Jambo

Difficult situation and even a friend might well not thank you for such news however well meaning.

The topic reminded me of something that happened to me when I was a Regional Sales Manager based in Birmingham.

I came home from work one evening to be confronted by my wife in floods of tears. She had received a phone call from a guy who had suggested that my wife should tell her husband to stay away from B#####a in the office.

Although he did not give his name I knew immediately who it was as unfortunately two days before I had the none too pleasant task of dismissing one of the sales staff following a series of meetings and under performance warning letters. I tried to help him by giving him an extra month's pay and immediately releasing him from further duties. He nevertheless told me exactly what he thought of me.

I explained this to me wife and she calmed down readily. It helped that I had previously mentioned the fact that I had not been looking forward to having to give notice to one of the sales staff. Not the first time but never pleasant.

The next day I mentioned what had happened to another colleague and another "Danny". I was "DA" and he was "DH" to all that knew us in Brum.

DH was a great guy and a good friend. A bright guy from the Irish community in Brum. He introduced me to a lot of his mates and we took up almost a row at The Villa on a Saturday.

Anyway, having mentioned the incident to DH I did not give it much further thought until a couple of days later DH put his head into my office and said

"Boss, you won't have any more trouble with him again. Me and a few guys from The Ladywood Social Club put him straight."

"Jesus, Danny! What the f**k have you done?" says I in a blind panic thinking of a body turning up in a ditch.

"No, nothing to worry about we just had a quiet word in his ear. He knows the score now."

You will not find that solution in a Dale Carnegie training course. 😄

A happy ending all round with trust resumed.

Almost.

2 hours ago, richy65 said:

Good to hear you're doing well, my dad's waiting for a hip replacement. He's got a pre-op assessment next month so hoping for some good news at last.

I received just the one letter advising me of both the pre-op and the date of admission for the operation itself. They were two weeks apart but in the middle of the pre-op on a Friday I was offered a cancellation for the next Tuesday. I was very pleased to accept the offer.

Well here we go again!

Arsenal vs that team who forever will live in the shade of their illustrious  North London rivals.

Very confident we will do them today.

Two for Jesus; one for Saka.

I have only been scammed once in Thailand....................twice if you count Lek running off with my Yamaha.

I booked two return flights to the UK for Sai and I at a total cost of 70K baht at a travel agent in Pattaya Tai used several times previously. Received what appeared to be all the correct booking documentation.

Visited a week or so later expecting to collect the flight tickets themselves to find the shop shut. For good, as it turned out. They took my money knowing full well they were going out of business.

Since then I have always booked flights direct with the Airline.

On 9/19/2023 at 3:38 PM, Lemondropkid said:

I'd check out Bhumrangrad.

On their website you can filter doctors by their specialism and get a detailed record of their qualifications and experience.

I needed to see a shoulder specialist in Jan for some rehab. On their website I was able to narrow the search down to  3 specialists, all of whom had studied in the UK or the US.

The doctor I went with had specifically concertrated on shoulder injuries. She was excellent as was the physio I was then referred to.

 

 I agree with that recommendation.

Pattaya International wanted me in to operate on my left knee. I went To Bhumrangrad for a second opinion and the Consultant advised me that it would be about 10 years before I would need any operation.

On 9/19/2023 at 10:30 AM, coxyhog said:

This guy should put you on teh right track:

https://dr-olivier-clinic.com

The last time I saw Dr. Oliver I had to display my dick to him. After a close look he pronounced "Yeast infection" and charged me 800 baht for a 60baht tube of Canestan cream. 🤣

Quite a relief really as I had been away with the usual suspects to AC. Low risk from BJ's but you never know.

59 minutes ago, Glasseye said:

 

Always something, eh mate ? Get your rest. Most important thing.

I cannot stop sneezing. No wonder covid gets spread around.

I am isolating but I must somehow keep up the walking practice.

Wednesday;  15 days after my Hip Replacement operation

Yesterday I mentioned a cough that came on and my walk to the local Pharmacist for some cough medicine.

