BjornAgain

We can quiz him next week.

Family Mart (Thailand) was a JV between Central Group Thailand and Family Mart Japan. Central Group bought out FMJ in 2020 and decided in 2023 to drop the brand, hence all stores were rebranded as Tops Daily, or just Tops, Central's Supermarket and Convenience store brand.

Are you implying the Murdoch press is unscrupulous?

With the current influx of the US Navy over the next few days, then not a fur ball to be had.

Er! I think you mean the CockA2 bar. Owned by Rob, who's an Aussi from Cairns in North Queensland, and yes his family is of Dutch origin.

Yeah, he's a bonzer bloke who doesn't spit the dummy.

Yes, will be good to share our Dutch heritage.

Yep, Menu Same Same. One current difference is the plates. In that the boards used in Bangkok haven't been duplicated due to availability, so the meagre portions are served up on serving plates. Guido will be introducing them soon. Have it via a reliable source tennants in Soi 4 are being served notice, so maybe the timing of running 2 operations will only be short term. Will do a review shortly.

I would have have thought a man of your HiSo connections would have already briefed the Concierge at the Capella or to give him his prefered name, "Head of the Capella Culturists" of your imminent arrival as booking VIP Airport Fast-Track Services is one of their standard offerings.

Obviously these fine Gentlemen have not read this forum, else they'll soon form a different opinion.

Apparently it's a French thing.

Ah! With no Capella in Manilia, you must be slumming it like the rest of us.

Deliberate ploy to make sure you read it. We'll done for being the first. Monday 10th was the correct date. Fat fingers.

"I'll be your long haired lover from..." Florida!

Recall it was Master Bates and Seaman Staines. Yours, Roger The Cabin Boy.

Dubai is worst, beach hotels have tar-ball cleaning stations as you come off the beach. Was 15 years ago.

Misspent youth as a cabin boy. You soon pickup the tricks of the trade!

Word on the ground, all ready to open, just waiting on the liqueur licence to be issued. Fingers crossed for Saturday 15th.

Ah!, a fellow Hilton points scorer. Agree the Metropolis Suites over on Sukhumvit Soi 39 is cracking value for money, plus there's a couple of good International restaurants in walking distance. However last week it took 75 minutes to get to Silom due to the infuriating BKK traffic. If you haven't ticked of the Garden Inn at 320 Silom Road, then suggest you give it a try. The suites are ideal for entertaining guests.

A quick bit of maritime forensic investigation could pin-point the guilty party or parties. Date / Time of first reported incident, plus any follow-up incidents in neighbouring beaches / shore line (gives indication of discharge direction). Understanding of quantity and to a degree the quality of 'tar-balls' ie to gauge if sludge tanks or bilge tanks have been discharged. Also quality will give an indication of multi-ship discharge. Sludge is heavier than bilge. Knowledge of local tides plus recent weather conditions will give you an area of concern. Then cross reference with the Marine Traffic satellite/ GPS Apps (The maritime equivalent of FlightTracker24) and you might have a couple of suspects. Also records from local ports of your suspect ships that have used ship-to-shore discharge facilities, or not! Prosecution on the other hand will be the big issue. For those that have not seen what MarrineTraffic.com can report, snapshot of Kao Larn as of Monday 19th Aug at 17:10. Have hi-lited the nearest big ship for reference.

Classic illegal case of flushing the tanks.

Must admit, having had Chicken Pox 3 times as a kid, have always given anyone with it or Shingles a wide birth. Am back in UK next month, so will add a shot onto my growing free medical list. Would appear 90% of adults over 50 carry the herpes zoster (Shingles) virus, with high-income regions, ie North Amercia and Europe the most prone. As for Asia, China is logging 6 million cases pa, Thailand doesn't actually log Shingles cases, but does report on Chicken Pox. Worst year was 2014 with 48,000 cases (initiated in Laos). Jan & Feb 2026 logged 10,560 cases, an increase due to the cooler weather earlier this year. With no countrywide pediatric vaccination program for Chicken Pox, reminds me of the earlier 60's growing up in Singapore; where our G&T sodden mothers passed us kids around so the other kids could catch it and improve their immune system.

Obviously not talking 70's London youfspeak.

Did go for Guido's 12 inches the other night. Managed to gobble it all down, but forced to leave the salad. Washed down with a hand full of Suffolk's finest cider. A farewell dinner for @Reader as he returned home after his summer jaunt in BKK. Guido was down south cracking the whip getting G's Pratumnak ready for the 15th. (Hopefully). Full announcement will be via his FaceBook page. ( https://www.facebook.com/share/1AyMXNJPgA/ ) In comparison, Ziggy's is more firmer and spicier!

Yes, can highly recommend. In fact I know one of the owners is a JC fan, so would be more than happy to quote lines back. Have dined there 4 times, your Philippines bf will be impressed with the wine list! John Quarisa's 30 Mile Chardonnay is a right little number. Goes well with either the Schnitzel's (chicken or pork) or the Chef's special wurst.