THE WEEK THAT WAS Absence makes the Thai heart grow fonder - Rooster’s back crowing again!

[webfact]

 

One of my favorite comedy scenes is from the classic Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin in which the star goes to his own memorial celebration after feigning suicide, pretending to be a friend of the deceased.

 

He is thoroughly dismayed at how few people have turned up to “see him off” and their casual dismissal of the recently departed “dear Reggie”. 

 

I felt a bit similar myself. Going AWOL on the column for the first time in six years I was half hoping the forum would be decent enough to send out a search party.

 

Barely a dickie bird.

 

Thanks to the one person who asked where I was. And the person who replied, I think. It’s that level of humanity that is keeping Thailand afloat in these difficult times.

 

For the rest of you, I hope you enjoyed the break from Rooster’s Rants.

 

There’s been a lot going on chez Rooster so rather than bore my readers with a file piece I decided to take a two week sojourn. 

 

But now I’m back in the month when I am celebrating 40 years exactly since arriving in Thailand. Sungei Kolok - Surat Thani - Samui - Bangkok, what happy and carefree days they were.

 

For me the last few weeks have all been about health. I needed to go into isolation after a close friend tested positive and was quite unwell. 

 

This meant staying away from wife and children who were just about to go to Loei where gran appeared to be dying from diabetes related complications in hospital.

 

A nurse had called to prepare Mrs Rooster for the worst but thankfully gran made it out of hospital and is now being cared for by younger sister at home.

 

Then Mrs Rooster caught Covid and her dad - who recently had a heart attack - was admitted with the lurgy too - that was causing a lung infection. 

 

This made for some interesting video calls between Rooster in Ratchayothin and the missus up north.

 

Like many Thai women I have known (and Thai men too) she has proved stoic and resolute and is laughing about all the goings-on. We both agreed that her mum feeling better was all that mattered and that her dad would pull through. 

 

Meanwhile, the children tested negative and moaned that they want to be back in Bangkok (Krung Thep=Air Con).

 

I met Mrs Rooster 22 years ago, my second wife. In the very early days of our relationship I told her the meaning of the phrase “absence makes the heart grow fonder”.

 

For years as a childless couple then parents we have sought ways to spend several weeks apart at least a couple of times each year.

 

Mrs R was reluctant at first - surely that cretinous hubby will just head to the fleshpots of upper Sukhumvit? - then gradually realised not being together all the time had positive benefits.

 

It made the time you were together better…simple! 

 

Absence making the heart grow fonder also applied to a close friend from England, a Thai resident who finally made it back to Thailand after several years of pandemic wilderness. 

 

He spoke of how much he had missed Thailand and how much he had enjoyed his three weeks back. He’s not interested in tourism, or even the bars.

 

He has a lovely house where tenants have now left and he is contemplating many happy years of semi and permanent retirement in the kingdom.

 

His positivity was infectious and certainly came in stark contrast to some comments about Thailand on the forum. 

 

Some of us have and will always be in love with the country no matter what!

 

The ‘what’ this week was the Songkran festival. Bangkok was delightfully deserted and unless you went looking for it, decidedly unwet. 

 

The police and local authority had to send in some force to Khao San Road after the tourists - Thai and foreign - started stepping out of Covid line.

 

Armed with water guns!

 

Chana Songkhram police station is at the end of the road and clearly they couldn’t care - until they were made to care by all that news and social media coverage!

 

Some guns were confiscated and plod said firing water in the streets was just not on (who else conjured up an image in their mind of water cannon on the streets of Krung Thep in recent years?)

 

Down in Phuket in Patong the tourists had water fights on Tuesday on the eve of New Year, fights that became more subdued as the week progressed.

 

I wouldn’t bash plod on this. They were left between a rock and a hard place by the politicians and CCSA. By showing up but not making arrests - giving that “pracha samphan” (PR) - it looked like they struck the right note. 

 

Let’s face it; everyone is sick of the pandemic, sick of the mask wearing, sick of the closures, sick of everything; we just want to get back to normal again. Whatever that is. It’s been so long I can hardly remember. 

