Leaderboard

The house next door to us in Mae Sot has been preparing all week for a two day Party all week. Lots of chairs, a small stage scaffolding and a marquee completely covering the soi which has meant that for this weekend we can only use the motorbike and not the car or truck. We were warned and we can live with that as it is a one/off big occasion...............................apparently. At 8 O'clock this morning the live ........................................music................................... started scaring the shit out of the four dogs we have trying to get used to one another. Sai, my technical advisor tells me that the musical genre is "Northern Issan." Well it certainly isn't Northern Soul that is for sure The first live set lasted 4 hours without a break at a painfully loud volume which gave me plenty of time to think how best to describe what I was hearing. The basic rhythm reminds me somewhat of cajun music overlaid with the sound of a cat being strangled and is exactly the same for every song. The female singer screeches as if her tits got caught in the fiddle strings. Reminds me somewhat of the noise I made when I caught my dick zipping up my levi's. Well it is about 4.45 pm now and it is just as loud and but for a break for lunch this band has been going at it all day. Another day of this tomorrow!

I'd check into the nearest resort..

Went to see Styx Wed night, geez 4 decades of seeing these guys and man they brought their game for sure. I just can’t shake these 70’s bands, I try LOL! 3 of the original members still going strong. When I saw they were coming here last Sept, asked wifey if she ever heard of them? She said “Yeah we listened to this band when we were in college, I like them” I thought yeah right, so I challenged her. I asked her to name 2 of their albums, I got the blank stare…then she said “Ok, Paradise Theater, Kilroy was Here" Mee Ah Rai Ead Mai? She pisses me off LOL! So bought the tickets and off we went. Dinner at Black Angus Restaurant and 20 minute drive downtown to the Theater. 2020 they are doing small theaters and was not going to miss this one for sure. 11th row dead center and great visuals. Opening up with “Gone, Gone, Gone” then launched into “Blue Collar Man” and the rest of the night was just hit after hit. The Grand Illusion, Lady, Miss America, Crystal Ball, Suite Madam Blue, Fooling Yourself, Come Sail Away, Snowblind, Radio Silence to name a few, then a blistering version of “Too Much Time on My Hands” and "Come Sail Away" to close out the show. Just outstanding, then returning with “Mr Roboto and Renegade” as encores. How in gods name these guys were snubbed again this year for the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is beyond me? They will get their dues hopefully next year. They talked about how much music has changed the last 4 decades and they are really enjoying playing these small theaters for the true fans. Tommy Shaw autographed one of his Guitars and when you walked into the lobby, for $20 you got a raffle ticket and the proceeds went to the Second Harvest Food Bank locally here. After the show they read out the winning number and Tommy Shaw gave it to the winner, this guy was really happy. Beautiful Red Gibson. Great guys..wifey thought it was just an outstanding show and she was right, they played 3 of her favorite songs she was hoping for with "Lady" " Come Sail Away" and "Too Much Time on My Hands" Took my small Sony camera down to one of the local camera stores and talked to one of the experts there. He gave me some tips on settings and changing them up at different times….really helped me a lot this time. Well done to Styx for 40 years of great music......

Just something peaceful about time spent on the beach. This was great yesterday.

Actual footage of @galenkia earlier 🙂

I was on this flight to HCMC last week. It's a funny one as the plane is based in UTP and only does this one round trip a day where most LCCs, and even Vietjet themselves, usually get as many flights as they can out of a plane. Perhaps they're doing training or something with a view to adding more routes? Taxi mafia must still have some sort of hold at UTP as Mr. T refused to take us. A friend of a friend took us instead for 700 baht. No queue at check in when we arrived around 9:00am for an 11:25am flight. We were asked to show flights out of Vietnam before they would check us in. I had one and a printout with me, but my mate just had a printout of a made up booking from a template which passed inspection without a problem. There is a small lounge in International departures and a sign with priority pass on it at the reception desk but when I showed them my Priority Pass card they said it was different and didn't count. I wasn't expecting it as the Priority Pass website didn't mention a lounge there. The waiting area was one big room with 4 gates as I remember and could probably get quite crowded if you had a few planes departing close together. It's only a short flight so not much to say about it. We hadn't ordered meals although I saw a few getting handed out. Landed at SGN and bussed to the terminal. Immigration was busy but efficient and we were through before our bags. As at check in, immigration asked to see evidence of return flights. I returned on Jetstar to BKK, but my mate just got back on this Vietjet flight to UTP again yesterday and used this company to get back to Pattaya for 800 baht. https://www.utapaotaxiservice.com/

Enjoying a Bintang at the beach... What's not to like about this life ?

