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  COLUMNS

HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
 
Family Money: The Year That Went (Part 2)
 
Successfully Yours: Alice Poulsen
 
Snap Shots: 12 rules for 12 months
   
Modern Medicine: And what about you?

Heart to Heart with Hillary
 
Grapevine

Dining Out: Garden Café - a truly international breakfast
 
Animal Crackers: Reindeer
 
Down The Iron Road: An unusual German steam locomotive
 
Social Commentary by Khai Khem
 
The Computer Doctor
 
Sea Worlds
 
Guide to buying a small dog
 
Secrets of The Hand
 
Forgotten Classics
 
Coins of the Realm
 
Women’s World

Family Money: The Year That Went (Part 2)

By Leslie Wright

Last week I started reviewing the predictions I made at the beginning of the year for what I thought might happen in 2000.

Continuing from where I left off last week, my next forecast concerned the Asian markets.

Asia

Similar to my views on Japan, I ventured the opinion that although in 1999 a few Asian markets had showed renewed vigour, I was doubtful that that growth was sustainable going forward.

I therefore advocated having only a limited exposure to the emerging markets of Asia in 2000, you will recall, and keeping a wary eye on individual market movements.

This advice proved right on the mark, with Asian markets in general performing poorly throughout the year.

Bankruptcies and stories of bribery & corruption eroded investor confidence even further, and some of the better performers of 1999 have fared particularly badly in 2000.

I also said that it was about time another major earthquake, volcanic eruption or super-typhoon came along to dampen the Philippines’ ever-erratic economy, as these Acts of God seem to do every time the Philippines starts to show any improvement. The Philippines’ Mayon volcano erupted on February 23rd; several very severe typhoons have wreaked havoc and caused loss of life; and the loss of confidence in the Philippines’ president, Joseph Estrada, weakened the Peso later in the year, and in turn the economy as a whole.

Hong Kong, although in terms of capitalisation the world’s sixth largest stock market, has traditionally been driven more by sentiment than by fundamentals, so is always a tough one to call.

Now that it has become clear that Hong Kong is less independent of Beijing than its populace thought (although most don’t care so long as they are allowed to get on with making money), its fortunes are even more tied up with China’s than prior to Handover.

Despite what many analysts were saying at the end of 1999 with regard to their expectations of the devaluation of the Chinese Yuan, they seemed to have forgotten that face is at least as important in Chinese decision-making as economics, and the Chinese leadership have several times stated that they would not devalue their currency “for at least five years”, which meant not this past year at least.

Sure enough, the Yuan was not devalued in 2000.

I also pointed out that since Hong Kong’s economy depends so heavily on international trade carried out with long-term letters of credit, the peg to the US dollar is vital to the stability of the HK dollar, which is fundamentally important to continuing the prevailing system of 180-day L/Cs with red clauses to allow manufacturers to get at the money in advance of shipment, to be able to place orders for required raw materials from overseas sources, also on 180-day L/C’s.

So, since neither the Chinese leadership (who are not so daft as some people think) nor Hong Kong’s billionaire entrepreneurs want to rock the boat that has carried them to prosperity for several decades past, the much-discussed peg to the US dollar was not changed in 2000.

I ventured the opinion that, barring unforeseen disasters, there would be somewhat volatile but relatively unspectacular growth in the economy, with the Hang Seng Index perhaps rising to breech the magic 20,000 figure by year’s end.

The main theme of this prediction proved correct, although the final figure was somewhat over-optimistic. The Hang Seng Index has fluttered nervously in the teens throughout the year as Hong Kong has - like always - been affected by the continued uncertainty in global sentiment.

Bonds

Bonds, in a climate of rising interest rates and euphoric stock markets, are perceived by most investors as unexciting, and the international community was taking a neutral stance to both international bonds (which means predominantly US Treasury Notes) and gilts (which means UK Government Bonds) at the end of 1999.

I pointed out that if the US market did suffer a significant correction (i.e., a drop of more than 10%), then bonds would be seen as a ‘safe-haven’ alternative, and might then perform better than they did during 1999.

