siftasam

I looked at this site last year when I renewed my UK passport. There were several criticisms of VFS in CM then, so I went to Thai Visa Assist in Changmailand. Smooth, efficient service there.

Fame is transitory. One day Roger Federer, Noli and Rafa will be 'forgotten'. Pele, Ali and Maradona just names. Memory is becoming obsolete. Is this connected with Alzheimer's? Memory used to be greatly cultivated in schools. I don't mean learning by rote. There has always been some of that. It's not just a Thai school issue.

The humorous writer whom I love the best, S. J. Perelman, said, after several visits there, that Indonesia was his ideal. Pretty girls too, he said!

Sorry Kannika P. I didn't mean to shout. It was a pathetic comment though that I was responding to. Best wishes to you. Tomorrow I go to have a urine test at BKK hospital in Chiang Mai. He talked to me last week about having a Cystoscopy. I'll try to thank and update all who have been so kind and informative in their messages. It's very much appreciated. Incidentally, I've looked at US rezum treatment on YouTube. It looks simpler and less expensive.

OMG! Why talk about women when you can have this? Cheaper to run and will go forever. Never 'out of style', responds instantly to the touch, body work immaculate (at least for a good few years), and looks exactly the same in the morning as it did the night before. Older models will satisfy leather fetishists. It hums or purrs - it does not snore. What's not to adore? p.s. if you buy this, you'll probably get the girl(s) anyway.

(Pouatchee) tou do realize this guy starts one off topics and never replies? just check his profile Are you referring to me? If so, it is not true and you should be ashamed of yourself. I only post serious matters hoping for informative and helpful answers. I always try to respond. You will understand that, as I said in my original post, I am 77 years old and ill.

I know that I must speak to my Thai lawyer about this, but I wondered if anyone has any experience of, or thoughts on, a bad situation I face. I have yet more serious surgery soon. I am 77 years old. My EX-girlfriend (EX for 6 years) still lives in my house because I 100% support her wonderful 10 year old daughter. I call her my 'daughter'. Inevitably, that means I support her mother too but there is no legal affiliation between her mother and me. She is a bad woman to me but, because of her daughter, I made my EX the heiress in my Will to my house (held by usufruct), money etc. My EX doesn't deserve to inherit. My daughter does. But can I leave everything to a 10 year old girl? Even if I can, a big problem would be the executor. I have nobody and, obviously, I cannot ask one of her family. A lawyer can be an executor but I cannot see this working. Much too complicated and expensive. I want my daughter to continue living in the house. What if I left my house to my EX together with some money? Could I then arrange with my lawyer that the rest of my money (enough for my daughter to finish her schooling) be 'invested' for her? The only safe way would seem to be in a Thai bank? But held for her until what age? Inflation would presumably far exceed interest paid at a bank BUT at least she would have some money when she is say 16 or 18. And she is intelligent enough to use it wisely, I think. Her mother would have spent most of it on herself long before, without any thought for the future. My EX would have to get a job meanwhile, something she has not had for 8 years. I presume, if I do this, that I must involve a lawyer so that my daughter will be able to access this account without any problem when she reaches the contractually stipulated age. I don't think I can arrange this legally myself with the bank? A difficult situation. Many thanks for any comments!

From Simon43: There are only 3 things that my neighbours and friends need to know: 1 - I have no money 2 - The matches are in the top drawer in the kitchen 3 - After using 2) to incinerate me, bin day is on Fridays :) Brilliant! Simple Simon Says! 'It's no bloody good looking for money! Everything gone on money for 'honey', Cor, strike a light! Out with the matches, 'Bye, my old flames! Reduce me to ashes!'

I don't believe in Heaven but, if I did, I'd like the angel Gabriel (the one with the horn) to say to me at the Pearly Gates: "Hey, man! We've reserved a place for you in the heavenly Trumpet section. You're sitting between Satchmo and Dizzy Gillespie. Clifford Brown, Clark Terry and Roy Eldridge make up the rest of the line." "What, No Miles Davis?" "Nah, man. He p#ssed us all off. We sent him to the other place for being such a miserable motherf###er." And you know what? I've never played a trumpet in my life BUT I opened right up on 'When The Saints Go Marching In'. The boys were impressed!

