Regrets I've had a few but then again – How about you

[Once Bitten]

Well another evening meet up for local expats ( The  gang  ) and this time two more guys turned up and joined in , the cold beers went down a treat and as normal the conversation began with every one going on about how bad the Thai drivers were or how the crime rate seems to be getting out of hand and of course the old chestnut . What they would do to fix things if they were put in charge of the country. 

 

The age of the gang sitting around the table seems to be early fifties to late seventies.

 

Some how we ended up talking more about  -  regret , thing that we looked back upon we wished we had done or some thing we wished we had never done. The phrase - if I had my time all over again I would - was popular .

 

Some commented on how they had burnt their bridges by getting involved with Thailand and especially Thai women along with house building and buying un needed stuff . They all regretted their Thailand related past actions. 

 

Personally I have a few nagging regrets like I wish I had listened more to my father and carried on to a higher level with my education instead of being lazy and wanting to quickly earn money in a mundane type of job . Looking back I wish that I had stayed at school and hopefully ended up at university studying either medicine or law ,  I regret not taking my education more seriously.

 

Another regret would be not planning for retirement at an earlier age.  Back then to me it really never crossed my mind that I would ever retire , yet alone to a foreign country .

 

Not having children is another area where the word regret comes into play as my ex wife was a successful corporate high flyer and children were never on the cards and the second wife was a mistake.

 

After both  my parents passed away I was over come with regret , I should have been less combative with my father and listened more to my mothers advice instead of thinking I knew it all , basically I regret not spending more time with them and I should have been more respectful .

 

Wasting seven years of my life because I should have not got married for a second time to a woman who I was not truly in love with .

 

Not thinking much about my health is a regret that sticks in my mind , I should have thought more about my diet and less about Chinese takeaways , piazzas and endless hours spent propping up a saloon bar while downing countless paints of double diamond ale . I regret not taking up friends invitations to join them playing squash or workouts down at the gym . In my eyes exercise was a mugs game . 

 

I should have traveled more or as my dad use to say get out and go see a bit more of the world , sadly I discarded his advice instead I opted to spend my money being a lazy slob. 

 

Keeping into touch with friends and mates was never on the top of my to do list . I now regret not making an effort to stay in touch with many of them , some passed away and some I just lost track of.

 

There were many times that opportunity's came along both financial and relationship wise but looking back I now regret not having the courage to give them a go. 

Some regrettable things that because I all ways thought to my self , I will do that tomorrow or next week but I never did .

 

I had the good fortune to win the foot ball pools , not a vast amount but enough to pay cash for a 3 bedroom semi detached house . Instead I bought a brand new Ford Capri 2.8i and spent the rest on new toys and clothes , doing that is a regret I think about . If I had bought a house it would have been a good investment for the future .  

 

My grandfather was involved in a car accident and ended up in hospital intensive care . I told my dad I would go see him tomorrow as my football team were playing at home . The team won the match but my grandfather passed away that day , another regret the haunts me. 

 

I'm sure like members of the gang many people may have some sort of past regrets and as we age these regrets start to come into to our minds more often . Personally I wish I could turn the clock back and start all over again . 

 

I know some people may think that every thing that happens in your life is meant to happen , sort of your destiny type of thing and you should learn from your mistakes but never regret them .

 

As you read this do you have any past regrets that spring to mind . Did you burn you bridge and can't go back home.
 

 If you could go back in time and start all over again what would you do differently or change in some way , knowing what you know now would you still be residing in Thailand 

 

 

 

 

  

 

[JLCrab]

I regretted reading most of this.

[Rancid]

You live the life you live. As in Thailand, if you follow their philosophy of Karma then life is a series of positive and negative deeds, balance will be eventually administered. That aside how do you know if a different path earlier would not have led to a life of misery?

[xylophone]

Interesting post, Once Bitten, and it made me think back on my life as I'm now just about on my 70th birthday, however I can't say that I regret much at all as life has been a series of adventures and mostly good times.

 

I say this even though I left my grammar school at aged 15 and started work in a brickworks, which was not the best start to one's working life, however from there I went from strength to strength after learning a trade and managed to work in exciting and dangerous places, all the while increasing my knowledge and training and retraining whenever necessary. In the end I was the chief manager of an investment division in a bank, more or less running this as a company within a company as I was responsible for starting it along with a colleague, responsible for $2 billion of funds under management, thousands of clients and direct staff of around 40 people.........then I gave it all away and came here!!

 

I can only regret the things which I had control over and although I would have liked a normal family life and upbringing, this wasn't to be the case, however I did what I had to do to get by and it seems to have worked out okay.

 

I suppose the more I think about it the more regrets I could have, but two always come to mind: – I should never have got married in 1977 as it was the biggest mistake of my life, this to a woman who wanted to change me from the minute I moved her into my house, so this only lasted about 2.5 years and they were not pleasant years.