I was coughing on and off most of the night and managed very little sleep. At about 05:00 am I felt really hot and I had a headache. Oh no I thought!

You could not make this up.

Next to my bed on a shelf was my last remaining Covid test kit left over from when I had covid about 18 months ago. I looked at the date on it and it stated not to use after December 2023.

Took the test.........Positive.

I was hoping it was no longer accurate so at 9:15 I telephoned my usual Pharmacist who have been delivering my  prescription medications. I asked if they could deliver a box of test kits today which they said was no problem and they delivered at 11:00am. How was that for service.

Took another test and that was positive as well.

My symptoms are no worse than a streaming cold but it is a pain in the arse and I gave my walk a miss today. Had a good rest but I did complete my full range of designated exercises.

Going to have to isolate at least through the weekend.

Tuesday: 14 Days after my hip replacement Operation

 The district nurse came early today to change my dressing except when she took the old one off she found the wound was completely healed so no new one needed. She made me laugh when she said

" You didn't get this done at the Jubilee (Glasgow) did you?"

"No at the Royal (Edinburgh) " says I

"I thought so. The ones done at the Jubilee always fall off!" 😄

(There is s certain class of Edinburgh folk who look down on "Weegies" i.e anybody who lives to the west of Edinburgh Airport. 😉 I worked for a year in Glasgow and they made this "English bastard" ( term of endearment) very welcome.)

Good day for me.

I walked into Town this morning and had a grossly overpriced cappuccino in "Dnisi" . About 12 minutes to Town but a good 15 minutes return because it is 75% up hill. Does not sound like a lot but 15 days ago I virtually could not  walk at all.

The Hospital (NHS) handbook says to take an hour's rest each day which I welcomed. After that I did my complete series of 10 set exercises which I can now do in there entirety.

I think I have a cold developing with a tickly cough. So I had my second walk of the day to the local pharmacy which recently changed ownership after a terrible reputation. I left with some cough medicine and they must be trying to attract back customers as the lady Pharmacist put it though as if it was on prescription which meant it was free.

A little tiring but no pain other than what one would expect from muscles learning about exercise again.

A good day.

7 hours ago, boydeste said:

Had had a double take on a difficult lake resulting in a 48lb mirror and a massive 60lb common. 

Champers all around for the boys tonight. 

🍾🍾🍾

My God!

They both are huge fish but that common is a monster.

In my lifetime I am sure that mirror carp alone would have been a UK record.

My respect!

6 hours ago, boydeste said:

Not boring at all. Inspiring as many of us struggle to keep the pounds off, especially after packing in work.

Would be interesting to see a daily list of what you eat and drink and at what time, say over a week period.

I start off my week by cooking one and sometimes two packs of streaky bacon in my Air Fryer. I cook them until they are crispy. I break them up and they go into a tub in the fridge. I do similar with a kilo or so of chicken wings. Half a dozen eggs go in a steamer and they go in the fridge. I cook more eggs if required.

 The above forms the basis in various forms for my literal "break fast" meal at 10:00 am for 4/ 5 days alternated with smoked haddock, scrambled eggs or, what I had this morning, being kippers. Occasionally they would do for an afternoon snack but as a very small portion.  

 Tonight I had five lamb chops cooked in the Air Fryer.

Currently In my fridge or freezer are two ribeye steaks, four pork chops, fresh salmon steaks, cod fillets and smoked salmon/king prawns.

The above forms the basis for my second meal for the rest of this week which I have to eat by 6pm as I do not eat again until 10:00am the next day.

No fruit/No vegetables 🤣

I drink lots of water and up to a maximum of two coffees a day with double cream NOT milk.

I am sure many would be aghast at the above.

I feel really healthy. I never feel hungry and in the five months I have been on this diet I have averaged losing just over a kilo a week.

 It works for me.

13 hours ago, AJSP said:

Great thread. I’m on a weight loss programme. Lost 2.5kg on our august trip to Thailand and 5kg in the last two weeks here , so today I’m 12.5kg  long way to go but aiming for 100kg ( was 120kg) by the end of November. 