I then speculated that since I anticipated the US having a soft rather than hard landing (which to date has been the case), that bonds would have a poor showing again in 2000.

This is what happened, and for most of the year bonds were largely eschewed by investors who saw greater potential in stocks and equity-based mutual funds.

However, with continued uncertainty returning to markets at the beginning of September fuelled by less-than-expected earnings’ figures, exacerbated by external political events in October and domestic political events in November, bonds started to look better in the third quarter.

Miscellany

The conjunction of five planets which took place in May this year was widely predicted to cause extra-high tides around the world as well as earthquakes in susceptible areas.

This rare heavenly event turned out to be something of a non-event, and our own planet is still intact.

In passing I mentioned that Vesuvius had been giving seismologists cause for concern, and there seems to be a real possibility of a major eruption occurring in the not-too-distant future, similar to that which buried Pompeii in 79 AD.

Well, Vesuvius kept quiet throughout 2000, although Etna - a few hundred kilometres to the south - did erupt, although not cataclysmically.

On the local scene, I opined that the various ‘illegal’ structures along Beach Road would still not have been removed by year’s end, resulting in yet more deliberations and delays to the construction of the new jetty.

Officials have been making the usual noises, but so far only one establishment has been officially ordered to tear down its “illegal” extension over the water. Otherwise, despite the rumours that have been bandied about, the status quo continues...

I guessed that the rest of the new beachfront would be nearly finished by the end of the year, except for the south end of Jomtien, where the road would still be under construction and a frequent bottleneck.

I also predicted that no proper public toilets would have been built, and local vendors would continue to use the sidewalk, sand, or nearest coconut tree to relieve themselves, adding spice to tourists’ stories (and letters to the Pattaya Mail) about Amazing Thailand.

Although it is almost unfair to credit myself with having predicted these points accurately, I’m going to anyway.

Similarly, I commented that despite the local authorities’ pledge to eliminate the burgeoning population of stray dogs throughout Pattaya, these would still be around wherever people take sympathy on their plight and persist in providing them food. They - both the dogs and authorities - continue to chase after unwitting motorcyclists, and I get to score another easy point.

I then went on to predict that the long-awaited water treatment plant still wouldn’t be operational by year’s end. Well, apparently construction was completed on November 30th and the plant is currently undergoing testing, which is supposed to take about a month. However, my sources inform me that it won’t actually be fully operational by the time this is published, so it seems I got this one right too.

On the bright side, the diggings have been pretty much completed and the dug-up roads have been resurfaced (for the third or fourth time); but just as I predicted, new bumps and potholes have appeared, due to the resurfacing having been laid during the rainy season, and not quite as sturdily as the old one... This will undoubtedly provide plenty of additional revenue for the hard-working contractors during the coming year.

My prediction that the even longer-awaited public bus system to replace the baht buses (which was supposed to have been implemented more than three years ago) would still not be beyond the discussion stage by the end of the year has proven unsurprisingly correct. Hence the baht buses are still plying their routes, their drivers totally ignoring other motorists and continuing with impunity to intimidate tourists and occasionally molesting those who have the nerve to object - which is unwise since baht-bus drivers seem to be a law unto themselves.

Another easy one to predict was about bar-girls, lots of whom would fall madly in love with ageing farangs (or at least their bank accounts), who would then take them out of that life to set up house together (in her name, of course, since the proposed bill to permit foreigners to own land has, as I predicted, not yet passed into law).

I then pointed out that, as somewhat more experienced (or cynical) residents know only too well, you can take the girl out of the bar, but you can’t take the bar out of the girl, and predicted that again this year, lots of former bar-girls would split up with their farang husbands or boyfriends and return to the bar trade, but many would now own the bar.

I also forecasted that there would be lots of bars, hotels and restaurants for sale in Pattaya - all ‘guaranteed’ by the sellers to make the new owners a small fortune. A glance down the classified section of the Pattaya Mail any week of the year proves the accuracy of this easy one.

