THE WEEK THAT WAS On missing England - and so nearly coming to a sticky end!

[webfact]

 

OPINION | by Rooster

 

Coming to Thailand when the year dot.com was still well in the future, I was always concerned that if I lived in the kingdom permanently I might miss too many things about England, the land of my birth.

 

There was no internet and calls at Poste Restante in a booth cost 300 baht for three minutes. That was thirty meals on the street! The nearest thing to a mobile phone was a walkie talkie.

 

Cable TV was still several years away and we kept in touch with our favorite sporting passions and UK soaps with VHS deliveries. 

 

Forget football unless it was the FA Cup final and as for betting and horse racing - my great loves - it was Nang Lerng or the RBSC and their nags or nowt. 

 

One mate had a fancy radio but I just immersed myself in my new homeland and dreamed that one day we might get better connected to the stuff we missed. Holidays in the London suburbs every two years, and later every year (pre-pandemic!) meant everything.

 

Little did we know how the world would become connected, how we could communicate with friends and loved ones instantly at a computer (a what?) for free, and watch most everything from around the globe live as it happens.

 

In some ways I miss the old days; nowadays I go back to Blighty and people tell me personal stuff to which I reply: “Oh yes, I saw that on Facebook”. End of conversation.

 

I haven't been since 2018 and I can’t say I miss it that much, but this week, and particularly today, I wish I was there.

 

Today (tonight Thai time) will see the 243rd running of The Derby at Epsom. I always used to go as a young man on the “first Wednesday in June”. 

 

As a child my parents always took us to The Oaks (the race for fillies that is one year older than the Derby) run on the Saturday. My grandmother lived most of her life at Tattenham Corner, about a mile from the famous bend in the left handed track where suffragette Emily Davison died under King George V’s horse Anmer at the 1913 Derby.

 

My “nana” would make her famous roast dinner and we’d all toddle off to the races which could be viewed for free as the course is on public land. Now the Oaks is on Friday and the colts classic on Saturday. 

 

This year will be especially poignant for two reasons. Firstly it is Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee and every jockey who rode for her over the years will be in the monarch’s famous portcullis silks in a guard of honor. The Queen has been an ardent supporter of racing all her life and even had the winner of the Oaks in 1957 when she was champion owner, and with Dunfermline who triumphed in her Silver Jubilee year in 1977. It seems like yesterday.

 

She doesn’t have a runner in the two big races this year - so no “Hats off to the Queen” celebration -  but I’m sure it will be the highlight of her 70 year jubilee. 

 

I’m not the most ardent royalist on the planet but I’m also not a republican. Like most British people, I respect what she has done for the country over so many years and wish her many, many more trips to Epsom Downs (less so for some of her errant offspring).

 

There may also be a tear in her majesty’s eye as perhaps the most famous jockey of all time will be missing from the guard of honor. Lester Piggott, an icon of sporting icons, died in Switzerland this week aged 86.  

 

Usually referred to only as Lester, the “Housewives’ Favourite” won the Derby a record nine times. Also called the “Long Fellow” he was tall for a jockey, my height 5 foot 8. I’m not overweight but he weighed 15 kilos less than me now on a diet of champagne and cigars and daily sauna trips. In Bangkok this week at least I’ve got the sauna…

 

He was convicted of tax evasion in 1987 and served 366 days of a three year term. The Queen was obliged to strip him of his OBE but is rumored to have had a twinkle in her eye when she said he’s been “very, very naughty”.

 

He was famously rather deaf and infamously tight with his money. Once a valet asked if he could borrow a fiver. Lester indicated he could not hear so the valet whispered in the other ear “Can you lend me 10 pounds?" to which the jockey replied: 

 

"Try the five-pound ear again."

 

There was a tabloid story about his detractors in prison. The headline was “Lester’s Pesters”.

 

I rarely backed his horses because the prices were artificially low. A case in point was the 1983 Derby when he won for the last time. I was missing Thailand terribly and needed money to get back to Bangkok. I hit on the idea to flog pineapple and watermelon for 50p a slice having seen how people did such a roaring trade on hot Derby days in previous years. I got up at dawn and bought a whole Commer van load of fruit at the recently opened Nine Elms market, parked on a council pitch the day before the Derby and slept overnight in the van dreaming of riches.

