PattayaMale

If anyone knows how to contact Somporn, the guy that received a kidney with the help of Thais 4 life, please PM me. We think he may want to know or visit Allen who helped him so much during that time. Thanks

I was reading the PG Report today and noticed that the pictures from the Venue were mainly of ladyboys preforming. Also I saw Sawadee Bar advertising "cabaret" shows featuring Alcazar dancers. At the fund raising for Mick, with the exception of El Duo (I really liked their singing with their shirts opened...very nice bodies IMHO), Toi and a very talented farang singer the acts from Copa and BBB were also ladyboy themed (male dancers only as background). I also read that at the Venue fundraiser coming up in August many acts and guest "artists" are ladyboy or drag acts. There is a great host bar in Sunee plaza I frequented (not much now) where the Thai owner dresses in drag at times and many of his friends act or are ladyboys. I feel that I must certainly be in a minority (maybe a defect of my gay genes?), as I would choose to stay away from venues (small v) that offer these shows. Truthfully, I do not care about that kind of entertainment. I do not enjoy it. Give me a show with guys dancing and signing! That is what I like. Very hard to find in Pattaya any more. Now if anyone thinks I am bigoted (am I am a bit), it should be known that I rent a room in my outside guest house to a ladyboy who preforms at Alcazar. Very nice person. So I am not downing ladyboys or people that date them. What is the great fascination with all these cabaret drag ladyboy shows? Why not more shows featuring guys as guys? (Hope this post does not bar me from the many places that have cabarets)

Allen called me from his cell phone last night and said he wanted to go home. I went to talk with him and explained that this may not be possible yet. He can not stand even with assistance. When we got him into a chair, he was not able to sit for long. He is not eating anything by mouth. I told him he must get stronger if he was to go to his condo. Last night he had a group of his students from Asian University visit him. He was thrilled to see them. He even sang a song with them. Today when I got to the hospital, I was amazed!! Allen had taken some food by mouth, he had been able to walk a few steps with assistance and sat in a chair much longer than yesterday. All good news. Traveler Jim and I talked with one of his doctors this afternoon. To our pleasant surprise, the doctor said that if he continues this progress, he could go to his condo. The nurses would teach his 3 "bodyguards" how to insert a feeding tube, mix the formula, and administer pain medication. Even though was good news for us, the doctor warned that with cancer, you just never know. Six days ago they were predicting that he might pass any day. Now it seems he may get care in his condo soon. He is still in room 15 510 at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. He will be happy to see visitors.

I enjoyed Ole also and never found it empty. I thought they had rooms for rent above. Could this have led to the problem of not making ends meet?

If you visit Allen now, you should find him much more awake. They have stopped the heavy sedation. They have removed, for now, the catheter for urination. It may seem to those that visited earlier as though he is doing better. In talking with the doctor today, he said that he appears that way because he is not sedated. But he has now developed a bacterial infection that is affecting his lungs. He is not strong enough to cough enough. He is still very spunky. The head nurse was doing something that was painful. Allen told her to stop, but she ignored him. So he punched her to get her attention. Allen says she is more respectful now....

Thanks, that was the problem. I use Google Chrome which holds the last sites. I like Chrome. Found out that I was having a problem with this Board because I had took a look at the upgraded site before it was released. I wondered why it kept not linning up.

I keep getting a 404 error when I try to access Sawatdee forum. Anyone else?

The cafe was packed. Great entertainment by the Cafe Royale's singers Toi and El Duo. David of Oscars did a good job as MC. The auctions ran smoothly. For those that could not attend, in my opinion it was an event Mick would have been very proud of. I believe over 500,000 baht was raised. I believe someone will post the correct amount soon.

Hope this is not a duplicate post. After I posted a fast reply, it was not showing. Anyway, I said "Great. Is anyone having a problem with the PM function? All my previous PMs are missing"

I have long wondered why Pattaya has a larger proportion of people arrested for molestation than cities that are much larger and certainly have more underage opportunities. I also wonder why we hardly ever hear of molestation of under legal age girls anywhere in Thailand. Is it not curious that the mother of a 14 year old that was working in a bar, did not file a complaint against the bar owner and management? I would think that the owners and managers would be number one on the list. Is it certainly possible and very probable that in a bar atmosphere the son would have been molested by more than one adult. Why would no complaint be filed?