 

The second regret was not taking up the opportunity to go for a trial at QPR; this when the club scouts had already watched me a few times and made an approach to the manager of my club because they thought I had potential. I declined the opportunity because I was then doing an apprenticeship and because I didn't have the self-confidence to believe I was good enough, when I should have let them be the judge.

 

In signing off I would add that during my working life I was a "driven man" and whilst that was good in a way because it brought results, it also meant that I worked long hours and although I enjoyed the work mostly, it also affected my health, so work/life balance for me was never in play, when it should have been.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[amvet]

I should have had a vasectomy at 15 years of age and not told anyone.   

[Hutch68]

I regret calling my dog Gwenevir.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Kwasaki]

3 hours ago, Once Bitten said:

Regrets I've had a few but then again

Me well l've done what's in the song 

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full
I've traveled each and every highway
But more, much more than this
I did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

 

[torrzent]

I regret not having more regrets.  These types of dull conversations are why I avoid hanging out with the rank and file expats

 

Edited November 5, 2017 by torrzent

[cyberfarang]

We all have regrets in our lives. It`s a good thing to got off of facebook, meet up with mates on occasions over a couple of beers or a coffee, have a good moan and put the world to rights even if nothing positive comes out of it. It`s just a way of relieving stress, like opening pressure valves on boilers to let off steam, in-fact it is highly therapeutic, good for the body and good for the soul. I think TV acts like a pressure valve for many of it`s members. 

 

 

[JimGant]

Old friends, never seen again, saddens me. "Bobby Dylan's Dream" really brings this to the fore:

 

[grollies]

<deleted> me, I'm glad I don't drink with you lot.

[cyberfarang]

We are born. We plod along trying to keep our heads down and then we die if we`re lucky. The last straw with me happened last year when my mother sent me a bill for the breast milk she fed me after I was born.

[bendejo]

You went through life and did as you wanted as you went along.  Buying a Ford Capri instead of a house, drinking instead of exercising, un-smart 2nd marriage etc.  I can relate.

But you (meaning we) don't know what the future holds -- what I'm getting at in particular here is we don't know if we will live long enough to regret our past.  Some of us lived like there was no tomorrow because, well, maybe there would be no tomorrow!  Not necessarily regarding nuclear war, biological disaster etc, but more likely changing lanes without double-checking the blindspot not seeing the cement truck that will dispatch you to the pearly gates (or the furnace).

I'm in the age range of your gang, and when I was teens through 30 I had the impression I would be dead by 30.  No particular reason (like a terminal ailment), just thought that way.  Maybe I can blame Peter Townsend    Funny thing is I've met a number of people my age and a bit younger who went through their youth with the same idea.  Mind you, it wasn't a morbid feeling of "here comes death" but rather a matter-of-fact bit of knowledge.  One day, at the ripe old age of 32, it dawned on me "hey, I'm still here!'  It sparked a re-evaluation and I ended up going to university.

 

Live long, and if you're so inclined, prosper.

 

 

[473geo]

When I look back, which is rare because I prefer to live in the present, I consider myself fortunate, I've kind of rolled along enjoying life. Sure had to work, but consider this was perhaps a good thing to keep me out of even more mischief

Thailand becomes another interesting chapter, if it unfolds well, or, improves on the previous chapters, as it appears may well be the case, I shall be very fortunate indeed.

Yes the Edith Piaf song sure strikes a chord.

 

[chicowoodduck]

Oh my Buddha, just reading this makes me regret joining TV.....???

[InMyShadow]

We all have regrets in our lives. It`s a good thing to got off of facebook, meet up with mates on occasions over a couple of beers or a coffee, have a good moan and put the world to rights even if nothing positive comes out of it. It`s just a way of relieving stress, like opening pressure valves on boilers to let off steam, in-fact it is highly therapeutic, good for the body and good for the soul. I think TV acts like a pressure valve for many of it`s members. 
 
 

How does bashing thailand at every opportunity equate to releasing pressure? It has more to do with depression than pressure

[catman20]

18 hours ago, JLCrab said:

I regretted reading most of this.

i gave up half way through it 

[mamypoko]

Not eating Vegan sooner

[lovelomsak]

My biggest regret is now letting other people into my life.

  I had an exceptional good life.But I was lonely. I ate right very little junk food. I exercised running 10 mile races,racquetball,squash. Raced sailboats on the weekends in the winter, Raced sailboats on wednesday nights in the summer. Cruised the Pacific northwest all the way to Alaska. I was off cruising on fridays till sunday in the summers,crabbing,shrimping,catching salmon and cod. Holdays in Mexico and Thailand very  January. I bought and sold houses at a whim.When the carpets were dirty I sold the house rather than vacuum.I hated domestic work.

