gerryBScot

It is sad that everything appears to be reduced to the binaries, yes or no. I wonder how many drunks who are rattling right now are concerned about either the existence of God or whether a disease model approach is best for them. These were certainly not concerns of mine when I made the initial phone call that led me to go to an AA meeting for the first time. I was fortunate because of living in a big city I was directed to a meeting close to where I lived that started about one hour after my phone call. I have now been to AA all over the world Japan to Tasmania, Thailand, the Philippines, UK, USA and I just don't recognise the meetings I have been able to attend from the way AA is described by people posting here, some claiming expertise. I can't see how AA could have survived and grown into a truly globally organisation if it was so totally flawed and based on such erroneous concepts. The good thing is most AAs grin and bear it and go about their daily lives in a state of contentment and happiness. I actually smile and laugh at most of the anti stuff posted on here and elsewhere.

I believe they do prey on vulnerable. Also, they have a hidden or not so hidden agenda to make you believe in Christianity or God. In fact those words are in their twelve steps. There are many other ways for alcoholics to seek help. People should try it and see but don't be afraid to look elsewhere

Would you explain, for the benefit of those people who might be lurking on this forum, debating in their own minds if they are or aren't alcoholics, the "many other ways for alcoholics to seek help". I do not believe any AA member on this thread is claiming the AA approach is the only way. Beyond telling someone not to go to AA, what would you suggest to a person in provincial Thailand, say Nakhon Nowhere, who contacted you and said: "gk10002000, help me <deleted>, I'm desperate, I need to do something about my drinking. I remember you saying there are many ways for alcoholics to seek help. Please tell em about them? And please don't tell anyone we've had this discussion.'

I'm not an alcoholic but I was a drunk for about 2 years in Oz when my marriage broke up, I was on the road everyday as a salesman---drunk and selling......done my best sales figures.

But I do think AA does help some people---I remember stumbling into a small AA meeting in a town I didn't know well, I sat down and said the usual, "Hello, I'm oxo and I'm an alcoholic."

Have you been drinking right now? asked one person.

Yes. I admitted I have been---Thought so, he replied, "This is a mosque............................

Every drunk has this kind of tale to tell, some funny like yours, some awful. I knew a guy got convicted of murder when he was in a black out. Served five years and was discharged following new evidence becoming available. He quit drinking for a few years but then went back out for more and as far as I know is still out there. I don't want to interfere with anybody's enjoyment of a glass or two or ten, indeed I would support it, but some of us, like me, shouldn't be allowed near a drop of it because it turns us into dangerous, sick whatevers. I don't understand the change in me since I got sober, I don't need to understand it in all honesty, but the world is a better and safer place because I don't drink any more.

In and around major cities and towns the best place to buy food IMHO is Makro. Fresh fish and sea food, beef etc - when I say fresh fish I mean it is killed in the store often in front of you - and you can get things like avocados ( imported ones are very expensive) and cuts of fresh/frozen fish such as tuna and salmon together with all the salad stuff.

Johnny thanks for the original post and the link which I had never read despite it going back to December 2015. I also see later you say you had hope posting the article might stimulate an interesting thread - alas, it's difficult because some of our friends are plain hostile to AA and can be relied upon to churn out the usual shibboleths about AA being a religious organisation,etc ad nauseam.

As a happy recovering AA I have not experienced any religious orgasms today. I did not hear any voices. I did not fall over any statues or trip up over rosary beads. No visions of angels and no weeping effigies for that matter. When I go to AA meetings I do not hear my fellow members describing similar experiences and exhorting their fellow members to flail themselves and wear hair shirts. I hear people sometimes acknowledge that in their journeys into recovery that they have come to understand the idea of a higher power. I hear far more people say they struggle with traditional religious concepts of 'GOD' and a fair few assert their G_O_D is the Group_of_Drunks they are sitting amongst. The God gig is the biggest red herring in AA, increasingly killing more and more alcoholics because understandably some of them are starting to believe this nonsense, as it is getting lots of airplay, and it keeps them out of the rooms.

It cannot be denied however that AA has its issues. We have deservedly received a high level of opprobrium for failing to keep our house in order and facilitating 'thirteenth stepping'. My reading of AA history is this has been a problem from the beginning. I was always told that 'two sickies do not make a wellie' and was advised against having close sexual relationships of any sort in my first year. It sounds severe but, looking back, it was good advice and was indicative of the support that was provided in the well ordered groups which I attended.They used to say: if you want a relationship buy a plant and learn to look after; if it is still alive after six months, then buy a pet animal and learn to look after it; if it is alive two years later then you might be ready for a relationship. It would have been unthinkable for a vulnerable woman to be murdered as a result of being thirteenth stepped in any of these groups because the general approach was 'care and concern' for the newcomer. It was understood the last thing any newcomer needed was to be plunged into sexual relationship with a senior member. It was frowned upon. But it is undeniable that this is a problem and in a handful of cases it has resulted in dreadful consequences.

