"you Can Score On Route 24"

[Andrew Hicks]

You see I like writing. You know, words and stuff... getting them in the right order an' that.

There's a strange vanity if I think people are actually reading my words... a sort of verbal flashing.

Writing it down's more satisfying because doing it orally's more difficult and often the words just come out wrong.

But do you think I can admit to my kids that I've just become a closet blogger with a blog on Thai Visa. They might disown me.

Yes, I've just started a blog on Thai Visa, it's broad theme about the flow of migrants down Route 24 in lower Isaan. You know... Buriram, Surin, Si Saket where half the lovely ladies come from. As the ladies migrate west along Route 24 in search of willies and wallets, we migrate east along it for reasons that now escape me for the moment.

Anyway, my blog's called, "You Can Score on Route 24" and what I want to ask the assembled multitudes of this distinguished Forum is whether me writing a blog makes me a sad bastard who'd better never been born. Should I go on lurking furtively upstairs in the heat of the day, to the dismay of my Thai family who now think me mad and maybe silently flying my kite? Or should I go into rehab?

Might anyone enjoy reading my blog, I ask myself... or shall I end it all? And by that I don't mean the blog.

It's been said that there are seven billion people in the world who write blogs and the oldest is a lady from Sydney who's 127 years old. But it's a hard new world for me, more used as I am to The Beano and The Dandy. Can I hack it?

Violence, gambling, drugs, computer games, pornography, paedophiles, bloggers. Just what do you think of us all? I really want to know because really I'm still a virgin blogger and I want to know if I should go on with it. Will I get addicted? Are there withdrawal symptoms? Can it be fatal?

I want you to tell me what you think of blogging and bloggers, though in my case, maybe the key thing's whether my blog on Thai Visa's any good or not.

Anxiously yours,

Andrew

[cdnvic]

We miss you scampy

Your fascination with yourself was always entertaining when there were no bathtubs in the house to clean.

Edited March 28, 2007 by cdnvic

[qwertz]

You see I like writing. You know, words and stuff... getting them in the right order an' that.

There's a strange vanity if I think people are actually reading my words... a sort of verbal flashing.

Writing it down's more satisfying because doing it orally's more difficult and often the words just come out wrong.

But do you think I can admit to my kids that I've just become a closet blogger with a blog on Thai Visa. They might disown me.

Yes, I've just started a blog on Thai Visa, it's broad theme about the flow of migrants down Route 24 in lower Isaan. You know... Buriram, Surin, Si Saket where half the lovely ladies come from. As the ladies migrate west along Route 24 in search of willies and wallets, we migrate east along it for reasons that now escape me for the moment.

Anyway, my blog's called, "You Can Score on Route 24" and what I want to ask the assembled multitudes of this distinguished Forum is whether me writing a blog makes me a sad bastard who'd better never been born. Should I go on lurking furtively upstairs in the heat of the day, to the dismay of my Thai family who now think me mad and maybe silently flying my kite? Or should I go into rehab?

Might anyone enjoy reading my blog, I ask myself... or shall I end it all? And by that I don't mean the blog.

It's been said that there are seven billion people in the world who write blogs and the oldest is a lady from Sydney who's 127 years old. But it's a hard new world for me, more used as I am to The Beano and The Dandy. Can I hack it?

Violence, gambling, drugs, computer games, pornography, paedophiles, bloggers. Just what do you think of us all? I really want to know because really I'm still a virgin blogger and I want to know if I should go on with it. Will I get addicted? Are there withdrawal symptoms? Can it be fatal?

I want you to tell me what you think of blogging and bloggers, though in my case, maybe the key thing's whether my blog on Thai Visa's any good or not.

Anxiously yours,

Andrew

Yes and no. Where's Route 24, I can't find it in my nav.

[elsie]

Long time no see, Scampy.

[Andrew Hicks]

You see I like writing. You know, words and stuff... getting them in the right order an' that.