 

In Pattaya plod wielded the stick after several bouncers and a group of tourists had a battle in Soi Bua Khao. It was approximately the 456th time since I started work at ASEAN NOW that I have written “the image of Pattaya was tarnished”. 

 

Nationwide, plod had their usual crime crackdowns and were determined to prosecute everyone guilty of DUI. Oh yes, this year they really meant it, honest.

 

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Health minister Anutin continued his “Ganja Everywhere Tour - We Encourage Economic Diversity” (GET WEED) in Sisaket.

 

He’d already been to Bung Kan and Khon Kaen. Now he was saying that come June 9th everyone could grow as much weed as they liked for home consumption.

 

Hemp for breakfast, lunch and tea, essentially. With a nice hemp toddy before bed…

 

Try and grow a plant with THC and see what happens. While I expect plod to be less “proactive” in going after small time ganja growers and users they will still see it as part of their revenue stream.

 

The best comment on the issue from mtls2005 mocked the very idea of legalized weed:

 

“I’ll only believe it's legal when (it) is one of the offerings to the sacred oxen”.

 

He was of course referring to the Royal Ploughing ceremony (to be held on May 13th this year) in which a Bhramin priest offers foodstuffs and even rice whisky to two oxen in an ancient ritual designed to inspire confidence and togetherness in the agricultural community. 

 

They often choose lao khao which as any self-respecting alcoholic will tell you is decidedly better than the other fare of rice, corn, green beans, sesame, hay and water. 

 

Court astrologers determine from the items selected what the future will hold - abundant rain is invariably predicted.

 

And you know what, they’re always right…..

 

The last word in the Anutin story was that the “minister was sinister”. This involves a nasty smelling request that while you don’t need to register officially to grow weed at home, you should still tell someone what you’re doing. 

 

If I was doing the former, which I’m not, i certainly wouldn’t be doing the latter!

 

Friday’s Covid case figures topped 20,000 with a year high record of 119 daily deaths, a figure surpassed Saturday with 125. 

 

Despite such figures, and post-Songkran indications that things will only get worse, many stories this week were upbeat on the resurgence in tourism in places like Phi Phi and Samui. It’s good to see Thais getting out more and 10,000 foreign arrivals in Bangkok a day is at least a start if still a small fraction of pre-pandemic levels. 

 

And at Suwannaphum airport (my spelling) there was even that blast from the past - OVERCROWDING!

 

With me back it feels like the good old days!

 

Right?

 

Rooster

 

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[BritManToo]

I was enjoying the rest.

My misses also has COVID at the moment, half of Thailand appear to have it.

About the same as the flu, getting better now.

I haven't taken any precautions, not that bothered.

 

She swears by, 40% proof Lao Kao mixed with lime juice every day to cure it.

That's what her entire village in Nan are doing. 

Edited April 16, 2022 by BritManToo

[DezLez]

Nice to "read" you are back!

Glad that you and your family have/are pulling through your recent health scares!

Edited April 16, 2022 by DezLez

[Eff1n2ret]

I didn't get where I am today by comparing myself to Reggie Perrin.

[Nobbie49]

I am sure that I was not the only one wondering what had happened to Rooster, the thing is where or who would we have emailed to find out? I still don’t know the answer to that one.

[BostonRob2]

1 hour ago, Eff1n2ret said:

I didn't get where I am today by comparing myself to Reggie Perrin.

Super!

 

Rooster

[jerrymahoney]

I didn't know he was gone .I just thought he changed his name to Michael Bridge.

[Tropicalevo]

Welcome back Rooster.

[off road pat]

Good to know everything is Ok and you are back.

 

[csmith]

Brilliant Series “Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin”

 

 

[George Aylesham]

3 hours ago, BostonRob2 said:

Super!

 

Rooster

Shows my age - I can remember seeing Perrin's boss saying that.

[George Aylesham]

"Some of us have and will always be in love with the country no matter what!"

Certainly me, first came to BKK in1974 and happily living in Chiang Mai since 2015.