Long term, my ideal weight should be 90kgs, as I’m big boned 😂😂

this last week I’m on a TDR - total diet replacement which is NHS funded for fat bastards. It’s tough but will be worthwhile - https://www.england.nhs.uk/diabetes/treatment-care/diabetes-remission/

 

Well done!

Keep it up as if I can stick to a diet everybody can.

My original goal was to get below 90kgs by the 13 October being six months on the diet. To date I have lost 22 of the 26 kgs to achieve that so 4kgs to go. I have decided to amend that by making it 5 kgs still  to go when I will revert to a more healthy low carb diet reintroducing appropriate fruit and veg.

When I achieve that ( I am back after the short break on the carnivore/fasting plan) I will weigh in at 13st 12lb in old money. That will be just 5lb above my ideal football playing weight of 13st 7lb which never altered for 10 years or more.

I am absolutely certain that the key to me successfully losing weight is that I totally only eat food that I enjoy. I don't have to count carbs because 95% of what I eat has none! The only supplement I take is electrolytes dissolved in my water cooler.

I am probably boring members by my repetitive posts on this subject but it helps me focus on the overall goal. I am determined  I am not going to fail.😃

I absolutely hate it when I start hearing a cover version of a song I consider a classic.

Total sacrilege!

21 hours ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

Yup agree, but the subject according to the thread title is difficult to discuss within the constraints of the "new" brown banner warning at the top of the page.

Personally I th ink there is too much Government, Business and Household debt for the Banks to sustain..If I had the money I'd invest it elsewhere and ride the next few years out and see what happens !!!

 

From the first day I moved to Thailand I adopted a personal policy that if Thailand decided to make it impossible to continue to  live in Thailand it would not hurt me too much financially.

On my second day in Thailand Lek (aka The Knifefighter) was very useful helping me to purchase a brand new Yamaha scooter. It was sometime later that I discovered she had registered it in her name which meant when she eventually stole it.......she didn't..... ! I had watched her put it in her name without realizing that was what she was doing !!!!

What a dickhead!

16 hours ago, Zeb said:

Really excellent 😋

Thailand in the planning ?

I will have to revert to trips in future.

Spring next year for a month, Pattaya and 'Up Country", then repeat in November.

Well that is the plan.

2 hours ago, Glasseye said:

 

Nice treat for a man who certainly deserves it. Be careful with potential blood clots. My brother in law had one a few years back, dropped dead as a door nail. They can be absolute killers.

Yes, I know that is a risk.

I finish my course of blood thinners the day before I fly and I have paid for extra leg room seats in the first row on the flights. Every hour I will stand for 10 minutes and walk around if that is possible.

f**k it!

I feel like I have wasted the last 18 months and I intend to make the most of the time I have left.

The up side is that being stuck in at home it has been difficult to spend much money so my holiday fund is looking very healthy. Every month I buy some more premium bonds. I am even showing a modest profit in my Sky Bet account over the last 12 months. Too much time on my hands.

9 minutes ago, Yesitisdakid said:

When Tiger Air was flying Bangkok to Clark, I used it a few times there was no seat selection. The first time I was seated in the very last row figured I would be forever getting off. Well they opened the rear of the plane same time as the front as we were on the tarmac not at a gate. Happy days from that trip on i always hoped for a seat close to the back.

Flying to Clark was a godsend compared to Manila and that awful traffic jam of a journey by taxi.

I have to wait some time before I am allowed to take a long haul flight of over 4 hours duration. Aiming for Spring next year for a month in Thailand. I have friends, a loved one and 4 dogs I am missing.

Nothing to stop me jumping on a short haul flight to Spain and completing the trip I cut short 18 months ago when I went down with covid after 4 days. I was limping then but blissfully ignorant of the pain to come.

Booked it today. 🤣

Supposed to be still warm and sunny in October where I am going.

Four weeks of exercises to build up my general fitness before going. I am walking fine and off ALL medications other than completing blood thinners.