Here are some preliminary details of what will occur. His cremation will be held at Wat Chai which is next to Center Condo on South Pattaya Road. Jim's friend Oudie is helping with all those arrangements. After the cremation, we will invite everyone to celebrate Allen's life at Panorama. Tim has tentatively agreed to allow us to host it there. We will have drinks and food will be served. Hopefully people attending will prepare to tell us interesting stories about Allen. Remember this is a celebration of his life. Allen actually has provided funds for this through a small insurance policy. Allen always was on top of everything! As to donations: Allen has requested donations be made to ASIAN UNIVERSITY where he worked for 15 years teaching law to Thai and foreign college students. A memorial fund is being set up by the University as Allen requested. (Sorry, we posted Thais for Life prematurely). Exact information will be forth coming.

A quick update on GP's condition. Traveler Jim may have more to add. I meet with the doctor and Traveler Jim outside of Allen's room for about 1/2 hour discussing the planned new procedures. There is nothing radically new that we did not know. The pain was caused by a problem urinating. The pain is being relieved until they can determine why he has the pain. Treatment will be elevated a bit. They will introduce hormone therapy again. Also it seems it will be necessary for Allen to be fed with a feeding tube. The reason is that he is refusing to eat now. He has no pain associated with eating. Just a complete lack of appetite. He is at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. He is in room 15 510 (15th floor). He is allowed visitors.

Some may wonder why Allen would want this posted on a public forum. The reason is so that his friends would know, some of whom are not in Pattaya, and understand better as to what is going on with him and his treatment and why you may see us post from time to time about a meet and greet for Allen. A tradition from the past. As Allen's friend, I took him to Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok about 6 weeks ago. He was very week and felt he was not progressing a Bangkok-Pattaya hospital. After blood tests were preformed. He was admitted to the hospital for 16 days. At that time his heart, kidney and neurological condition was very poor and we had learned that his prostate cancer had spread to his bone marrow, and he had dementia. He was released and the doctor had told us that no treatment would make him recover. He should be cared for with compassion and medicine to ease any pain and nourishment. He should use the time left to enjoy his life as much as he physically could. Allen told some of his friends that unfortunately, his previous home care had not been as good as it should of been. There were many days Allen had no one to care for him from 2pm until 6am the next morning. Since he could not get up on his own, he would sit in a lazy boy chair (without the means of even going to the bathroom which caused more problems) for 12 hours or more at a time. If during any of those hours Allen would have fallen trying to get up or had a seizure. No one would have known and the consequences could have been fatal. Basically, Allen needed to have someone around 24 hours. No one person could be expected to do this! His friend had a restaurant to run and needed some social time for himself. But 24 hour care was necessary. Allen could no longer be left alone for long, long periods at a time. Allen knew this and finally said something to a few friends. When his friends learned of his needs, one of them in particular, Traveler Jim, helped put a sound plan in place. He found 3 boys to take shifts being with Allen so he would be covered 24 hours a day. All had some medical training, could speak some English and had driver's licenses. It was important to Allen to have males helping him They all traveled with Allen to Bumrungrad in Bangkok to talk to the doctors and have Allen's blood work up. It was the consensus of the doctors that since Allen was terminal he would indeed need some hospice type of treatment and could be monitored at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital as the cancer would progress. Allen is in remarkably good spirits and fully understands his condition. He is still able to get out and about with his "body guards" pushing him through the streets of Pattaya. His appetite is much better since he knows if he soils himself it will be taken care of promptly. Today, he went to Starbucks, then off for a hair cut, and then Traveler Jim took him for a foot massage. (We tired to get him to paint his toe nails red but he said he is too conservative!). Tonight (Thursday) after having a nap he wants to go to Cafe Royal to hear El Duo sing. Some have asked me if Allen needs any financial help. Allen does not need any. He has sufficient funds. I have helped set up a budget and we have located several accounts he was not aware of. We are now also recovering over 200,000 baht from his Blue Cross insurance coverage. His insurance coverage is excellent from the State of California. A PERSONAL NOTE: Many of us that have lived or visited Pattaya have recently lost some really remarkable friends the past few years. Would it not be great if we each could take some time to "raise a glass" with them while they can still appreciate it. Not wait until we stand at the local Wat and see the smoke rise into the sky?

Allen Briggs is worried that no one will show up to say "hi" to him at Panorama Bar tonight July 14 around 5:30 or a bit latter. Hopefully, and if at all possible, a few will make an effort to stop by and say "hi" even if you are on your way somewhere else. I realize that it may be difficult to do so but please try.

