I'm at work and it's late on a Saturday afternoon, I'm in Glasgow, Scotland, and it's a nice bright day outside. I've been quite busy today however I'm a prisoner to my business, I can't leave my shop until 5.00pm.

It's times like this that my mind wanders to that delightful day not too far in the future when I won't be a prisoner to my business any more. Envy is a powerful word, and I don't envy anyone in life, however I do admire. Here's a little list of people I admire.............

I admire people who have the bottle to have a go, who take a chance in life knowing it may go wrong, but that's okay, tomorrow is another day and they can start all over again.

I admire those people who have turned up religiously at their job year in year out, putting in the long hours in the hope / knowledge that at the end of it they will have the opportunity to live their own lives, in their own way. This song expresses that mentality fabulously well......listen to the lyrics, it may be describing you......

There's a man I meet

Walks up our street

He's a worker for the council

Has been twenty years

And he takes no lip off nobody

And litter off the gutter

Puts it in a bag

And never thinks to mutter

And he packs his lunch in a Sunblest bag

The children call him Bogie

He never lets on

But I know 'cause he once told me

He let me know a secret

About the money in his kitty

He's gonna buy a dinghy

Gonna call her Dignity

And I'll sail her up the west coast

Through villages and towns

I'll be on my holidays

They'll be doing their rounds

They'll ask me how I got her I'll say

I saved my money

They'll say isn't she pretty

That ship called Dignity

And I'm telling this story

In a faraway scene

Sipping down Raki

And reading Maynard Keynes

And I'm thinking about home

And all that means

And a place in the winter

For Dignity

And I'll sail her up the west coast

Through villages and towns

I'll be on my holidays

They'll be doing their rounds

They'll ask me how I got her I'll say

I saved my money

They'll say isn't she pretty

That ship called Dignity

Set it up set it up set it up set it up set it up set it up

Yeah set it up again set it up again set it up again set it up again

Set it up set it up set it up set it up set it up set it up

Yeah set it up again set it up again set it up again set it up again

And I'm thinking about home

And I'm thinking about faith

And I'm thinking about work

And I'm thinking

How good it would be

To be here some day

On a ship called Dignity

A ship called Dignity

That ship

That song describes the human condition in so many ways........

I admire people who have the ability to get on with their lives without complaint, people who can see the bigger picture, people who are content in themselves, and people who have the wit and intelligence to know when to talk, when to walk, and when to listen.

So for all you guys, ( and ladies ) out there in Thailand that worked your shift and now it's your turn to live your own life

To all of you that have had the bottle to have a go.

To all of you that have packed up your bags and moved to a new country to start a new life

To all of you that live your life avoiding the chance to complain and bicker ( that's the majority of the TV membership disqualified )

But most of all, whatever happens, I hope you / we all get a chance to sail on our ship called Dignity.

As always......

Just sayin'

Hi theblether, , Dignity is great stuff ! Thanks for sharing !

Work your nuts off then retire I say. I spent most of my adult life doing six months work and the other six months traveling the world and was still able to retire aged thirty nine. Having said that, I now work all year doing charity work which doesn't feel like working. When you don't expect money in return you can d what you want. Do that.

Like you, I have reached that age when my mind keeps wandering.... ....errrr...where was I??,,, to the day when I can be free of the clock. I finally retire at Christmas, then in January I will be on a plane out to CM and my next chapter of the adventure through life. I don't know if I'll do things with dignity, but they will go in style!

I feel very sorry for a lot of the younger folk working now, with their retirement dates being pushed further and further back. I have mixed feelings about my own move.... leaving my grown up kids will be a wrench, but they are settled and secure now: I'm sure I'll feel a sadness to finally retire, because I have enjoyed working with young people all my life, but at the same time I'll be very pleased at the opportunity to go back to CM and my better half there.

Good luck in your next steps, which, if I remember correctly, will be taken much sooner than mine. I'll go soon after Hogmanay.

I have more free time and more money than I did when I was working my ass off at a job. Now I'm 31, living in Thailand, and after a few clicks of my mouse all my bills are paid for the month. It's so easy it makes a mockery of all the work I used to do in my previous jobs. I'm practically retired.

Some advice... stop thinking that work is going to change your life or make your life easier. Work is very overrated.

You are only a prisoner if you erect the obstacles to freedom yourself. You made yourself the prisoner, no one else, and that means only you have the power to set yourself free.

Erma Bombeck the brilliant humorist/ newspaper columnist/author wrote a book way back when, entitled The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank. I suggest you read some of the late Erma's writings.

It took poor Dorothy a bad bump on the head and the near loss of her dog Toto to understand that there is no place like home. I also suggest you watch the movie, the Wizard of Oz, but be sure to have a grown up with you as the wicked witch and the flying monkeys can be quite frightful.

