Mr. Smooth

Ah...yes! My mistake. 😉 Speaking of J. Geils Band, I just happened to catch a quick video of Peter Wolf, the former lead singer of J. Geils, performing at some venue and was amazed to see him still bouncing around the stage, still skinny as hell, but his vocals had not diminished from what I could tell, sounded just like he did when singing "Freeze Frame" back in the early 80s when I was in high school. Was every bit the showman on stage as Mick Jagger, albeit a much smaller venue.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. One of the most over-played songs on classic rock radio. Whenever this comes on, I change the station, even if it's Sirius XM when driving down the highway. I'm also in full agreement with Glass on Nazareth's "Love Stinks". Love might stink, but so does this song. Never could stand listening to it. Another station-changer when this comes on.

One of the greatest actors in cinema history. So many memorable performances in legendary movies like "The Godfather," "True Grit", "Network", 'The Great Santini', "Apocalypse Now", and "Tender Mercies", which got him the Oscar for Best Actor. And in what many argue might be the best tv mini-series ever made, portraying Gus McCrae in "Lonesome Dove". What a career this man had. RIP

I'm late to the party on this one, about 4 years late. But I finally watched it, all 10 episodes of the only season of "1883", and it was a fantastic series. Sam Elliott and the country crooner, Tim McGraw are both excellent, but the breakout star was the young actress, Isabel May, who played the oldest daughter of the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill characters, her parents, and married in real life. The pre-Yellowstone storyline written by Taylor Sheridan, who it seems can do no wrong with the shows and characters he creates, brings you in and holds your interest throughout. Just great television and if anyone who is a fan of Westerns and great storytelling delivered by gifted actors, such as Sam Elliott, who I learned won a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance, you will thoroughly enjoy it. Next up is "1923", with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren.

Wasn't that the old Zero Bar from a couple years back? Have drank there with an expat friend of mine before who lived just up a side street from there. I certainly hope that an Asian-based airline will add Utapao as another Thai destination that you could connect from a major hub such as Taipei or Seoul or Japan in the near future. Would make coming from the West Coast of the States or Vancouver, BC that much more convenient.

I think he was one of the most underappreciated voices in rock n roll. They had so many hits from that '68 through '75 time period, I read Three Dog Night achieved more Top 10 hits, more Top 40 hits (21 consecutive) and arguably were the most popular band in America, selling more concert tickets than even the Rolling Stones. My personal favorite song from them is their version of "One", originally by Harry Nilsson. RIP.

My favorite movie with her was "Murphy's Romance", from '85 with James Garner. Great movie and those two had a warm, believable chemistry. As to actresses today, Emma Thompson is great. That scene in "Love Actually", where she is in the upstairs bedroom after realizing that the Christmas gift she had thought she would be getting from her husband, played by the great Alan Rickman, an expensive necklace which instead went to his secretary while she got a Joni Mitchell CD, you could feel her heartbreak and emotions without her saying a word. The audience is right there with her in that moment. One other is Viola Davis, who is also terrific. She was in "Fences", with Denzel Washington and won an Oscar for her role playing his wife. The way she stood up to him in a key scene in that movie was an acting masterclass. Well worth watching that movie for that scene alone. Not that either are big box office, and both have made some turkeys, but when they have had a solid script to work with, both actresses are just about as good as it gets.

One bloody week from today! Will ring in 2026 in Pattaya with a beer in hand, a smile on my face and a hope for good health and happiness for all. And maybe, just maybe, a nice cleansing of the pipes from an Issan princess working her way through college before the New Year is old enough to burp some champaign.

Thanks for the suggestions. That Friday promo at Robin Hood looks great, I won't be staying very far from there, maybe a 10 min walk, so will stop in and give it a try. I think I might have seen a YT vlogger do a feature some time way back on Sharples. Maybe Nick Dean, not sure. But if around that area in the afternoon one day, will stop in and give it a go. Thanks guys, much appreciated.

Your sarcasm knows no bounds, doesn't it? 😄

Hey gents, I'm soon to be back in Pattaya right after Christmas for close to a 4 week stay. Don't know if this topic has been discussed or not in recent times as there have been so many new eateries built over the last few years, post-Covid, but as a big fish and chips fan, was wondering what your favorite chippie was in town? I figure since we have so many UK and Ireland bm's here, you guys know a good one when you go there and between the quality, portion size and price, you would have a favorite place to go. I have asked a few guys before if it matters whether the fish is cod or haddock, and most tell me without hesitation, cod is the preferred fish. Anyway, if any of you have a recommendation on where you like going for your fish and chips, I'd be much appreciative. Thanks.

Some people, as Jack might say, can't handle the truth!

When you get approved for the TDAC, is it good enough to just keep the email approval with QR code on your phone to show the airline ticket agent at check in and the immigration official or do you recommend getting a hard copy printed out?

My last visit, spent a few final nights in the Nana area before flying home. Decided to stop at Hooters for a Tiger draft and watch the parade go by. The service was slow, I was sitting down at least 5 minutes before my order was taken and the beer wasn't cold at all. The girls all seemed to have a lack of any motivation in serving customers. I paid my bin and left, walked down a bit to Fitzgerald's and the experience there was 100% opposite to Hooters.

What a beautiful voice she had and such a gorgeous melody. My favorite Cranberries tune without a doubt. It just makes you wonder, so many singers who reached the top, who had the adulation of millions, the money, the fame....and still the demons that lingered (no pun intended) inside them that made them feel unworthy, unfulfilled or unloved. Like so many others who died far too soon, she was such a talent with the voice of an angel. Never had seen this live performance before, many thanks for posting, Krapow.