The week that was in Thailand news: If you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em! How Thaivisa might change your life!

[rooster59]

The week that was in Thailand news: If you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em! How Thaivisa might change your life!

 

 

Despite living in Thailand for many decades, Rooster was a relative latecomer to the Thaivisa forum party.

 

I was first introduced to the site in the late noughties by a close friend who said it was a great place to get opinions about attitudes to Thailand. Thinking that sounded utterly dreadful I pretended to agree while steadfastly ignoring Thaivisa.

 

I did however take a sneak peek and eagerly followed an interesting thread in which people posted pictures of Thailand from years ago. That was an acceptable foray and I adorned many walls of my classroom suite with printed out and framed pictures purloined from the thread ranging from the Thai royal family to daily life in Siam, many years before even Rooster arrived.

 

I was head of Thai at a major international school and a well-known figure in that sphere and crossword gaming circles in Thailand. Though I cautioned fellow teachers and older students about the seedier underbelly of Thai life, my job was really to present the kingdom in a blaze of perpetual glory and adulation.

 

This, along with teaching the language to remedial Thais and wide-eyed foreigners, I continued to do in classes and speeches until a disagreement with a headmaster over my attendance at the 2013 World Scrabble Championship led to early retirement.

 

Aged 52, with plenty of funds and recently a dad again, I vowed to take at least two years off before becoming gainfully employed once more. 

 

Enter Thaivisa. With plenty of time on my hands after wheeling my little toddler on her daily excursion to Kaset university ponds, I created an account and started to find out more about Thai news and what foreigners were saying about the country.

 

I realized that criticism I often aimed at others in Thailand for living in a bubble could actually be leveled at me!

 

Trending at the time was the case of the two Burmese men who were sentenced to death for the rape/murder of the British couple in Koh Tao. By and large I resisted commenting; at the time I was of the opinion that the men were guilty and felt that saying that would seem like trolling! Such was the overwhelming antipathy towards the Thai government and police regarding this case.

 

I am not sure I have changed my mind but thanks to Thaivisa I am definitely better informed. I made 500 posts on various topics and got some great advice, including on how to save money in buying cheaper pharmaceuticals.

 

Some of the “forum faithful” at the time were not my cup of tea. But saving money has always been a priority and I was grateful for many posters who provided valuable information on countless topics, as they do to this day.

 

But by early 2016 I had grown disillusioned with the constant moaning and I was on the verge of cancelling my account (now defunct, incidentally) and doing something more productive than wasting two hours on the forum each day (a conservative estimate!). Then something happened which ranks up there with the most defining and important things that have happened to me in nearly 40 years in Thailand.

 

I replied to an ad for a translator. 

 

I gazed at it for five minutes then decided to apply - spinning through my head was a feeling that if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em! It appealed to my sense of humor and sense of the perverse.

 

In a Skype interview my soon-to-be boss explained that Thaivisa wanted to increase its local news content and, massaging my ego, he said I was the man for the job!

 

Within days I was not just a translator of 60 stories a week from the Thai press but a columnist commenting on Thailand each Sunday in The Week That Was, now in its 226th edition.

 

The first really big story that kept the editorial team awake at night was the shocking assault on the Owen family in Hua Hin at Songkran. This made international news, something Rooster had rarely achieved in my cub reporter days from 1979 to 1982 in the London suburbs before I travelled to Asia.

 

Despite already highly honed skills in speaking, I was to discover that I needed a far better vocabulary to accurately translate the news. Online dictionaries became my vital resource. Lists of the ranks of policemen or names of government departments and ministers became my bread and butter.

 

It was not all sensational news stories; much of it was quite parochial and mundane but along with the help of my tireless sub-editor we worked to bring a whole new face to the forum. Posters could have been forgiven for thinking there was a crime epidemic because we printed far more of that genre than in the past.

 

Like most languages Thai is very different when written rather than spoken. It took my own abilities in the language to a new plateau.