There's a strange vanity if I think people are actually reading my words... a sort of verbal flashing.

Writing it down's more satisfying because doing it orally's more difficult and often the words just come out wrong.

But do you think I can admit to my kids that I've just become a closet blogger with a blog on Thai Visa. They might disown me.

Yes, I've just started a blog on Thai Visa, it's broad theme about the flow of migrants down Route 24 in lower Isaan. You know... Buriram, Surin, Si Saket where half the lovely ladies come from. As the ladies migrate west along Route 24 in search of willies and wallets, we migrate east along it for reasons that now escape me for the moment.

Anyway, my blog's called, "You Can Score on Route 24" and what I want to ask the assembled multitudes of this distinguished Forum is whether me writing a blog makes me a sad bastard who'd better never been born. Should I go on lurking furtively upstairs in the heat of the day, to the dismay of my Thai family who now think me mad and maybe silently flying my kite? Or should I go into rehab?

Might anyone enjoy reading my blog, I ask myself... or shall I end it all? And by that I don't mean the blog.

It's been said that there are seven billion people in the world who write blogs and the oldest is a lady from Sydney who's 127 years old. But it's a hard new world for me, more used as I am to The Beano and The Dandy. Can I hack it?

Violence, gambling, drugs, computer games, pornography, paedophiles, bloggers. Just what do you think of us all? I really want to know because really I'm still a virgin blogger and I want to know if I should go on with it. Will I get addicted? Are there withdrawal symptoms? Can it be fatal?

I want you to tell me what you think of blogging and bloggers, though in my case, maybe the key thing's whether my blog on Thai Visa's any good or not.

Anxiously yours,

Andrew

Yes and no. Where's Route 24, I can't find it in my nav.

It runs from Korat pretty well straight through the endless rice fields of Buriram, Surin and Si Saket to Ubon. You can't miss it... it's always fifty kilomtres or so north of the Cambodial border. At once beautiful and threatening, in part its friendly but also scary. As I swish by in my airconned Vigo, I think of each postage stamp of rice field... that this is somebody's millstone, their sweated labour, their inheritance carved out by their fathers, but also their essential means of survival. As I park up in Tescos, I find it a little terrifying, I who's biggest burden today has been writing a blog for Thai Visa.

Andrew

Edited March 28, 2007 by Andrew Hicks

[JimsKnight]

Is this really the Gentleman Scamp in another guise!

Ho! Welcome back strange one!

[Wolfie]

if he is.. he wont last long

[qwertz]

You see I like writing. You know, words and stuff... getting them in the right order an' that.

There's a strange vanity if I think people are actually reading my words... a sort of verbal flashing.

Writing it down's more satisfying because doing it orally's more difficult and often the words just come out wrong.

But do you think I can admit to my kids that I've just become a closet blogger with a blog on Thai Visa. They might disown me.

Yes, I've just started a blog on Thai Visa, it's broad theme about the flow of migrants down Route 24 in lower Isaan. You know... Buriram, Surin, Si Saket where half the lovely ladies come from. As the ladies migrate west along Route 24 in search of willies and wallets, we migrate east along it for reasons that now escape me for the moment.

Anyway, my blog's called, "You Can Score on Route 24" and what I want to ask the assembled multitudes of this distinguished Forum is whether me writing a blog makes me a sad bastard who'd better never been born. Should I go on lurking furtively upstairs in the heat of the day, to the dismay of my Thai family who now think me mad and maybe silently flying my kite? Or should I go into rehab?

Might anyone enjoy reading my blog, I ask myself... or shall I end it all? And by that I don't mean the blog.

It's been said that there are seven billion people in the world who write blogs and the oldest is a lady from Sydney who's 127 years old. But it's a hard new world for me, more used as I am to The Beano and The Dandy. Can I hack it?

