Thread: Daily or weekly cheer

Originally Posted by Shutree

I admire Thais' entrepreneureal spirit. I have posted before about the way noodle shops, coffee shops and other small businesses open then close after a few weeks. There seems to be no such thing as a business plan, just try an idea and write it off when it doesn't work.
Some young people built a very small coffee shop in the village. I went in once and asked for an espresso. To be fair, I did eventually get something hot, wet and blackish but they were mostly clueless. Probably their target audience was the younger generation who hanker after large cups of coloured ice. I think it lasted a month. Then the place was unused until recently someone built a sort of bamboo shack on the forecourt and some new lighting suggested it was open. Open as what was a mystery, there are no signs outside. So last night on my way home, I stopped for a look.
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.
It's a cocktail bar! I had a margarita, it was not bad.
Turns out it is a partnership between a near neighbour and a chap who has been tending bars in Koh Phangan for the last 20 years. It has no signage because there is a high tax rate on signs in English, so she said.
I'll do my best to keep them open. There might even be another customer, who knows? I hope they stay open at least until the dry season is over.

Enjoy your 'Sexon the Beach'.

Originally Posted by Shutree

Some young people built a very small coffee shop in the village. I went in once and asked for an espresso. To be fair, I did eventually get something hot, wet and blackish but they were mostly clueless.

That's the thing here.

Just because there's a unit with a cafe, or mechanics sign outside, doesn't mean Somchai has any idea about coffee or mechanics.

It only means one thing.

At some point in the past, Somchai had enough money to buy a sign.

Originally Posted by Shutree

It has no signage because there is a high tax rate on signs in English, so she said.

One of my bars has the word 'Beer' in it's name but on the sign it's spelt 'Bier'.

And no it's not a German bar, very Scottish.

^ Very Scottish alright when you're too tight to paint over it

There used to be a few bars down soi 22 in Bangkok without signs on them and it was 100k baht I remember to register the bars name.

Originally Posted by Shutree

I admire Thais' entrepreneureal spirit. I have posted before about the way noodle shops, coffee shops and other small businesses open then close after a few weeks. There seems to be no such thing as a business plan, just try an idea and write it off when it doesn't work.
Some young people built a very small coffee shop in the village. I went in once and asked for an espresso. To be fair, I did eventually get something hot, wet and blackish but they were mostly clueless. Probably their target audience was the younger generation who hanker after large cups of coloured ice. I think it lasted a month. Then the place was unused until recently someone built a sort of bamboo shack on the forecourt and some new lighting suggested it was open. Open as what was a mystery, there are no signs outside. So last night on my way home, I stopped for a look.
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.
It's a cocktail bar! I had a margarita, it was not bad.
Turns out it is a partnership between a near neighbour and a chap who has been tending bars in Koh Phangan for the last 20 years. It has no signage because there is a high tax rate on signs in English, so she said.
I'll do my best to keep them open. There might even be another customer, who knows? I hope they stay open at least until the dry season is over.

I've always wished for a small bar in our moobahn that I could visit fairly regularly

Love the local chickenhead news. Besides the usual side splitting catalogue of stories of idiocy, which thanks to the wonders of technology is now captured for posterity and aired daily on TV - today my favourite is an old crone and her hubby who've alighted upon a disused termite mound which she reckons is vaguely in the shape of the world cup and of course there a flocks of Thais turning up to wai the auspicious world cup termite mound in the hope it brings them fortune and luck. Life is good.

Nearly six months after an awful journey with Lufthansa, the worst by far in over 30 years of frequent flying, I had an email today saying that they had transferred 283 EUR to my account. No apology for the experience of course, other than for the months it takes them to respond to emails, and the amount doesn't cover the knock on costs I incurred due to the day's delay, but it's a small win and I may go and renew a passport to celebrate.

I still won't fly with them again, though.

^ or any European carriers, they have all declined over the last 15 years in face of the ME competition.

That's my impression too.

Originally Posted by Mendip

Nearly six months after an awful journey with Lufthansa, the worst by far in over 30 years of frequent flying, I had an email today saying that they had transferred 283 EUR to my account. No apology for the experience of course, other than for the months it takes them to respond to emails, and the amount doesn't cover the knock on costs I incurred due to the day's delay, but it's a small win and I may go and renew a passport to celebrate.

I still won't fly with them again, though.

I doubt less than €300 would cover a passport run...

Originally Posted by Mendip

Nearly six months after an awful journey with Lufthansa, the worst by far in over 30 years of frequent flying, I had an email today saying that they had transferred 283 EUR to my account. No apology for the experience of course, other than for the months it takes them to respond to emails, and the amount doesn't cover the knock on costs I incurred due to the day's delay, but it's a small win and I may go and renew a passport to celebrate.

I still won't fly with them again, though.

I have refused to fly with them for a few years now. I missed a couple of business trips because they went on strike and I had to rearrange another for the same reason.

Positively autumnal here today, very cool and breezy, oh and dark but I'm sure it'll be overcast. Nice.

Nice and cool breeze, don't even have the fan on. Beautiful blue sky and footy in a couple of hours.

Might as well have a beer

Same here. Nice cool breeze, clear blue sky. No fan or a/c required. Another lovely Thai winter. Just like a summer's day in Blighty.

Originally Posted by Neverna

Just like a summer's day in Blighty.

But without the rain.

Originally Posted by Mendip

But without the rain.

It's due about 5pm here.

Less than 2km from my house on the edge of nowhere is a cotton enterprise on quite a large plot well out of town. Two years and never having been in (why would I?) I was overtaken by a fit of boredom and I recently stopped by for a look. It is levels above the other Thai cotton places I have seen. They have some very fancy frocks, they have a Bangkok outlet and do the top fashion shows, it seems. I didn't look at prices.
It turns out they have a coffee shop on site, usually empty, clean and tidy with very acceptable coffee. While I say 'usually empty' I find it is on the circuit for tourists of the more mature and well-heeled set, so occasionally I get some warm smiles along with my espresso. This is becoming an afternoon ritual.
First a cocktail bar and now a hi-so coffee shop. Who knows what other delights await?

^ all thongs come to he who waits

I had an amazing day today, I hope everyone had a great first day of the New Year!

Mine was great because I won $2000 at the casino today at one time on a bonus. I spent $100 came out with $2000!
I have been lucky a lot lately, so thought I'd try my luck today. Will pay off some bills with it !

Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe

Mine was great because I won $2000 at the casino today

You're dumped!

I cooked another Xmas dinner today and it was better than the last.

Makro Gyoza cases, 70 something thb for 1/2kg, there's loads





can't go Chit .... wrong

^Rather you than me

I get very little cheer these days but I'll take what I can get... and sometimes a bit of cheer results after a chain reaction...

A few days ago the dogs went off which resulted in a vet's visit for Anna, but also a broken plastic jug as the wife smacked it on Yogi's head as he took the opportunity of a scrap to attack Tommy.

So, the plastic jug which we have always used to decant water from the 20 litre containers we get, was no more.

The empty plastic water bottles were building up so today I took the big decision to use this china jug we have in the house, to decant water into the bottles, in the absence of the wife showing the presence of mind to actually get off the sofa, lose an hour of Thai TV exposure, and go out and buy a replacement plastic jug.

I'm sure this all sounds pretty boring... but guess where the wife hides her extra housekeeping money!

Ha ha... I'm way to clever to tell her I know about it. Sneaked out THB 1000 with some instructions for the gardener...

A free bottle of Mont Clair for me tonight!

Reckon that blunt butter knife will be put to use once she finds out.