I had a mother in law, she never ever knew my name. Used to look at me with a sort of vacant stare... Father in law the same.

Husband used to say - remember XXX and they would nod in unison. Like those little doggies in the back of a car.

They came to my wedding and sat at the top table with my parents etc. No recollection at all.

Very strange people. I think they were inbred.

Trouble is that the average Thai wife, fully aware you are not nuts, could cause serious injuries for the offence caused to mair.

The average Thai wife believes ALL foreigners are nuts, especially husband and any buddies.

That's one reason for getting out of Dodge fast.

(I could list the other couple of dozen reasons, but you've all experienced them at one time or another)

You're confusing nuts with being incapable of interaction with civilised people.

Trouble is that the average Thai wife, fully aware you are not nuts, could cause serious injuries for the offence caused to mair.

The average Thai wife believes ALL foreigners are nuts, especially husband and any buddies.

That's one reason for getting out of Dodge fast.

(I could list the other couple of dozen reasons, but you've all experienced them at one time or another)

You're confusing nuts with being incapable of interaction with civilised people.

Please define 'civilised'.

(I spent my first three years - 1937 to 1939 - in Stamford Hill, which is a few metres to the South of Tottenham Hotspur FC ground. So civilised doesn't count for that part of my life.

(Although the Stamford Hill area is very 'frum')

Thais are like Chinese, they consider no one civilised except themselves.

Thais are like Chinese, they consider no one civilised except themselves.

One could caste this ambition towards most every culture.

We're all more civilised than the next cretin.

Thais are like Chinese, they consider no one civilised except themselves.

One could caste this ambition towards most every culture.

We're all more civilised than the next cretin.

That's easy to say, standing next to you!

SC

Not meant in seriousness, and not meant personally.

In fact, I thought the clever use of the word 'caste', suggesting an embodiment in rigid hierarchical structures, and using 'ambition' instead of 'aspersion', suggesting that some cultures did not consider themselves superior, but would like to in the future... was quite deep.

Anyway, we're only all more civilised than the next cretin if we line up in the right order. I learnt that in primary school, though there, we used height.

Anyway, we're only all more civilised than the next cretin if we line up in the right order. I learnt that in primary school, though there, we used height.

Sounds as if you were [and perhaps still might be] a good little soldier.

We - good

They - bad

Anyway, we're only all more civilised than the next cretin if we line up in the right order. I learnt that in primary school, though there, we used height.

Sounds as if you were [and perhaps still might be] a good little soldier.

We - good

They - bad

That's it, pretty much in a nutshell.

So long as we classify other people as 'them' and not 'us' we will find it very difficult to eliminate our prejudices.

SC

Anyway, my apologies for the digression:

Ping - I hope the visit is going well. Did MIL bring her livestock? that might be an indication its going to be a long week...

Sorry I have't been back to provide a sitrep, but I've had a nasty dose of that flu that's going around.

Mama was a lovely, dare I say typical, village mama type. No English and never learnt to read (Thai). I see where her daughter got her work ethic from - mama insisted on washing the floors every day and washing my car every day (!) despite her being told to relax - she's on holiday. At one point, we were at Big C and she said to Mrs Ping, 'You should buy that plastic chair over there'. 'Why?' 'So you can stand on it and wash your husband's car each morning.' 55555!

Mind you, she took the Thai culture of day-long grazing to levels I've never before witnessed - I'd say she probably ate the equivalent of six or seven full meals each day. And she loved it when we took her to see the sights. In particular, she enjoyed rolling around in the shallows at Surin Beach. She was like a baby. Lovely to see.

She initially wanted to leave after less than a week. I took it that she felt I was not welcoming of her because of my inability to communicate with her. In the end, we managed to persuade her to stay an extra four or five days. Unfortunately, it was at this point that I became quite sick overnight, and was bedridden with the flu. So her remaining time with us was spent at home. Never mind, we'll make it up to her on her next visit...

Verdict: A pleasant surprise.

There, there, all that worry for nothing...

That wasn't so bad was it?

^Yes, unlike western outlaws, Thai ones seem to remain of the human species...

If you don't live in the same village or even the same province then there's not alot of worry. Live near the inlaws and then come back and tell me how great Thai ones are compared to Western.

Mine are all within walking distance, the worst part of it is the old man occasionally sneaks a few of his chickens around to graze on my lawn.

(And crap on my back porch).

No chance of that. If I ever do move from Patong, it will only be as far as my second favourite spot (Krabi). I'll admit I've heard some horror stories, though...

Worse than chickens?

Seems okay - all those free eggs, and the occasional drumstick.

E: The horror stories I've heard are mainly related to the various methods of extracting money from the 'rich' farang wallet. In contrast, Mama seemed quid conscious (except when it came to the nosebag).