Violence, gambling, drugs, computer games, pornography, paedophiles, bloggers. Just what do you think of us all? I really want to know because really I'm still a virgin blogger and I want to know if I should go on with it. Will I get addicted? Are there withdrawal symptoms? Can it be fatal?

I want you to tell me what you think of blogging and bloggers, though in my case, maybe the key thing's whether my blog on Thai Visa's any good or not.

Anxiously yours,

Andrew

Yes and no. Where's Route 24, I can't find it in my nav.

It runs from Korat pretty well straight through the endless rice fields of Buriram, Surin and Si Saket to Ubon. You can't miss it... it's always fifty kilomtres or so north of the Cambodial border. At once beautiful and threatening, in part its friendly but also scary. As I swish by in my airconned Vigo, I think of each postage stamp of rice field... that this is somebody's millstone, their sweated labour, their inheritance carved out by their fathers, but also their essential means of survival. As I park up in Tescos, I find it a little terrifying, I who's biggest burden today has been writing a blog for Thai Visa.

Andrew

Still can't find in my nav. Is it defective or is it because I'm in Germany?

[soundman]

Whao or what was scampy?

Soundman.

[jeebusjones]

This "Andrew Hicks" character obviously fancies himself to be a writer of some sort... In another post, he claimed that he was somewhat famous. After a google search, I came across a cheesy novel called "Thai Girl," by guess who? Andrew Hicks. Could it be the same?

If the mods delete that link, just do a google search for "Thai Girl Andrew Hicks."

[slackula]

AW of the first order.

[November Rain]

Whether Scampy or not, certainly good at self advertisement. We all s'posed to go & read this blog now, are we? Think I'll pass, so many blogs on here, already. I like the klown's one though...

[November Rain]

Whao or what was scampy?

Soundman.

Who, not what. A banned member. Real favourite of some of the "old-timers" (longetivity, not age) on here.

[t.s]

i had the pleasure of reading Thai Girl one afternoon on the beach in Koh Phangan and passing it aroung to my other friends on the island at the time. we quite enjoyed it but not for reasons mr hicks might appreciate.

it was truly the stuff of cliche, the good thai girl (or was she) slow wooing the naive farang in multiple settings, made different only by the awkward writing and vanity printing feel of the book itself.

we had many a good laugh over dinner comparing our favourite thailand set pieces contained therein.

keep up the good work Mr Hicks, you are a wonderful provider of entertainment.

[JacknDanny]

if he is.. he wont last long

[soundman]

Whether Scampy or not, certainly good at self advertisement. We all s'posed to go & read this blog now, are we? Think I'll pass, so many blogs on here, already. I like the klown's one though...

Thanks NR. Better to ask first rather than blundering into something with a foot stuck you know where.

Soundman.

[lannarebirth]

What's a blog?

[Mossfinn]

Whao or what was scampy?

Soundman.

You stay on here long enough and the name pops up periodically and as NR says a fave amongst certain Veterans on here

Good Luck

Moss

[sbk]

What's a blog?

blog is short for weblog, basically an online diary. Someone who thinks people might find them interesting (or people travelling who want to keep a large group up to date of their adventures is another example) post their thoughts and experiences. If you look up at the top of your screen there is a button for blogs. Next to Thailand dating and gallery.

[jeebusjones]

i had the pleasure of reading Thai Girl one afternoon on the beach in Koh Phangan and passing it aroung to my other friends on the island at the time. we quite enjoyed it but not for reasons mr hicks might appreciate.

it was truly the stuff of cliche, the good thai girl (or was she) slow wooing the naive farang in multiple settings, made different only by the awkward writing and vanity printing feel of the book itself.

After reading just two posts by "Andrew Hicks" and stumbling across the "official" website for his appallingly trite novel, one word comes to mind regarding this "Hicks." Pretentious

Seems he actually believed all the bg talk of "you handsome man" and "you kind man."

And, "Mr. Hicks," it seems you may have found another answer to your ridiculous question of why posters "hide behind a mask" and don't stupidly use their real names.