You are only a prisoner if you erect the obstacles to freedom yourself. You made yourself the prisoner, no one else, and that means only you have the power to set yourself free.

Erma Bombeck the brilliant humorist/ newspaper columnist/author wrote a book way back when, entitled The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank. I suggest you read some of the late Erma's writings.

It took poor Dorothy a bad bump on the head and the near loss of her dog Toto to understand that there is no place like home. I also suggest you watch the movie, the Wizard of Oz, but be sure to have a grown up with you as the wicked witch and the flying monkeys can be quite frightful.

Do you mind? ............... I was married to the Wicked Witch

Give over not having it a bright day in Glasgow

I'm at work and it's late on a Saturday afternoon, I'm in Glasgow, Scotland, and it's a nice bright day outside. I've been quite busy today however I'm a prisoner to my business, I can't leave my shop until 5.00pm.

It's times like this that my mind wanders to that delightful day not too far in the future when I won't be a prisoner to my business any more. Envy is a powerful word, and I don't envy anyone in life, however I do admire. Here's a little list of people I admire.............

I admire people who have the bottle to have a go, who take a chance in life knowing it may go wrong, but that's okay, tomorrow is another day and they can start all over again.

I admire those people who have turned up religiously at their job year in year out, putting in the long hours in the hope / knowledge that at the end of it they will have the opportunity to live their own lives, in their own way. This song expresses that mentality fabulously well......listen to the lyrics, it may be describing you......

There's a man I meet

Walks up our street

He's a worker for the council

Has been twenty years

And he takes no lip off nobody

And litter off the gutter

Puts it in a bag

And never thinks to mutter

And he packs his lunch in a Sunblest bag

The children call him Bogie

He never lets on

But I know 'cause he once told me

He let me know a secret

About the money in his kitty

He's gonna buy a dinghy

Gonna call her Dignity

And I'll sail her up the west coast

Through villages and towns

I'll be on my holidays

They'll be doing their rounds

They'll ask me how I got her I'll say

I saved my money

They'll say isn't she pretty

That ship called Dignity

And I'm telling this story

In a faraway scene

Sipping down Raki

And reading Maynard Keynes

And I'm thinking about home

And all that means

And a place in the winter

For Dignity

And I'll sail her up the west coast

Through villages and towns

I'll be on my holidays

They'll be doing their rounds

They'll ask me how I got her I'll say

I saved my money

They'll say isn't she pretty

That ship called Dignity

Set it up set it up set it up set it up set it up set it up

Yeah set it up again set it up again set it up again set it up again

Set it up set it up set it up set it up set it up set it up

Yeah set it up again set it up again set it up again set it up again

And I'm thinking about home

And I'm thinking about faith

And I'm thinking about work

And I'm thinking

How good it would be

To be here some day

On a ship called Dignity

A ship called Dignity

That ship

That song describes the human condition in so many ways........

I admire people who have the ability to get on with their lives without complaint, people who can see the bigger picture, people who are content in themselves, and people who have the wit and intelligence to know when to talk, when to walk, and when to listen.

So for all you guys, ( and ladies ) out there in Thailand that worked your shift and now it's your turn to live your own life

To all of you that have had the bottle to have a go.

To all of you that have packed up your bags and moved to a new country to start a new life

To all of you that live your life avoiding the chance to complain and bicker ( that's the majority of the TV membership disqualified )

But most of all, whatever happens, I hope you / we all get a chance to sail on our ship called Dignity.

As always......

Just sayin'

Nice.....yep I did it against all the advice and have never ever regretted it...

Sent from my GT-N7000B using Thaivisa Connect App

To be fair, it's easy to say that work is overrated, however it is an essential and often fulfilling part of life too. I was at a boxing match last week ( Ricky Burns v Kevin Mitchell ),

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHNPvkFQwx8

Great fight, have a look at it, anyway after the fight there was an even better fight in the bar of the hotel next door to the SECC, Glasgow. Dozens of police turned up and I wandered outside and had a look at the BBC Pacific Quay Centre across the River Clyde.

The police were everywhere and I called a taxi, I was wandering waiting for it while talking to a pal I was at the fight with wihen I noticed this massive high ranking policeman stride purposely towards me.......I thought " <deleted>?......I've done nothing wrong here ", ( please note here, I've done plenty of wrong things elsewhere )......anyway he walked up and said " theblether, how are you!!! "

I took a moment to catch my thoughts and then it struck me........a teenage friend that had joined the police at 19, the last time I had seen him he was heading down to serve with Cumbrian police force. This guy is a gentleman among men and I was delighted to see him.