 

There was also a large amount of quirky “Amazing Thailand” stories that became a personal forte due to my background in disseminating Thai culture. Themes like “brake failure” and “police transfer” abounded. Some posters missed the older, gentler days of Thaivisa but many appreciated the extent of the news now on offer at the click of a mouse.

 

Even if it was ageing US man Harold’s ridiculous antics with former porn star Nat, a staple nurtured over more than a year. Growing familiarity with leading government ministers and senior policemen helped us put a fresh spin on their antics.

 

Over the last four years I have spoken to countless people, both Thai and expatriate, folk I would never have met in my previous existence. Many are lovely people like Colin in Khon Kaen. Some I would not invite home to mother.

 

I have developed opinions about our principal news sources. Daily News, Thai Rath and Sanook do the best job in my opinion. Naew Na and 77khaoded on the other hand leave a lot to be desired either acting as mouthpieces for the authorities or leaving the reader hanging with lazy journalism.

 

Posters should always remember that TV news from the Thai press – admittedly given a slant appropriate for the readership by people like yours truly – is largely dependent on the accuracy of the source. Obvious errors, and there are many, are corrected but mostly you are getting what it says on the tin: Thai News in English. This of course is supplemented by foreign news and local English language media who contribute.

 

Though I am an employee of Thaivisa, and you can take my opinion with as much a grain of salt as a whole pack of Paxa, I think that pound for pound Thaivisa represents the best place for news in Thailand even if some topics are inevitably off limits and need to be searched for in the darker recesses of the internet.

 

One topic that has always been hugely popular, rivalling Koh Tao, is the subject of Red Bull “Boss”. You would have to have been living under a stone to not know that in 2012 Vorayuth Yoovidhya, grandson of Red Bull founder Chaleo who died that year, drove his black Ferrari into a Thong Lo police killing him and dragging his body along the road.

 

“Boss” fled the scene and Thailand and when charges were leveled at him little was done to bring him back as he toured the Formula 1 circuit with untouchable gay abandon despite arrest warrants. Mention his name and Thaivisa would froth.

 

This week on the forum was a case in point. Within minutes of news that charges against Boss had been dropped, forum comment was running red hot. Why the charges were history seemed obvious to many – clearly a lot of money has exchanged hands contained in a massive “brown envelope” (one of the posters’ favorite expressions though one I personally loathe).

 

While this is unlikely to be far from the truth, it will be interesting to see what the family of the policeman have to say. Their silence screams “money”. They have always been quieter than the online babble. But if Boss makes a return to these shores you can be sure that both the Thai and English press will have a field day.

 

Obviously, this year has all been about coronavirus both here in Thailand and around the world. I have learnt all the new Thai (and English!) words and jargon to explain a pandemic though I am tempted to suggest that Thaivisa might have a new channel where the virus is not mentioned. Rather like Sky did in the UK after the public got fed up with three years of Brexit news.

 

This week the Thais were basking in the glory of having WHO contact them (and New Zealand) about how best to prevent and control a pandemic. “Nine Pillars” were listed but the subject of testing – a favorite of forum curmudgeons determined to find a chink in the kingdom’s apparent coronavirus success story – was not mentioned at all.

 

Another story proclaimed that “No one knows what Thailand is doing right, but so far it’s working”. That mantra will have to do for now. While the economic impact has been utterly devastating for many in Thailand there is still the silver lining, generally perceived, that a high death toll has been averted due to some very good practice.

 

Wasting a zillion baht on submarines rather than, say, doing anything about the death toll on Thai roads has been another staple of the TV poster over the years. They got in a huge lather about a fancy executive plane being bought for 1.35 billion baht. 

 

Mockery, this columnist’s stock-in-trade, abounded with suggestions that the government should have retrofitted one of THAI’s sidelined planes instead. (Even BA, incidentally, are scrapping their entire 747 fleet).

