18 years married to this wonderful and sometimes crazy lady. I told her I would've got less time for murder but thankfully, it went over her head.
#weddinganniversary
Those foreigners that are organising and paying for food donations and going deep into the hard-hit communities and workers' camps. When the dust settles, they deserve visas for life. I know that's not why they do it, but they deserve recognition.
I hit 60 tomorrow (not fishing for happy birthdays honestly) I recently read an article on ageing that said your 50s are the toughest decade because you still think of yourself as 'fairly young' but the younger generation view you as old. When you hit 60, all doubt is removed๐
I remember when Tun and I were boyfriend and girlfriend, and me buzzing up and down Soi Thonglor to buy ridiculously priced Valentine's Day roses. Thankfully marriage puts an end to all that commercial nonsense.
And so it begins...my first trip 'home' for three years. 23 hours door to door. There were times I thought it would never happen... but here we are. See you in Blighty.
I was ripped off on Facebook by a shirt seller and was prepared to let it go...but not my wife. She's managed to link the fraudsters to 20 seperate Facebook shops and has the names of the Filipino and Thai scammers involved. She's off to the police station on Monday.
Out on the town celebrating Tun's retirement. I've never seen a woman so happy now she's cast off the 9 to 5 corporate shackles. A life now mercifully free of water cooler small talk.
Chok was dumped on our doorstep as a tiny kitten by a mysterious ginger cat. Now he's bigger but the ginger cat still comes to check on him every day at the same time.
Saw this on Thai social media. Apparently he sits by the cat food section in 7-11 and waits for customers to buy him something - and apparently does quite well.
I do Twitter strictly for fun but for all those that have given me great advice, made me laugh, agreed and disagreed with me, shared my stuff, endured the Thai football tweets, and generally brightened up the day - many thanks.
And thank you for the follow!
Whether you're a fan of Richard or not, he genuinely tries to help. He does his very best. Some of the comments are disgusting. Some people need to take a long hard look at themselves.
This trip to the UK was a good opportunity for me to discuss certain important issues with the Minister of Tourism and Sports, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and other senior executives. Hopefully Iโm in a better position now to help more people.
I got a personal message from Samut Prakan today thanking me for my support and for blogging and giving the team publicity, etc.
It meant a great deal to me that did.
MT
@JamesGoyder
"100%, if it wasn't for Richard's campaign, nothing would have changed. He even started tweeting in Thai when the English tweets weren't enough"
He talked the talk. He got it done. Exceptional.
My parents both very unwell at the moment. My brother and I are going to have to try and convince them to make one more move to assisted housing near to my brother's place. It all weighs so heavy. This is one part of being an expat that is rarely mentioned... and it should be.
I thought it couldnโt work. I was told repeatedly that she refuses interviews with foreign media, security would be too tight, she would avoid my questions, etc.
A note to foreign football media in Thailand: keep pushing ๐
#NeatoThailand
And by jove I did get lucky. Someone didn't turn up for their appointment and I smiled, waiied and rolled me sleeve up. First jab done and second appointment booked. It's a strategy that might just work if you're brave enough.
Our 10-day Southern road trip to Narathiwat, Pattani, Betong and Yala has come to an end. Thank you for all the great comments, and we hope we've encouraged a few of you to make the trip. Here's a thread with hopefully some help and advice.
I can never understand farangs (usually 25-35 age bracket) who go to immigration offices dressed for a full moon party. Thailand is a 'first impressions count' country.
I admit my 3-piece tweed suit is probably overkill, but you know what I mean.
Bye-bye Tbilisi, we had a fantastic time. We won't see you again because the years are ticking by and there are other places to see, but we loved every minute and will treasure the memories.
๐ฌ๐ช ๐ฌ๐ช ๐ฌ๐ช
You have to be careful that 'Thailand-bashing' doesn't eat away at you and become all-consuming. To look for the negative and be skeptical about every single thing Thailand does is no way to live. Criticize when justified - but praise when justified as well.
