siftasam

On a bad road near Lamphun villagers put soil in a 'deep' hole and planted a banana tree about four feet high.

The hole was filled in about three weeks later.

You know you're old when .......you're the only one who remembers when Steve Martin was funny.

(and can remember the real greats Peter Sellers and Phil Silvers)

from 'BobinBKK':

'With knowledge comes power, and that's the LAST THING ON EARTH "the powers that be" want. The objective here is to keep the peasants stupid therefore there will be no challenge. Can you imagine if the peasants could think for themselves and didn't "listen and obey"?'

I agree, Bob. 'Twas ever thus, in the short time that any significant education has been provided for the world's poor. It may forever stay the same. And not just for the underprivileged.

The leading philosopher and linguist Noam Chomsky says: "Most education is training for Stupidity and Conformity".

It's true of all countries. Hear what Gore Vidal says scathingly on YouTube about American schooling.

Real education runs parallel to the school system until we are old enough to repudiate the rubbish elements that we were taught while continuing to educate ourselves for the rest of our life. For once, some political birdbrain who talked about 'lifelong learning' was correct, but not for reasons that he/she intended. Whether we think 'online/internet' learning can do this or is enough, is up to us. I personally think not. The Internet exists perhaps even more than the education system in schools to keep us 'in our place'.

Chomsky talks about the great contribution that a single teacher's example. intelligence, creative support and enthusiasm can make to a student. I was taught English to 'A' Level by a wonderful teacher who embraced all of these elements (that you are never going to find much - if at all - on the internet. I 'loved' and respected him and worked as hard as I could for him - and enjoyed his sense of humour and fun.

I am 100% sure that he would NEVER be employed in a British school today. He was 'too good'.

When you start to wax nostalgically about Watney's Red Barrel and say that modern day smokes are not a nicotine patch on Anchor, Gold Flake, Woodbines, Park Drive, Strand and Turf.

And most importantly of all, when you bang on about why Wagon Wheels are now so tiny? When I was a kid. they really were wagon wheels! (Well, OK, bit of poetic licence there!) And where are the Scribona jam and lemon curd tarts?

And when Coronavirus was what you caught drinking out of your naughty girlfriend's lemonade bottle.

re 'possum1931'

Hello possum! (OMG I'm sounding like Dame Edna Everage! - although I look more like Sir Les Patterson)

Sinatra, like Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Dick Haymes etc. of that period, was basically a 'crooner'. Today they sound very bland but that was the popular style up to around 1960. 'The Perry Como Show' was tremendously popular on UK TV. Michael Holiday, Dennis Lotus and Dickie Valentine were popular British crooners.

Then it changed - pre-Beatles. More and more, Country, Blues and Jazz influenced popular song in the USA. Elvis and Roy, as you know, were Southern boys deeply influenced by the Country/Blues heritage. (Remember George Clooney and the Soggy Bottom Boys in  'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' - funny!)

Contentious, maybe, but I think jazz influenced popular singing a lot back then. A pleasant and simple song called 'Make Someone Happy' was crooned on record, usually very boringly - although there was a very skilful and pleasant rendition by Margaret Whiting, BUT WHOA! Della Reese, even getting on in years, transformed it! It sends a tingle down my spine. Della was born in Black Bottom, Detroit, and can't you just tell! (It's on YouTube)

At age 75 I 'race' down the stairs at 06.00 to let the dogs out.

Next thing (even before emptying their poo poo tray) is to make a cup of TEA. I couldn't survive the day without fairly copious amounts of the stuff. Twinings (of course!) - the divine Lady Grey, English Breakfast and Earl Grey - and PG Tips Extra Strong courtesy of M and S in Central Festival CM. Dilmah tea is pretty good and cheap. Lipton's I don't like.

On my increasingly frequent visits to BKK Hospital in CM, I pig out on a Ham and Cheese Baguette or a Tuna Ciabatta with a cup of rather mysterious Twinings Lavender tea.