 

The heavens opened at midnight and the place was turned into a quagmire. It was cold and no one was buying fruit. I lit up a fag and was promptly told by a jobsworth council inspector to clear off the Downs due to health and safety - or face prosecution. 

 

I got my investment back by carrying the fruit from open top bus to bus selling wholesale!

 

Yes, I’ll be watching in Ratchayothin tonight but my heart will be in Epsom.

 

And so to this week’s news….

 

Comment was rife on the forum after ex Hua Hin resident Shane Looker was given a 16 year, reduced to half on admission, prison term for killing Laxami whom he took out of Hot Lips bar in Nana in 2014.

 

The lady, horribly still in stiletto heels, was found cut up and stuffed in a suitcase in a Kanchanaburi river.

 

On the face of it, it appeared a lenient sentence giving grist to the mill for the “hang ‘em high, 500 baht and a slap on the wrist brigade”.  

 

The Stoke-on-Trent person (man would be stretching it) was also ordered to pay the family 12.5 million baht. That more than anything explained the leniency.

 

A Thai Examiner story about delays in ending mask mandates also got many clicks. This too was short on detail yet full of bashing for the Thai authorities. Yes, Prayut and Anutin and their cronies deserve what they get - and Rooster puts the wind up them with gay abandon - but I found the news report rather biased.

 

I’m generally leaving my mask off in the street and getting no adverse looks even in compliant Bangkok. I put it on when picking up the kids from school but pocket mine and theirs at the gates, making sure everyone sees. 

 

Most people have got used to mask wearing - but that is absolutely no reason to continue with the habit except perhaps in enclosed spaces or around vulnerable people. 

 

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An earlier story by Siam Rath suggested Thais were not ready to end mask wearing. Their extensive research involved asking ONE woman at a shrine in Korat. Later in the week they asked ONE trader about price increases in her restaurant. 

 

I wish they’d ask me for a little perspective!

 

A story about Pepsi suggested a government fund was putting the brakes on a 1 - 2 baht price hike. Personally I’d like to see a twenty baht tax increase for the sugar laden-cum-poison variety. And keep the sugar-free one cheap. 

 

My nine year old was smiling at her cousin who is not yet a teen but weighs 63 kilos. I asked her if it would be funny when she develops health problems and dies young? We agreed it would not.

 

In grisly crime news a “stressed” man in Chachoengsao shot a construction worker dead after a cement mixer noisily arrived spoiling his afternoon bender. He then shot an entirely innocent neighbor before turning the gun on himself.

 

Poster “sanuk711” said it best: “They always get it the wrong way round, don’t they”. 

 

Police in Phuket were investigating after a Russian lady fell eight floors from a condo. Our reports were responsible, mentioning a low balcony. Thai TV (especially Amarin) would make Mail and Mirror reporters wince. Lurid was not the word.

 

Tragedy struck in Isaan when four eleven year olds drowned and in Chonburi a four year old died in a pool villa. Please, please, please teach your children to swim - and always watch them around water. 

 

There are so many unprotected bodies of water in the countryside just waiting to gobble up your kids. 

 

In ganja news an official suggested that DUI on weed was the same as on alcohol. What? Getting stoned on 0.02% THC? While in Sri Racha four cops were transferred to inactive posts for arresting a woman with one plant in her condo.

 

That’s more like it!

 

In international news the war in Ukraine rumbled on with suggestions that Putin may meet Zelensky - surely nailed on as Time’s person of the year. 

 

The US agreed to send longer-range rockets. Weaponry of all sorts seems to be their strong point. Locking doors less so. The Texas school gunman apparently entered through a door that did not lock, according to the BBC. 

 

Jurors in the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard defamation case started deliberating after six weeks of tawdry detail. A woman at my condo pool said she was glued to the news. I smiled without further comment…..Mr Depp apparently got a result.

