ciobha

Yep can't blame you Dukey. Quite obviously my May trip isn't going to happen either, so looking at November, but i may need to make it October for various reasons. Emirates sent me an email giving me the option to reschedule my ticket any time within the next year, obviously paying any difference in fair, which I can guarantee there bloody well will be. I love the way they never give the option of a refund. On another point, I was talking to Sindy yesterday, sitting in her room bored senseless. The Thai attitude to this astounds me, they honestly think that after the 2 week lock down everything will return to normal, carry on as you were. I reckon Pattaya is fucked for the forseable and a good possibility if and when we do return there, it will be a very different city.

I have just rang an imaginery bell for all you fine chaps.

Yeah, I guess this let's reality hit home. For all the cursing I sometimes do of my job, I am lucky, at the minute anyway, to be in an industry that isn't directly hit by this virus. In fact, due to all the panic buying, we can't keep up with demand, never seen it so busy. It will fall off eventually, but as I make packaging for the Pharma and food industries, people still have to eat, and will get sick no matter. No consolation to the poor people in the hospitality industry, my thoughts are with them and I hope they can get some government relief then come out the other side of this with a job to return to.

I am booked for May also - currently not planning to change, but as this develops daily then obviously that may change. Give it a few weeks and see what happens!

I don't go out much while at home, in fact other than going to work, and doing my shopping, the only other time I cross the door is for my Saturday round of golf. I do like a few beers in the house of a Friday and Saturday night - went to Tesco on the way home from work on Friday to grab a case of beer, as usual. SOLD FUCKING OUT OF EVERYTHING. Local off-licence same, all they had left was some trendy micro brewery beer at £3 per bottle. You can work that up yer jacksie. I guess most people are now avoiding pubs for the next few weeks and going to drink at home. I see a lot of pubs, clubs and restaurants going out of business over the next few months if this continues. The ones who survive will likely be the large chains who have surplus reserves of cash and can ride it out. Of course then when things start normalising they will have little competition and overcharge to the max.

I always find it interesting that in the UK anyway, when oil prices fall it takes sometime several months for the consumer to see that saving at the pumps, or in energy bills. The retailers point to having stocks bought at the higher price which is why the savings aren't yet passed on. Then when they are eventually passed on the savings are minimal. However when oils prices go up, the knock on effect for the consumer is almost immediate!!!!

Yep, pissed as fart practically every night, nice enough kid, but far too fond of the sauce. A bit like Jen at La Bamba in many ways.

Speaking from experience Mr.Slim?????

Nice.

Thanks for posting Herberth, certainly looks like a fun night. But, is it wrong that I am turned on by your selection of whiskey almost as much as your selection of girls?

Bloody excellent young sir. Much better than that Hong Thong shite the La Bamba girls force me to drink. Next visit I will most certainly call in for a few drinks more that once, with the added bonus that Sindy and Alis are best friends, so she can trust me to go there with no alterior motive, otherwise Alis will tell her and my life won't be worth living. Look forward to seeing you in the near future, and keep posting on our little forum, your input is much appreciated.

I see a bottle of Bell's in the background there. Not seen that in Pattaya before. One of my favourites for a nightcap nip, before going of to slumberland. Not much else to see in that pic.

Happy for you BBG and everyone else. Happy New Year to you all. My new year was not so perfect unfortunately!! Went to climb into bed at about 11p.m and pulled something very nasty in my back. I have spent the last the 3 hours or so walking the streets trying to ease the pain, along with half a pack of painkillers, but to no avail. Standing up typing this as sitting down, lying down, bending causes excruciating pain. Just trying to do something to take my mind off it, but I have a feeling the sois of Belfast will be well walked tonight/this morning. Happy New Year my fucking arse. Still, on a + side my beloved LFC have finished the year as UCL champions, European Supercup Champions, World Club Cup Champions ans 13 points clear at the top of the league (with a game in hand). I know Dukey will be happy. I'm of for another wander because I can't stick this pain!!!

