17 hours ago, Fortean1 said:

Rooster should be older than 62. 

If i remember correctly Rooster was almost the same age as me so he should be 63 now and 64 sometime around June.

16 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Rooster is OK.

 

But, ....Geronimo?

 

Where can i find his comments/Topics?

 

Geronimo, maybe some will remember his running commentary on the POTY competitions and also his poetry, has taken to spill the beans on his Thai experiences on YouTube.

He has been interviewed several times and gives some no holds barred accounts of his antics over the years.

5 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Geronimo, maybe some will remember his running commentary on the POTY competitions and also his poetry, has taken to spill the beans on his Thai experiences on YouTube.

He has been interviewed several times and gives some no holds barred accounts of his antics over the years.

 

Tks.

And, we can also be thankful to know that all here, no matter what name they might choose, have yet to be called up to the Happy Hunting Ground.

 

 

I have to say initially i liked Roosters weekly column but then he decided it was to be all about him and how much better he was than the rest of us and the shine wore off.

When he went to the vlogs it was unbearable to watch.

He turned from being “ one of the guys “ to being a self professed expert in all things Thai.

 

Hopefully some humility has surfaced and we can again enjoy some of his comments without the conceitedness spoiling it.

5 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

When you wanna crow like a rooster you better make sure you sound good. 

 

Where did I harass. The poster asked a question. I answered. Then went onto make statements which made himself look a little silly.

Not my fault as he was trying to strut his stuff and show what a big bird he was.

You must feel very happy with yourself. Such a mistake you are! Hope fully you live alone, so you don´t affect peoples life.

2 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

You must feel very happy with yourself. Such a mistake you are! Hope fully you live alone, so you don´t affect peoples life.

 

You're standing on a high moral ground while saying vile things to me. 

 

You can't make this kind of garbage up.

3 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

You're standing on a high moral ground while saying vile things to me. 

 

You can't make this kind of garbage up.

No, you are the garbage master. I leave that to you.

5 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

No, you are the garbage master. I leave that to you.

 

Stop it you look foolish now. 

I have read all of the comments from posters and I thank you. Especially the ones that displayed such positivity and recalled my column writing days fondly. Several people asked questions and I'll try to answer. 

 

There were always detracrors, one has to expect that. The poster who goes by the name newbie, who obviously isn't, reminds me of someone who always posted under another name and absolutely hated everything about me. Sounded a bit like my first wife....funny how he always seemed to read it tho.

 

The column was only a small part of my work at AN. Some of you might remember Ying who won POTY. There was much debate among us all at AN, whether this was a woman or a man or perhaps both. When Ying won the title I contacted "them" and offered to fly down to Ranong to do an interview as I had done the previous year with Khon Kaen's Colin Dow (who became a personal friend of mine after the feature that was one of the most viewed items on the site). Anyway, Ying did not take me up on this offer. Instead Ying stalked me and it got so serious that I considered going to the Pahonyothin police. They were banned from AN. 

 

Someone mentioned negatively that my time at Harrow International was a "badge of honor" for me. Not just me, many of the founding teachers and administrators of that now well established school who were far better educators with much greater experience than me, also count their time at Harrow as the highlight of their working lives. I count my time at TV/AN as mine! Sadly the school is not on my Christmas present list any more after they offered me a chance to go back and teach Scrabble in activities then made a U-turn saying they could not get a work permit for a Thai resident! Many people owed me a lot at Harrow and i found this very disloyal. I refuse to attend any events there and were I still writing as a journalist I would investigate their business model that would shock some hi-so parents, I can tell you.

 

I would like to adress claims made about me being a journalist. I actually qualified under the National Council for the Training of Journalists aged 19 in Croydon, Greater London, in 1981. I quit my job there in 1982 to go one way to Afghanistan and found my way to Thailand in May of that year as the Falklands conflict raged. I didnt work as a journo again until 2016 when i joined ThaiVisa. Teaching paid better.

 

Some people, including at least one poster here didn't like my writing as they felt it was, or became, too much about me. I'm sorry about that. But it was a subject i knew pretty well and even so it took me 5-6 hours each week to write it! I may appear to have a huge ego, but I've learnt to be a bit more humble - getting thrashed by teenagers at my favorite word game sees to that. People also hated me talking about Scrabble, sorry but it was my whole life for many years. My son called forcing him to play "child abuse"....