 

Back in Thailand, local media suggested that the country could be headed for a post-pandemic rise in international crime. A top cop said that Thailand was a great destination for criminals with its geographical location and reasonable cost of living. 

 

Poster “richard_smith237” put it well: 

 

“Wrong…..A totally apathetic, corrupt and ineffective police force is what makes Thailand the ideal place for criminals to either hide and/or operate”.

 

Steady Richard, or Plod might think you don’t like them!

 

A health chief marked Tuesday’s world “No Smoking Day” by saying that while the number of smokers aged 15 and up in Thailand had dropped from 10.7 million five years ago to 9.9 million (17.4% of the population) now, more needed to be down to reach the 2027 target of 14%. 

 

Wednesday’s latest relaxing of rules to allow pubs and clubs to serve booze and open to midnight had the Thai media scurrying. From Pattaya they reported some excitement but noted that Walking Street was a tip with sand and bricks all over the place. 

 

I wonder what City Hall and the PEA have been doing over the last two and a half years. In Bangkok the cables were buried quickly. 

 

New mayor “Beer” please note. 

 

Wednesday also saw the Personal Data Protection Act come into force. Predictably it was ambiguous, causing one buffet restaurant to take the mickey, publishing lots of happy pictures of customers “vaselined” out to protect their identities. 

 

Before my parting shot a plug for a Bangkok mini zoo that is good for children.

 

I found Pheuan Deratchan (the latter meaning animals that are parallel to the earth, unlike most humans outside of Pattaya), after absentmindedly going the wrong way home from a mammoth freezer stocking mission to Makro. The zoo is free and mostly contains animals, rescued by a wildlife fund, that can’t be returned to the wild. Kids can pet some of the creatures that roam the small facility. It’s 700 meters down Ramintra Soi 5 on the right. 

 

Finally, what with the Makro journey debacle I was feeling a little old this week and a tad fortunate after another “senior moment”.

 

Due to tearing problems while sleeping I put something called Duratears in my eyes, a kind of clear ointment in a small tube.

 

After a mishap in which I broke an ornament I put the “Gao Tra Chang” super glue next to the tube of eye meds and inadvertently picked up the wrong one at bedtime.

 

In the dark of the bedroom I was so close to squeezing it in my eye! Mrs Rooster has always said I’d come to a sticky end.

 

I’m thinking she may be right.

 

Rooster

 

 

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[madmitch]

Sadly, poor old Queenie isn't fit enough to make the Derby today. She's had to miss other events but this is one she'll be particularly saddened by.

[DogNo1]

Not back in London for the queen's Platinum Jubilee?  It shouldn't have been missed!

[bradiston]

And the Epsom Derby is for 3 yo colts and fillies. Apart from that an admirable digest.

[Jai Dee]

Some off-topic troll posts and also containing petty bickering have been removed.

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, DogNo1 said:

Not back in London for the queen's Platinum Jubilee?  It shouldn't have been missed!

I watched it all on BBC via VPN.

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, DogNo1 said:

Not back in London for the queen's Platinum Jubilee?  It shouldn't have been missed!

I watched it all on BBC via VPN.

And it did happen all over the UK, not just London.

[KannikaP]

41 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

I watched it all on BBC via VPN.

And it did happen all over the UK, not just London.

Not so sure about the concert tonight at 2am though. Sir Diana Ross ain't exactly British is she? But Sir Rod is OK.

[Moonlover]

43 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

2 hours ago, DogNo1 said:

Not back in London for the queen's Platinum Jubilee?  It shouldn't have been missed!

 

43 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

I watched it all on BBC via VPN.

What a marathon that must have been! I don't have the patience to sit and watch TV for long periods so I'm downloading it all onto my iPlayer so I can take it all in in bite sized chunks. Starting with 'Trooping the Colour' of course.

[KannikaP]

5 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

 

What a marathon that must have been! I don't have the patience to sit and watch TV for long periods so I'm downloading it all onto my iPlayer so I can take it all in in bite sized chunks. Starting with 'Trooping the Colour' of course.