I want to thank so many people for sending me pm and calling me offering names of people that may be able to help Allen. By the 15th we should know if Ken's sister will help. If so Allen would need a Thai male to escort him places several days a week, but not live in. I will post and PM back to those that have suggested that they may know of someone that may help. I did get Allen back online. He posted that Tuesday he would be at Panorama about 5:30pm if anyone can stop by he would be happy to see them

There is a small group that has started to brainstorm ideas about some type of assisted living project. Our vision right now is to just brainstorm ideas knowing that for many of us, continuing to live in Thailand may necessitate at sometime needing some assistance. I appreciate HeyGay bringing ideas about this to the fourm.

Oh and Wikipedia has this to say: "Between 1995 and 1996, he was the Prime Minister. Throughout this seemingly versatile career, however, Banharn has been involved in numerous corruption scandals one of which diminished the concordance in his administration and caused him to resign. Many Thais call him all sorts of pejorative names, such as "Mr. ATM", portraying him as a politician who dispenses dirty money under the table to anyone who needs it. His short-lived yet highly inept administration is also believed to have paved the way for the economic crisis of 1997." Now I would not mind seeing the baht go back to 1997 - 1998 rate of like 52 baht to the dollar

The "Economist" wrote this about the signer of that act: WHY does it not matter that Thailand's prime minister is so short?" Answer: "Because all the deals are done under the table." The political opponents of Banharn Silpa-archa delight in such jokes, because they make the Thai prime minister sound both ridiculous and dishonest. But even Mr Banharn's belittlers tend to respect him as an astute political practitioner Unlike Dr Mahathir across the border, Mr Banharn has to operate a political system famed for its instability. Since independence in 1957, Malaysia has had only four prime ministers. Thailand's messier, more fickle democracy has produced 18 in the same period. Of those who have been elected ...

Many of the posters may know Allen Briggs. Allen had a widely read web site and produced the Weekly Report until he had some major health problems. Even then he continued as a professor of law at Asian University until this year. It is very doubtful that he will be able to teach even a one hour course he was hoping to continue with. Allen has unfortunately become a "shut in" now as he has trouble walking. He has just purchased a wheel chair, but does not have the strength to push the wheels so he is still home bound. Allen has a boy friend who tries to help him when he can, but much of the boy friend's time is spent at his restaurant "Little Mango". Many may know Ken, also. Ken has limited time because he has to shop for food, and open the restaurant which is open from late afternoon until late at night. This leaves Allen alone in his apartment all day and night by himself. In talking with Allen today, he asked me to inquire through the boards, if anyone knew of a Thai person that would be willing to act as an attendant for Allen several days a week for a salary to be determined between Allen and the Thai. Here is what the attendant might do. It would be great if the Thai had a driver's license. Allen owns a new model Fortuner (which he can no longer drive). The attendant would be able to chaperon Allen and his wheel chair to various places, so Allen would be able to get out of his apartment and eat, shop, meet with his friends in Boyztown or Sunee Plaza, etc. It would need to be someone that is strong enough to help Allen stand and help him up the few steps he would need to climb to sit at some of the bars. The person would need to help him move about in his condo unit, etc. The number of hours and salary is something that needs to be discussed. But the person would be justly compensated. This is not a live in arrangement, unless the person felt that was important. The most important thing is finding someone honest. If anyone has a suggestion please PM to me and I will give you Allen's phone.

Now that the forum seems restored, Is this the new version then? Doesn't seem any different. What changes?

Progress sometimes has bumps. Some bigger than others

I need to get use to the new board and I imagine some changes will still be made. Pictures come out as red X At the very bottom of the page after reading the messages I use to click on the forum so I would go back to the main page of that forum. Now the "go" is missing. Also posting a new topic is just guessing which button to press as nothing is marked

Thinking about this a while I tend to agree with fountainhall for the reason that it would be easier to reference. I remember posts that dealt with a/c repair, handy man, scooter rental, etc. Having this all in one place may be a good service.

I wish we would let Lapos be the sole source of information on this as he is posting the approved updates from Tim and Tom. I am not saying that others have not heard other stories which may or may not be true. But I do hope those of us that are hearing things will let Tim and Tom, through Lapos, make the updates.

I never gave this subject much thought, but after reading other posts, I like RichLB's reply. Very good