[lannarebirth]

What's a blog?

blog is short for weblog, basically an online diary. Someone who thinks people might find them interesting (or people travelling who want to keep a large group up to date of their adventures is another example) post their thoughts and experiences. If you look up at the top of your screen there is a button for blogs. Next to Thailand dating and gallery.

I'm really not dumb, but there seems to be a lot of things I don't know. thanks sbk. Actually I've seen these things. I didn't know it had a name

[Andrew Hicks]

i had the pleasure of reading Thai Girl one afternoon on the beach in Koh Phangan and passing it aroung to my other friends on the island at the time. we quite enjoyed it but not for reasons mr hicks might appreciate.

it was truly the stuff of cliche, the good thai girl (or was she) slow wooing the naive farang in multiple settings, made different only by the awkward writing and vanity printing feel of the book itself.

we had many a good laugh over dinner comparing our favourite thailand set pieces contained therein.

keep up the good work Mr Hicks, you are a wonderful provider of entertainment.

Hi t.s

The main market for "Thai Girl" is among tourists perhaps newly arrived in Thailand and it does seem to offer them something. It has sold very well and if you look at <removed>, especially at the Readers Forum, it has been very well received. Many readers seem genuinely entertained, including some who know Thailand well.

My own view of novels is that I find only a small minority satisfying and so I cannot expect mine to please all the people all of the time.

I also accept your point that it is difficult to write a novel about Thailand, especially a romance, that is totally original and some well-trodden themes inevitably will again be aired. If you are a hardened old-Asia hand, you may very well find a new novel thus has nothing to offer you.

Nonetheless "Thai Girl" is distinctive as it is about travellers ("The Beach" by Alex Garland wasn't about Thailand at all), it is not about a bar girl and it is a story where the farang fails to get the girl... as another old cynic said to me, it really is fiction then!

I'm also reassured as I can immediately think of one middle aged expat who has spent nearly thirty years in Thailand and also a Thai man living in Bangkok both of whom said the book taught them something and made them think. A wide range pf people do like it and that's satisfaction enough for me

Yes, of course it is a matter of vanity writing a first novel at my age and I'm very pleased that it's published by Monsoon Press in Singapore and has been number two to The Da Vinci Code on the bestseller list in Singapore. I've enjoyed writing it, and I'm delighted when it's given pleasure to readers.

I'm not writing this to promote my book (nobody's going to buy it because of this,) but to take part in a genuine discussion that may be of interest to readers.

My own particular insight into writing now is that a book says very different things to different people. My friend t.s is negative and cynical and I do not knock him for that... meanwhile other perfectly intelligent peole rave about ithe book and give it to all their friends as Christmas presents.

"Thai Girl" is important to me and it seems, to other people too, so it was all worthwhile.

Andrew

[Andrew Hicks]

i had the pleasure of reading Thai Girl one afternoon on the beach in Koh Phangan and passing it aroung to my other friends on the island at the time. we quite enjoyed it but not for reasons mr hicks might appreciate.

it was truly the stuff of cliche, the good thai girl (or was she) slow wooing the naive farang in multiple settings, made different only by the awkward writing and vanity printing feel of the book itself.

After reading just two posts by "Andrew Hicks" and stumbling across the "official" website for his appallingly trite novel, one word comes to mind regarding this "Hicks." Pretentious

Seems he actually believed all the bg talk of "you handsome man" and "you kind man."

And, "Mr. Hicks," it seems you may have found another answer to your ridiculous question of why posters "hide behind a mask" and don't stupidly use their real names.

You mean hiding behind the mask allowsyou to be as offensive as you like? I'm beginning to get the picture.

I openly accept the criticism of "Thai Girl" from the previous reader as he had apparently done it justice by reading it right through... and generally people only do that if they're enjoying it.

