GinBoy2

Well the thing is most folks do diddly squat most of the time. I lived in San Diego for years, unbelievable beaches, and after I'd lived there a few months, only time I ever went there was when folks came to visit and I'd show them around. Once you've done the touristy stuff, you're done and it's back to the humdrum routine of normal life Not going down the 'nightlife' saga of certain participants, thats an ecosphere all by itself But for most 'regular' folks, you wake up breakfast, maybe you work, maybe go for a walk, watch some TV, agonize what you want for dinner. The same routine could be in almost any country, you just need to figure out what country you want to be in

Thailand is a mixed bag, like almost anywhere, but if it stops being fun you more on. I suspect for many as they age, the savings dwindling it gets a whole lot less 'fun' Health can decline, and good luck getting health insurance at almost any price 65+, which means you're staring down a Government hospital, which outside of BKK can be pretty dire. So what was fun, in your 40's and 50's can become pretty horrendous if you get down to counting pennies in your 60's, 70's and if it gets to it, tin roof shack in Isaan! Then for some, I'll include myself, you just kinda bore of it. Been There, Done That,Got Tee Shirt kinda moment. Thailand is a little like Disneyland, but with hookers and a whole lot dirtier!

The whole thing was a disaster. Anybody with a brain knew Biden was an elderly man without the capacity to be a President. Not to say he was infirm, but we all know when to hang up the shingle and just play with the grandkids Harris; hmm always had my doubts about her, never could quite trust her after the dodgy deal she made with San Onofre settlement. I voted for Biden the first time on the assumption he was going to be a one time President and hand it over to a new generation. He blew that and denied any real transition. A proper primary would in my opinion have given the country a real choice for President But now time to lick our wounds and plan for the future I'm pretty sure Newsom is planning for the next round, which I would applaud

So when is the next exciting vacation to Iran? I know it will be exciting and memorable, and we all wait with bated breath to see the photo's

This may sound weird, but almost look back fondly to the coup days. A lot of very spirited discussion all dancing around certain words that couldn't be mentioned, but overall quite intelligent if polarized And there was a lot more practical stuff, visas, DIY and Nancy with health stuff Today if I had to guess a lot of the mass posters are some kind of AI or just the publishers creating clickbate to get eyeballs

I rather liked that definition of 'remarkable and reckless' I wish I'd thought of that expression, but very accurate

Seriously you somehow thinking doing something totally irresponsible is in somehow noble? All it does place your fellow nationals in jeopardy. There are many duel Iranian citizens in fear of visiting their family in Iran because the hubris of a few who think, 'I'm Immune' well 'no sh***t' they now find themselves as a bargaining chip, well advised by their government not to do it. Don't lecture me, I await anxiously to see your next posts and pictures from Iran and North Korea on your next visits But don't expect any tears when you end up in some hell hole lock up for trumped up charges

Much as I feel for them, really what were they thinking. Western governments issue travel warnings for a reason, hardly the first UK citizens to be detained in Iran. The outcome I would also speculate because of their stupidity will be they get traded for some obnoxious terrorists held in Western prisons. I had similar thoughts about Otto Warmbier who died in North Korea after thinking it would be a jolly prank to steal a North Korea propaganda poster in a police state where you are under constant surveillance. I hope they get released but lets hope the price isn't too high. .....and next time take a cruise

Kinda thought about that the other day Many of you know I work for an airline. I was on the flight deck talking with the crew. Capt. had his jacket off, short sleeve shirt and he was sporting a full sleeve tattoo. Never seen that before, but I'd like to believe his desire for tats doesn't affect his mental ability to pilot a couple of hundred souls through the air

I have to agree sending food back just makes it worse. Do that in the West, and generally they try to make it right and are apologetic for the mistake. In Thailand, tends to be 'Fu====ck' him and the gloves come off. Not sure if it's gotten worse, I think it's always been like this

Gotta admit back in my professional days, I followed the pack to be clean shaven, God knows how many $$ I shelled out to the Gillette company, all I know is that it was more than I should have. Now a battery trimmer to keep the scruff in check and I'm good. But back to tats, at least if I wanted to, that scruff on my face could be gone in 5 minutes!

