Keithambrose

I went to Exhibition Road, in London, here all the museums are, to have lunch, oddly, at the Polish Club, seemed out of place, but good food! The Underground Station is South Kensington. I couldn't get into the station for people, almost all tourists. When I got to the platform it was 3 deep! I took the view that this was foreign exchange. Good for the economy! We could do with it...

True indeed. It is impossible to get contracts in many areas, Middle East Africa, etc, without 'additional commissions, brokerage, etc. In UK we have a Bribery Act. But any big company has to find a way round it!

Glad to see it will be 180 days before they are cleared!

Vinapu, I know you live in Toronto, but when we had supper together, I dont remember aggressive tipping? When I had dinner later with a relative, again I was not aware of an issue?

Hadn't found that yet in Walgreens! Next visit. Its also annoying, to say the least that they print suggested tips on the bill starting at 18%. It's always said that waiters don't get paid, but NY has a minimum wage, which, although complex provides a basic level for waiters. Where I have breakfast in NY, recommended, the Red Flame Diner, W44th near 6th, I worked out that with an average tip of $3.00 per customer, the harassed looking Hispanic waitresses make up to $50 per hour. Mind you, they earn it, though they don't clear the tables!

You could try selling your soul?

Do you speak from experience? Do you put more than one in? To make sure you reach the the prostate!

Me too! Though there were reports of on twink there!

And if you are worried about tipping, you should try the USA!

Well, he has started work as a lawyer in Bangkok. . His mother tongue was Mandarin, and his Thai was far from fluent. He was very good looking, but, alas, not available! I may have got it wrong, but the law firm I deal with in Bangkok has many non Thai members.

Er, Irony. But if they say they own it, that's that! They don't care about the International Court.

But surely, they own the South China Sea, even 2,000 miles away from their coast!

Me also, early January.

Er Liberal Democrats.

This is Thailand!

I knew a young Chinese boy who was studying law in Bangkok. He was taught in English, and said standard was good.

As I just said, I have booked, but will keep Meridien as well, in case Dusit doesn't make it!

Have now booked Dusit for November, corner room. Will be interesting to see!

Something wrong with that, what about George McGovern, Hubert Humphrey?

Yes, the JR System is impressive. However I found it more confusing, not so much English. Worth noting that the hi speed Shinanksen have their own section at Tokyo Station. When I was first in Japan, if I didn't know farw,etc, I was advised just to walk through the open barrier next to the official. I was told that as a foreigner, gaijin, I would not be stopped!

Interestingly, a long time ago, I took a taxi from hotel to client. As has been mentioned before, most of Tokyo has no street names. The doorman looks up the address in an enormous map book, dealing with Chome, block no, building no, etc. Off we went. We arrive, taxi driver shows me the building. Drives off. Its the wrong building, he was lost. I had no cluster of helpful Japanese, in deed no English spoken. Luckily I found a pay pho e, and rang client. They then directed me!

They have to speak English, at least front of house staff.

Or never released at all!

I did get charged! You are more efficient than me. You do what I should do. Half the problem is that it's so easy to book, on your phone, and unless you are very efficient, I'm not, you move on, and forget!

And that map is only part of the system, as most lines carry on, out of the city into the countryside. Now everything is also in English, and there are huge maps on the stations, giving details of all the nearby buildings. A huge advance on when I first went 40 years ago. It pays to master the Subway, it doesn't take long, there are 2 different companies, and then travel around Tokyo is remarkably easy. The gay area is around the station Shinjuku -San-chome. San is 3.