I've just had my first dose of the Co-vid vaccine. When I asked the private hospital if I needed to pay, they said 'don't worry about it, you've lived here a long time and you can speak Thai'.
So far, no side effects.
My 600 baht room in Chiang Rai. I've given the chef and butler the night off. I messaged my wife and said 'wish you were here'. She said ' no thanks!' No sense of adventure some people.
Scores of taxis abandoned in a Bangkok car park because their drivers were unable to pay rent on them under the economic hardship of Covid-19.
Photograph: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty
"I was born in West Bromwich so I support West Bromwich Albion. Actually, it should be made law that as soon as you're old enough to follow football, you get a map, find your nearest football league team - and support them for the rest of your life!"
- Frank Skinner
This resort is Dutch owned. Staff were telling us last night that they all got full pay during the 3-month lockdown and they all have nice dormitories on site so no rent issues. Three cheers for the Dutch!
#PhilinSamui
Some of the questions Richard gets asked. Stuff like "I have a flight booked back to Paris in June, do you think I will be able to enter France and will I have to show a Co-vid test certificate"
I wonder how many times a day he sits in front of his computer and rolls his eyes?
In the Thai version of Monopoly, foreign players are allowed to purchase houses but Thai players can take them off you anytime they want just by saying "ha! ha! I'm a property developer"
LOL. Tun has been looking at Google Maps to find some new restaurants. She liked the look of a Chinese 'restaurant' and we've basically ended up in someone's living room. We can't stop laughing.
Another Thai doctor has come out recommending people put off their travel plans. Sorry Doc but I played that game last year and this is what I've had 3 needles in my arm for. I'm going to continue travelling and I'll take the risk.
My wife's early retirement and severance package has been approved. At the end of December, her working days are over. I guarantee there isn't a happier person on the planet right now.
The boat trip on Thalae Noi Lake is 2 hours and costs 1200 baht. You get to see the 'yor' fishing nets and water buffalo but the star of the show for me were the gorgeous lotus plants.
#ThaiRoadTrip
My wife watched me pack an overnight bag for Buriram. In years gone by she would always say 'have a nice time and don't talk to any girls'. Now she just reminds me not to forget my tablets. It's all a terrible sign of getting old.
MT
@nicrulez
When I have a bad day I think about the people who live on the streets, who donโt know how to survive the next day and who have nothing left. Then I realize I have no rights to complain about my 'boredom'. This grounds me.
I would hate to see Nok Air go. I think it's a great little airline.
I love the way they introduce the flight crew as Nok + nickname, so you can have Nok Bo, Nok Lek, Nok Apple, etc.
I once had a Nok Nok on the flight and I was the only passenger to shout 'Who's there?'
Dad finally got his cancer operation last week after virtually calling the hospital in tears because of the pain. Operation done, he's now in just as much pain. I can only pray from the other side of the world that he improves and naturally my thoughts are focused on little else
RT
@ChromeCrumpet
I feel sorry for the Instagram generation. They sacrifice enjoying the moment so they can show people they have never met that they are living the dream. When in reality, they are miserable because capturing the moment is more important than enjoying it!
The test and go scheme and the Thailand pass could both be binned as early as May 1st - and showing your vaccine passport will be enough. This would be the step that most have been waiting for so fingers crossed.
Thailand has become an 'until further notice' country. Travel restrictions ufn. Flights cancelled ufn. Parks closed ufn. We've lost the concrete date milestones when situations will be reviewed. Milestones give people hope. 'Until further notice' leaves us in a depressing limbo.
I've never tweeted or posted on social media to get a free meal in my life and have no intention of ever doing so, pal.
We do it a) because we genuinely appreciate the food and b) to possibly help the restaurant out in these difficult times.
Dear Booking dot com, Agoda, etc.
There really isn't any point sending us those e-mails anymore with 'how would you rate such and such a hotel after your recent stay?'
We're all scared of getting sued.
Today's a lazy, dull public holiday. It takes me back to when I'd be sitting at home with my family and Dad would sense the general malaise. "Right! Everyone in the car!" he'd say, and we'd drive out to the country and find a nice beer garden. I miss that. I miss that right now.