[sawadee1947]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

With me back it feels like the good old days!

Yeah, it was boring without you.

Nobody was telling about his Family so nicely.

And nobody was craving so much for normal Life. However, normal in this way is to accept Covid and protect yourself by wearing masks and being vaxxed, at least 3 times.

Allow yourself some more time of resting and then come back with your own opinion .....but not mainstream.

Good Luck and Happy Easter

 

 

[Mark mark]

Very Refreshing Rooster !!! .... and a Good one !!! ... And Plenty of Good Positivity coming in on this column today also !!! ... Your Holls must have been very nice for you !!! ... Like time to think. ... and in this always Rushed world, ... Usually. ... And yes, I am glad that your families health Problems turned out all right also ! ... and that things there seem to be going well also. !!!  …. GFYR

 

(Good For You Rooster) ...

 

... ... Yes, I think also that about 3 times as many People have the dreaded Lurgie, as report it, Like now it is so benign, for the Majority of People, why would you get tested ! ... … or report it ! ? ... Like the people are scared of it !!! ... But people that test  Positive for it, are the ones that are forced to get tested for their work now I think ??? …. As it will only make things worse for you AND your Family around here, if you do test Positive, ... as they can target Homes with people that test Positive in them !!!)  .... Like about 75 % of the Larger Family homes around here, have had cases in them. ... But well We not ??? .... But well, ???...

 

…. But I must Not go on Right, so the story about the Family Tradies taking the whole roof off the back part of the House, and then the ceiling falling in “Chock Dee Songkran” Right !!! ???  …. As the white ants have eaten nearly all of the Wood up there !!! Must Wait ??? ... It will be an Ongoing problem for  while around here I think … Like they have eaten most of the main roof, and ceiling supports up there as well I think, and is the word from the Boys up the ladders at the “Front” !!! ….

 

… And well complicated by falling ceiling panels, often with lights and live, electrical wiring connected to them !!!  … and a welder for the new Steal supports !!! ….On occasions, ...  2 A/C units, a router, and 2 43 inch TV's !!! and Multiple fans and some lights !!! … going all at the same time ! ? ….  ...  And we seem to have found our Power supply boards limit I think !!! …. (At 3 am !!! @#$%^&)(*&^%) …. and UPS all round to you all !!! right ??? …  And well !!! Learn how to re set the Breakers Mark mark !!!

 

… Good to see you back Mate. and let’s hope the just <Deleted> or just plain boring news ! ... from here and around the whole world, now picks up a bit also !!!  … And gives you something better to make a bit of fun out of !!! ....

 

All the best Mates, .... and All.

 

… Mark mark.

[overt2016]

No!

[Fortean1]

Good to see you back in the saddle, Rooster.

 

I seem to have a symptom of Long-Covid.  Muscle pain on and off in all limbs, esp. in upper thighs and hips when I bend to pick up a mango off the ground.  I bought a test kit and will do the swab under the tongue soon.

 

My 3rd Pfizer will be on 21 April.  My wife has to wait until June.  I'm worried about her as she is 76, and like me, has diabetes.

 

Terry

( just south of Hua Hin )

[Stargeezr]

Great to have you back Rooster. I have had to listen to the guy in Pattaya, and the one in Phuket to keep up 

with the Thai news.  My Thai family in BKK have recovered from COVID, and were very happy that they

had all gotten their vaccines. 2 times for the younger, and 3 times for the older members. Not counting the first jab

of the Chinese blend..  During your absence, there were still people driving into khlongs and power poles, and other parked vehicles,

so many things remained the same during your vacation.  Some of my Canadian family members just came back from their Thailand

vacation, 2 of them tested positive for COVID a couple days later, and it spread throughout 2 houses. All are recovering

 and said they were glad to be away from the HOT Thailand weather. Cheers and Chuk Dee, Good Luck.  Harvey

[Mark mark]

16 hours ago, Fortean1 said:

Good to see you back in the saddle, Rooster.