 

I used TV/AN to expose cheating in the game and this crusade took a severe toll on some of my relationships in the game. I exposed a UK national champion who lost his job at The Times and several top players strangely questioned my motives. I told them I hate cheats. The Times lifted my entire story (half of page 5) but never paid me.  Later I reported on a Thai cheat. Both players have never returned to the game. I continue to write extensively about the game and new Times' correspondent is often in touch because the GOAT of the game, a.reclusive figure from NZ, is a good friend of mine. He's veaten me 44 times out of 56.

 

I always tried to be reasonable in my reporting though some moderators wanted me sacked, or at least clipped for what they perceived as sensationalist stories and headlines that I wrote. Around 2021 I had the honor, again, of being banned from posting indefinitely after mentioning something controversial in relation to a major Thai figure - I had to take being an employee but being banned, on the chin. But I eventually returned under another name and was forgiven and a couple of years later found it hilarious that I was actually made a moderator! I never banned anyone though I wanted those who harassed others reprimanded. There's no place for that whatever you may think of me. 

 

I'm indeed 63 now and will be 64 in July. Meeting Geronimo has been a joy, he is easily the most interesting non-Thai i have ever met here and we share our stories over the green baize every week. Isn't it great when at a later stage in life someone comes out of tje blue when tou least expect it.  He is writing a book and has indeed featured in several YouTube videos. One was by Jim Byrne who also interviewed me last year. Now that is nearly ALL about me so it won't be many folks cup of naam cha, I'll clue ya. 

 

I'm still wondering what to do next. I was semi-offered a job at Pattaya News but was reticent to do Thai news translating again. I couldn't even tell you who the prime minister is or the chief of police. Years ago I knew every minister and even provincial cops by name. I was in touch with Big Joke regularly though an interview never materialized. Thailand drifts by, I've got young kids to think about as well as my dear and long suffering second wife. 

 

But here is where i shall eventually go up in smoke. I haven't even left the country since 2018 and am looking forway to my grown up nippers visiting me and their mum this month. My daughter is bringing her new boyfriend. I hope he doesnt support a other team in North London. 

 

Life goes on in my adoptive homeland and the many Tnais and few foreigners who know me help to make retirement fun and fulfilling.

 

If you've got this far, thanks very much for reading and remember, stay positive and enjoy Thailand and your relationships to the full.

 

Sincerely,

Rooster.

 

 

 

 

On 2/9/2025 at 12:01 PM, Wuvu2 said:

I remember Rooster. Half-cocked at best 😊

Do you mean half cooked?

On 2/7/2025 at 4:09 PM, carter1882 said:

I was being paid several months behind and all the staff had taken large salary cuts. A new manager came in and a spat I had over the use of AI in translating the news (my main job, not the column) was the final straw. There were some golden years with Jonathan as my line manager but when he left it went downhill for me. I translated ten stories a day six days a week 48 weeks a year writing 7 million words. The best job I ever had though not very well paid. 

 

Rooster

They sacked you because you didn't perform. Is that the story in short?

On 2/7/2025 at 5:18 PM, roo860 said:

You've got GammaG, Elvis Presley posting total nonsense, all is not lost 😆

Ha. I was reading another thread where everyone was calling him Bob (Smith?). Quite funny especially as he was giving it the big one about PR. Are there as many wallies as there used to be?

 

Rooster

32 minutes ago, carter1882 said:

Ha. I was reading another thread where everyone was calling him Bob (Smith?). Quite funny especially as he was giving it the big one about PR. Are there as many wallies as there used to be?

 

Rooster

Many more now and even more obnoxious unfortunately!

Bob (Smith) has left and rejoined under so many names but with an identical writing style and tales that we have all lost count.  The problem is that he thinks he is being funny when he just comes across as very sad and repetitive!

Hi! I really enjoyed your weekend posts. Wonderful stuff. You have been missed by me for sure. 

I've gotten through just one page out of three on these comments... I stopped reading the miserable buggers responses. 

 

Didn't any of you watch Bambi... and I quote... "if you don't have anything nice to say then shut the fk up"?.. along those lines. 

 

The grumpy miserable comments are... just sad. 

On 2/9/2025 at 10:24 PM, carter1882 said:

I have read all of the comments from posters and I thank you. Especially the ones that displayed such positivity and recalled my column writing days fondly. Several people asked questions and I'll try to answer. 