Totally agree. Amazing how they can drag it out, all those poor soldiers and horses standing there for well over an hour.

Found it funny when Hugh Edwards said something about some veterans getting 'a bird's eye view' of the fly past, and they went over to the Mall and said 'you can hear the gun salute going off'....total silence. 555

But all in all a good turnout.

[Thingamabob]

As time has gone by I don't miss England at all. Last visit 5 years ago. Didn't like most of what I saw and left early. The place has changed a lot since I last lived there over 40 years ago, for better or for worse depending on your viewpoint.

[arithai12]

How is this Thailand news?

[RobU]

You're not missing much in England Rooster. we have had 2 days of good weather so far this summer in my county and the average Temperature is 12 degrees. British politicians are more like their Thai counterparts every day. They have now changed the code of conduct to allow ministers to commit 'minor' misdemeanours and stay in office(the definition of minor being purely subjective to the Prime Minister) Police are not answering 999 calls and ambulances are taking up to 4 hours to answer emergency calls. You can't get to see a GP my own GP now classes care assistants (Nursing Auxiliaries) as clinicians. And the woke community seems to be taking charge of everything.

[sawadee1947]

9 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

None of your business ... from My Irish point of view ..

Obviously from NI. That's not Ireland. You should know that!????

[Mac Mickmanus]

3 hours ago, RobU said:

They have now changed the code of conduct to allow ministers to commit 'minor' misdemeanours and stay in office(the definition of minor being purely subjective to the Prime Minister) 

The reason being that People from a certain political leaning kept regularly making  complains about minor misdemeanors  and calling for other Politicians to resign , incessant barrage of "He lied" , "He drove a car" "He drank a beer" "He shouted " Resign, Resign , Resign .

   So they had to change the rules to stop the frivolous  complaints 

[BostonRob2]

10 hours ago, arithai12 said:

How is this Thailand news?

There are thirteen links to the Thai news if you look carefully.

[BostonRob2]

8 hours ago, RobU said:

You're not missing much in England Rooster. we have had 2 days of good weather so far this summer in my county and the average Temperature is 12 degrees. British politicians are more like their Thai counterparts every day. They have now changed the code of conduct to allow ministers to commit 'minor' misdemeanours and stay in office(the definition of minor being purely subjective to the Prime Minister) Police are not answering 999 calls and ambulances are taking up to 4 hours to answer emergency calls. You can't get to see a GP my own GP now classes care assistants (Nursing Auxiliaries) as clinicians. And the woke community seems to be taking charge of everything.

12C? That's what the English call 'balmy' isn't it?

[BostonRob2]

14 hours ago, bradiston said:

And the Epsom Derby is for 3 yo colts and fillies. Apart from that an admirable digest.

Yes, indeed though I didn't feel the need to make that clear for a largely non-racing readership. Frankie (who I named my daughter after) would have been a tad disappointed on Friday what with Tuesday winning! But yesterday had that famous 'prince' been around he'd have found it hard to find one to 'beat the favourite'.

 

Thx for reading. 

[Andycoops]

I don't miss blighty one single bit and haven't for the 14 years since I retired here.

Richard237 was spot on.

[BostonRob2]

13 hours ago, KannikaP said:

I watched it all on BBC via VPN.

My kids in London sent me a few 10 second videos that entertained my little ones in Bangkok. Personally I can do without the gushing commentators all day. Shame that the Queen was not up to attending all the events in her honour.

 

Thanks for reading.

[BostonRob2]

3 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

I don't miss blighty one single bit and haven't for the 14 years since I retired here.

Richard237 was spot on.

There's a lot to be said for Thailand. Thanx for reading.

[BostonRob2]

15 hours ago, DogNo1 said:

Not back in London for the queen's Platinum Jubilee?  It shouldn't have been missed!

Nah! On Charles and Diana's wedding day I went to Goodwood.

[BostonRob2]

16 hours ago, madmitch said:

Sadly, poor old Queenie isn't fit enough to make the Derby today. She's had to miss other events but this is one she'll be particularly saddened by.