 

Another top story this week was the violence between two gangs that fought pitch battles in several Samut Prakan hospitals. A doctor who did her best to save one of the gang members was smacked in the face for her trouble and resigned. The director felt it was time to have a “Gold Shop” style panic button for speedy police response to hospital violence.

 

He should understand that buttons don’t normally do it for Pavlov Plod; money is what normally gets those “dogs” salivating and off their backsides!

 

Absurd government pronouncements and equally bizarre and unbalanced laws and punishment are also a Thaivisa staple. Though no one was ever going to be fined 100,000 baht for smoking on a beach, the suggestion in 2018 that it could happen in theory was enough for the curmudgeons to topple from the lofty heights of their bar stools.

 

Flurries of indignation gushed forth at news that a Thai run Japanese restaurant in Chiang Mai had been fined 50,000 baht for, horror of horrors, promoting a deal on all you can drink beer. This draconian nonsense is all about protecting the big players in the market. Much of Thai life is like that; looking after the big fish while the small fry are encouraged to tug their forelocks and happily jump into the pan and get what is rightfully coming to them.

 

Total injustice.

 

Who will be allowed back into Thailand and when continued to encompass many column inches. Tourism minister Pipat seemed to favor medical tourism so long as the patients weren’t sick with Covid-19. Elite card holders and film crews could be back in a matter of weeks. Again, those separated with families and children in Thailand were treated little better than cattle.

 

While Rooster does not believe that xenophobia is any worse in Thailand these days (despite a survey on the forum that indicates otherwise) there have been many stories recently that provide grist for the mill. A crass comment about the number of foreigners in Pattaya contributing to coronavirus was buried but picked up by several posters in a story about squatters moving into the bars in Soi Bua Khao.

 

Suggestions that 90% of Thais don’t want foreigners back have their roots in virus resurgence jitters. It’s not xenophobia manifesting itself, just a general fear that can be seen the world over.

 

Talking of general fear, MP Prayut – our father who art in khaki, hollow be his name – continued to try and accentuate the positive to hide the failings of his administration and its ragtag collection of unpalatable misfits.

 

He was singing the praises of his pals at King Power who have decided to emblazon EPL team Leicester City’s shirts with the slogan “Thailand Smiles With You” next season. This will help to bolster Thai tourism, we were told, especially as Prayut said that the club has “billions of fans”.

 

I don’t think even Liverpool – who were presented with the EPL trophy in Yala and Khon Kaen on Sunday and at Anfield later in the week – could lay claim to that!

 

Also, 10,000 Leicester shirts costing 2,500 baht each are being sold to raise money. I have more than thirty Spurs’ shirts but I can’t remember paying more than a tenth of that! To wit, a depot full of Gucci and Louis Vuitton bags was raided in Amnat Charoen….

 

The feel good stories helped to deflect from the fact that two Nonthaburi immigration officers with the rank of captain had been transferred for taking 20,000 baht bribes to facilitate fast processing of visas. A surprising large number on the forum seemed to have personal knowledge of this!

 

In international news the leader of the free world said that his compatriots might consider wearing masks. Everything he does is now related to getting reelected but the desperation is showing. Every four or five days another million were added to the infected stats worldwide with the US, Brazil, India and South Africa now bearing the brunt.

 

The UAE announced they have launched a probe to Mars. I wondered if they are hoping to find oil. Hopefully one day the Sheik and all his minging minions will relocate there. It’s the very least they can do for humanity.

 

Back in Thailand we were once again reminded about those quirky stories that abound on the forum. In Bangkok the BMA announced that 350 new “Smart Bus Stops” were being installed under the “Check – Charge – Chare (share)” scheme. Incredibly, the travelling public will now be able to tell when the next bus is coming. This state-of-the-art development is supplemented with phone chargers and free wi-fi.