  I seldom worked past lunch time.

 But I did t all alone. Singlehanded my 27 footer.Travelled alone,lived alone. Always had GF,s but did not take who ever it was at the time with me treavelling,racing or cruising.GF,s were for dining, and light social activity

 I should have got married. Now I am married I realize how much more I could have enjoyed what I did if I had shared it.

[sammieuk1]

I regret not being able to see sterling's collapse before 23/6/16.  

[InMyShadow]

My biggest regret is now letting other people into my life.
  I had an exceptional good life.But I was lonely. I ate right very little junk food. I exercised running 10 mile races,racquetball,squash. Raced sailboats on the weekends in the winter, Raced sailboats on wednesday nights in the summer. Cruised the Pacific northwest all the way to Alaska. I was off cruising on fridays till sunday in the summers,crabbing,shrimping,catching salmon and cod. Holdays in Mexico and Thailand very  January. I bought and sold houses at a whim.When the carpets were dirty I sold the house rather than vacuum.I hated domestic work.
  I seldom worked past lunch time.
 But I did t all alone. Singlehanded my 27 footer.Travelled alone,lived alone. Always had GF,s but did not take who ever it was at the time with me treavelling,racing or cruising.GF,s were for dining, and light social activity
 I should have got married. Now I am married I realize how much more I could have enjoyed what I did if I had shared it.

Oh don't worry there is a 50% chance you will be sharing it all a few years down the track [emoji16]

[bert bloggs]

To be honest i regret nothing in my life , i would have liked a little more cash , but ,cant really complain ,as i have never really had to struggle ,ive had a few wives and lovers , ,actually rather a lot of lovers ,that is until my now wife , whom i nearly lost at the begining because i was still a bit of a naughty boy .still ,luckily she calmed me down and became the best thing in my life ,kids excepted .

i suppose i was one of the very lucky ones , my family were and are quite "well to do" although being the first born i became the "brown" sheep of the family ,wasting(or enjoying) the 60s in London mixing in all the right circles,now as i come to the last part of the journey ,i look back and think wow ,what a ride that was .

[csabo]

There is a balcony nearby with your name on it.  The biggest cop-out of all is 

"every thing that happens in your life is meant to happen , sort of your destiny type of thing " 

Loosers who don't plan and take care of business often say this to console themselves. 

Women especially love that "we broke up but everything has a reason". Yeah the reason was you were a selfish <deleted> and you will die alone unless you change. 

You have all these regrets and the whole story started sitting in a bar with bunch of the same guys. All wallowing in your own misery but masking it as a night out with the boys. Then one of you will die but by the weekend it will be business as usual. Remember no matter where you go there you are. Drinking won't change that. 

[bert bloggs]

2 hours ago, mamypoko said:

Not eating Vegan sooner

Ive never eaten a vegan ,what do they taste like  are they nice with gravy two veg and roast potatoes?

[Foxy52]

I almost died from the inoperable tumour near my heart in 1990 and am still unsure why I didn't, as were my doctors, so I regret nothing

[David Walden]

15 hours ago, cyberfarang said:

We are born. We plod along trying to keep our heads down and then we die if we`re lucky. The last straw with me happened last year when my mother sent me a bill for the breast milk she fed me after I was born.

Sound like BS to me?

[KonaRain]

2 hours ago, lovelomsak said:

My biggest regret is now letting other people into my life.

  I had an exceptional good life.But I was lonely. I ate right very little junk food. I exercised running 10 mile races,racquetball,squash. Raced sailboats on the weekends in the winter, Raced sailboats on wednesday nights in the summer. Cruised the Pacific northwest all the way to Alaska. I was off cruising on fridays till sunday in the summers,crabbing,shrimping,catching salmon and cod. Holdays in Mexico and Thailand very  January. I bought and sold houses at a whim.When the carpets were dirty I sold the house rather than vacuum.I hated domestic work.

  I seldom worked past lunch time.

 But I did t all alone. Singlehanded my 27 footer.Travelled alone,lived alone. Always had GF,s but did not take who ever it was at the time with me treavelling,racing or cruising.GF,s were for dining, and light social activity

 I should have got married. Now I am married I realize how much more I could have enjoyed what I did if I had shared it.

Maybe.  You came out well..

The quote about Karma.. maybe, but the education and better bucks sounds good. Good You made it this far.. (all of You)

I like the story from bricklayer to money manager..

Aloha from me in landpoor (landrich?) Hawaii (I live on my own land, but I'm poor as a kitten..

Robots took over me business!

Drum machines!  (Alohz)

 

[KonaRain]

I think he was clever about da breastmilk..

???

[xylophone]

7 minutes ago, David Walden said:

Sound like BS to me?

A severe case of, "sense of humour failure".

[connda]

The one constant in life that you can depend on: You will always have a 20/20 hindsight view.