Indeed, but at least the winner didn't desert the crown. 

[RobU]

1 hour ago, BostonRob2 said:

12C? That's what the English call 'balmy' isn't it?

A Yorkshire Summer's Day when we strip down to our string vests, roll up our trousers and put knotted hanky's on our heads to protect us from the blistering sun. Pansy southerners south of the Humber tend to think it a bit cold.

[RobU]

5 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

The reason being that People from a certain political leaning kept regularly making  complains about minor misdemeanors  and calling for other Politicians to resign , incessant barrage of "He lied" , "He drove a car" "He drank a beer" "He shouted " Resign, Resign , Resign .

   So they had to change the rules to stop the frivolous  complaints 

No such thing as a frivolous complaint if it is upheld. The rules have been changed so that Boris and his staff can get away with 'bending' the rules as they did during lockdown. The greater the power, the greater the punishment should be for breaking even 'minor' rules. Breach of 'minor' (however they are defined) rules is effectively anti social behaviour and it is well demonstrated (the New York study) that anti social behaviour often leads to criminal behaviour when they are allowed to get away with it. The point is that 'minor' is not defined it is left to the opinion of the Prime Minister and his cronies. The UK i leaning towards the corruption of Thailand

Edited June 5, 2022 by RobU

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, RobU said:

No such thing as a frivolous complaint

They are frivolous distractions from real problems and issues, of which there is an abundance. 

Edited June 5, 2022 by jacko45k

[RobU]

7 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

They are frivolous distractions from real problems and issues, of which there is an abundance. 

Please don't use wokey techniques and misquote me. I said "There is no such thing as a frivolous complaint IF IT IS UPHELD". Misbehaviour of any sort amongst people who seem to have unlimited power has to be exposed and punished.

[jacko45k]

Just now, RobU said:

Please don't use wokey techniques and misquote me. I said "There is no such thing as a frivolous complaint IF IT IS UPHELD". Misbehaviour of any sort amongst people who seem to have unlimited power has to be exposed and punished.

It is a waste of time and money even taking them to that point. And upheld or not, someone holding a bottle of beer is trivial! Bloody millions spent on reports and investigations while countries are invaded, wages eroded, immigrants pour in and crime spirals and some old lady investigates a few misdemeanors. It is a constant game of attempted gotchya!

[Sparktrader]

16 hours ago, bradiston said:

And the Epsom Derby is for 3 yo colts and fillies. Apart from that an admirable digest.

Frankel was the best UK horse

[Mark mark]

Just finishing this one off Rooster - and well in the Face of Our, very fast changing Thailand also.

 

... Well, it looks like the very Unfortunate death of the French Woman, Tourist, getting killed at the Rojana Road and Khlong Makhamriang intersection, pretty well in the center of The main, Island patty of Ayutthaya. … Was not covered in the week that was, … So well, this probably makes my 3 posts, pretty well off topic, and sorry for that, … but well it is a safety issue also I think, … As well as my Historic View of my also newly gained Home, here in Chan watt Ayutthaya, with all of the Thai extras added on to the beginning of it. … And it’s tourists on Bicycles !!! … AND some quite varied Roads, now nearly all full of New world Thai Traffic. !!!

 

… No worries, editorial stuff ? possible Litigation ? or even not worth dealing with, as I see that about 30 to 60 Thais a day are getting killed on the roads every day now.  … Like the safety has Improved I think, and they ALL / and WE, DO care about it !!! …. But the Volume of traffic and the number of people with new cars, also must have tripled !!! In the last 5 years alone !!!  … Pushing the figures back up, just by sheer Volume, and well Things are Changing. … World Wide I think, that we all can see. … So Well, basically the Increase of Tourism, and also the probable increase, of Tourists using bicycles to visit the Attractions, … in the face of Tipple the traffic Volume, and now the Poor French women’s Unfortunate death, …. it would be worth considering this situation just a bit I think.

