Farang-Ghost of Christmas Past: Returning UK after Decades in Asia

 

Dear Folks,

 

Speaking of Dickens, what might happen if you returned to your home country, and then, suddenly and unexpectedly, showed up on the doorstep of your ancestral home, or climbed down its chimney, on Christmas Eve, scaring your relations, if any might still exist, after having sojourned in Asia for many decades?

 

Might you then be perceived by your loved ones as the Farang-Ghost of Christmas Past?

 

It’s not known to me how long you have been here, but one might imagine that, suddenly returning, after a very long and extended absence, would be rather terrifying for your kin, especially if they were younger than you, which would almost certainly be the case, unless most had predeceased you.

 

And, what is the difference between a Foreign-Ghost and a Farang-Ghost?

If you have been here this long, then you know.

 

And since you might be perceived as the Farang-Ghost of Christmas Past, upon return to your ancestral home, would you be grilled, day after day, concerning your misdeeds and ill-spent life in Asia, or even, heaven-forbid, in Pattaya?

 

What would you tell them?

Would you tell them the truth?

Or, would you fabricate some more interesting story, just as did Marco Polo, when asked?

 

Or, if you were an Asian Dickens, what would you say about Christmas in Burma?

 

It’s a pity that Dickens never ventured far into Asia, and probably never even arrived.

If he had, then we would have a more realistic historical account of China, compared to that of Marco Polo, one who always traveled first class, on Dragonair.

 

But have you ever seen a photo of Dickens pretending that he had traveled to Asia?

Here is one, for example:

It’s also doubtful that he wrote with a quill, and most likely used a brush, instead, sparingly.

 

So, anyway, how would you explain your decades-long absence, to your flesh and blood, on Christmas Eve, if you were to suddenly drop down the chimney, or come in the back door, frightening the wee ones?

 

Would you have a good excuse?

Could you even begin to explain yourself?

Maybe it’s time to think about this, on a frigid Christmas Eve, in 2025...

Here in Thailand.

 

Do you, the Farang-Ghost of Christmas Past…

Have any regrets to share with us,

This Blessed Eve?

 

Best regards,

And, Ho Ho Ho on the “regards”, please…

Gamma R.

 

Important Note:  Now, let's all repeat to ourselves....

 

I'm not like everybody else.

 

 

Is it actually TRUE that Dickens did NOT write with a goose quill pen?

 

 

Or, if he did:

 

Did this color his scribblings?

 

 

So, the lesson of this Topic is:

 

If you want to become a great writer, then use a quill.

 

I never use anything else.

 

And for good reason...

Here is a comparison between a printed version and a quill version:

See the difference?

 

 

Where is AS?

 

I got a warning for correcting a member's English, which I accepted. 

How about if I do not understand what the F... the OP is talking about, the only answer being him (?) self?

57 minutes ago, Will Iam Not said:

Where is AS?

 

I got a warning for correcting a member's English, which I accepted. 

How about if I do not understand what the F... the OP is talking about, the only answer being him (?) self?

 

Please just add an S....

 

And, then think...ME....

 

OK?

 

Anyway, no worries, because Christmas Past will be over, before you know it...

Maybe in about 4.5 hours, at least...

According to our local time zone.

 

Or, are you on ZuLu time, or something?

 

Or, are you on Plank time, or something?

 

I bet, this evening, we are all on the same page.

I bet, this evening, we are all on ...

 

Santa Time

 

And, would you want to bet this is the very first Santa Song I have heard since 2023, when I was attempting to explain Christmas to one of my Chinese friends who hails from the mountains in YunNan.

 

She could not understand Christmas.

 

Can you?

 

Most people from the hinterlands of China have heard of Santa.

Yet, they are unable to understand Christmas.

 

I told them about the GREAT LIGHT IN THE SKY....

 

But, the Chinese girl lost her way, in the telling.

 

She could not see the connection between the light in the sky, and the donkey in her manger.

 

I could say more.

It's a very interesting story.

 

2 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I could say more.

It's a very interesting story.

Please don't. This is one of those times when less is more.

 

Merry Christmas. 

 

 

17 minutes ago, Keeps said:

Please don't. This is one of those times when less is more.

 

Merry Christmas. 