My last cynical prediction was that in every street where there is now one laundry, hairdressing salon or travel agency, three more would open up within the year. And that then, none of them would make any money, and the owners would while away their time cursing the others.

The slowly-recovering economy has helped in proving this one right too. Numerous new laundries, hairdressing salons and beauty parlours (the three favourite business ventures of former bar-girls, it seems, other than taking over the bar where they used to be employed) have opened up around Pattaya in the past year, but many have closed already.

One can also see ever more beer-bars and karaoke establishments opening up in strategic locations all over town, most of which seem to have an average of about 3 customers at any one time for most of the year, thus contributing mightily to the economy. Or perhaps it is just the farang boyfriends who are contributing...

The Score

So how did I do? Well, out of the 34 predictions I made at the beginning of the year, by my reckoning I was way off target on only 2, got 30 right on the money (although admittedly, some of these were quite easy), and got another 2 half-right. If you’ll forgive a little immodesty, I think you’ll agree that a score of 88% (counting only those 30 I hit spot on) is not too shabby.

Over the next fortnight I’ll venture to guess what I believe will happen in the coming twelve months, which I shall again be happy to review this time next year.

May you and yours have a Very Happy New Year (or as the purists would insist, a New Millennium), and may it be a successful and productive one.

Leslie Wright is Managing Director of Westminster Portfolio Services (Thailand) Ltd., a firm of independent financial advisors providing advice to expatriate residents of the Eastern Seaboard on personal financial planning and international investments. If you have any comments or queries on this article, or about other topics concerning investment matters, contact Leslie directly by fax on (038) 232522 or e-mail [email protected].  Further details and back articles can be accessed on his firm’s website on www.westminsterthailand.com .

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Successfully Yours: Alice Poulsen

By Mirin MacCarthy

If I had to describe Alice Poulsen in a few words, “Just like a diamond, bright, sparkling, alive, fascinating, and multi-faceted” immediately comes to mind.

Alice, who has been here for five years, is a fun loving people person with a gregarious, engaging personality. She has been mainly responsible for finding sponsorship for the Fountain of Life Sisters, although she is dismissive about her role. “I was like Oliver Twist, I just asked,” she said and laughed.

Alice had only been here a few months when she attended a Pattaya International Ladies Club meeting and heard about the Fountain of Life Sisters, who were doing their best with underprivileged kids. “(One day) I read in the Pattaya Mail where the Jester’s Motorcycle Club had just donated to a charity and I thought, ‘That’s an intriguing idea, a Harley Davidson club sponsoring a children’s charity’. I was introduced to Woody and Neil of the Jesters and when I told them why I was approaching them their comments were identical, ‘We’ve never heard of it.’ It suddenly occurred to me that was exactly the problem - the Sisters had little or no recognition.” After I showed the Jesters the centre they agreed to make it their charity project. Grahame Macdonald and Kim Fletcher became involved and my husband Niel too, and it just snowballed from there.” What Alice glosses over is all the organization, co-ordination, long hours and fun and enthusiasm she contributes to the project.

Alice was born in Houston, America with one brother and sister and a pharmacist father and mother. She had a great life, loves animals, grew up with horses, and even had an iguana for a pet. Alice describes her early life, as “Fun from the word go. It was wild.”

Alice went to the Santa Fe State University and majored in communication and minored in Spanish. Straight after college she got a job with the biggest rock station in Houston Texas, where she was assistant music director and later promotions director. “It was just too much fun, I had no sleep.”

This was a job that suited Alice to a T. She was right in the middle of everything, there was constantly more work entertaining musicians, club promotions, setting up concerts, even organizing a rock jam at the Astrodome. She did this for five hectic years before she took a break. “I was good at it because I loved it so much, but I knew I was in danger of burning out.” Still staying with the industry Alice became administration and human resources manager at the then biggest music store in America.

However, after three years there, her life changed radically when on a trip to Mexico she met, and some could say, ran away with, her Australian husband Niel. “It’s never been the same since,” Alice laughed. “Niel asked me to return to Australia with him and we travelled through Europe and Thailand on the way back. I guess I was taking a risk, I gave up everything, my house, my car, and my job.”

