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Hi troops, well yet another years end looms on the horizon, 2006 has been a pretty decent year for me and i hope you guys out there can reflect on the past twelve months with at least some satisfaction.
Lots of good stuff on th forums, some of it old, some of it new, some borrowed, some blue.Yea we do go over the same old shit again and again, but thats how its always been and, hopefully, thats how it always will be, when theres nothing to moan about maybe it because they aint there!!!. The states of the places we choose to drink in the prices we pay and the service (we dont get) will never change,
Were all aware of living in a consumer driven money grabbing world, where you"re judged on how many houses and cars you own, or indeed how big your t.v. is. the Thais, whos financial status has mushroomed over the past twenty years are no different to the rest of the world, in fact they could show the west a thing or two on the art of being a gullible consumer, so whatever your standing, be it a prime minister or a gg/lb working the streets, this need, desire, (right?) to own the latest fashion item, be it a pod/player/lap top/lapdog or whatever,has to have a knock on effect. Twenty years ago a girl was happy to send a few grand up to Issan and that was that, now its that plus finding the cash to buy all the toys they need to keep up with the Shinawattra's of this world. I also feel this has contributed to the fatigue thats now beginning to surface in the legendary l.o.s. without a doubt the love affair between locals and tourists/ex pats has waned over the last couple of years, nothing new in that it happens in many places around the globe. Thirty years ago they were skint and loved us, the, relatively, few that were around then just about keeping places open that would have gone under with the ending of the American war. Move on a few years from that point and the inevitable floodgates opened, allowing the boat loads of inevitable bad apples to turn up. And thats where i do have some sympathy with the locals, in certain resorts. Why the hell keep smiling and trying to be polite when some tattooed skinhead is showing no respect at all for the country they are guests in or its people. Most of the guys on site remind me of the punters from days past, well mannered people who know how to party with the best of em, but who also know the rules, play by them and consequentially dont have too much shit to contend with. Unfortunately were all tarred with the same brush thesedays. Of course its always been about cash, however i do feel that piece of neutral ground that used to exist (a little give and take) has now become a line in the sand, us on one side they on the other. Its how live is, everyone, with few exeptions, is out to get what they can, and we can discuss the points over and over but it wont change a thing. The bottom line , if you dont like the heat.........
On a more important level i think we should all join together in wishing Donnnnnnny a very happy retirement. Oh come on guys, look at the facts, im sure Rob 69 has been taking notes. Finishes his last C.O.D. with a couple of weeks r&r on Samui with one girl, and is now about to head for Hau Hin, that regal royal retreat for the aged, where riding donkies is more popular than riding girls. Hey my friend, nothing to be ashamed of, happens to the best of us. So dont forget to pack your pipe and slippers, a copy of the bible, kniting needles and your neighbours videos. And keep an eye on the ammount of chillies Mint puts in the somtam, an overdose to a vet can be fatal.
The most promising/positive happening of the year, easy, opening of the Guess Bar.
Wishing all you guys a healthy and happy 2007
keep the faith.
Lots of good stuff on th forums, some of it old, some of it new, some borrowed, some blue.Yea we do go over the same old shit again and again, but thats how its always been and, hopefully, thats how it always will be, when theres nothing to moan about maybe it because they aint there!!!. The states of the places we choose to drink in the prices we pay and the service (we dont get) will never change,
Were all aware of living in a consumer driven money grabbing world, where you"re judged on how many houses and cars you own, or indeed how big your t.v. is. the Thais, whos financial status has mushroomed over the past twenty years are no different to the rest of the world, in fact they could show the west a thing or two on the art of being a gullible consumer, so whatever your standing, be it a prime minister or a gg/lb working the streets, this need, desire, (right?) to own the latest fashion item, be it a pod/player/lap top/lapdog or whatever,has to have a knock on effect. Twenty years ago a girl was happy to send a few grand up to Issan and that was that, now its that plus finding the cash to buy all the toys they need to keep up with the Shinawattra's of this world. I also feel this has contributed to the fatigue thats now beginning to surface in the legendary l.o.s. without a doubt the love affair between locals and tourists/ex pats has waned over the last couple of years, nothing new in that it happens in many places around the globe. Thirty years ago they were skint and loved us, the, relatively, few that were around then just about keeping places open that would have gone under with the ending of the American war. Move on a few years from that point and the inevitable floodgates opened, allowing the boat loads of inevitable bad apples to turn up. And thats where i do have some sympathy with the locals, in certain resorts. Why the hell keep smiling and trying to be polite when some tattooed skinhead is showing no respect at all for the country they are guests in or its people. Most of the guys on site remind me of the punters from days past, well mannered people who know how to party with the best of em, but who also know the rules, play by them and consequentially dont have too much shit to contend with. Unfortunately were all tarred with the same brush thesedays. Of course its always been about cash, however i do feel that piece of neutral ground that used to exist (a little give and take) has now become a line in the sand, us on one side they on the other. Its how live is, everyone, with few exeptions, is out to get what they can, and we can discuss the points over and over but it wont change a thing. The bottom line , if you dont like the heat.........
On a more important level i think we should all join together in wishing Donnnnnnny a very happy retirement. Oh come on guys, look at the facts, im sure Rob 69 has been taking notes. Finishes his last C.O.D. with a couple of weeks r&r on Samui with one girl, and is now about to head for Hau Hin, that regal royal retreat for the aged, where riding donkies is more popular than riding girls. Hey my friend, nothing to be ashamed of, happens to the best of us. So dont forget to pack your pipe and slippers, a copy of the bible, kniting needles and your neighbours videos. And keep an eye on the ammount of chillies Mint puts in the somtam, an overdose to a vet can be fatal.
The most promising/positive happening of the year, easy, opening of the Guess Bar.
Wishing all you guys a healthy and happy 2007
keep the faith.
to that 
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