Nevertheless I have to say this: I would be dead if I hadn't stopped drinking and there is no doubt in my mind that what has made my continued and indeed developing sobriety possible is AA.

One of the best and cheapest sources of protein available in Thailand would be chicken feet - 'kah gai'; they are also loaded with collagen. They are not available everywhere but I reckon you'll get them in restaurants around market areas. They are cooked in a variety of ways but my favourite is chicken feet salad; spicy with lime juice and a little bit chewy and not to everyone's taste not so much on account of taste, they are pretty tasteless, but rather texture. Check them out online. I was amazed when I bought them in error first time, googled them and as I say learned they were fat and carb free and actually a great source of protein and collagen - make your face look good!

Gentlemen, I presume, many thanks for your help and advice.

I am trying to ft a new bulkhead light outside; the existing mains wiring is black and grey and the wiring for the new bulkhead lamp is blue and brown - what connects with what? Any help gratefully appreciated before I blow myself and the house up. Thanks

what a sad,sad, sad news item. RIP young lady and condolences to your family. Body fascism rules ok, it's not about what you feel like on the inside but all about what you look like on the outside.

Hey Jack one thing you omitted from your tale of woe was how much did it cost? I use a dentist in Hua Hin and she's the best dentist I've had anywhere in the world and I travel 120 km just to get treated by her.

7000 baht for her "service". The price of the metal itself was 9000.

Ouch and ouch again.

Hey Jack one thing you omitted from your tale of woe was how much did it cost? I use a dentist in Hua Hin and she's the best dentist I've had anywhere in the world and I travel 120 km just to get treated by her.

This is not a Thai problem, it is universal. The jails all over the world are rammed to bursting point with petty criminals, most of their offences drug and drink related in some respect, the majority of whom pose no real danger to society; their offences tend to be against property. I've never understood the logic in such a ridiculous system but it is alive well and kicking in most so called first world countries.

In view of naysayers and malcontents posting their frustration at those of us who acknowledge that we have packed it in, i.e. drinking, I considered not saying anything to mark my thirteenth sobriety anniversary which falls today. The truth is I don’t go on about it. I simply acknowledge that I am an alcoholic and I don’t drink anymore. I post here and that is about it beyond going to AA meetings occasionally and helping people on an individual basis. I do not endeavour to drag drunks out of bars to teach them the errors of their ways. Most people in my real life don’t know I am a sober drunk. Don’t get me wrong, I am not in denial - if I felt it would serve a useful purpose I would tell people that I am a sober drunk. If you are happy with your relationship with alcohol then so am I.

If there is one thing more boring than a drunk it's somebody going on and on about how they gave it up

...and, thai3, just to make you happy, I am 13 years clear of it tomorrow.

In my one and only experience of being in an accident about four years ago I was deeply unimpressed by the insurance agent, the insurance company and the entire manner in which the claim was conducted. It seemed as if they decided the accident would become a bit of a bonanza for all. I knocked a motor cyclist off her bike doing an illegal u-turn so I didn't really have a leg to stand on. However the damage to the bike was minimal - superficial damage to the fender and scratches to the paint. I would reckon no more than 2,000 THB would have been generous. The rider drove the bike home after the accident and I followed. (I had taken her to hospital and paid for her to be checked out). Mechanically the bike was fine. In the end the insurance company paid her 12,000 THB for damage. I was also required by the company to report my misdemeanour to the police which resulted in a fine of 1,000 THB and a payment to the rider of another 1,000 THB. I am not complaining about this but it was unnecessary and if I had known reporting the accident to the police would have resulted in a fine I would have asked them to send a translator because I didn't know what was going down. Then the repairs to my own truck were estimated at 7,000 THB. I told the company I would pay myself as I have a 5,000 excess. This did not stop the repair company making a claim to my insurance company and being paid out for the repairs in addition to receiving payment from me.

I just lumped it and ate humble pie as I didn't think I would have achieved anything by complaining. I still don't know what I was convicted of! But I can understand why sometimes the advice on here is to leg it if you are involved in accident. I wouldn't, but there's no doubt in my mind that my insurers were completely indifferent to representing my interests and seemed to encourage the other party to maximise her claim.

Only time in 30 plus years of driving that I have ever hit another moving vehicle and I am mightily relieved the rider suffered no more than superficial injuries. I would strongly suggest you have a mobile phone with a camera/video and photograph/record any accident and the ID cards of anybody involved.

Thanks Sophon I'm with AXA too so that is reassuring.

Is there an age limit on a truck in terms of eligibility for first class insurance? My truck was first registered as new in 2008 and so is approximately eight years old. I seem to recall reading somewhere that vehicles over seven were ineligible for first class insurance. Could some one please advise?

It's great to read that the truth is finally emerging: English programmes are a waste of money.

if the person is Thai, and most at this meeting will be expats, they will be able to put her in touch with Thai AAs. If not come back to me and I will see what I can do.