6 hours ago, Yessongs said:

Interesting, I have full medical through "AIA" here locally and have always had a "Thai Wife Visa" that I ONLY have to have 400k baht to show every year. One of wifey's best friends has her own business LLC ETC, and takes care of this for me every year. Never had a problem. 

 

My problem was somewhat the opposite to reducing the deposit by 400K.

Every year I renewed my Retirement Visa with 800K in the bank except it was always in joint names. ( required my signature for withdrawals).

I had no idea that was not in the rules because every year they accepted the bank deposit without comment. I even visited Immigration a week before the final renewal to clarify whether I had to get the supporting letter from the bank on the actual day of renewal.

On the actual day of renewal I handed over all my documentation only to be told

"You will need a further 400K in the bank in your name as joint deposit not acceptable."

I replied "I actually spoke to you a week ago and you said that was fine."

He ignored that and replied "You will have to apply for an extension TODAY (Go to desk ...) and THEN move money into one account in you name."

Then he said

"Why you not use an Agent?"

He wanted me to use an Agent.

I was still in shock from the renewal not going smoothly so I missed the significance and the easy way out there and then. Instead I spent half a day getting the extension and then going to the bank to unscramble the deposit.

I was so pissed off I went to see Secrets Accountant a couple of days later with my passport and it was returned in two days all stamped up.

Apparently they had been quite amused at Immigration when they saw the temporary extension. A new way to hassle the farlang.

I hated going to Immigration from the very day of my first renewal when that mincing iron hoof Officer returned my Passport by throwing it to me across the desk so it fell on the floor.

9 hours ago, boydeste said:

Awesome stuff Dan.

When my GP came  out of his room and announced my name to the waiting room I quite deliberately left my cane with my daughter and walked towards him and into his room without the trace of a limp. I was being a bit naughty.

He was not my usual GP but the senior Partner to whom the Royal Hospital sent a detailed letter at the time of my discharge. He obviously had been reading my notes but looked a bit puzzled and made a point of studying the wall calendar.

I laughed and said "Not bad for 10 days after my operation."

"Indeed" he said "I was just checking the date of your operation"

Anyway, he was more than happy to agree that with immediate effect I was to cease co-codamol, Etoricoxib and Omeprazole which is what I wanted to hear. Apart from anything else, co-codamol  makes one constipated. The little green tablets I take to counter that give one the galloping shites. It will be good to get back to normality. 😊

2 hours ago, Bernie Num Nums said:

When the Thai government started demanding Farang put ฿800,000 in the bank to qualify for a retirement visa I stopped trusting the whole banking system in Thailand. I'd rather pay transfer fees (there are ways around this) than let these corrupt bastards hang on to my hard earned.

I ceased the 800K after they moved the goal posts and stitched me up at Immigration.

Could not be bothered with all the hassle any more and let Secrets accountant do the renewal for a flat fee. A little bit more expensive than the Agents in Town but guaranteed service and hassle free.

On 9/12/2023 at 11:01 PM, Golfingboy said:

I thought this was a different kind of thread by its title…..

To Wrap, or not to wrap?

That is the question.

Never, ever orally speaking.

I must admit that prior to my operation when I was at my lowest ebb I consulted a "faith healer" along with my mate John who has has a terrible stutter.

We made our financial contribution and entered the faith healer's inner sanctum.

He muttered some kind of prayer and then in a loud voice said

"Danny, throw away you crutches" I threw away my crutches.

"John, John my son. Speak to me!"

"Ddddddddddddddddddddddddannyy's faaalllleeeeen over!

6 minutes ago, Butch said:

Yes mate, they are expensive, and tend to hold their money, that's the problem.

I'd probably opt for an earlier model anyway but I'll need a double cab (which fetches a premium 😞  )

Aged 17, my first car was a "sit up and beg" Ford Popular. It cost me 25 pounds and was written off on Boxing Day by a drunk driver whilst parked round the corner from my house.

I passed my driving test in it having put the L Plates on it outside the test center.

The Policeman who told me the good news offered me a tenner for the wheels/tires.

A month later I received 35 pounds as full settlement of my insurance claim.

Those were the days.