My dear old Mum lived to be 92 before the bitter English winter did for her. She drank many cups of tea every day. "You'll always be grateful for a cup of tea" was one of her maxims and she quoted William Cowper, the bard of Olney, on the subject of tea: 'The cup that cheers but not inebriates'. She outlived my only coffee drinking Dad by 11 years.

Possibly the best tea I've ever tasted was Twinings 'Prince of Wales' but I never see it these days.

Rimping have been doing a Buy One Get one on some Aurora teas - nice.

And, surely, 'nahm chah' (or, I guess, a close Indian equivalent from the days of Empire) gives us the English 'a cup of cha'?

Talking of Empire, remember 'Camp Coffee' with its wonderful label? Chicory based, I think. Dad drank it with dollops of Carnation milk that even Thais would boggle at! But when he became very ill and immobile, my brother laced it with a substantial 'kick' of Woods Navy Rum (at 06.00!) which helped Dad through the day. Better than all the tablets, he reckoned!

Sorry! I see now that Airwallex is just for business transfers, not transfers by private individuals.

I have concerns about the future of banks in the UK and Thailand, but I'm on the verge of giving up the UK altogether; that is, my Halifax Bank Current Account and my money deposited in Hargreaves Lansdown in Bristol.

 It's the transfer from Hargreaves Lansdown that I'm concerned about. (I have not much in the Halifax and I bank online with them anyway).

I do have about 125,000 pounds deposited with HL. My questions are:

1. What is the BEST way to transfer this money to my SCB account in Lamphun? For instance, Is this with BACS, CHAPS (or are these for internal UK transfers only?) or a cheque posted to me in Thailand? Or what?

2. Can I transfer ALL of this money in one go (or are there 'money laundering' and other regulations that prevent this)?

3.What do I need to obtain first? The SCB SWIFT CODE? My IBAN number at the SCB Lamphun?

4. Do Thai banks have an equivalent of the UK SORT CODE, ROLL NUMBER and BIC that UK banks have? (Is BIC the same as the SWIFT CODE?)

5. Is such a transfer secure? I have seen adverts for companies like Airwallex - are they a better international transfer alternative? (Airwallex claims to be cheaper, quicker and doesn't use SWIFT)

Many thanks for any help.

I tried it with my ex-girlfriend but people objected to the smell.

So, I took what was left of her to the wat. The monks finished the job for me.

Have you tried Philogene-Bidace?

From Aussiepeter:

A happy story, sir, it sounds as if you and your family are, and will be, well looked after.

But I have said before that I cannot accept this statement: " I think the Australian Govt. looks after its' citizens better than the UK does but that being said, the UK govt has been broke for years - there is little else they can cut/do to save money."

There is a LOT they can do to CUT and SAVE. UK governments are constrained by outdated and misguided economic and financial  ways of thinking. (This is a 'polite' way of saying that they are unoriginal, uncreative and s##t scared of not being re-elected; for example, when was the education system last thoroughly reformed? When was the appalling crime rate in the UK tackled with intelligence and originality?

The Truth is that they 'bungle', they 'fudge', they obfuscate the real issues, they lie and they don't care about the people that WE all want to see being cared for well: the young, the sick, the vulnerable, the old.

If the UK is 'broke', then what is the USA? (To mention just one).

If anyone wants an antidote to unoriginal, corrupted, criminal and 'naive' government, please read a good book on FD Roosevelt.: a master politician, who understood the rights and wrongs of 'the system' and how to best manipulate it, and who waged what he called 'a war on poverty' (despite having 'no money' to do it!). He GOT the money, by hook or by crook. THAT is a primary function of government, 'Balancing the books' might be a nice idea for you and me BUT for modern government?

Governments MUST fulfill their obligations to the people. FDR DID this, from his wheelchair, stricken with polio. And the US people loved him for it and elected him FOUR times their President. He was so successful that Congress passed a law saying that no person can be elected more that TWICE!

This is the MADNESS of government. DEMOCRACY? TRUSTING THE ELECTORATE? Forget it!