In Australia after she and Niel were married, they transferred to Hong Kong for two years. There Alice had another fun and interesting job as secretary to the consul general of Hong Kong, meeting all the VIP’s.

Niel then took a position in Saudi Arabia. Although Alice loves absorbing different cultures, that was, “a tough but interesting time. There were no women working, women weren’t permitted to drive, we were segregated in restaurants, we were supposed to be invisible. I had to wear the Abaya whenever I went out. I hope the suppression of women does change there, but I don’t think it will in my lifetime. Although it was difficult, I always knew we were leaving.”

Over here, Alice plays tennis as often as she can, surrounds herself with interesting people, does constant work for the Fountain of Life, goes to the gym, belongs to the Spanish speaking group, travels a lot with Niel, and explores the Buddhist culture. “I am always interested in different cultures. I believe in being a chameleon and fitting in with a country’s way rather than expecting them to change for you. Having travelled extensively I know that the Thais are very fortunate. The Buddhist way of life is very profound, very interesting. If they follow that properly, it is beautiful.”

Alice also reads extensively, mainly about China. She is fascinated with Chinese dynasties before the Cultural Revolution. Her trip to China last year was “Incredible, actually seeing the Summer Palace and the Great Wall and being in Beijing and Tienaman Square.”

Success to Alice, “Is not about money. It’s more of a spiritual thing. Leading a good happy and healthy life. Having a husband who is 100% behind me and really striving to make a good life. We all have options.”

Alice values honesty and loyalty and being a good person. “I really believe in what comes around, goes around. I want to be a happy person and everyone around me to be happy too. As long as I don’t intentionally hurt anyone then I can sleep with a clear conscience.”

The key to Alice’s enthusiasm is in her favourite saying of Breaker Morant, ‘Live each day as though it is your last, because as sure as hell one day it will be.’ “Life is too short to be miserable or jealous or upset. Every day I wake up and I thank God I have another day. I am grateful to be healthy and live in a place like Thailand.” A brilliant philosophy from one brilliant lady.

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Snap Shots: 12 rules for 12 months

by Harry Flashman

So here we are again at the end of another year and several rolls of film through the camera. For people like Harry, “several” means several hundred. In all that time of squinting through the viewfinder, you can easily forget some of the more important “rules” of photography, so to help your picture taking for 2001, Harry here has jotted down, in no special order, the 12 Rules for better pictures.

Rule #2

 

 

1. Use more film
2. Walk several metres closer
3. Use the focus lock
4. Buy a tripod
5. Process half rolls of film
6. Make enlargements of your better prints
7. Use different formats
8. Use a polarizing filter
9. Carry your camera with you
10. Use the flash during the day
11. Develop a project
12. Change the batteries

Let’s expand on these somewhat. Using more film - photography, like any sport, recreation or pursuit is something where the more you do it and practice it, the better you get. That just means putting more film through the camera. Film and processing is really the cheapest part of photography, especially when you compare it to the purchase price of a half decent camera. Use more film!

The one major fault in most amateur photographs is taking the shot from too far away. This new year, make the subject the “hero” and walk in several metres closer to make the subject fill the frame.

With modern auto-focus cameras the most obvious focussing problem is where the subject is off-centre. The magic eye doesn’t know this and focuses on the background, leaving your close-up subject soft and blurry. Focus on the subject and keep your finger depressed on the focus lock.

Tripods we covered recently, but one of these will expand your picture taking no end.

Don’t be afraid to process half rolls - it will keep your interest and enthusiasm going.

The other thing to keep your interest and pride in your work on the up is to make some enlargements of your better photos. At around 80 baht for most places, this is very cheap and enlargements do make good presents at Xmas time too.

We all get lazy and it is too easy to end up just taking every picture in the horizontal (landscape) format. Make it a habit to always take two shots of each subject - one in the horizontal format and the other in the vertical. You can get some surprising results that way. Don’t be lazy - do it!

With colour photography, which covers about 99.99% of most people’s pictures these days, the one major factor to give your skies and seas and scenery some colour oomph is the use of a polarizing filter. Get one for 2001 and use it.