I will most likely be in bed sleeping by the time midnight comes. Been knocked sideways by a serious bout of the flu the past few days, and struggling to keep my eyes open. Not particularly bothered, as I think New Years Eve at home is one of the worst nights of the year. Trying to get taxis is almost impossible, and prices for everything seem to double, including entrance fee charges into normal bars. Rip off!!! FYI, Sindy video called me just after midnight to wish me HYN. La Bamba totally void of customers, and the Italian restaurant next door all was quiet. I remember last year, although not packed there was a reasonable crowd, and the Italian next door was pretty packed with them letting off fireworks for almost an hour after countdown.

Yup A certain lady who shall remain nameless, but suffice to say I know her very well, got addicted to that last year = big time addicted. She got herself in a bit of trouble over it too. I think thankfully now she has realised the perils and has given it up.

Hmmm, can't say I know her BB. Looks vaguely familiar but certainly not a La Bamba stalward.

Because your head look same same mirror???

Sounds a bit like Nikki (small frame big boobs?). Description of her asking for drinks while having a communal bucket of booze sounds about right. She is generally fine, but when drunk can be a bit persistent asking for drinks. I just ignore her and she eventually gets the message.

WTF was that all about buddy. As Boycie once said, " Have you been on the funny fags again Rodney"????

Very valid point my monkey mate. I think I mentioned previously about the having to retrieve my fleece from my room a few years ago, because the temperature had, for the first in my Thailand experience, gotten so low!! Now I believe if you looked at thermometers and official weather channels, it stated 16 degrees, which as DC stated would be a pleasant day at home. But I can tell you it felt nothing like that, it was bloody cold. That being said, it is currently minus 3 here with wind chill factored, and that is the official Belfast report, I live half way up a mountain so you can take several degrees off that again. I will swap you any day of the week.

I wonder has a lack of clientele/bookings led to an early insurance job???

Wish I was going to be there with you guys tomorrow night, but alas I will have to content myself with another night in front of the fire watching a pile of old shite on the telly. Still BBG, I will content myself with 11 points clear at top of the league.

Great pics Bumbledude, I know how stressful it must be for you to drag yourself all the way up to Naklus to enjoy a few cold beers, watch semi naked ladymen prance about the floor, AND have to take some photos of it all. Bet you would rather be back in freezing cold, dark dreary Ireland, counting the hours until bedtime???

Don't fall for that one BBG. Those two rascals Bumbledude and Pigdogg have been known to lull people into a false sense of security, then when you least expect it they will pin you down on the ground and tickle yer stomach. The reprobates!!!!

As most of you know, I work in the packaging industry, and believe me this whole thing goes way beyond plastic bags. The thing is, plastic bags were phased out because they were an easy target for the major retail companies bowing to pressure from conservationists, and trying to prove to the world they are an eco friendly business. Roughly translated what that means is they use this as a marketing tool, which is positive advertising, totally free, and they then have an excuse not to give out plastic bags for free, which of course they pay for initially. So here's the crux of the matter = there is more plastic waste generated by the little plastic trays you will find most items on in a supermarket, i.e meats, fish, chicken, mushrooms veg and fruit. Add to this the thin plastic cover (totally non biodegradable) and it amounts to a serious amount of plastic waste. Of course they can't sell these items without this packaging, so my company and others were tasked some time ago to come up with an alternative. This request is being demanded by some of the worlds largest and most profitable companies (Wallmart, GSK, M&S), all the while they are reassuring their customers how they are working with their suppliers to make the packaging fully recyclable therefore environmentally friendly. Now we have spent a vast some of money over the past two years designing, creating and producing innovative alternatives which tick all the boxes, all at our own expense. But what people don't here about, is that each alternative we have proposed to these companies is shot down as it is more expensive than current packaging. So they are only environmentally friendly when it doesn't hurt the pocket, despite what the bastards try to tell the world!!!! Rant over for now!!!