Please never tell me that the UK government is broke - stupidity has depleted its resources and so has terrible waste.

The man credited as being Britain's first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, when showing important visitors around the House of Commons, always said to them as they surveyed the H/C in session: 'Remember that all of these men can be bought". Have things changed much?

from Geordieabroad:

"Thai girlfriend or Thai wife it doesn't make any difference concerning UK state pension.

Girlfriend/wife is entitled to nothing after the Brit passes away

Unlike the German state pension where the Thai wife will receive 60% of the total pension for the rest of her life."

Yes, Geordie. I'm a 'Victory Baby'. born in May, 1946.  How 'sick' the world can be.  How stupid and misguided British governments have been ever since. I laugh and I cry.

I'm concerned about the Mafia and Covid vaccine.

Have all the Chinese Mafia in Bangkok  'shots'? And the Russian Mafia in Pattaya? And the Vietnamese Mafia in Phuket?

These people are all VIPs and they deserve 'hits'.

Did the Russians have Sputnik? The Chinese Sinovac? The Vietnamese.....?

Or are they all still on the waiting list for Moderna?   I'd like to feel that we have something in common.

ThailandRyan - thank you

'He played, got caught, tried to be slick. Lost the plot, lost the wife, then acted like a true Thai man-child.  Nothing more than he wanted it all and ended up with bubkis'

What is it with 'bubkis'?      Bupkis? Bubkes? Bupkes?  Does it really mean 'goat <deleted>' in Yiddish?

'Just one more thing'   It  was the late great Peter Falk's favourite word.  As revealed 'Inside The Actor's Studio' (on YouTube). Lovely interview with PF.

Two GREAT Westerns with great music:

'HIGH NOON' (directed by Fred Zinnemann 1962) the title sequence - what great casting! - the killers gather (Lee van Cleef, Sheb Woolley and Robert J. Wilke) - look out Coop!  Tex Ritter singing the immortal 'Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling'. 

But where was that other super villain Jack Elam? (actually playing a tiny part as the town drunk)

He waited for the wonderful opening sequence of Sergio Leone's 'ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1968)- another great trio of gunmen (including Jack and Woody Strode) -  plus Charles Bronson and terrific music by Ennio Morricone.

Opening of 'Die Hard With a Vengeance' - 'Summer in the City' with The Lovin' Spoonful - cool!

'Summer In The City'  with The Lovin' Spoonful - cool!

Oh, the great opening of 'The World Is Not Enough' with Pierce Brosnan, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Patrick Malahide, and the Millennium Dome!

Quintessential Bond. Action packed and very witty too.

A great moment! I've loved watching the Badminton on TV here for 13 years  and I've seen the Thai players getting better and better - BUT this was MAGIC!

Didn't you just know that the UK would be behind Turkey?

From thisismoney.co.uk today (05/08):

How does the UK state pension measure up against retirement income in other countries? 

·          

The UK state pension comes bottom in a league table of net (meaning after tax) replacement rates for average earnings at just 28 per cent, according to an influential global pensions report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

This compares with a 59 per cent average across the 36 members of the international organisation of rich democratic countries analysed in its latest report, which was published in 2019.

At the top end, the net replacement rate is 90 per cent or more in Austria, Luxembourg, Portugal and Turkey, according to the OECD report.

But it is important to note that this just covers mandatory pension saving schemes, so does not represent a true picture of what UK pensioners retire on compared to their salaries.

While in other countries mandatory saving is the dominant system - and in some cases rolls state and workplace pensions into one system - in the UK most people rely on a combination of state and workplace pension schemes (while many use personal pensions as well) and the UK's non-state pensions are deemed voluntary by the OECD.' 

Tanomazu, so sorry to hear what's happening to Spain. It's 15 years since I've been there.

I would look to buy in a still traditional country area quite close to the sea, golf (for social reasons as much as anything), and good mountain walking.

Every week on 'eyeonspain.com' newsletter I see properties that look lovely and are not too pricey. Brit owners want to sell quickly,. although I can't think why as Spain has a very good record of COVID vaccination.