You will always miss some “classic” shots and regret it later, but you certainly will never get them if you don’t have a camera (with film) with you. With so many incredible sights around Pattaya you should be photographically ready at all times!

To give your daytime shots some extra sparkle, use “fill-in” flash. Most new cameras have a little setting that will do this automatically for you - even with point and shooters. If you haven’t, then spend some time learning how to do it. It’s worth it when you see the results you get.

To give yourself the impetus to go out and take photos, develop a project and spend your leisure time building up the images. It can be flowers or fashion, cars or canaries, but fix on something and follow it through. It’s worth it, just for the fact that it makes you become an “enquiring” photographer.

Finally, every year at the end of December, give the camera a birthday by buying it some new batteries. You won’t have a problem damaging the sensitive innards with neglected battery acid and the camera’s light metering system will work correctly every time. It’s cheap insurance.

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Modern Medicine: And what about you?

by Dr Iain Corness

I was standing in the queue for coupons at the Seaview Food Court in the Royal Garden Plaza when a young lady put her arm around me and said, “And what about you?” This took me aback a little, not expecting such direct questioning while thinking about food rather than “fun” at that time of day. Of course, the young lady in question was not really asking about my well-being, but more about my availability. My “Mai ow’s” were accepted with a smile and I sauntered off with my vouchers to find suitable fodder, but over lunch began to ponder on her words - and what about you?

Well, I mused, What about me? Greying (I hate it), balding (I hate it even more), face showing the ravages of time and the Aussie sunshine, getting a bit of a “tummy” (from the beer because wine’s too expensive in this country), but overall, not bad for a man knocking 60 and the oldest surviving male in the family ever (and you think you’ve got a lousy family history!).

So what can I do about all these? I tried the Grecian 2000 route years ago and you go a strange brown which turns into orange after three weeks. This look fools nobody but yourself, unless you began life with strange orange hair colouring. The balding? This has been creeping on for the past ten plus years too. In the beginning I tried the rubbing “Regaine” lotion into the scalp twice a day routine. All I got was a red scaly scalp and the hair shedding continued. I console myself with the knowledge that it shows male hormonal activity, so at least I’m not turning into a girl.

The face? Admit it, you’ve all stood in front of the mirror and gently pulled your cheeks back to see what you looked like fifteen years ago, haven’t you? I could fix that with some timely cosmetic surgery, but it does mean you have to remain out of the public eye for at least three weeks while the bruising fades. This option remains high on my 2001 list (but it was also on the 1999 and 2000 lists as well).

The tummy? Now that’s something I do have to deal with. There has been a slow and inexorable weight gain over the past three years and the time to stop it is now. Well, during 2001 at least. This means a simple adjustment to the dietary intake - less fats, more vegetables, less Brit food and more Asian cuisine - and a simple decrease in the alcohol intake - less beer and more soda water. I could even be tempted to step up my physical activity with some gymnasium work, but I know with my lifestyle and my innate dislike of leotards that it is unlikely to happen. Perhaps I’ll put that in the 2002 list.

So what about me, and my New Year’s health resolutions? An acceptance of the inevitable looms high on the list, followed by some sensible dietary and social habits and life looks pretty good for 2001.

And what about you? Time to make your resolutions too, I fear.

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Dear Hillary,

Have you ever tried crossing the road here in Pattaya? You take your life in your hands as nobody slows or makes any effort at avoiding you. Three times this week I have had to jump out of the way of baht buses and I feel this can do the image of Pattaya no good at all. What do you think, Hillary?

Pete (the pedestrian)

Dear Pedestrian Pete,

Have I tried crossing the road? What a ridiculous question! Of course I’ve tried crossing the road in Pattaya. Do you think Hillary spends her life in the outbound lane? Honestly, you men amaze me! I agree that the sight of men like you jumping ineptly out of the way of rampant baht buses will do our image no good at all. Perhaps you could take ballet lessons so you could jump with elegance in a “pas de chat” manoeuvre (or perhaps that should be a “pas de baht” number)? If you’re still in trouble, cross at the lights or catch the baht bus to the other side. It’ll only cost you 5 baht.