 

Basically I think that she would have survived, like my friend who rode his motorbike down the Huge construction hole, while racing, at speed, over taking on the left, .. in the rain at night, … But he survived as they just rushed him to the Hospital …. which is actual just about right around the Corner from this intersection. … But well she was a foreign woman, and I would bet that the Thai men were probably a bit scared about getting involved with her, … so she was left there on the Road for too long, and died. …

 

… My Friend being a man and on a racing motor bike, I think that they just picked him up straight away, … and literally threw him in the back of a pickup, and raced him around the corner, TO the hospital, and he lived, despite just huge injuries to his face and parts of the Road, the Hole, and his helmet rammed down his throat.

 

… In the Australian video link to the Queen last night, the Older Australian of the Year, was a woman that worked with the St Johns ambulance, and she has been tirelessly campaigning for ALL people that drive, be given first aid Training, as she thinks ? and probably quite rightly, that If all accident victims, got fast first aid, at the accident seen it would save Hundreds of lives, … and it probably would I think ! ? … And the life of the French woman in this case also I think.

 

So looking at the Intersection, the Thai’s have actual had a pretty good go at fixing it up and making it safe … People used to Queue across the Intersection, to pick their kids up from the Good school just a bit to the south of it, but they have closed those lanes off. … … and they have put the Zebra crossing on the West side of the Intersection, which has less Traffic crossing, which is logical, as the Bulk of the traffic is Coming in to the town, from the East, across the bridge, and then trying to turn right at this intersection, and get in to Makhamriang road which is a beautiful, But, Old and narrow, and congested. … Local road only.

 

So the woman probably saw this huge right hand turn Queue, and an other wise empty road, … and though that crossing at the crossing was OK, … but well, the lights changed, giving the Right hand Turners, AND the straight through traffic the right of way probably just after they had started to cross …

 

… and the Poor Thai driver that hit her, probably pulled out left, in to the far left lane, to avoid the Right hand turning Jam, … and saw a green light, …  so sped up … and did not see the French woman pushing her bike in to the road. … As it Was at night also. … and he probably was in the left hand lane, which would have surprised her as well. …

 

So, though they might have started out when the lights were red for through traffic, …. By the time they got going, the Lights changed !!! and then they WERE crossing, when the lights SHOULD have been red for them !!! …. As they WERE green for the through traffic, …. As the Thai man’s Dash camera showed.

 

The Zebra crossing is in the right place, but they need to change the cycle of the lights, to give a green right hand turn arrow, for as much of the time as they can, ….  BUT a red Straight through one, for enough time for the pedestrians to get across the crossing. … or better still break the pedestrian crossing in to 2 sections. … So they could be fitted in to the traffic flow better. …

 

… Like the Thais have been thinking about this as I have seen this Intersection change over the last 35 Years. But there is very VERY few pedestrians that cross here, like it is Not a business area or Hugh foot traffic area, as it is pretty remote from everything, … except the School. And now everyone has cars to get there. … So the traffic is all arterial pretty much and going (As fast as they can ???) to get to somewhere else !!!  … and I have never seen any pedestrians crossing here in the 35 years I mentioned !!! … So well the Thais must just have left changing the Traffic lights cycle out, and let the pedestrians just watch out for the Odd Through viechle, when everyone else, is basically just turning right any way, so clear of them. …

 

But well now with the Increase of Tourism, and that being on the Tourists route to some of the other good temples in town, … It should be now fixed, as well it IS only going to get worse, if it is not fixed. … As the traffic is Increasing, … and the number of Tourists on Bicycles are also increasing as well !!! … And they have the range to get there to this intersection, …. Even though pedestrians usually do not.

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2316346/french-cyclist-killed-by-car-in-ayutthaya

 

“The fatal crash occurred on Rojana Road at Khlong Makhamriang intersection in tambon Prathuchai”

 

https://www.google.co.th/maps/@14.3512362,100.5757336,3a,75y,53.14h,71.95t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s5XtvOrjei_ylJJ9Xg_yCow!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D5XtvOrjei_ylJJ9Xg_yCow%26cb_client%3Dsearch.revgeo_and_fetch.gps%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D93.75115%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en