Lacessit Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 It’s been a year like no other. The oil price went negative, airlines were grounded, some forever. A single meat market in Wuhan, specializing in exotic meats for conspicuous consumption by wealthy Chinese, generated a virus which spread like wildfire. Countries went into lockdown, some stringently, some half-heartedly. The results are there for everyone to see. Millions became employed overnight. Some countries responded with support, others opted for benign neglect. Vaccines were developed at unprecedented speed. A would-be tyrant was rejected at the polls. Most if not all of us will say goodbye and good riddance to 2020. I’m in Thailand by choice and some good luck. Two weeks later in February, and I would still be locked down in Australia, contemplating slashing my wrists. A much more enjoyable life for me here. Having said that, there are some things I miss about my home country. I miss the wind. In Thailand, it seems the wind can’t get much above a gentle zephyr. I would rug up with about four layers of clothing in winter, go down to Gunnamatta beach with an offshore wind of 50-60 km/hr, and watch 10 metre waves pound the coast. Nature at its most primeval. I miss the wineries that dot the Mornington Peninsula, where one could have a light lunch and a couple of glasses of the local product, which most of the time was very good. Apart from Thai wine quality, I don’t believe Thais know what a cellar door is, or what it’s for. I miss my 2004 Mitsubishi Magna AWD sedan, IMO one of the most underrated vehicles ever produced. Balanced like a cat on dirt roads and wet bitumen. About a third the new car price of a comparable Mercedes. My son has it now, still plugging along with 300,000 km on the odometer. I miss the golf competitions I used to play. Par, foursomes, match play, Canadian foursomes. Here, it’s just stroke and Stableford. Boring. I miss the camaraderie of the Wednesday Boys. 15 – 20 of us, some real characters and nicknames. The Poet, The Farmer, The Whippet, Pistol Pete, Triple Treat. Best net score got a two-dollar coin from every other player, with an appropriate obeisance. Some really acid sledging during play, one of the best at my expense. A day when I was spraying my tee shots all over the course, but making pars because I’m holing putts from everywhere on the greens. Our group gets to the seventeenth tee, par 3, and I’m fretting about club selection, is it a 6 or 7 iron? One of my mates says “ Why don’t you tee off with your putter? It’s the only club you’ve hit straight all day”. I miss a Gippsland eye fillet steak, medium, with a Warby Ranges Shiraz. Followed by a King Island blue brie on water crackers. I miss grilled flake and chips,with a pickled onion on the side. Flake is also known as shark to non-Australians, very sweet fish, and filling. All the best to everyone on TV over Christmas, and may 2021 be better. What do you miss? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bkk6060 Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 In and Out burger. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tonray Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 12 minutes ago, Lacessit said: I miss a Gippsland eye fillet steak, medium, with a Warby Ranges Shiraz. Followed by a King Island blue brie on water crackers. But here in Thailand you can get Moo Ping with a Bubble Tea, followed by SomTam with pickled blue paddy crab and water crickets...all for less than $2 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Andrew Dwyer Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 Cheap cheese . 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solinvictus Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 (edited) Ehh the grass is always greener but I'd say to have more more diverse conversations! Gets a bit dry & repetitive here at times...suppose I should have fun with it, I do. -Burgers -Drag racing (Need to check it out here) -bbqs + beer outside -less petty co-workers/staff -driving I love Thailand! 555 Edited December 23, 2020 by Solinvictus 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post KannikaP Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 Not having the new variant of Covid available to me. LOL 2 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Andrew Dwyer Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 1 minute ago, KannikaP said: Not having the new variant of Covid available to me. LOL If you believe the gov you don’t even have the old variant !! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post madmen Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 I'm on the gold coast and no lockdown here and no new cases in 200 days I think. Free medical in the first class medical system. A pension card makes sure you never pay more than $7 for a prescription and half price for bus and tram Amazing clean surf beaches dotted with surf clubs where you can drink beer and dine with a stunning view Cheap deli food and stupid cheap wines and oh the magnificent range of cheeses. Beer where I drink is $5.50 per schooner a bit more expensive than Thailand Best of all the pub down the road does $6 rump steak and chips. Not a huge portion but enough for me Of course this is all wiped out by the expensive rent but government rent assistance of $300 A month helps somewhat But the worst thing is young women look right through you like your not even there. Getting a young wife for an older guy is just a fantasy unless you many millions 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CharlieH Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 The wind in your face The warm breath in the cold air The smell of Autumn in the woods. Custard creams Decent Bread ! Fish n chips in a paper Having a conversation without having to dumb it down and break it up as you go. 10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Crossy Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 I've not lived in the UK for nigh on 30 years, all the things I used to do and I miss are probably illegal now ???? Plus I'm 30 years older and XXkg heavier 6 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mutt Daeng Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 (edited) Tongue-in-cheek: Sub zero temperatures in winter High energy and water bills Community Charge Tax Covid-19 TV License Edited December 23, 2020 by Mutt Daeng added tv license 6 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Henryford Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 Wine at a decent price 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Somtamnication Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 All 4 seasons. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WineOh Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 Anfield. Other than that absolutely sod all! 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ChakaKhan Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 1 hour ago, bkk6060 said: In and Out burger. same, but the In n Out, and then a burger afterwards ???? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natai Beach Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 Carlton Draught pots in a clean glass, from a pub that regularly cleans the lines, (and preferably has topless barmaids, but hard to find these days) Being in a shout, drinking Carlton Draught pots with a group who are setting a fast pace, pushing you with the sledging you mentioned. Not keeping up isn’t an option. That being said, having table service in a Thai pub with live music and a pretty or ten constantly topping up your glass is nice also. Just wish they had Carlton Draught pots. I don’t miss the females. I go back yearly and find them more offensive every year. More tattooed, more self entitled, fatter, more aggressive and louder. An average Soi 6 girl has better matters IMO and is very feminine versus the butch aggro feminist shielas back home. And now all of my regular roots are past their use by date now but still expect me to service them, so best completely avoided unless I have had a heap of Carlton Draught pots. I miss cheap rear wheel drive V8s. Most of my mates visit me often in Thailand, often in groups, much more fun to be had here than back home. Some unfortunately can’t afford to because their ex wife took the house, so they now pay high rent and have to pay high maintenance to the wife to pay for the kids she hardly gives him access to. No money for holidays. I go back for Xmas and New Years, best time to go with parties and Boxing Day Test in my mates corporate box. Cheap v8s and Carlton Draught. That is about it. Life is much, much better in Thailand in so many ways. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jollyhangmon Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 (edited) ... decent heating in da crib is what I'm missing right now, no darn kidding ... 8 degree nightly minimum brought room temps down to like 13, brewing me a stiff grog as we speak... (... why in the name of bazoozoo is the font so small, that suxx) (... think I fixed it) Edited December 23, 2020 by jollyhangmon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChakaKhan Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 31 minutes ago, CharlieH said: Fish n chips in a paper Prince Albert in a can, or tupperware at the least.. Also entering without needed a visa -- VIP! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark5335 Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 Cheap wine; sausage rolls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mutt Daeng Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 Pension Increases NHS Entitlements 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Old Croc Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 To the OP, if you miss the wind so much you should move to somewhere like Phuket. At times when gales blow through I've watched roofing tin on large buildings being peeled back, wondered if large trees around the house would snap off, and despaired at the news of incompetent crews, on badly designed boats, killing tourists by the score by venturing out in violent squalls on the ocean. What I miss in Australia are my good friends meeting for protracted lunches on Fridays, good cheap wine, the hundreds of varieties and labels of beer easily available at every liquor outlet, good beef, lamb and seafood at supermarkets everywhere, more variety and cheaper vehicles available for sale, long excursions into remote parts of the country for camping, fishing or prospecting trips where it's possible to go for hours, even days, without seeing another vehicle or human. And, as someone else pointed out, being able to have a reasonably intelligent conversation with the majority of people whose paths I cross. The list of what I don't miss in my home country is much longer. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackayae Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 The vaccine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polpott Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, Mutt Daeng said: Pension Increases NHS Entitlements I get both of those in Thailand. The only thing I miss is Warburton's crumpets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mutt Daeng Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 (edited) 6 minutes ago, polpott said: I get both of those in Thailand. The only thing I miss is Warburton's crumpets. Maybe I was "naive/being honest", but I thought telling the UK government that I was leaving the UK for good was the right thing to do. Edited December 23, 2020 by Mutt Daeng 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post nikmar Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 23 minutes ago, Liverpoolfan said: Anfield. Other than that absolutely sod all! plenty of publiic toilets in Thailand mate. ???? 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post nikmar Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polpott Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 1 minute ago, Mutt Daeng said: Maybe I was naive/being honest, but I thought telling the UK government that I was leaving the UK for good was the right thing to do. Naïve definitely. Honest? I can think of many occasions when the government wasn't honest with me. Back at ya HMG. My winter fuel allowance and Christmas bonus have paid for all my Christmas presents. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WineOh Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, nikmar said: A pi**heads wet dream right there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacessit Posted December 23, 2020 Author Share Posted December 23, 2020 49 minutes ago, madmen said: I'm on the gold coast and no lockdown here and no new cases in 200 days I think. Free medical in the first class medical system. A pension card makes sure you never pay more than $7 for a prescription and half price for bus and tram Amazing clean surf beaches dotted with surf clubs where you can drink beer and dine with a stunning view Cheap deli food and stupid cheap wines and oh the magnificent range of cheeses. Beer where I drink is $5.50 per schooner a bit more expensive than Thailand Best of all the pub down the road does $6 rump steak and chips. Not a huge portion but enough for me Of course this is all wiped out by the expensive rent but government rent assistance of $300 A month helps somewhat But the worst thing is young women look right through you like your not even there. Getting a young wife for an older guy is just a fantasy unless you many millions The Gold Coast is very pleasant, stayed there for a few weeks at a friend's condo on Currumbin Beach. My Thai GF is 23 years younger than me, I'm pampered. So it is swings and roundabouts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post polpott Posted December 23, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2020 Just now, Liverpoolfan said: A pi**heads wet dream right there! Dry dream. No gravy. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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