Is it just me but great to see Artygraph posting again. I always liked him on Secrets and never ever had a problem with him. One of the few boardies I have never met and I knew most of the Jocks back in the day ...... away and shite

One thing I admire about the Thais is that they love having a good time. In the west we are conditioned to believe that work is almost the sole purpose of ones life. The Thais on the other hand believe that sanook is the purpose of life.

Hell of a carbon footprint he left if it was. 😀

For the weekend lads............

Years ago I would have obliged. These days you have no chance!

Bought a pineapple thingamajiggy

4 years now for me, I like it, the freedom is certainly nice to do what you want, when you want. I do feel physically better not having to do the day to day grind in the corporate world anymore. But.....I do have to admit, there are times when I actually miss work. It was always a challenge for me to work with others, see if we can put our heads together and continue to work on goals and objectives. Financially I will be OK, be smart with your money, have some fun, but be naughty at times too and spend it foolishly as long as you know your limits right? I cannot imagine being this age and having to worry about money, as in not even remotely having enough and worrying everyday about that. Sad, but I see guys my age who were just outright stupid and have no 401k at all. Being happy with who you are with is certainly important......so far so good on that too. Having the same goals/objectives certainly helps and with her "assets" we can have the luxury of living both in Thailand and the USA and can pick and choose makes life a bit easier too. I like Thailand too, but like it here also. Both places have advantages IMO. Will consider taking Social Security at age 65 in a few years....we'll see the pros and cons of that going forward.

Oh yeah Golden Earring, seen them too back in 1974, they were good for sure. Figured you saw them back in the day Ted....this was my 5th time over 4 decades. Amazing still how this music still sounds great live. Tommy Shaw still looks the same to me. Last time I saw Styx was in 2011 here. Sweet Madam Blue is one of their "epic" masterpieces I think, and they did not disappoint playing it Wed. Thanks and since you can't bring in DSLR cameras, point and shoot are going to be your next best option, if you choose not to use your cell phone.....kind of naive to mine, did not realize how many different settings there are you can adjust. Thanks.....

that's not just a Thai thing , exactly the same with happens with SKY ( and other providers in the UK ) , only when you suggest you will cancel they start applying the discounts ... I've made a diary note for when mine next lapse ..

Having a wee sundowner.

Dom Bess,all five wickets so far.A star is born?

Hmmm, a VVIP by the sound of it, or else they're back to renditioning people again. Maybe the Labour Party's finally decided to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn and fly him off to Gitmo!

A couple of notes: I planned to have dinner last night at Cheap Charlie's on Soi Buakhao, but when I got there at 6.30 p.m., every single seat, inside and out, at the counters and tables, was taken. The pic below is from an hour later and the crowd had thinned a bit, but it was still very busy. I have been critical of the food at Cheap Charlie's in the past, but you can't argue with success. They must be doing something right and it can't just be the cheap food. Maybe the discount "Rewards" card was a smart move? The Hungry Hippo and the Chunky Monkey also had plenty of customers, but not a full as CCs. Nearby Prime Burger, Harry's and Kilkenny were well frequented as well. I tend to avoid crowded restaurants as that's when serving times get long and it's easy for the cook and service staff to make mistakes. I popped across the street and had dinner at 18 Coins. It was good, but since I had Thai food, a review would be out of place in this thread. I did notice one of the least enticing promotions I've ever seen, plus a creepy robot watched me eat: Some Saturday specials in the LK Metro area. Most pics are from Facebook. Cottage pie and lasagne at Kilkenny. The Robin's Nest is under new management. I haven't tried it, but hopefully the food has been lifted from its previous steep decline. As I passed by, a staffer handed me a 10% discount coupon. Note that it's "local fish." The Tuesday special looks good. You can have beer and lasagne specials on Thursday: The regular menu includes pasta bowls and paninis. Harry's has a value-for-money pork planksteak every day. I've had it and it's good. This isn't a special, but Prime Burger has begun with a Beyond Meat plant-based burger. To the right is a pic of Prime's signature smash burger for comparison. A bit away from LK Metro at The Avenue Shopping Plaza you have the Robin Hood Tavern with some decent specials. The chicken parm is today's special, but I would have been more tempted by Tuesday's special, the Cajun salmon with penne pasta. Both are ฿249. Evil

