refuses to throw my body in the moat or the river to save the money and my boy has sad he would like a piece of my bone.

Respect!

Goodness me,

I think that you all may be busy or asleep. I am bored and wish to 'Fence'. Anyone????????

Hah.

after all night party we used to collect in the kitchen and eat marmite/vegemiite on toast and butty..... wonderful memories!

I have to confess we are not really married. Stay together now one and a half y. At any time she decided we are married (sami/mia). In public and for her friends we are married. Not for my people of course.

In the beginning it was funny, now I do not care. Only words.

To complete I am not a health freak, drink my beer, like my weekly binge, but fill my day with little things. No TV does not mean no screen. I look my home TV in Ipad. Only to have this clear.

The age gap is big, she is 28, I am 53. In my opinion not really conclusive regarding to my problem.

Yes, I can try to take her how she is. People are different. She is very pretty, slim, hour glass shaping, for me a perfect 9.

Externally I cannot get something better. She give me no reasons to be jealous, she keep our money together.

When I come home from some activities all work in the house is done (my job is outside and garden), soup is simmering etc.

But I can be sure tv is to hear befor I do one step into the house. Drive me crazy. Nothing what she do has any sense. Her English was quite good in the beginning but gets worse due to her negligence and laziness to find the right words and pronounce right. No effords to improve her skills.

I not showed her my irritatation until now. In her eyes she makes nothing wrong and she loves me.

Probably is everything my fault. Not loose and relaxed enough. But on the other side I can not force myselfe to be another person.

I catch myself now more and more to think obout better staying alone. Not sure if I really love her anymore. And can save a lot of money.

Winkinger and and what do you do?

My day -

rise with the sun.

Say my prayers before Bhuddha Phra Pauta Rub

Go into the village see if I can help some of the old folk.

Help wify do the washing and clean house.

feed and walk the mutts

Check internet

maybe go into town to my office... I am an old boy so cannot always do this.

feed fish in the lake.

write.

watercolour

Dream

and you ?????

No not just you WG. I could shave a beard while waiting for a 'page' to come up!!!!!!!

You know HD

Another tiime, another place... The US embassy actually glued in additional Pages to my US passport!

Gladiator

PS. I am a mongrel I have many passports... all of them genuine. I was born on a HK junk at Macao, or was it Shiang Hai?......

On a lighter note.....

"if you have a dog.... why bark?"

I can only tell you all that that were no 'Good Samartans' around yesterday evening when I was walking home from the resort. Just me and the mutts! and since they only have 1 percent IQ... not a lot of good to me. Thank you St. Jude. Mapguy - my apologies.... you have always been a good and wise source of counsel. No offence meant.

KRS,

This is a topic that, I suppose, affects many of us.

In my own case, after working for 30 years for an international airline - it was time to move on. I had originally visited CM in 1976 and have blood family here. My, then plan, was just to come out in the winter and return to be with Mum in the summer. Maybe Jung was right as synchronicity kicked in.We have always had Thai family, so no stranger to Thai culture and and the last moment she decided to migrate with me. A brave decision for a lady in her 80's.

Regrets - none!

She loved every moment!

If you wish - you are welcome to PM me and I can provide you with further details.

Before she passed on she spent her time with myself, other family and Carers at Mckeans Hospital: = wonderful way to say goodbye.

http://www.thaivisa....ther-provinces/

Although my daughter and three granchildren still live a long way away - Thailand is home. Warts and all.

Good luck

Gladiator

Gladiator

Sorry some reason I cannot post the photos....

Why Some Men Have a Dog And No Wife:

1. The later you are, the more excited your dogs

are to see you.

2. Dogs don't notice if you call them by another

dog's name.

3. Dogs like it if you leave a lot of things on the

floor.

4. A dog's parents never

visit.

5. Dogs agree that you have to raise your voice to get your point across.

6. Dogs find you amusing when you're drunk..

7. Dogs like to go hunting and fishing.

8. A dog will not wake you up at night to ask, "If I died, would you get another

dog?"

9. If a dog has babies, you can put an ad in the paper and give them away.

10. A dog will let you put a studded collar on it without calling you a pervert.

11. If a dog smells another dog on you, they don't get mad. They just think it's interesting.

And last, but not least:

12. If a dog leaves, it won't take half of yourstuff.

To test this theory:

Lock your wife and your dog in the garage for an hour. Then open it and see who's happy to see you.

Me!

The 'Acroplisala'... would not have guessed it... would you?

Hi-Jack!

On the other hand.....

Depending where you lived on the NA continent... You don't get snowed in for many months of a year.

Don't have black flies to bite you when you go fishing on lakes.

Apart from occasional political strife don't have race or language issues.... learn some Thai....

Don't have tax problems.

Have cheap and diffrerent multi-cultural foods and Western if you want it.

Have a good 24/7 bus service and a good local airport.

Have a new way and look on life.

Make some good friends from around the world

Get an insight into Thai culture and Bhuddhsim.

Live in CM and experience the Oxbrixge of Thailand

Experience Loy Krathong... and other festivals

Drink interesting tea...

Are these tjhings not more important than a soft cushion,cheaper coffee, razor blades and shaving foam?

Ultimately ...We all have our choice as to where we want to be... No one and nowhere is perfect.