 

 

 

Yes, but.....

 

It has just been reported that Santa has been spotted,

Blazing down the Jersey Turnpike,

In a Red Cadillac,

With a reindeer hood ornament. 

 

I just received verification, via email, I think...

 

Wait....!

This simply cannot be for real, can it?

 

But, yes, I saw this same thing, back in 1963, when I was less of a disbeliever.

 

In fact, Santa makes this drive, every year,

Just before the Night Before Christmas.

 

I just hope he hasn't been drinking and driving.

 

And, what was that film with the drunken Santa?

 

Such a miracle, that film, and have you not already seen it at least a dozen times?

 

Will the REAL Kris Kringle please stand up!

 

 

 

 

thats me, nobody really cared for having anything to do with me, and the feeling was mutual.

my new acquaintances are curious and intrigued by my life, and i dont have anything to be ashamed of 

25 minutes ago, mordothailand said:

i dont have anything to be ashamed of 

 

Nobody does.

 

You are not the only one.

 

 

@GammaGlobulin seems to have been enjoying the Christmas spirits already 🙂 Ho, Ho, Ho!

 

 

45 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

 

@GammaGlobulin seems to have been enjoying the Christmas spirits already 🙂 Ho, Ho, Ho!

 

 

 

Speaking of Ho, Ho, Ho....and Santa Monica:

 

aa. I guess we all recall the most beloved Santa singer of all time, Bing Crosby, don't we?

 

bb. But, do you recall Bing, of Fortune Magazine, a writer even more amusing?

 

cc. And, did you know that Bing, so sadly died, in 2020?

 

dd. Where did he die?  He died in SANTA Monica, that's where.

 

ee. Yes, it is true, so sadly.

 

Stanley Bing died, in SANTA Monica.

 

His additions to Fortune Magazine provided us with MANY a Ho, Ho, Ho, for years.

He wrote deliciously, and we all looked forward to each and every one of his "essays".

 

ff. So, since you mentioned him, I just wanted to say:  Thank you, Bing!

You provided Fortune readers with so many interesting observations, in such an amusing way, every issue.

 

gg. Would you prefer to listen to Bing Crosby sing Christmas tunes?  Or,  Bing!, instead?

 

1, If Bing Crosby, then please click on the YT vid I included above, somewhere.

 

2. If you are sane, then read back issues of Fortune, and enjoy Bing!

 

3.  Stanley Bing could write!!!

 

4. Bing Crosby could not sing!!!

 

5. Not everyone enjoys Bing. It's all about perspective.

 

 

You cannot like both.

It's either one, or the other.

 

Bing will be missed.

(Twain, two...!)

 

18 hours ago, Will Iam Not said:

Where is AS?

 

I got a warning for correcting a member's English, which I accepted. 

How about if I do not understand what the F... the OP is talking about, the only answer being him (?) self?

He does ramble on about nothing a lot.

3 hours ago, soalbundy said:

He does ramble on about nothing a lot.

Old people do end up ranting at the telly - I am on the cusp. 

On 12/24/2025 at 4:20 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

Farang-Ghost of Christmas Past: Returning UK after Decades in Asia

 

Dear Folks,

 

Speaking of Dickens, what might happen if you returned to your home country, and then, suddenly and unexpectedly, showed up on the doorstep of your ancestral home, or climbed down its chimney, on Christmas Eve, scaring your relations, if any might still exist, after having sojourned in Asia for many decades?

 

Might you then be perceived by your loved ones as the Farang-Ghost of Christmas Past?

 

It’s not known to me how long you have been here, but one might imagine that, suddenly returning, after a very long and extended absence, would be rather terrifying for your kin, especially if they were younger than you, which would almost certainly be the case, unless most had predeceased you.

 

And, what is the difference between a Foreign-Ghost and a Farang-Ghost?

If you have been here this long, then you know.

 

And since you might be perceived as the Farang-Ghost of Christmas Past, upon return to your ancestral home, would you be grilled, day after day, concerning your misdeeds and ill-spent life in Asia, or even, heaven-forbid, in Pattaya?

 

What would you tell them?

Would you tell them the truth?

Or, would you fabricate some more interesting story, just as did Marco Polo, when asked?