Dear Hillary,

In Vol VIII Number 49 you replied to a person who wanted to learn Thai that it would be best to learn to talk first as that is what children do. In that respect you are right - that is what all children do, because all they do for the first few years of their lives is listen. As we get older we learn to read and write and hopefully pronounce the words correctly in whatever language we are raised. It is easy to believe you are speaking good Thai when in actual fact you are not. In general, people try to understand what you are saying and try to interpret it but will rarely correct you or ask for clarification. Khun May at the Inter Network Language School at Jomtien will teach you Thai the way you want, with or without learning the Thai alphabet, but she will make sure you use the right tones when you speak as well as get your vowels correct. Hillary, I will pay for you to have a one hour lesson with Khun May so that she can explain to you the importance of also learning to read and write Thai.

Gordon the Baywatcher

Dear Gordon,

In my reply to the confused lady from Wong Amat, I suggested she should start like any Thai child and speak before she wrote as I consider it the easiest way to begin to learn Thai. I said, “Children learn like parrots (but eat like pigs)” and part of that learning is to mimic the correct tones. Hillary agrees with you and your Khun May that use of the correct tone is very important, however you do not need to pay for a one hour lesson for Hillary as “Dichan poot Thai gehng”. You could always try me with a nice bottle of wine (not Barossa Pearl) and a chicken dinner at the Baywatch Restaurant, though.

Dear Hillary,

I am a little worried that my husband has been playing up recently. He has been going to bars with his workmates after the office closes and seems to be staying out longer and longer. I have told him he has to let me know when he is coming home, as I have often got jobs for him to do around our flat, and he has to have time to prepare the dinner for all of us (we have a pet poodle). When I went through his pockets the other evening I found a business card for a bar in Boys Town. Have I got a real worry here or not, Hillary. Please let me know.

Anxious Angela

Dear Anxious Angela,

You sure do have a problem, Angie baby, you surely do. If my partner were to be telling me to come home and cook the dinner after I spent all day in the office, then I’d even go to bars myself, just as retaliation. Time you learned to cook and fend for yourself. I hope you and the poodle have some lovely romantic candlelight dinners together. Just watch out that its coat doesn’t singe.

Dear Hillary,

It’s almost the end of the year and we all make New Year’s resolutions to give up smoking, lose weight, be nice to the staff and other such noble sentiments. Tell us, Hillary, what are your New Year’s resolutions and what do you suggest we should do?

Edna (the enquirer)

Dear enquiring Edna,

The first resolution you should be doing is to stop writing rubbish to Agony Aunt columns this New Year. I’m sure I’ve read you in Ann Landers too, and it was even more nauseating. I’m glad to see you’ve decided to be nice to the staff this next year too - I’m sure they’ll appreciate it. So what about Hillary? I made a resolution many years ago not to make New Year’s resolutions, so I never get a bad attack of the guilts by breaking something I had no real intention of doing anyway. I learned to recognize the differences between my aspirations and my capabilities many years ago.

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GRAPEVINE

First Quarter

In January, the whole of Pattaya awaited the dreadful impact of the year 2000 virus computer bug. Talk in the bars was of the day of final judgment on Sin City. However, expectations that the electricity headquarters would disappear in a puff of smoke proved to be premature. In fact, the only noticeable effect of Y2K (remember that acronym?) was that an automated teller machine in the South Pattaya Road on January 1st swallowed two credit cards without producing any cash. This did not make the headlines since it happens every day as a matter of course. In February, it was confidently reported that baht buses were yet again on the verge of being abolished. This came as no real surprise to the actual drivers who completely ignored the threat. This timely action averted the danger and the resort’s transport arrangements remain thankfully intact. The same sort of direct move by those involved was also responsible for halting the demolition of the 101 illegally built businesses on the Walking Street. In March, there was a determined official crackdown in the name of animal rights on tourists having their photo taken with a noisy monkey perched on their shoulder. This campaign was splendidly successful as for nearly the whole of one week the monkeys entirely disappeared from the streets, being replaced by less sensitive creatures such as chameleons and snakes, neither of which have much to say.