I am interested in having the REZUM Water Vapour treatment for better urine/urethra flow. The usual problems for an oldie of frequency and urgency, especially nocturia. Has anyone had this treatment in Chiang Mai or Lamphun? Could you recommend a hospital or a specific doctor to contact please? Also, please advise about cost if you have had this treatment. Many thanks.

It certainly pays to shop around if you can. I 've had excellent treatments and service at Bangkok Hospital on Super Highway, including 3 operations (varicose veins stop potential DVT again plus removal of gallbladder). Everything excellent BUT yes, of course, it's expensive. The following 3 are a lot less expensive, I think. My recent post on Prostate Treatment highlighted an excellent doctor at McCormick. My very knowledgeable Thai lawyer had a prostate removal operation there and recommends it. My restaurant owner, a very shrewd lady, had very good cancer treatment at the University hospital now building itself a very good reputation. Sriphat too.

I'm amazed that Thai people pay this ridiculous price for coffee. I have excellent cappuccinos for 65to 70 baht. One excellent coffee shop about 3 minutes walk from Starbucks.

You're lucky, Dany! You can count your blessings. I'm reduced to counting my days! (LOL)

My Sporting Quiz 2024.docx

Yes, so dangerous on the roads. I've driven here for 13 years. I think worse now than before CoVid. I refuse to give in over zebra crossings, I'm that stupid. Even when crossing lights are green for me and I'm standing on the zebra it's dangerous. The Road Traffic Act states that drivers/mb riders MUST stop if you are actually on the zebra crossing. The fine for not doing so is, if I remember correctly, 4000 baht. Of course most Thais won't know that, but, prat that I am, I shout it at them and hold up 4 fingers! It sometimes works! Roundabouts are so few. They can't understand that you give way to drivers coming from your right because that's the side i.e. your own driving side, that will get hit!

Hiromi is the greatest Japanese pianist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY5dTBhRxOA Thanks, Mr. proton. Interesting and full discussion of the merits and limitations of her playing on reddit/jazz/hiromi. I don't warm to her. The sound is too often like a mechanical player piano. Quite frankly, her improvisations tend to get on my box. I certainly wouldn't pay to watch her. It would drive me bonkers.

Happy New Year everyone. Many thanks to all who have provided stimulating topics, discussion and often funny comments and jokes. I especially thank all those who have given me great (and free!) advice and support with my medical problems this year. I hope I can give something back to you in the form of the glorious Jazz (from Asia! - and why not Asia?) that I have discovered recently on YouTube. So much YouTube 'Jazz', especially 'Latin American' is appalling. Disgraceful 'musicianship' (or total lack of it!). No originality, no creativity, no wit, no understanding of not only jazz but of these wonderful tunes. Here is the Real Deal: I think you'll be surprised, perhaps even stunned. It's wonderful Jazz, completely contemporary, a trio which plays tunes and songs that many of us love, in an exciting, beautiful, characterful and really fun way. Yuka Yanagihara is a very fine pianist, the double bass players are highly talented musically and the drummer the best trio drummer of this style of Jazz I've heard in 65 years of listening to wonderful jazz music. Please go to the Osaka Jazz Channel on You Tube. It's a large channel, so be careful to choose THIS wonderfully symbiotic trio. Yuka Yanagihara on piano, (make sure it's her), either Yuu Miyano or Satsuki Kusui on double bass and the great young drummer Takashi Kage. The sound engineer is Takashi himself. The filming is great too. I've never seen better. A joyous masterclass in making music - and the performances are live. 20 stunning tracks. Enjoy! I Love You Close To You One Day I’ll Fly Away Englishman in New York Fly Me To The Moon In Walked Bud Saving All My Love For You What Kind Of Fool Am I Fantasy in D Black Orpheus Fragile How My Heart Sings All The Things You Are Francisca Autumn in New York Some Day My Prince Will Come Cantaloupe Island Sing (Sesame Street) Agua de Beber Autumn Leaves And if you love Latin Jazz (like me) and can't understand why on earth groups cannot maintain and sustain the marvellously happy Latin/Bossa beat, go to the group that operates out of a coffee shop in the Philippines (yes, I'm not kidding!). There are a few terrific tracks. Great fun, with a lovely and very talented lady singer. She's also a state registered nurse and a real estate manager. Wouldn't the world be a better place with more people like her? I think you'll love her (I do!) The group is called Fab Jazz. Live at Glasshouse Coffee. You'll see another title 'Black Davao' at the start when they make you a lovely cappuccino. The tracks I recommend are: 'Brigas Nunca Mais', 'Baubles, Bangles and Beads,' 'O Barquinho', 'So Danca Samba', and 'So Tinha de Ser'. Enjoy a great 2024 and thanks again!

