BjornAgain

I agree, Fat Pang, or the Accidental Governor, only got the job as he lost his seat in the 1992 General election, so John Major as PM promoted him from party chairman to the last governor of Hong Kong. With no Foreign Office or Diplomatic experience, a classic case of 'jobs for the boys'.

Was quieter than a normal Friday due to the start of the annual music festival over in Pattaya. Sitting outside at the Mexican, who's 1 year birthday it was, so margarita's were BOGOF (buy one get one free), however as soon as the M2M bar show opposite started, legged it along with a few others as the volume was unbearable, and that's saying something; as having worked with Motörhead and a few others headbangers in the past, I'm slightly hard of hearing anyway.

Had a bloke sitting next to me last week at said he was ex SAS. Get all sorts in Pattaya.

Works a treat. Tested it on Thai, Laos and French. I've yet to find a native Japanese person to test @Riobard 's question. The microphone is your mobile and requires a data connection. Uses it's own App, only issue, as always, was syncing up the Blutooth. Not really designed for long speeches, so normal conversionial sentences. Depending on background noise, point mobile at your foreigner or just leave on the table, they speak, you then hear the translation in your ears. You reply in English, text is translated into Thai (etc) on the phone screen, however; you also get the Thai audio of the translation, so you can memorise it and say it back. Gives the impression you speak Thai! They also act as a standard pair of buds for listening to music. The App also does picture translation, plus can translate active phone calls, write or translate voice notes or create subtitles from an streaming or constant audio source. The marketing blurb says it's using AI, which is a load of 💩, as if it was it'll speak my reply without me saying it. Model is HTC NE40. Would recommend.

Regrettably not, back Thursday 4th May.

The Khaosod English headline had me panicking as due to pop back to The UK in April for a couple of weeks. Booked yesterday for mid April, the usual price I pay for BKK-LHR-BKK is 40k to 45kTHB, cattle class with leg room seat at the front, managed to get it for 58kTHB, so 50ish% markup. With the world's supply of crude reduced by 30 to 35%, current infrastructure is running on reserves. Read yesterday that Australia only has 34 days of reserves, somewhat less than the 90 days the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggest. An independent report hilighted it was nearer 25 days! Thailand is reported to hold only 61 days. The UK does adhere to the IDA'S 90 day recommendation, however only 85% of reserves are kept within the UK, the other 15% are stored in Holand, Germany and Belgium. Doesn't take a genius to conclude as the international emergency developes further; those stocks would be requisitioned by those 3 countries. Doesn't help that the current Energy minister (the one that can't eat a bacon sandwich) is closing down the UK's oil & gas drilling wells, making the UK more dependant on imports. As @emiel1981 says "A lot can happen in 3 weeks", let's hope so, or as Private James Frazer of the Walmington-On-Sea Home Guard famously said "We're doomed! Doomed".

17USD, cheaper than a couple of boy drinks, plus there's a returns policy if they don't work.

More discreet, as everyone doesn't have to hear your conversation. Bought a pair last week, 639THB, just cleared customs so will find out more soon.

It's easy to tell which one's held their good looks!

Will pass on your recommendation.

Good news, the culinary map of Jomtien Complex will be expanding further with the opening of Schatze (German for sweetheart) on the 1st of April serving Mediterranean style dishes as well Thai. Located on the Agate Hotel Soi, the restaurant will be sandwiched between the hotel and the Sutiyada massage shop. For those around the Complex, owners are Joe and Ziggy (chef). Renovations are already underway, plus there will be a couple of rooms above the establishment. Seating will be a combination of inside (AirCon) and outside, totalling 30 covers.

Responding to this posts title:- Which bars in Pattaya have shows of male athleticism? Try Soi Buakhao, as plenty of Farang can be viewed consuming copious quantities of beer, a feat attributed to the finest European male bodies, as visually displayed by their fine mature physiques, as demonstrated by their hours of dedication to their task.

Favorite Arabic insult, which has also started wars, "May your mother rot in the belly of a pig". Else, "May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits".

For those Cheap Charlie's they do a range of rooms in Chrome.

No Cappella, where Australian guests can experience the finest customer service.

No that's risqué.

As Lunchboxes go (a term immediately coined by that bastion of British journalism; The Sun), none more famous in the UK as Linford Christie, 1992 Gold Olympic winner in the 100m in Barcelona. A term associated as racial stereotyping, however capitalising on his fame, he was happy to become the face of Kleenex in 2010.

Mamasan said discount, I questioned it and he said yes. Implies owner gets the full cut.

Update. Had to visit TukCom today, so took a Walkabout and popped my head into the local establishments. Bad news for @Olddaddy I'm afraid, Royal House Massage for Men and their Men-Only Karaoke bar are both closed. Somjit had 3 elderly Twinks on duty, all doing the phone thing. See below for current menu options. Relax@Me had 3 boys on duty, mid to late 20's. Helios had 10 pairs of shoes outside, and I counted 6 boys and the Mamasan. They have a promotion, which is 5% discount on card payments.

Always do my research on the Apps or websites, however place the actual booking with the establishment. That way I find you'll get a more preferred room or service. Plus if you have to escalate an issue, you're dealing with the horses mouth. If I can't book direct due to status, ie first time stay, then make sure to get the e-mail / phone number for any future visits. So when staying at The Venue in JC, you'll get a 100THB drinks voucher when paying by cash. 'Every little helps.'

In terms of costs for PrEP, Pulse in Pattaya (by BoysTown) have an offer, buy 3 get a free HIV blood test. Results within 20 minutes. The bargin is cost of HIV test is almost the same as two bottles. Not sure if this is company wide.

Remember back in 1973 was on the annual school skiing trip to Livigno up in the Dolomites in northern Italy. Flew into Milan, then coach to the resort. On the way back for some reason, properly cheaper, flew out of Munich. I tracked the whole adventure on a couple of my father's WW2 escape maps, so 30 years old. The silk still in pristine condition, all the major towns and roads listed clearly and still present. Admittedly you couldn't find a bank or a chemist or cafe, but then again back in 1943, you'd want to avoid them anyway.

For some reason, this lyric sprung to mind:- Hit me with your rhythm stick. It's nice to be a lunatic. Hit me! Hit me! Hit me!

It's called Somjit Health Massage. Walked past it yesterday and had the Madame trying to invite me in. 2 boys doing the traditional phone thing, yes twinkly in stature. The one to the right as you look out from the back door of TukCom is called Relax@Me. At 15:00 yesterday, 2 boys on the outside table, both doing the phone thing. Also within a stones throw is Helios Massage. Turn right out of the back door of TukCom, walk past Relax@Me, turn left and it's the 3rd unit on your left. Colloquially known as the Blue Door, as the front door is painted blue. Believe this is the only place left in Pattaya / Jomtien you can get a 'Foamy'. Checking the number of shoes left outside the door will give you an idea of how many boys on duty. Not been there myself, but also local is Royal House Massage by Men. Out the back door of TukCom, turn left, cross over the road, and it's the second unit on your left. Entrance is on the right. Within the same unit, but on the left, is BB Gun Bachelors Club, which is a men only Karaoke club. Right up @Olddaddy 's street.

Would this do?