its a brilliant little airport, with parking right by the entrance, no long walk, maybe 200 metres. food court is a joke but the place is never busy, easy to get ticketed hardly ever any queues. i flew 2 times amonth to phuket for 5 months and loved it. plus from my gaff its all of 20 mins drive. beats BKK hands down.

Its amazing how the band were able to concentrate on their music looking at your beautiful wife lol

about 2 years for me best move I could have made

Don't be daft! How could he present it when it was probably him hiding from his Tajikistan bird in the GoGo Bar.

German food in Little Bistro 87 on the darkside: Beef roll and roast pork.

Any one for a snack he said. Fook that I said.

Oishi has an all-you-can-eat option at the Oishi Eaterium at Central Festival. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds similar to the Oishi buffet that used to be on the second floor of The Avenue. It's not cheap at about ฿800 (including 7% VAT), but it is still value-for-money because it's more than sushu and sashimi. The Eaterium has a whole array of 88 Japanese and "international" hot and cold dishes, from soups and appetizers through main dishes and desserts. I'm not sure I can do justice to 800 baht's worth of food in one sitting. You have 1 hour 45 minutes in which to eat all you want. From the Oishi Website:

I have given very little thought to that .... should I or shouldn't I ? I don't need the money ... than again - I worked for that money so I should take it ..... knowing me ... I will probably just blow it off ....

Pint of amber nectar

Yes I was there & thought we might get all three until the penalty save.They had a shot cleared off the line(by our new boy,his first touch) in the final seconds so probably a fair result.

Pics or it didn't happen

I would be looking for a way to arrange a two day power outage.

Missed that game , just seen it

Needed it in the snooker yesterday with Ali Carter's shot

Lucky there's no VAR 😉

Yes but I got paid well :-) can't bullshit the man who brought it to town Sent from my LG-H990 using Tapatalk

Sitting in the Departures Lounge at Perth airport waiting to board my flight to BKK.

... We had wanted major ones. ☺️

Just getting ready to head up to the village. I wonder how long it'll take before she says, I'm hungry or I need the toilet.

What I am about to do i the next 5 minutes is go back to my project of stripping down my original 14 year old Honda Airblade which has been gathering dust for the last 2 years in an shed here in Mae Sot.

It helped create an impression the city was busy during the low season by creating traffic jams.

Glad the both of you had a good night out. I can't say I ever heard of this band or any of their songs, but that seems to be my problem. My favourite rock and roll band is a Dutch band from the sixties with hits like Radar Love, Twilight Zone and When The Lady Smiles.

Something oriental tonight - khao moo dang

Tuna and mediterranean vegetables

Derek Fowlds dies aged 80.A really good actor in several UK TV shows. https://news.sky.com/story/derek-fowlds-heartbeat-and-yes-minister-actor-dies-aged-82-11910634

My Dad and Mum. they instilled a work ethic and also taught me what was right,and what was wrong. My Father received the OAM ,for time volunteering in the Australia Volunteer bush fire brigade,and from the earliest memory,I was told that if you take from a community,it’s your responsibility to give back into that community. They were church going folk,but after long talks with my Dad,he openly admits he went to church because it made my mother happy,to see the family all together,even if it was just an hour a week. Sadly,these skills that I learnt at a young age,are rarely taught these days. our little community here has changed so much in the last 26 years, and the residents now have never been so much about “me”. Our Rotary Club is a shadow of its former self,partly because when you do give back,you are judged in the manor you are doing it.

The bar is hitting google now... If I set off now I could be there tomorrow dinking into the next day..