 

I seem to have a symptom of Long-Covid.  Muscle pain on and off in all limbs, esp. in upper thighs and hips when I bend to pick up a mango off the ground.  I bought a test kit and will do the swab under the tongue soon.

 

My 3rd Pfizer will be on 21 April.  My wife has to wait until June.  I'm worried about her as she is 76, and like me, has diabetes.

 

Terry

( just south of Hua Hin )

I believe you Terry and Good that you have acted ! and good luck with sorting it out, it is just basically Body Damage I think ??? ... Like that stuff does happen !!! with a lot of attacking Diseases and well could even be a minor part of the Vaccination ??? But well better then Dyeing, and also <Deleted> up every one else also !!! Good n you Mate and good Luck with it. -

 

I came out of 2 Astra Zeneca Vaccinations, almost Unscathed I thought, but well ? some months on and maybe starting to go down d/t the Total <Deleted> <deleted> Lock down ??? ... But I do think that the Pfizer Jab affected me a lot LOT More than the AZ Vax did !!! ???  ... and also I feel possible ... Minor ! Long term ? ... Still as I say better then Dyeing, !!! which I COULD have done, as I probably had Oviocron, not long after I got back here, and with a major Leg Infection and out of control High Blood Sugar (And Alcoholism !!!) ...and I WAS very VERY sick for a day and a half !!! .... But well I recovered fast, probably d/t the Vaccinations, liek with out them I quite possibly would have died I think and most defiantly, if I had got one of the worse strains !!!  .... So well +++ for the Pfizer Booster Jab from me !!!

[Mark mark]

Social Change !!! ???? …. In this place, ... Here, Thailand, once again ???

 

… You do know that in the Social ramifications of the Escape and outbreak of the China Viruses … The return of all of the Bar Girls, … and other tourist areas Hospitality working Women, Back to their Homes, and farms in the country side !!! ??? and some time way WAY far away you know !!!

… Like I live, almost ! ? in the country side, pretty close to the city … Like the central Thai Flood Plain and a good place as there is normal local IT and logistics work for anyone who can get out of bed in the Mourning !!!  … But well it WAS the country side, like in one of the houses that are about 20 m apart along all of the River banks from Bangkok to well up past Nakon Sawan, ! …. Like for hundreds of Kilometers, and in many other directions !!! … and only the names of the villages change … The Geography and population density remains about the same I think ! ?... And the nature of the people also I am sure.

 

Any way the Grandson, a top contender for rat bag of the Month, ! Year !!, and well Decade !!!! … Just being conservative about it, ….  just got rid of / Lost his Good wife, and mother of his 2 Children now !!! d/t ??? …. Well hard to say who’s fault it Really was, but when they smashed each other’s Phones !!! We Knew that it was over right !!! ???

 

So entire Ms. Pxx Mxx… now the only woman in the districts that I can see, that really has a good body, … but well my God the Brave new World !!! …. How they can just F’ absolutely just Great Bodies up, with Tattoos !!! … Well it is Thai also I guess ??? … She is just joining the revolution ? and following the men Right ??? …. Like she should have “Loose Cannon” tattooed across her For Head !!! ??? …. But I do not know if that in Thai would fit up there ??? …

 

But well I softened on her, as I got to know her, … though she never will be in My camp !!! … But well she is 30 and has 2 Children who obviously love her also, … so well !!! Tats +++ or not, … I decided to let her off, … like SHE is as Real, and as young as you really get around her now I think ??? … The rest have also voted with their feet as many of the Young wives also do !!! … And left !!!

 

Anyway, the social aspect, ! ….. The reason for my Article ! …. I suddenly then realized that she would not be here !!!  If it was not for CV 19 !!! … The Dreaded remnants of the China Virus !!! … She probably would be in Bangkok, or one of the other Places !!! …. Kneeing Innocent Foreign men. who made the mistake of leaving their legs open, in the Balls !!! …. and Other stuff like that right !!! ???  … But well, … with CV19, she has had to Come Home, well initially to Kanchanabury (Kan) … but obviously voted with her feet over there, …  and now is Over here !!! … But without CV 19 she probably would probably be in Pattaya ? Phuket ? or BKK … …. Like where the Tats came from !!! Right ??? ???