What is one allowed to say about the influx of immigrants situation in Europe and the UK? Lawful and unlawful immigrants.

What you say reminds of beautiful Venice as portrayed I'm sure extremely accurately in the very fine series of Inspector Brunetti novels by the gifted American  Donna Leon. She writes so convincingly, about the seemingly 'endemic' corruption too.

Whatever happens, I won't go back to England. I love it too much (or at least what it was). It will survive without me.    (It will still have my taxes, of course!)

I love Spanish culture. So much traditionally beautiful with the pre-1500 mixture of races (Christian, Moors and Jews). Fabulous architecture e.g. Seville and Granada. Andalucia is the best region for that, I think.

I am a great music and art fan. I like some Thai pop even (although it's more and more 'Americanized' and dominated by Korea). Thai classical orchestras and ensembles are still way below European standards but improving. I'm a great jazz fan and remember  when, because of the late king's wonderful example, jazz was broadcast on TV with awards for promising young jazz players. Now? What do we have on Thai TV? Thais love their dramas etc. - good luck to them - but we know what we think. Added to that, good movie channels have disappeared. British and American <deleted> instead.

It's impossible to escapre <deleted> wherever you go, of course. BUT think Spanish classical guitar, Spanish gypsy jazz a la Django, excellent music and movie festivals, Velazquez, Goya, Don Quixote, Picasso, Miro...oh, so much more!

Spanish culture is exciting and vibrant and youthful. It has been for 100 years. Think Barcelona, the Gaudi architecture, the fabulous contrast between the Gothic cathedral and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

I hope I can get there on holiday again, while carrying on living here in Thailand.

I do worry about the economy here. I think British banks often acted disgracefully, or indeed criminally, under Blair and Brown. My dealings with SCB and BKK here have been generally much better. Online SCB works extremely well BUT I will not close my account with the Halifax and move the money to Thailand. I fear the worst and despite similar compensation 'promises' as defaulting British banks supposedly have, I wonder how secure Thai banks really are in these pandemic days. At least Neil Woodford doesn't live or 'operate' here!

A great way to stay up to date with Spain for Brits is to have a free subscription to eyeonspain.com  - weekly newsletter, illustrated, fun, legal and property advice.

Enjoy!

I certainly don't see any 'disdain or hatred' in spidermike007's opening statement here. It seems carefully considered, deeply felt and excellent reading.

I have spent 13 very happy years in Thailand. I consider myself very lucky that Lamphun and Chiang Mai were 'chosen for me' as my home (although I love Isaan and sundry other beautiful places).

I am also happy with the medical facilities here (BKK hospital in CM I think is superb - and I can still afford it!)

Spidermike, before I chose Thailand (about which I knew nothing) I paid a deposit on a new build apartment in Mijas in Andalucia. I love Spain very much and, especially if you choose southern Spain, you know that you will find marvellous weather, great food, beautiful villages and churches/cathedrals, a lovely family orientated people and great opportunities for walking and golf etc. Also very good football! Mijas in 2008 was fabulous for an apartment. But then the construction industry collapsed, I pulled out and researched on the Net. I'm very happy that I chose Thailand. Thailand and Andalucia are very similar, I feel.

Like many I am distressed by what is happening here. I would like to return to Europe, live in Spain and summer holiday in Switzerland, France or Italy.

I am not married now and live quite alone, but my 'ties' are my wonderful 7 year old Thai 'step-daughter', whom I have gladly supported for 6 years, my two wonderful dogs, and my beautiful home (which I had built 12 years ago) and large garden.

At 75 years old, I guess I'm too old to move now. Anyway, I would greatly miss the 'readily available opportunities for fun' in Thailand!

A caution (at least for me). Spanish property is now expensive, I think. You should learn as much Spanish as possible (I was taught it at school, thank God!). The best (and cheapest) Spanish life is often village life. The worst mistake I made in coming to Thailand was not studying the language first.

If you move, the very best of luck to you, sir! At times I will envy you!