 

Or, if you were an Asian Dickens, what would you say about Christmas in Burma?

 

It’s a pity that Dickens never ventured far into Asia, and probably never even arrived.

If he had, then we would have a more realistic historical account of China, compared to that of Marco Polo, one who always traveled first class, on Dragonair.

 

But have you ever seen a photo of Dickens pretending that he had traveled to Asia?

Here is one, for example:

It’s also doubtful that he wrote with a quill, and most likely used a brush, instead, sparingly.

 

So, anyway, how would you explain your decades-long absence, to your flesh and blood, on Christmas Eve, if you were to suddenly drop down the chimney, or come in the back door, frightening the wee ones?

 

Would you have a good excuse?

Could you even begin to explain yourself?

Maybe it’s time to think about this, on a frigid Christmas Eve, in 2025...

Here in Thailand.

 

Do you, the Farang-Ghost of Christmas Past…

Have any regrets to share with us,

This Blessed Eve?

 

Best regards,

And, Ho Ho Ho on the “regards”, please…

Gamma R.

 

Important Note:  Now, let's all repeat to ourselves....

 

I'm not like everybody else.

 

 

So you got shrooms for Xmas ?

4 hours ago, 0ffshore360 said:

So you got shrooms for Xmas ?

 

Just a stocking stuffer

 

On 12/24/2025 at 6:35 PM, Will Iam Not said:

Where is AS?

 

I got a warning for correcting a member's English, which I accepted. 

How about if I do not understand what the F... the OP is talking about, the only answer being him (?) self?

If it was permitted to correct bad English people would eventually learn, literacy levels would improve and we would not be swamped with could of and should of etc. Policies such as you mention just perpetuate ignorance and semi-literacy.

1 minute ago, saintdomingo said:

If it was permitted to correct bad English people would eventually learn, literacy levels would improve and we would not be swamped with could of and should of etc. Policies such as you mention just perpetuate ignorance and semi-literacy.

What are you on about? I am advocating the correction of bad English in order to improve literacy levels, should and could OF , there, their and they're etc. 

I must be sickening for something, I got the impression lately that the gg posting above was coming out with rational stuff  that was worth reading. This thread has corrected that impression quite strongly.

20 minutes ago, Will Iam Not said:

What are you on about? I am advocating the correction of bad English in order to improve literacy levels, should and could OF , there, their and they're etc. 

My reply to this appears to have gone missing, I pointed out quite strongly that I was agreeing with you and urged you to read my post again.

4 minutes ago, saintdomingo said:

My reply to this appears to have gone missing, I pointed out quite strongly that I was agreeing with you and urged you to read my post again.

To quote you. Policies such as you mention just perpetuate ignorance and semi-literacy.

And as for your personal insult........that's why I reported it. 

On 12/24/2025 at 10:42 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

Blazing down the Jersey Turnpike

Counting the cars, as Simon & Garfunkel did.

3 hours ago, Will Iam Not said:

To quote you. Policies such as you mention just perpetuate ignorance and semi-literacy.

And as for your personal insult........that's why I reported it. 

The policies that you mentioned are the ones that disallow correcting grammar.

To try and clarify even further I was  saying the policies that you opposed.

12 hours ago, saintdomingo said:

The policies that you mentioned are the ones that disallow correcting grammar.

To try and clarify even further I was  saying the policies that you opposed.

OK, let's get it straight. I agree with correcting spelling, grammar and punctuation. 

I shall however, refrain from doing it, as I have been warned not to.

1 hour ago, Will Iam Not said:

OK, let's get it straight. I agree with correcting spelling, grammar and punctuation. 

I shall however, refrain from doing it, as I have been warned not to.

 

Note:  I FULLY agree to your correcting ANY AND ALL of my many grammar errors.

 

In my view, this will be a HUGE BOON for me; I will not need to pay for an editor, and you can just donate your time in order to improve my writing, here on TV.

 

In addition, I have a low sensitivity-threshold for good and constructive criticism directed my way, unlike some others who might feel unduly chastened and overly-PRICKLY when this happens to them.

 

I believe that becoming illogically defensive is a hindrance to self-improvement.

 

And, one thing I am NOT is illogical, as everybody knows....maybe...