He was telling me that he's retiring next year after serving 30 years, his marriage is breaking down and he wants a change of life, I don't blame him. 30 years chasing your tail in the police force would do anyone's head in. So he'll be 49, single, protected pension, and ready to sail on his ship.

I'll be meeting him for a few pints over the next couple of weeks, I reckon a round the world trip is on the cards for him, finishing off with a few months in SE Asia........you have to appreciate the amount of guile, and strength, it takes to work shifts for 30 years, and the amount of sh*t that has come his way would float a boat.

To all of you that have been through that experience already......full respect from me, you deserve every moment in the Sun

ps You shouldn't be so shocked that theblether has pals in real life you know, I'm not that bad a guy

hi blether,,

dont worry mate you and smokie will be out in a couple of hours,,

now im pissed off that i cant be with you,,

just got to the office for another nite shift,

hope you both have a good time,

jake

I have more free time and more money than I did when I was working my ass off at a job. Now I'm 31, living in Thailand, and after a few clicks of my mouse all my bills are paid for the month. It's so easy it makes a mockery of all the work I used to do in my previous jobs. I'm practically retired.

Some advice... stop thinking that work is going to change your life or make your life easier. Work is very overrated.

Yeah, online banking is AWESOME!!!

You work you’re guts out all your life, scrimp and save for a life of ease and plenty when you retire, then by the time you’re archived your goal, you are too old and knackered to enjoy it.

All the nice pretty young girls of your dreams only see you as a walking ATM and the older you get each year, the higher the price becomes, the young group consider you as not a cool person to be seen out with, the phone stops ringing and the party invitations cease.

If you have the money, than best to make the most of it while you’re young.

Most stunners I see in pattaya are walking around with the older walking ATM's, doesn't look to bad to me

Do you mind again!!! theblether is only 46 and extraordinarily hansum!!!

Walking ATM.......sheez some people!!!

@pigeonjake, Smokie has called off........I'm going to a stag party, or The Last Rites, as I prefer to call it. We'll soon you soon in Glasgow and give you a night to remember before you head back to the wife, and beautiful baby, and farm, and the 200 pigs, the Thai family........jeez I'm exhausted thinking about it, maybe you should just stay here :-)

I had a great evening anyway....

Ooops am having....where's the pizza menu?

No Deacon Blue though thanks...

Do you mind again!!! theblether is only 46 and extraordinarily hansum!!!

Walking ATM.......sheez some people!!!

@pigeonjake, Smokie has called off........I'm going to a stag party, or The Last Rites, as I prefer to call it. We'll soon you soon in Glasgow and give you a night to remember before you head back to the wife, and beautiful baby, and farm, and the 200 pigs, the Thai family........jeez I'm exhausted thinking about it, maybe you should just stay here :-)

Aye...another night Jake.

ive just had a walk round this old boiler,(not women),lol

give the lads there jobs,thell be down sleeping by 2am,

and im earing enough to buy some more pigs, a few goats,buy the feed,,,,,lol,,

get me home,,

have a good nite blether and you smokie, dont eat to much pitza, youll sink instead of swim next time you do a mile,,

jake

I'll be like a dolphin tomorrow mate...no worries!

You enjoy your hard work lol...

smokie,

me and hard work are like oil and water,,,

ive just had a look on the man utd page to see if fergie had come up with any good excuses,,,lol

II watched for many years as my father worked damned hard each morning from 5am til 6pm 6 days a week, his only escape and real enjoyment was his "dignity" that he used to visit every Sunday. A small craft, but gave him so much pleasure, his dream was a bigger boat, so he worked harder and saved and finally at he ripe old age of 59 he had his bigger boat, he was set to retire and finish the hard working life at 60. So, off he went on that bright sunny Sunday afternoon in June on his bigger boat, sun shining, mother at his side and had a wonderful day, about an hour from shore on the way back, he died, heart attack/stroke but he had his day on his bigger destiny, and for him, I dont think it could have been scripted any better. Doing what he loved with the person he loved most when it was time for him to cast off. He never had chance to enjoy the life he had saved and worked so hard for all his life.

I swore from that day on that I would never fall into the working trap and be the same guy pounding the same job, year in year out, waiting for the day I could say "ok I'm done", I have taken each day and week as it comes, I have had some scary, difficult and worrying moments and taken many many chances, made plenty of mistakes but more importantly learned from them. I have had many jobs, walked many paths never been rich and never been without something to eat either. I cut the ties and left the Uk and came out here to Thailand at the ripe old age of 48, because that's where I wanted to be, and that,s what I wanted to do, no one and nothing was going to stop me doing what I wanted. So, here I am, several years later, still in Thailand, I'm not wealthy in the monetary sense, but I like to think I have many other riches in life, but for me as Frank Sinatra said so well....!.I did it my way" and took and still take each week as it comes, I dont wait for "that time" to come, because it may never happen, if you don't make it happen. Have the strength and the courage to go get what you want and enjoy it while you can because tomorrow belongs to no man.