 

The problem with these plans is always that there is no maintenance budget. Give it a few years and they will all be replaced with the next “innovation”. In the meantime, they could just get the buses to pull over to the kerb. That might stop people being run over as was seen when a furniture laden pick-up reversed over a mum and daughter on Thursday.

 

At Wat Bang Lamung in Pattaya an explosion in the crematorium left two undertakers far closer to their maker than was comfortable during a funeral. The brothers survived but were severely burned as mourners ran for their lives. The person in the coffin was carried to a neighborhood wat to get the job done. An investigation is underway.

 

In Loei a rather ungrateful and angry Canadian, 57, walloped a rescue foundation worker over the head with an oxygen tank as he was being taken to hospital in an ambulance. He had broken his leg in a motorcycle accident. Natthaphon, 22, was pictured holding an ice pack to a head wound and said he went to the police to report the assault and damage to equipment.

 

The dollar and the pound continued on an upward trajectory this week as the Thais denied currency manipulation, another favorite of the conspiracy theorists. Rooster knows far more about home economics than macro issues but one thing I do understand is that in times of trouble one should consider the safe haven of gold.

 

I am self-flagellating after seeing the gold price get close to 30,000 baht per baht weight this week. Why oh why didn’t I have the courage of my convictions and buy gold bars in February when the price was 22,000 something. Fear of the unknown or just plain idleness, the greatest chance to make hay while the pandemic raged has slipped me by! Oh well.

 

Finally, I celebrated by 59th birthday yesterday. Being a diehard horse racing fan, I tuned into the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at deserted Ascot in the UK. On my 20th birthday in 1981 I was at the track with huge crowds when racing royalty in the form of the Queen Mother was in attendance.

 

The large crowd was momentarily stunned into silence as the immaculately turned out star attraction strode elegantly into the paddock. Then cheering erupted as everyone realized they were in the presence of greatness. True racing royalty.

 

No, it wasn’t the queen mum.

 

His Highness Shergar had just arrived.

 

Rooster

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-07-25

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Samui Bodoh]

An interesting read as always.

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Another story proclaimed that “No one knows what Thailand is doing right, but so far it’s working”. That mantra will have to do for now. While the economic impact has been utterly devastating for many in Thailand there is still the silver lining, generally perceived, that a high death toll has been averted due to some very good practice.

While I am sincerely pleased that so few have gotten sick and/or died, I ponder the question of whether what Thailand is doing virus-wise is correct. And then, I ponder some more. Then, I re-ponder what I previously pondered and ponder if I pondered correctly in the first ponder.

 

I have written and erased 17 paragraphs of ideas; none of them seem quite right.

 

I need to ponder things a bit more...

 

Have a good week everyone!

 

 

 

[DrTuner]

TVF was a completely different forum when George was running it. The mood was jovial and word was free. Hope you caught some of it.

[Jane Dough]

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

An interesting read as always.

While I am sincerely pleased that so few have gotten sick and/or died, I ponder the question of whether what Thailand is doing virus-wise is correct. And then, I ponder some more. Then, I re-ponder what I previously pondered and ponder if I pondered correctly in the first ponder.

 

I have written and erased 17 paragraphs of ideas; none of them seem quite right.

 

I need to ponder things a bit more...

 

Have a good week everyone!

 

 

 

I'm less ponder and more pond life..I don't know what to believe!

 

Rooster

[Saraburi121]

Thanks, a joy to read!

[George Bowman]

12 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Being a diehard horse racing fan...

Much like you, I have lived in Thailand for quite awhile. Unfortunately, I know less today than I did back then. Anyway, here is another old photo of Bangkok for your walls. Last I heard the race track had been torn down. 

 

Your Sunday column is part of my Sunday ritual. Thanks.

 

[Jane Dough]

11 minutes ago, George Bowman said:

Much like you, I have lived in Thailand for quite awhile. Unfortunately, I know less today than I did back then. Anyway, here is another old photo of Bangkok for your walls. Last I heard the race track had been torn down. 