 

There were always detracrors, one has to expect that. The poster who goes by the name newbie, who obviously isn't, reminds me of someone who always posted under another name and absolutely hated everything about me. Sounded a bit like my first wife....funny how he always seemed to read it tho.

 

The column was only a small part of my work at AN. Some of you might remember Ying who won POTY. There was much debate among us all at AN, whether this was a woman or a man or perhaps both. When Ying won the title I contacted "them" and offered to fly down to Ranong to do an interview as I had done the previous year with Khon Kaen's Colin Dow (who became a personal friend of mine after the feature that was one of the most viewed items on the site). Anyway, Ying did not take me up on this offer. Instead Ying stalked me and it got so serious that I considered going to the Pahonyothin police. They were banned from AN. 

 

Someone mentioned negatively that my time at Harrow International was a "badge of honor" for me. Not just me, many of the founding teachers and administrators of that now well established school who were far better educators with much greater experience than me, also count their time at Harrow as the highlight of their working lives. I count my time at TV/AN as mine! Sadly the school is not on my Christmas present list any more after they offered me a chance to go back and teach Scrabble in activities then made a U-turn saying they could not get a work permit for a Thai resident! Many people owed me a lot at Harrow and i found this very disloyal. I refuse to attend any events there and were I still writing as a journalist I would investigate their business model that would shock some hi-so parents, I can tell you.

 

I would like to adress claims made about me being a journalist. I actually qualified under the National Council for the Training of Journalists aged 19 in Croydon, Greater London, in 1981. I quit my job there in 1982 to go one way to Afghanistan and found my way to Thailand in May of that year as the Falklands conflict raged. I didnt work as a journo again until 2016 when i joined ThaiVisa. Teaching paid better.

 

Some people, including at least one poster here didn't like my writing as they felt it was, or became, too much about me. I'm sorry about that. But it was a subject i knew pretty well and even so it took me 5-6 hours each week to write it! I may appear to have a huge ego, but I've learnt to be a bit more humble - getting thrashed by teenagers at my favorite word game sees to that. People also hated me talking about Scrabble, sorry but it was my whole life for many years. My son called forcing him to play "child abuse"....

 

I used TV/AN to expose cheating in the game and this crusade took a severe toll on some of my relationships in the game. I exposed a UK national champion who lost his job at The Times and several top players strangely questioned my motives. I told them I hate cheats. The Times lifted my entire story (half of page 5) but never paid me.  Later I reported on a Thai cheat. Both players have never returned to the game. I continue to write extensively about the game and new Times' correspondent is often in touch because the GOAT of the game, a.reclusive figure from NZ, is a good friend of mine. He's veaten me 44 times out of 56.

 

I always tried to be reasonable in my reporting though some moderators wanted me sacked, or at least clipped for what they perceived as sensationalist stories and headlines that I wrote. Around 2021 I had the honor, again, of being banned from posting indefinitely after mentioning something controversial in relation to a major Thai figure - I had to take being an employee but being banned, on the chin. But I eventually returned under another name and was forgiven and a couple of years later found it hilarious that I was actually made a moderator! I never banned anyone though I wanted those who harassed others reprimanded. There's no place for that whatever you may think of me. 

 

I'm indeed 63 now and will be 64 in July. Meeting Geronimo has been a joy, he is easily the most interesting non-Thai i have ever met here and we share our stories over the green baize every week. Isn't it great when at a later stage in life someone comes out of tje blue when tou least expect it.  He is writing a book and has indeed featured in several YouTube videos. One was by Jim Byrne who also interviewed me last year. Now that is nearly ALL about me so it won't be many folks cup of naam cha, I'll clue ya. 

 

I'm still wondering what to do next. I was semi-offered a job at Pattaya News but was reticent to do Thai news translating again. I couldn't even tell you who the prime minister is or the chief of police. Years ago I knew every minister and even provincial cops by name. I was in touch with Big Joke regularly though an interview never materialized. Thailand drifts by, I've got young kids to think about as well as my dear and long suffering second wife. 

 

But here is where i shall eventually go up in smoke. I haven't even left the country since 2018 and am looking forway to my grown up nippers visiting me and their mum this month. My daughter is bringing her new boyfriend. I hope he doesnt support a other team in North London. 

 

Life goes on in my adoptive homeland and the many Tnais and few foreigners who know me help to make retirement fun and fulfilling.

 

If you've got this far, thanks very much for reading and remember, stay positive and enjoy Thailand and your relationships to the full.