Second Quarter

April as usual witnessed the happy go lucky water festival and, this year, thankfully not too many people died in accidents and shootouts. News was also announced that Pattaya was to erect its very own prison to house, amongst others, the infamous criminal mafia gangs from abroad who plague the security of Pattaya and give the resort a bad name. It was stressed that no-one would actually be sentenced there until bars had been placed on the windows. In May, there was a tremendous outcry after a resident farang complained that his house near Soi 17 was without water for days on end which prevented him from washing his smalls and having a decent shave. Officialdom, he stated, should be ashamed of itself. In practice, not a lot happened on the results front it has to be admitted. The general consensus of opinion was that the harassed guy should use a laundry and grow a beard. June as usual was fairly blank on the news front, although many people felt sorry for the foreign lady whose car keys dropped through the grille of a drain along the Second Road. As she bent down awkwardly in a hopeless endeavor to retrieve them, her glasses and purse also disappeared into the watery gunge below. A workman in a van did eventually appear but said he could do little as someone had stolen his ladder.

Third Quarter

In July, panic broke out as Pattaya farangs digested a Bank of Thailand alleged report that all their bank accounts would be closed unless they could produce a work permit or a residence book. This story ran for months with greying expats conjuring up images of themselves wandering round the resort with millions of baht stuffed in their trouser back pockets. However, it was all a misunderstanding. Retired folks are still welcome to transfer their monthly pensions here, but had better watch out if they are international money launderers. In August, another blow. The immigration bureau announced that visas were too easy to obtain and that there should be a crackdown to reduce foreign crime. Farangs breathed a sigh of relief when the countries under suspicion seemed to be Gabon, Ethiopia and Guinea. In September, a foreign businessman finally solved the riddle of why so many bars here crash financially. Actually, he said, they don’t. You open a bar, fail as expected and sell the lease to someone else. He in turn redecorates it, fails and sells the lease with interest to yet another greenhorn. And so on. In this way, everyone is happy getting back their investment and you don’t actually need any customers.

Fourth Quarter

In October, the first notice appeared along Beach Road wishing the US navy a Merry Christmas. It referred to the year 1986 and disappeared after a few days. Pattaya’s transvestites, a misunderstood minority, decided to run a series of evening meetings to try and change the public perception of them as petty thieves and importuners. However, the meetings were canceled after it was pointed out the high season was fast approaching. In November, a leading satellite TV company sent Grapevine a complaint about a short item Keep Rowing Number 43 accusing the company of showing the movie Ben Hur too many times. Apologies. The item, of course, should have read Keep Rowing Number 41. In December, seasonal festivities were interrupted after revelations that Father Christmas had been deported for working illegally without the proper permit. This is contrary to the alien labor law as amended. In spite of this setback, Grapevine wishes all Pattaya Mail readers a prosperous New Year.

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Dining Out: Garden Café - a truly international breakfast

by Miss Terry Diner

Miss Terry admits that breakfast is not her finest hour. Many years ago she gave up preparing breakfast at home as she was unable to find the manual dexterity to get spoon to cup in the morning. So when Bjorn Richardson, the resident manager of the Royal Garden Resort, suggested we meet for breakfast at 7.30 a.m. at the Garden Cafe it was with some trepidation that the Dining Out Team accepted.

Grunting at each other over the table, we decided we should wait till a couple of espressos were consumed before going further. While waiting for my head to clear I took stock of the refurbished Garden Cafe. This is unlike any other “caf้” being in a teak wood-panelled high ceiling sala style, complete with Thai artefacts and natural wood tables. The cutlery was highly polished hand-fashioned stainless steel and there were starched napkins on the tables. It was certainly no “greasy spoon” cafe style eatery.

Sufficiently fortified by the coffees, Bjorn led me around the buffets and there are ten stations dotted around the sala. These include Fresh Fruits, Juices, Cereals, Breads and pastries, Cold Dishes, Eggs and bacon, a European corner, a Japanese one, Thai, and even an Indian and Halal vegetarian section.