 

Your Sunday column is part of my Sunday ritual. Thanks.

 

Thanks for the picture...I am guessing that is Nang Lerng racecourse as RBSC remains open. I have happy memories of trips to both tracks.

 

It's always nice to hear that people read the column regularly and look forward to it. Cheers and have a good weekend.

 

Rooster

[kg1947]

We live in very interesting times , but being a "guest" in this country  I must refrain myself from uttering the "wrong words"

Pattaya has many homeless, jobless, fundless cases - the FREE FOOD  handouts seem to have dwindled drastically .

I wish I am a RICH PERSON - to give them a spoon of rice with NamPla and some Pakbung with Kaidaw topping , because the very very rich

couldn't care less what happen to these poor souls - as long as their Trust Fund keep up with 15% R.O.I. ....

[Jane Dough]

12 hours ago, Saraburi121 said:

Thanks, a joy to read!

Happy to bring joy to Saraburi! Haven't passed you by for some time now. Five months in Bangkok with only occasional trips to Pathum Thani.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Rooster

 

 

[lks7689]

"While this is unlikely to be far from the truth, it will be interesting to see what the family of the policeman have to say. Their silence screams “money”. "

 

That was something that I realized will never change in Thailand. 

[Don Mega]

1 minute ago, lks7689 said:

"While this is unlikely to be far from the truth, it will be interesting to see what the family of the policeman have to say. Their silence screams “money”. "

 

That was something that I realized will never change in Thailand. 

That the family that asked for no charges to be laid when they receive 3 million in compensation a few years ago ?

[pennine]

"Suggestions that 90% of Thais don’t want foreigners back have their roots in virus resurgence jitters. It’s not xenophobia manifesting itself, just a general fear that can be seen the world over."

1459 Thais are hardly a statistical manifestation of anything.

[fgmr]

Is there a surfeit of Royal Thai Police Generals? Does it really require a General to arrest three illegal Bangladesh immigrants crossing over from Cambodia. Perhaps the General just happened to be on site as the illegals came across the 'stream'! Obviously a very lucky or knowledgable copper, hence his rank!

Perhaps Rooster would provide some inside info in his next column. Which I have only recently discovered and enjoy reading.

FGMR

[Curmudgeonly59]

18 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Talking of general fear, MP Prayut – our father who art in khaki, hollow be his name – continued to try and accentuate the positive to hide the failings of his administration and its ragtag collection of unpalatable misfits.

One of your better paragraphs. Continue.

[TPI]

It must be Sunday, I've a mug of hot tea, a comfy chair and rooster! Only 59! Get some time up, you're a tourist! A lovely read and full of information as usual. I hope you enjoyed your birthday!

[natway09]

Having lived & worked here for 30 years, driven some 1.2 mil Km around the country I read your comments with great interest & noticed plenty of truth between the lines.

As guests here we do need to bite our tongue & yes i get myself into some troubles on numerous occassions like asking when Thong Lor Police stations benefactor  Red Bull signs are going to be erected.

Oh, never mind, a good read, thanks

[Tropicalevo]

Excellent. Thank you.

[Mark mark]

Yes on the Explosion in the Crematorium ....

 

Yes, most Crematoriums in Thailand ? …  Well most certainly around where I used to live, are powered by Diesel these days .... Like far more Environmental ? Well focal fuel ? BUT a lot less Trees being used for Burning Bodies, ! … Straight on and Off, Red = Stopped, … and hit Green to Goooo.... No wood is used at all in these new tech, Great Burning machines ! . …  Though well, it looks like it might be an idea to keep your eye on the level of Diesel in the tank ! … Or maybe they get fuel Blocks ? … Or the tank runs out of Diesel ? ... And the feed gets Testy !!! ... And they are Fan Forced also ….. so yes …Vwwwoooommmppp !!! it would be possible obviously …

 

.... I always wondered... but it probably would have been a Diesel Oil problem here I am sure ... like the new fire boxes are Push Button, but I wondered about the Maintenance of all of the Technology, and basic Fuel Technology when I looked at the back of our Local one !!!