Where do you want to be?

Funny thing about a smile...

It says everything and it says nothing.

Attitude is perhaps more important. How you act and how others perceive you is what life is all about. Your perception is rather like looking at a rubrik cube.

How do you perceive it to be?

Behaviour breeds behaviour.

Personally - I have never had this problem. Took as I found and still do.

I am not a 'New kid on the block'. I have been here a number of years and lived in a variety of places but yes, Chiang Mai is now my domicile.

For sure, there are charlatans and crooks (as there are all over the world)... but the everyday people will respond to you as you inititially act towards them.

Have the courtesy, if not not to learn Thai language, just to learn a few simple polite phrases. It will go along way and help to make a 'bridge'.

I wish you luck !

I guess that this is a man's joke as I have told to many a lady over the year and they have not understood it.

A man who has a glass eye places his glass eye in a glass containing sterile water, by his bedside, every evening.

One night he has the most horrifiic nightmare... wakes up drenched in perspiration .... in dispair ... reaches for the glass of water and swallows it and its 'contntents' in desperation. The following morning ...realizing what he has done he consults a physician.

The Good Doctor asks "what has ocurred?"

The man replies "I have seemed to have swallowed somwthing which has lodged in my bowel"

The Doctor is confused, "Well what is it my dear chap?"

"I am to embarrassed to tell you"

"Then I must perform an examination"

This occurs.

Suddnley the Good Doctor arises and says....

"My Dear Fellow.... before we go any further you must simply learn to trust me!"

I miss good rice. Very hard to get in Thailand. No boil in the bag Uncle Bens like at home. Pity that , so difficult to boil it without the plastic bag.

Please tell me that this is a joke! I never, ever, appreciated the different diversities, intracacities, and flavours of of different types of rice before coming to Thailand!

Simple language issues?

I live in Chiang Mai... Thai word for delicious - 'Lam'

Wify comes from Khon Kaen - Thai 'Issan' word for delicicious - 'Sap'

Bangkok - Thai word for delicicious - 'Alloy'

I could go on and on but that is not my point..

You may learn 'Central Thai Language' but if you move to the provinces - you better be prepared to expand your scope. The nearest and dearest is one of the greatest resources if you are receptive and prepared to learn and be receptive.

I think that it is called a 'Learning Curve'.

Good luck

Thai Wify.... tells me its is

'Butterfly Love'

Ah .....St, Jude comes to mind -

Saint Jude is known as the patron of lost causes and desperate cases,

For Chicago Policemen, hospitals and possiblbly drunks who have lost their way home.

I have relied on him on many a time and he has never let me down!

Hello Lostinissan,

Have a look at:

http://www.thaivisa....-in-chiang-mai/

http://www.mckeanhosp.org/

Mckeans Hospital and now have a seperate Senior Care facility.

My Mum received hospice care in the original hospital before passing - as did several other international folk that I knew.

A senior nursing director is Beth - who speaks English as is an American now residing in Thailand.

0857091197

The head doctor is an Australian.

The hospital is set in beautiful gardens by the Ping river just outside of Chiang Mai. I have nothing but praise for the medical care and concern that my Mum received.

Please PM if I can provide further information.

Regards,

Gladiator

Another view... not necessarily Thai orientated:

http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/eat/readers-choice-worlds-50-most-delicious-foods-012321

Hubby bought a suit from Frank and Fashion King in the Night Bazaar and is really happy with it.

One thing we really liked was that Frank talked with Hubby first to see where he would be wearing the suit and for what kind of functions. Once he learned we never leave Thailand and the suit would be worn at functions with middle-aged and older Thai professionals or western-style Thai weddings (and just a few times a year) he made a recommendation that he said was totally different than if we had said Hubby was going to wear it every week in London.

We were a bit surprised to see it -- the quality of construction was obviously superb, but the fit and style was totally different than anything Hubby would have bought in the U.S. Hubby proclaimed it very comfortable, especially for Thailand's heat, but had concerns about the style. In the end, we went with Frank's recommendation and Hubby has received many compliments from his Thai friends.

Part of what you want from a good tailor or dressmaker are recommendations -- fabrics, fit, fashion that could work for you, but you just don't know that because you don't think about clothing every day the way they do.

We're very happy to have made the investment in a suit from Fashion King.

NancyL

Thanks for the heads up.

I have a weddding to attend in Europe in August and Fashion King tailored my suit and shirt - superbly! The price was great and he also contributed a very fasionable tie. pocket-hanky and cufflinks!

Although I do not wear the type of garment in Thailand - if the need arose, for sure I would return!

Gladiator

I am impressed we can get crumpets here in CM but they cost an arm and a leg so tend to nake my own...

Where do you get decent crumpets in Chiang Mai? I would like to try some. Cafe Compassion has them and they taste good to me, but I have never been to England, so am not sure what they are really supposed to taste like

UG

I am sure that Rimping used to stock then in their frozen section

I am impressed we can get crumpets here in CM but they cost an arm and a leg so tend to nake my own...

Where do you get decent crumpets in Chiang Mai? I would like to try some. Cafe Compassion has them and they taste good to me, but I have never been to England, so am not sure what they are really supposed to taste like

UG

I am sure that Rimping used to stock then in their frozen section

AICM out