So I hope you'll now take the chance to do the same, and I'm sure you'll read it with an open mind as you surely are a reasonable man.

Love you too,

Andrew

[Tornado]

Its not Scampy - he cant drive. but then again............

Ban this goose, just in case.

[Crow Boy]

What's a blog?

Blog - techno speak for Web log -> weblog -> blog Used by people to post interesting snippets of their life onto the internet allowing them the opportunity to reach a potentially huge number of readers.

Alternative meaning - meaningless drivel posted by any number of boring idiots with too much time on their hands thus reducing the literary and intellectual quota by a point every hit. So far this year we are in negative numbers and it is only March, does not bode well.

Hope this helps

CB

Edited March 29, 2007 by Crow Boy

[Crow Boy]

Whao or what was scampy?

Soundman.

I thought a scampy was a type of prawn or shrimp depending on which side of the big pond you come from. It is the dipped and battered and then put into hot oil - from my reading of this thread it is a person who is about to get the same treatment

CB

[Prakanong]

Number 2 on the Singapore bestseller list - &lt;deleted&gt; matey boy

[Andrew Hicks]

Number 2 on the Singapore bestseller list - &lt;deleted&gt; matey boy

Jing Jing, it really was, and it was up there for a matter of months.

I'm not sure why but it was a bestseller beating many top selling international authors. I forget who they were but the details are on my website and you'll also find the details and dates on <removed>.

This slander of goods means I really did have to reply and set out the truth... if it goes on I'm going to get banned. But no, they wouldn't. This is a genuine discussion in which I wanted to talk about the joy of blogging and it got side tracked a little bit.

But yes, I have some agreement with the point that blogging is rather sad and a cry for help. But the point is that the blog I've had elswhere for a copule of month gives me pleasure and keeps my family in UK in touch. Nobody has to read it if they don't want to and nobody usually does.

Blogging's another wonderful spin-off from the web that makes the world a better place... rather like readres forums!

Naively yours,

Andrew Hicks

[sbk]

Whao or what was scampy?

Soundman.

I thought a scampy was a type of prawn or shrimp depending on which side of the big pond you come from. It is the dipped and battered and then put into hot oil - from my reading of this thread it is a person who is about to get the same treatment

CB

Thats Scampi. Scampy is the nickname of an allegedly former poster.

And Crow Boy, I like your alternative definition of a blogger better

meaningless drivel posted by any number of boring idiots with too much time on their hands thus reducing the literary and intellectual quota by a point every hit.

Shameless self promotion could be another one to add to the definition however

Admittedly, some blogs can be interesting, esp the one about building the house (who was that?) but otherwise, personally, I just don't find them that interesting.

[Prakanong]

Number 2 on the Singapore bestseller list - &lt;deleted&gt; matey boy

Jing Jing, it really was, and it was up there for a matter of months.

I'm not sure why but it was a bestseller beating many top selling international authors. I forget who they were but the details are on my website and you'll also find the details and dates on <removed>.

This slander of goods means I really did have to reply and set out the truth... if it goes on I'm going to get banned. But no, they wouldn't. This is a genuine discussion in which I wanted to talk about the joy of blogging and it got side tracked a little bit.

But yes, I have some agreement with the point that blogging is rather sad and a cry for help. But the point is that the blog I've had elswhere for a copule of month gives me pleasure and keeps my family in UK in touch. Nobody has to read it if they don't want to and nobody usually does.

Blogging's another wonderful spin-off from the web that makes the world a better place... rather like readres forums!

Naively yours,

Andrew Hicks

That's funny because every bookshop I visited in Singapore over the last year (and I do visit bookshops a lot) had Neil Humphrey's books at the top of the best seller lists in Singapore - do a google.

I have seen your book here and its rather obscure on the shelves and not in the numbers of the three books by the guy above. I am even talking about local bookshops here too out in the burbs and not just the two large chains.

You may know differently of course!

Edited March 29, 2007 by Prakanong