 

...Our Undertaker having just died in his 50's ... and God Bless … Just a Bit ! Like a bottle or two of Lao Cow per Funeral,  .... Wan. ...

 

I asked him one day ... over a shot or two .... Him being the funeral, Boots on the ground man, to make sure the whole body burns man (And he showed me how to do it on wood at least ? … Like you need a long, evil looking steel Hook ! Right ) ...

 

So I asked him one day, as he was finishing getting the job well on the way …  "So where do you think the spirit goes of the Dead people that you Burn" ??? And his answer was Great !!! .... With a Rye Jack Nickerson Smile ... He Grinned at me, ... Turned to the Crematorium, ... and indicating with his finger, ….  Saying "Up the Chimney" !!! ....

 

Like Yearrrr. ... I was suitably impressed with his practice ability, and basic real  knowledge  .... And had another shot !!!

[lensta]

19 hours ago, rooster59 said:

unpalatable misfits.

I think you are being very unkind "unpalatable misfits" by comparing them to the thai government

[Madeline Thompson]

16 hours ago, Jane Dough said:

I'm less ponder and more pond life..I don't know what to believe!

 

Rooster

Couldn't agree more!  The more I read and research, the more wide-ranging

all the information appears to be.  I believe that it comes down to what you

want to believe, what your instinct tells you.  And that sounds like a rationale

conclusion to me.

[Isaan sailor]

“The Dollar and the Pound continued on an upward trajectory this week...”.  Well, you’ve got that half right—USD down 11 Satang yesterday, while the Euro continues to skyrocket.

Thanks for your observations.  As a TV newbie (13 months now), I appreciate your perspectives.

[George Aylesham]

18 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

An interesting read as always.

While I am sincerely pleased that so few have gotten sick and/or died, I ponder the question of whether what Thailand is doing virus-wise is correct. And then, I ponder some more. Then, I re-ponder what I previously pondered and ponder if I pondered correctly in the first ponder.

 

I have written and erased 17 paragraphs of ideas; none of them seem quite right.

 

I need to ponder things a bit more...

 

Have a good week everyone!

 

 

 

The Wais and the OCD-level cleanliness of the Thais have a lot to do with it. Another is the innate respect of the Thais for authority and the mainly sensible precautions the population is being asked to take.

[Kalasin Jo]

18 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

An interesting read as always.

While I am sincerely pleased that so few have gotten sick and/or died, I ponder the question of whether what Thailand is doing virus-wise is correct. And then, I ponder some more. Then, I re-ponder what I previously pondered and ponder if I pondered correctly in the firont blame the zst ponder.

 

I have written and erased 17 paragraphs of ideas; none 

 

seem quite right.

 

I need to ponder things a bit more...

 

Have a good week everyone!

 

Me too. It's not so difficult to see why the US, UK and even EU countries are still seeing bad and rising numbers again. And the French just can't resist la bise. If you are going to kiss others at least once on each cheek every time you say hello and goodbye what can one expect? In the workplace it's a bise fest morning, noon and night. Family get togethers? Another bise fest. You get my drift. Its no wonder with restrictions eased the R number is rising again and above 1, which is the break even point for increasing or decreasing infection rates.

I can't criticise the Thais for keeping foreigners out. And wanting no easing of that. But they are being harsh on those here like me with spouse, family, who can't get an extension and must leave by 26 Sept now or face the normal consequence of overstay and not knowing when it is feasible to return, to some extent depending on the depth of your love and your wallet as those stuck outside in this situation are already finding out.

 

At least France has always let those resident there in  during this crisis ie: with a carte de séjour of at least 1 year validity and bring spouses and children. Quarantining?. Yes, but in your own home and as a family.