Details conveyed and they are going to attend today's meeting for beginners. Thanks again.

you may also want to convey this information too:

there's an old saying: you can always tell an alcoholic, but you can't tell them very much. I once had a discussion with my doctor during which I told him I had quit drinking. He almost fell off his chair. I explained I was going to AA. He said he was delighted and that he had often wondered about raising the issue of my drinking at an earlier stage. He explained that decided against doing this because he feared he would scare me away. A very wise, perspicacious doctor.

Many of us baulk at the suggestion of going to AA for the first time. Denial is the nature of the beast. "AA is for tramps and bums....", "I'm not as bad as that" and so on.

I would avoid getting into a debate or an attempt to persuade. Ask the person to do something for you, without explaining what. Ask them to trust you. Take them to the meeting. Don't tell them where you are going. Introduce them to the folk outside. Say you'll be back in an hour. Leave it like that. Go back in an hour and collect them and you've done your job.

Good luck and thanks for trying to help someone save their life.

Hi does anyone know when is the next AA meeting nearby Sukhumvit area and if it will be suitable for a person in twenties?.

saakura hi --- AA in Sukhumwit. There are meetings today, Sunday, at 1900 and 2030 at the Recovery Club in Ekkamai. The 2030 meeting is a beginners' meeting designed for people who are new. I am sure you'll find other people there who are of a similar age but in any event age is not really an issue.

If I were in Bangkok I would offer to meet you and take you there but I am not.

So here are directions:

• take BTS Skytrain to Ekkamai station;
• exit station using exit no. 2;
• walk straight along Sukhumvit for a small distance and turn right onto Ekkamai road at the traffic lights;
• cross to the other side of the road and walk up for about 5 minutes;
• at the Bourbon Street Oyster Bar & Restaurant, turn left into a small soi;
• the Recovery club is next to the Bourbon Street Oyster bar and there are usually a few folk outside who will welcome you; it's basically the ground floor of a block of apartments;

Good luck.

As you could probably tell I didn't know what I was talking about! My impression was there was a problem with the filter...... duh! Anything under the boot of a car is beyond me. There was a problem according to them with the evaporator which needed replacing. Cost 6000 THB, took 2.5 hours and involved removing the dash. Big job. Anyhow, after the repair, I drove the truck down to Hua Hin , a 220 km round trip, and the aircon was perfect with the cab very comfortable and on the return I had it set at '2' on half temperature.

Of course I am left with doubts about all manner of dodgy doings on, but hey the aircon is working again!

I'm going to take the Triton in to get the air conditioning serviced and the filter changed. In the past Mitsu's dealers have done it at prohibitive cost, me thinks, so I have been recommended a local workshop which specialises in vehicle zircon. Any idea of how much I might expect to get charged for a routine service and filter change? Many thanks

Good post. Enjoyed my visits to Cebu years ago and am considering another visit. I'd never care to visit Manila again, though I did meet some great people there. Know anything about the healthcare there? Decent hsps, good docs? No ripoffs?

Despite being hospitalised in Bacolod a few years ago, I really don't know a lot about health care in the RPI. I had a rather complex bacterial infection and while they didn't resolve it entirely , they 'patched me up', didn't kill or harm me and I was able to travel back to LOS where it was resolved. There is a public system but I believe it is overcrowded. The poverty there is in your face in a way that you just don't see here in LOS. People are turned away and in effect left to die because of not being able to pay deposits on admission.

I was in a private facility which wasn't much to write home about and would compare with similar small scale private hospitals in Thailand. There are world class facilities in Manila and Cebu so long as you have the dosh or insurance. There seemed to be plenty of reasonably competent doctors and nurses and everyone speaks English so no issues with communication. For foreigners it is essentially a private system where everything has a cost.

I suspect that once you get off the beaten track services are much thinner on the ground and you would need to consider evacuation to bigger centers in an emergency.

I would recommend Cebu and Iloilo in Panay as two cities worth exploring in the RPI; the latter now has international flights though not from Thailand yet. Flights from Singapore I believe. It would be wrong to compare such cities to Chiang Mai or anywhere else in Thailand. All I would say is they are much more manageable than Manila which is one of the most insane places on this planet. Don't get me wrong, I love Manila, but it is a real walk on the wild side. Both Cebu and Iloilo make good entry points to the RPI. I really like Iloilo because the universities located there mean lots of young people and generally a bit of culture, some decent food and things are affordable. I think the presence of armed security guards, (many of them look like kids) at shopping malls and outside banks etc is very disconcerting; this is something I really dislike. I am not great on the food either but with a bit of local knowledge there usually are some good places to be found which knock out decent fare. I don't take kindly to being beckoned by strangers with "Hey Joe" and referred to as a ' 'cano' ( short for Americano) but these are purely personal considerations! At one level it is a real rough house but I do think it has enormous potential and I do see progressive changes from frequent visits, thanks to Mrs gerryBScot being a native of those parts, though resident here in LOS.