For God's sake! And for the sake of our minds and souls. Why don't we grow up? William Blake, the great radical artist and poet, wrote over 200 years ago; 'A Robin Redbreast in a Cage Puts all Heaven in a rage...' Have we progressed at all in our treatment of 'our feathered friends'?

Bet he'd run away if I shouted "Victorinox!" and whipped out my Swiss Army knife.

What does DILF stand for? Is it something to Do that I Love? My Thai girlfriend was so sweaty and exhausted after we had sex last night I asked her if she was pegging out. She said "You want me for pegging out or pegging in? You have to pay me more." she giggled. "1500 not enough." I've no idea what she was talking about and she wouldn't tell me. Am I missing out on something?

The operation to my bad left leg was a phlebectomy.

I had DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) in the left leg 2 years ago. Thailand is not the place to be if you have tree trunk legs like me. I was driving a lot and getting very cramped up. It was still a shock to me. I was already then registered at BKK hospital in Chiang Mai. As always, I think I was expertly and kindly diagnosed and treated. The doctor explained everything clearly and at length to me. I was completely reassured by what he told me. He operated first on the right leg using a laser and a local anaesthetic. It was quite a long operation but completely painless. I went home the same day I think. The operation on my left leg needed a general anaesthetic and an overnight stay. Only two very small scars from the operations remain visible. Touch wood, since then I have had no problem and a few months later flew to and fro to Switzerland, although for the first time in my life I flew Business rather than Economy in order to get the enhanced legroom. A wise decision, despite the expense. I was advised to wear stockings every day if possible. I have not been good about this. The hospital advised me to have a proper size fitting at the really excellent Fascino pharmacy (on corner by the traffic lights very close to McCormick hospital). I thoroughly recommend Fascino for products and service. There is a smaller Fascino, I think, near the university. I have very big feet (size 47-48 here) so Fascino advised JOBST brand Medical Compression Socks 20-30 mmHg (made in the USA-about 3000 baht for the pair) I've been having BHP prostate problems so I stopped wearing the stockings, fancying (wrongly, I suppose) that it might be making the urgency problem worse. I shall go back to wearing them next week. They are comfortable and I forget I'm wearing them. I'm also bad at elevating my feet. I still drive too much, out of necessity, and I still fall asleep in the chair watching the TV with the soles of my feet rooted to the floor. I must stop these really stupid habits!

I always wai. I didn't like shaking hands with my brothers at home in England. I didn't like to hug them either. It just didn't seem necessary. We were a 'close' family. I think it was a 'business thing', their meeting and greeting clients. I had already purposely rejected the idea of working for a business company. There and wais and wais (as well as wais and wherefores! - hmm, pathetic, I know!). A young lady worked in a mobile phone shop in a Lamphun mall. She was wonderfully pretty and she knew that I was very attracted to her. I don't see any reason why she should have been flattered by this! - but I walked slowly past her shop window one day, hoping to see her, and she presented me with a most beautiful wai, slowly bending her legs in the most exquisite curtsey I've ever seen, shyly averting her eyes and slowly declining her head. She stayed in this most elegant position for several seconds. Perhaps she had learned this at a dance school or at a temple. I was immensely charmed and flattered by such grace. Two weeks later she had left the shop and moved on. I never saw her again.

I love how on ASEAN this post is listed just above 'Delayed Gratification'. Well, perhaps not delayed enough in some cases!

Yes there is one called "Polly vous Francais" (jimn) Was the parrot a Norwegian Blue? If so it's deceased. 😁 (roo860) Thank you so much! These will keep me laughing for many days to come!