[sammieuk1]

Noted no more massive “brown envelopes” from me will have to move to politically incorrect "white ones" as I had no idea brown ones could ever be loathsome or offend anyone here????

[sambum]

"whole pack of Paxa,"?

 

Not being pedantic, but I think you probably mean  

[sambum]

3 hours ago, Don Mega said:

That the family that asked for no charges to be laid when they receive 3 million in compensation a few years ago ?

But surely the next step should be for the legal system to take over, and if it is felt that there is a case to answer, there should be a trial - regardless of how much "pay off" money has been paid to the victim's family - it is usually used by the defence  lawyer to say that "my client has already made a "wai" and paid x million baht to the victim's family" in order to achieve a lighter sentence (in the same way as pleading guilty can often reduce a possible sentence by up to 50%).

 

Unfortunately, in this "non case" it never even got up the courtroom steps, in spite of what to most appeared a clear instance of a drunk/high driver speeding, knocking  someone off his motor bike, and then dragging that person under his car for several metres before speeding home and trying to convince people that he was innocent, but fleeing the country 2 days before he had a chance to prove it in court!   

[Don Mega]

11 minutes ago, sambum said:

 

 

Unfortunately, in this "non case" it never even got up the courtroom steps, in spite of what to most appeared a clear instance of a drunk/high driver speeding, knocking  someone off his motor bike,

And yet there is no evidence of this, instead there is witnesses claiming to have seen the accident and it was the policeman at fault.

[Fortean1]

Rooster- always enjoy reading your take on the cultural divide here.  We shall never know fully the culture here.  I've been married to a great Thai woman for 47 years.  The intercultural aspects are far more important than the so-called interracial aspects.  I could swear someone mentioned the teenager whose poor driving forced a van off an overpass (flyover) which killed nine law students.  What did she do to put her record straight?  My wife says she went to reform school.

 

Terry

( a few miles south of Hua Hin )

[Jane Dough]

4 hours ago, TPI said:

It must be Sunday, I've a mug of hot tea, a comfy chair and rooster! Only 59! Get some time up, you're a tourist! A lovely read and full of information as usual. I hope you enjoyed your birthday!

I usually loathe my birthday but this year was very pleasant. I was woken at 7am by my four year old saying "Happy birthday daddy" and both her and the older one had made a lovely card with a special message in Thai and English. Mrs R's preparation for the evening meal was a huge English Breakfast with lots of baked beans. 

 

No one cared to be very close to me after that....enabling me to enjoy Enable's victory at Ascot in serene peace.

 

Thanks for being one of my most positive readers. 

 

Rooster

[Jane Dough]

3 hours ago, Kalasin Jo said:

Me too. It's not so difficult to see why the US, UK and even EU countries are still seeing bad and rising numbers again. And the French just can't resist la bise. If you are going to kiss others at least once on each cheek every time you say hello and goodbye what can one expect? In the workplace it's a bise fest morning, noon and night. Family get togethers? Another bise fest. You get my drift. Its no wonder with restrictions eased the R number is rising again and above 1, which is the break even point for increasing or decreasing infection rates.

I can't criticise the Thais for keeping foreigners out. And wanting no easing of that. But they are being harsh on those here like me with spouse, family, who can't get an extension and must leave by 26 Sept now or face the normal consequence of overstay and not knowing when it is feasible to return, to some extent depending on the depth of your love and your wallet as those stuck outside in this situation are already finding out.

 

At least France has always let those resident there in  during this crisis ie: with a carte de séjour of at least 1 year validity and bring spouses and children. Quarantining?. Yes, but in your own home and as a family.

I hear what you are saying about "la bise" - my dad was French and born near Le Mans. Our family holidays they featured the terrible embarrassment - for me, basically a Brit - of bise-fests with our relatives!

 

Thanks for reading. 

 

Rooster