My wife wants to sell some land so we're off to make merit at a particular 'lucky' temple on Thursday for those looking for a land buyer. It's a sort of head-scratching transformation from educated person with a master's degree in economics to village witch doctor.
The whole journey from Samrong BTS to Don Muang Airport has been fabulous. No more grouchy taxi drivers, exorbitant tollway fees and horrible Viphavadee Rangsit Road. Oh the joy! Less than half the price as well.
It feels at the moment that in order to please Chinese tourists (who won't be coming in any great number anyway) Thailand is risking putting off scores of tourists from every other country. Is that the way you read it?
Found a new aircon cleaning shop in Samut Prakan.
Booked a service for 9.00am. Two lads in uniform arrived at 8.55. Covered everything with dust sheets. 45-min job for 800 baht. No mess and not a handmark on the wall. The bedroom is like Antarctica.
I could've hugged them.
The Samut Prakan owner has paid for our Chantaburi hotel room for two nights as well as any meals and drinks we have, including dinner.
What a fantastic gesture!
Our final day in Thailand's three southernmost provinces. Thais don't travel here because they think it's dangerous. To me, the risk of being in a car accident feels a million times greater than anything to do with terrorism.
In Richard's position, I would be taking full advantage of all the luxury hotel invites as well. It makes me quite angry when I see the 'free marketing' comments. How mean spirited people get.
Just made a phone call home to wish the folks happy Christmas. To see my Dad out of pain and looking the best I've seen him look for ages is the best Xmas gift anyone could give me.
I just read that Laos has banned entry to all foreigners unless 'they have specific skills'. I got an image of someone trying to impress the immigration officer by juggling three oranges while riding a unicycle.
My online 90-day reporting has been rejected for the third time so I'll have to go to Samut Prakarn immigration to tell them I'm still in the same house that I've been in for 18 years.
2019: I'm thinking about doing 12 days in Turkey, maybe six in Istanbul and six in Izmir.
2021: Should I risk walking to 7-11. I'm out of oyster sauce.
If I go in the bathroom before my wife in the morning, when I've finished, I dry off all the surfaces and then rub a towel over the floor so it's all nice and dry for her. If I follow my wife in the bathroom, it's like I'm in a fucking German U-boat that's just been torpedoed.
Many thanks to all of you who offered best wishes to my Aunt Jean a couple of weeks ago, when she became the first in the family to get the virus, passed from the elderly folk in the hospital ward where she works. She has now made a full recovery.
People dishing it out to Elite visa holders because Elite got them vaccinated. Haven't these people paid top dollar to live in Thailand on a 'first class' ticket?. I'd expect them to 'jump' the queue quite frankly. It's the way the world works.
Overjoyed to hear that my Dad has finally got an appointment for a cancer operation next week. He's been waiting over a year and at the stage where he's in constant agonizing pain.
It's incredible in this day and age that you can get this meal at Don Muang Airport for 100 baht and a bottle of water for 10. Especially after you've experienced the horrors of Vietnam and Istanbul.
I love Don Muang.
My brother just sent me some photos. He's enjoying 4 days of real ale pubs and walking in the Welsh Mountains. I'm lying in bed doomscrolling. This is insane. We need to get our lives back.
My wife said think of all the money you're saving by not going out or not travelling. I said yeah, and the one thing I can't buy is the time that has slipped away.
We got tired of watching young couples (poseurs) dressing up and doing Instagram and Tik Tok stuff on the beach at sunset...and thought we could do better.
The official club photographer at Samut Prakan City is an 11-year-old kid called 'Nong Bonus'. He shows a lot of enthusiasm for the job and the club want to give him a chance.
'Thailand to welcome 20 million international tourists' and 'Thailand to scrap the Thailand Pass for Thais only'.
Is it just me that thinks those headlines don't really belong together?
I think one of the best deals in Thailand is still domestic travel, particularly if you can avoid flying. A road trip can be great value if you shoot for decent hotels costing around 700-800 baht a night and eat with the locals (which is far more fun upcountry anyway)