Dont sit there and think of all the reasons why you "cant" do something and focus on the reasons why you "can" do it, and then make it happen, no one will do it for you, there are no pockets in a shroud and its certainly no good being the richest man in the cemetary.

yes i come to work for the money, ide be silly to say i dont,

but living in the sticks like i do i like to go to work now and again to have a bit of craic, i dont work full time, i go ro work when i get a good offer,

yes i can live in thailand and lie of my pigs, but if you new me and my personality, i do love having the craic, the boys tell me your not like a normal supervisor, we can have a laugh and a joke with you,

and thats what i like,

jake, at work, but not working hard, bloody hell im on here all nite,,,lol

It's times like this that my mind wanders to that delightful day not too far in the future when I won't be a prisoner to my business any more.

I have always thought I would work to live & not the other way around.

I have lived my life that way & have spent less time toiling than living & enjoying life.

When I was young I saw too many folks wait till 65 then spend their "golden" years either in

a wheelchair, a rest home (interesting name for it), or in the back of a tour bus as they were too old to actually walk the trails or beaches in the places they

said they would always go someday.

I admire those people who have turned up religiously at their job year in year out, putting in the long hours

In an odd way so do I. But not in an admiring as in I wish I could do that way. More of a fascination with the will power to

be able to do such a thing.

I am not saying one should be willy nilly & just live hand to mouth but I definitely have always been smart or lucky enough to live

more than work. I also had a great teacher in a friend who did the same type of work as I when I was younger. He was my opposite but we

were great friends.

He would save every penny never go out adventuring & even went so far as to tell me one time...."You know if you drank a regular cup of coffee

instead of that more pricey cup you would save XX amount times all the coffee you drink" Then when you retire you will have so much more.

Poor guy died in his early 40's of cancer.

But let me be clear....What ever makes one happy is all good & there are many people who just love to work & that is great... for them

@ CharlieH........my sentiments exactly.

I too saw people working hard all their lives to finally retire and not live to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

I also had a good career and later had a job that most guys would give their left testicle to have. Unfortunately after a while the "fun" went out of the job and it became a situation where I was tied to the clock......worst it wasn't exactly shift work because the hours weren't regular.....they were all over the shop.

Anyway, I decided that if I sold everything up, paid off my mortgages, packed my bags, I could retire at 50 and come and enjoy life here in Thailand. I too am not wealthy by any means (my first wife got all that).

So here I am, with my dignity and living a life that isn't perfect, but it makes me happy......and my wife makes it even happier.

Cheers.

Do you mind? ............... I was married to the Wicked Witch

Just curious.

Was she from the East or from the West ?

Yermanee

smokie what you doing up at this time,??

have a little look at a post i put up earlyer,,lol,

Do you mind? ............... I was married to the Wicked Witch

Just curious.

Was she from the East or from the West ?

Yermanee

In my case it was from the West, a little hamlet called Shotts in west / central Scotland. I don't like Shotts, bad people live there.......and they are very tricky, they pretend they are good people and catch you out later!!!

Anyway I was out for a few pints last night, I was in a Casino in central Glasgow and some glorious looking women were having a party next to us......I caught sight of a certain pair of shoes and commented to the owner of said shoes,........to cut a long story short she proudly informed me they were Christian Laboutin designer thingies and they cost her £3000.

Talk about all cash and no class? Shocking.

It turned out I recognized the lady as being the partner of a prominent Scottish footballer, I won't name him as it will identify here........please God send me the grace to know the value of money, my lady was in tears, inconsolable, the other day as her bag had been stolen with 9,000 baht restaurant takings in it. That 9,000 baht represents the majority of her monthly income.

Her employer came to an arrangement with her to reduce the financial loss, she still has to pay a bit of it back, however not as much as she had feared. That was a good bit of management by her employer, a touch of class may I say.

Money may buy you many things but it can't buy you class.

to be envious is to be the lesser man

Do you mind again!!! theblether is only 46 and extraordinarily hansum!!!

Walking ATM.......sheez some people!!!

I retired at 45 but failed to discover Thailand until I was 52 .......... ooooooh the wasted years.

Hi theblether, , Dignity is great stuff ! Thanks for sharing !

Love Deacon Blue!"

They were on BBC Breakfast news last week and bringing out a new album - woohoo

One thing I didn't kno wwas that Ricky Ross was married to the female singer!! Learn something new everyday!