 

…. So well, I wonder how many good Thai Families all over the Country !!! Now are sitting at their tables at night !!! … Horrified and screaming !!! …. and saying <Deleted> …. !!! “Warrrrr !!! … Just Look what the Son has Brought Back” !!!! Arrrrr …. (Har Har Har !!!) … … Like the bar girls might never go back to their Bars now !!! … They might just start moving in with, ! ? … and marrying the local blokes !!! Up country !!!  … Like just what has happened here !!! ??? …

 

… And the Total nature of the country !!! … Might just start changing again !!! … As well they have their freedoms also !!! … TIT !!! ….  And the world looking at it that way !!! IS pretty great I think !!! …..  So well !!! I for one, are NOT ever !!! Going to be caught trying to stand in front of her Right ! ? …. I have decided !!! … ??? Pxx Mxx … The “How would you like a bit of Danger !!! … “Loose Canon” +++  Dept. and with the, Body ! … and the Tats to prove it !!!

[Mark mark]

11 hours ago, Stargeezr said:

Great to have you back Rooster. I have had to listen to the guy in Pattaya, and the one in Phuket to keep up 

with the Thai news.  My Thai family in BKK have recovered from COVID, and were very happy that they

had all gotten their vaccines. 2 times for the younger, and 3 times for the older members. Not counting the first jab

of the Chinese blend..  During your absence, there were still people driving into khlongs and power poles, and other parked vehicles,

so many things remained the same during your vacation.  Some of my Canadian family members just came back from their Thailand

vacation, 2 of them tested positive for COVID a couple days later, and it spread throughout 2 houses. All are recovering

 and said they were glad to be away from the HOT Thailand weather. Cheers and Chuk Dee, Good Luck.  Harvey

Yes it would be interesting to know Just how many Tourist really are catching it also !!! ... Like most of the people around here a bit further north, in flood Plain, Central Thailand have had it now !!! ... some of my Friends got it and were just So, SO surprised !!!! Like they only just went out to eat at a couple of Restaurants and did nothing more Dangerous !!! But still got it !!! (In Jomtien Pattaya I think) 

[brianthainess]

On 4/16/2022 at 9:38 AM, webfact said:

For the rest of you, I hope you enjoyed the break from Rooster’s Rants.

Yep

[chalawaan]

Awww! Rooster the thought crossed my mind, but I'm elderly, almost your age; and I just thought I had got the weeks mixed up, and read your column twice. I got three sentences in before that penny dropped too. Glad you're back. (See my gruff arrogance is only a facade, In real life I'm the life of the -Nazi- party!) ????

[Noah K]

oh, I missed you, but I was thinking that "even roosters need a break every once in a while." I never had any doubt that your much needed witt would return soon.

[BritManToo]

On 4/16/2022 at 9:43 AM, BritManToo said:

She swears by, 40% proof Lao Kao mixed with lime juice every day to cure it.

That's what her entire village in Nan are doing. 

Update:

Woman now tests negative, but complains of COVID leaving her with a severe headache in the morning.

I've suggested she stops drinking the Lao Kao every night.

[Black Angus]

So You went AWOL. Under the circumstances nice to have you back on duty. glad also that everyone's health seem to be on the mend. With regards to your E-Mail address I may (or may not ) be one of the few to have it. But have no fear it's under tight security.

like my friend when I told him I had forgotten three things, asked what they were. I paused for a moment, then said. That's four.

    Speedy 100% recovery to all of your Friends and family.

   Roy c.

[charliebadenhop]

I wrote to you a while ago saying how much I enjoyed your writing, and never heard back from you!

 

 

[BostonRob2]

On 4/22/2022 at 2:18 PM, charliebadenhop said:

I wrote to you a while ago saying how much I enjoyed your writing, and never heard back from you!

 

 

Thanks. You need to contact me. 

 

Rooster