When I was a kid tats were the realm of drunken sailors and women of ill repute. I think it was the early 2000's when the whole tattoo thing exploded. Even the smallest town seems to be able to support a couple of tat shops And thinking of drunken sailors one of my best friends was one of them. Shore leave in the Philippines, girlfriend, now wife for 40 years, Patricia, Patty. Of course the tattoo artist inked it as 'I love Pat' He got a lot of grief for that lol

I always think of tattoo's this way. I wore clothes in the 1970's which I thought made me look pretty damn sexy. Of course wearing those same clothes today would make me look like a total idiot. But clothes can be consigned to the garbage can, and a new wardrobe can be purchased to fit the the time and your age. Not quite so easy with tattoo's which tend to live with you forever

Never said I worried about it, well maybe for my kids I do But for old age tattoos, maybe beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

I think my thoughts are, what looks good on 20 year old skin, may not look so good on the 40/50/60/70 year old skin. Maybe the trick is delay ink until you are in your 50's your skin is already on the downhill, if your a woman the babies have already been pushed out, and what the Hell you you only have a couple more decades to live with it

As one of what feels like the only human on the planet not inked, it seems far from over. I begged all my children not to do it. Told them pierce what you want but don't ink it. They all ignored me. The kids I work with, the boys and girls, all inked and actively discuss their next inking adventure. And it costs a fortune, they will willingly spend a weeks pay check on something I'm pretty sure in 20, 30 years time they will hate

Hmm, thats the problem, I don't think he has the ฿800K for a retirement visa. Few years back I lent him money to get him through the ฿400K marriage visa thing. How does the supporting a Thai child work? Still concerned about land. They mortgaged themselves up to the eyeballs to buy and build a resort. Not in a tourist hotspot so it's reliant on the locals. Pretty sure the money came from the local Chinese money lenders which is dodgy just from the get go, and God knows what the paper trail is. Now I'm watching this train wreak from across the ocean and just trying to help the best I can. Recruited a Swedish mutual friend who speaks German, I speak Thai and we're trying to navigate him through this. My wife is on the case with her contacts in the local Government, but TiT you know how that goes

What happens visa wise? he's kinda in pieces right now, ain't thinking straight. Half of me wants to tell just go back to Germany, calm down get his head back together then figure out if Thailand without his wife is where he wants to be

What I meant was it's his kid, not a step son from previous relationship

Maybe hold off giving the Chagos Islands away and wait for Mauritius to invade? Although in that case you'd have Big Daddy on Diego Garcia to knock that on the head within 24 hours, don't think the UK would have much to do, other than issue the press releases!

So, my wife's friend just died unexpectedly. Left behind are her German husband and a mutual underage son, Thai/german national. Given the suddenness and the realative youth of the wife don't believe there was any will or the like. What happens now? He obviously is now widowed, so visa wise, and does the minor son inherit the land, or do adult siblings of the woman get a bite

I'd be fine paying folks a living wage for the food we eat if it means I'm paying more at the store But my point is that the crooked farm owners knowingly employ illegals to lower their costs and line their own pockets, they ain't doing it for your benefit trust me

Oh, and btw, when ICE do raid the fields, I look forward to seeing a swath of farmers in orange jump suits for knowingly employed illegals in their fields. I think thats a crime, aren't you supposed to check an I-9!

Well I am a 'yank' have no real; view on Lammy as a politician so can't comment, after all I am a yank with no skin in that game But I do think as a 'yank' the ability the ability to at least comment on an absurd policy

So here is an idea, Why not grant independence to the Indian Ocean Territory, allow the Chagocians to return, then retain Diego Garcia as a sovereign base? Hardly groundbreaking idea, seems to have worked pretty well in Cyprus since independence