 

Sincerely,

Rooster.

 

 

 

 

It was me who gave you the “too much about me “ comment in regards to your later columns and i stick to it.

 

But in the context of this thread thanks for replying to many of the questions posed. 
You were a popular figure on the forum at one time and i am sure many others like myself wondered where you had gone to ?

Geronimo is indeed a good choice of friend to have when seeking a quiet life with only anecdotes of past and present Thailand to pass the time.

 

I wish you both the best.

On 2/7/2025 at 8:30 AM, scottiejohn said:

Since you only joined less than six months ago you obviously do not know of Rooster unless you used to have a previous membership. I therefore do not understand why you should take such a negative view of his logging in!

 

 

If Rooster came back as Carter, why would you assume any other poster has zero experience with the site despite their account created date?

 

 

17 minutes ago, madone said:

 

If Rooster came back as Carter, why would you assume any other poster has zero experience with the site despite their account created date?

 

 

I did not "assume" anything!

Re-read my post above which YOU quoted where I state; " you obviously do not know of Rooster unless you used to have a previous membership. "

1 hour ago, scottiejohn said:

I did not "assume" anything!

Re-read my post above which YOU quoted where I state; " you obviously do not know of Rooster unless you used to have a previous membership. "

Yay you!

anyways rooster, I am not sure what you hope to achieve here, but the central character syndrome certainly runs deep.

 

How bloody depressing you make it all sound. 

On 2/9/2025 at 7:31 PM, blaze master said:

 

Stop it you look foolish now. 

 

you are both complete asshats 

On 2/6/2025 at 10:39 PM, carter1882 said:

I wonder if you remember me. I was Thai Visa/ASEAN NOW's weekend columnist for seven years from 2016-2023. Rooster. 

 

I quit abruptly in April 2023 and have not logged on or followed the site or Thai news hardly at all in the last two years. It used to be my whole life! 

 

By chance I saw a story about the "Lady of the Hills" that i worked on in 2019 and and thought I'd log in again and, make my first ever post! (It was always done by editors in the past). 

 

I miss the Rooster days (and April Fool's pranks) and members of a certain vintage may be interested to know that I am now good friends with a legendary poster called Geronimo with whom I play snooker every week. 

 

I'm still going strong, the chicks are now 8 and 12 and my older kids are visiting Ratchayothin next week.

 

I've hardly worked at all for the last two years and was wondering what to do next!

 

Cheers,

 

Rooster. 

 

 

 

I remember you

31 minutes ago, madone said:

Yay you!

Please translate the above gobbledygook into the English language if you don't mind!

34 minutes ago, madone said:

 

you are both complete asshats 

 

Do you feel better now ? 

On 2/10/2025 at 4:09 PM, carter1882 said:

Ha. I was reading another thread where everyone was calling him Bob (Smith?). Quite funny especially as he was giving it the big one about PR. Are there as many wallies as there used to be?

 

Rooster

No, apparently only you

On 2/9/2025 at 3:26 PM, Andrew Dwyer said:

have to say initially i liked Roosters weekly column but then he decided it was to be all about him and how much better he was than the rest of us and the shine wore off.

When he went to the vlogs it was unbearable to watch.

He turned from being “ one of the guys “ to being a self professed expert in all things Thai.

He was a "Wannabe" of everything. Climb high and fall deep. Not sure he learnt his lesson😕

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

No, apparently only you

You have made your point that you do not care for the "ex Rooster"!

We have all got the point!

It does not matter whether you/we agree with you or not but just give it a rest for goodness sake and let people get on with their lives!

Aha. Iwas just asking after Rooster in another thread. Glad to see you and your family are enjoying life. I still reckon you have a decent book or two in you. A starter could just be a collection of your best columns. Anyway, best wishes and good luck!

On 2/8/2025 at 6:40 PM, AgMech Cowboy said:

remember you and quit reading or even opening your articles when you came out and declared that people should be banned or prosecuted for expressing their view points about COVID.  No, not view points.  You flat out called them liars and that they were spreading misinformation. And you were wrong.

 

 

I wasn't reading TV much at that time.   Good that you remember that he posted what you say !     Anyone who contributed to the horrible censoring and name calling that took place... and there were MANY ,   can never be forgiven.   Even though,  just an "i'm sorry"  would be a first step. 

We still have a few despicables who will never accept what is now proven .