I retired 2 years ago at 60 with the intent of moving to SE Asia for retirement, however, have delayed any intended move until I turn 67 as then will be eligible (by age probably not pass the means test) for an Aussie old age pension as I do not want to have to re-establish residency at a later date.

In the meantime I am doing some traveling around the area to decide which would be a nice spot to retire. Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia (Penang Is) are the three in the mix at the moment so will spend next 4 and a bit years on research.

Yet another disaster to hit the Philippines. The Taal volcano has spewed ash and is now at alert level 4 which means that it can erupt at any time. ( Level 5 is when magma spews from the volcano)

Last Updated: an hour ago

↓

an hour ago

Taal Volcano updates

Taal Volcano updates, as of Monday morning:

• Lava has reached the surface of the volcano

• Volcanic quakes will persist around less than magnitude 4

• We reiterate the evacuation of the Taal Volcano Island and high-risk areas within the 14km radius of the crater

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/1/13/Philippines-Taal-Volcano-eruption-live-updates.html

Tis all good, have heard a lot about the bar and the goings on that happen therein and wish them all well for their party just a pity didn't get their previously, next time !!!

My post was not meant to be denigrating to Josh (whom I have never met or been to his bar) just that I had seen over the years in SE Asia many signs in bars with the spelling that way.

I suppose that the reason is that a lot of non English speakers pronounce it as cOstOOmer so spelling it phonetically is only natural to them.

Cheers

What is it with the Thai as well as the Filipinos who continually spell customers as "costumers"

I was in bed by 11pm and slept right through. Seen too many NYE's that they are no longer a special occasion.

Happy New Year to all

I'll stick to the same resolution I have broken 10 years running: To take up smoking again.

I am happy with the status quo. I have seen elsewhere where a forum member has berated those that had liked another member's post in a discussion (argument) between the 2.

I'm guessing its only 365 days now until Teya's birthday party?

Enjoy

21 hours ago, bumblebee said:

The character certainly has bee like hoops, so you may want to revise this one Seven. :)  

My thought was BumbleBee carrying his Box Brownie

This sub forum :

The Welcome Wagon

I have only met 2 BMs from this forum PDoggg whom I met in Bangkok & Phnom Penh & Donnykey in Angeles City. Ooops and Poeface in Whynot.

So I don't know any of the stuff that has happened in and around Pattaya nor any idea what has happened at the other forum between BMs here and at PattayaLadyBoy forum.

Hopefully everyone has got the shit off their chests and we can get back to a FLAME FREE ATMOSPHERE 

Just saying

Bangkok: A Thai navy SEAL who took part in the dramatic rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand last year has died from a blood infection he contracted during the operation, the Royal Thai Navy says.

Petty Officer Beiret Bureerak had been receiving treatment, but his condition worsened, the navy said in a statement on Friday, local time.

I'm giving the family do a miss this year so will be whatever I can find in the house.

During the afternoon will meet up with some other blokes for a beer or 4

You might want to go to the War Remnants Museum. I found it quite interesting getting the other side of the story of the 'American War'.

With the temperature here in Sydney, Australia to reach 42C today there are 100 bushfires burning in the state :

The three fires with 'greatest obvious potential' for destruction

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-weather-live-updates-rfs-prepares-for-bushfires-as-extreme-heatwave-hits-state-20191219-p53lbc.html

It is appropriate to wish you all a very Aussie Merry Christmas:.

Welcome to the forum. I am sure you will enjoy the camaraderie of this little back water.

Cheers

I think most ladymen see themselves as women from an early age so they walk, talk, dress and act like women. Oftentimes appearing more feminine than GGs.

On the other hand the nancy, pantsy, mincing gay man acts like that to show that he is available to men only because if they didn't act that way they would be invisible to the 'straight looking' gay/bi man.

There was a post in Teya's Birthday party thread by PDoggg that finding the calendar is clunky :

Clunky for sure!

At some point in the past it was easy to see the calendar.  But after some supposed "upgrades" I haven't been able to figure out how to make it visible unless you happen to know the link which makes it relatively useless to forum members that don't check in here very often.  Here's the link:

http://www.ladyboyreview.com/index.php?/calendar/1-community-calendar/

The easiest way to get there is via the tabs at the top of every page. Run your mouse over 'Browse' then click on 'Calendar'

Sydney had been blanketed in smoke from the bushfires for the last 2 weeks.

This little recording of the sun I made last Tuesday about 6.45pm on the way back from my local pub. The sun is bright red to the naked eye, however, taking a pic on the mobile phone shows it as white with red around the edges so I took a video instead with magnification.... apologies for the shakiness.

Here in Sydney it will be a little warm today and then cool for the rest of the week. Wish we can get some rain though as there are fires burning all throughout NSW and also Queensland and Victoria.

Nice artwork.... although I don't normally have shark's teeth on my Akubra's hatband.

Welcome Rom,

As  has been said this is an easy going place to hang out.

1 hour ago, Rom said:

(you will have to click on the link above to see it.  For some reason, Youtube no longer allows embedding it.  Maybe Jimbo or the mods complained).

I think you'll find that the reason the last video won't embed is that it is marked as private with a note " This is a private video. Please sign in to verify that you may see it. "

8 hours ago, blind boy grunt said:

 Italian ones from Foodmart are by far the best other than Heinz of course [just a useful bit of info there!]

For processed beans full of salt, preservatives, colouring agents etc etc you may be correct.

However, the tastiest baked beans are the ones shown in this YouTube clip by a dude called Drover's Dog who just so happens to have an avatar extremely similar to mine!!

1 hour ago, blind boy grunt said:

and there are vacancies for fluffers and oil-up men from time to time

BBG, It's a pity I'm not in town when BB is there as I think I would be a good definitely at least apply for an apprenticeship