Now while that looks as if it represents a good international selection, it does not show the variety in each section. For example, there were eight juices including New Zealand Kiwi fruit and even Thai herbal concoctions. The Egg corner offers scrambled, poached, fried, boiled or omelette along with bacon, waffles, pancakes and French toast.

The European corner (under the stewardship of very British chef John Franks) had baked beans, sausages and potatoes, grilled ham, tomatoes and mushrooms while the Japanese section had Miso soup and several breakfast sushis and even Japanese tea. The Indian section (which comes freshly prepared from the kitchens of Sher E Punjab) includes a Vegetables Biryani, Chicken tikka, Gobi aloo and different naans.

The “internationality” of it all is amazing, but what is even more amazing is that some of the items on offer at the various stations change daily!

After the guided tour, Bjorn and I had another top up of coffee from the smiling waitress with the bottomless dispenser and attacked the buffet. Pineapple juice was the first on my order and then, on a whim, since I had not had a boiled egg for years, I ordered a boiled egg. “Soft yolk or hard?” said the nice young girl behind the counter. Plumping for soft, I was told it would take three minutes. I moved on to the selections of cold dishes and selected two different cheeses, some pastrami and some ham along with tomatoes and bell pepper. Walking past the breads I selected a slice of white and tossed it into the toaster.

Coming back to the table, Bjorn was already there with a heavy selection, including a goodly dollop of baked beans, sausages and hash browns. Hearty appetites, these Swedes!

I was about to ask how would I know when my boiled egg was ready, when a waiter appeared at my elbow with egg cup, boiled egg and a spoon. Magic! Another nice touch was the fact that the butter was “spreadable” and not of the deep frozen variety that rips the toast apart when you go to spread it.

Both Bjorn and I enjoyed our very different selections, and there could be nobody who would not find something to their liking in that huge buffet offering. At 320 baht plus plus (restaurant speak for VAT and Service charges) it is not a cheap breakfast, but undoubtedly is one of the best in Pattaya. It is a place to take your family or any visitors and know that they will be pleased with their breakfast. Bjorn and I were more than satisfied with ours. Definitely recommended. And, yes, the egg had a soft yolk too!

The Garden Cafe  Royal Garden Resort, Pattaya Second Road, (above Shenanigans), telephone 412 120.

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Animal Crackers: Reindeer

by Mirin MacCarthy

Reindeer, although closely related to other deer, are unique in many respects. Centuries of surviving and adapting to Arctic conditions have given them special characteristics, such as broad hooves which allow them to walk easily in the snow, and dig in it, too, after food, not to mention pulling Santa’s sleigh. They have unique hairs, which trap air providing them with excellent insulation. They are very strong swimmers and can move across wide rushing rivers and even the frozen ice of the Arctic Ocean.

The reindeer cows are pregnant from September till May or June when the calves are born. The development of the unborn calf is delayed so they will be born in spring when at least some of the snow has melted. The cow will then have easier access to food and so will be able to produce more milk for their young.

Both the reindeer bulls and the cows have velvety antlers; the bulls use theirs when they compete for the cows during the autumn, while the cows use theirs for protection, especially to guard the calves against predators. The cows may even form a circle surrounding weak calves. They stay alongside each other with the horns protruding out facing danger. The bulls could participate in such a defense, especially if the cows and calves are of the bulls own ‘family group’, but the horns are only used as a last defense. Reindeers flee in the face of danger. They live by the motto, ‘He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day’.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game says, “While both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer (they are the only female members of the Cervidae, deer family, to do so), male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.” Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa’s reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolf to Blitzen just had to be a female. We should’ve known this when they were able to find their way with gifts to all the homes around the world!

Long before recorded history, the Sami peoples of Norway developed an almost symbiotic relationship with the reindeers. They were used for food, transport and milk; even the intestines were eaten to provide needed vitamins. Reindeer skins are still used for clothes and shoes. Tendons and sinews are still used for sewing and putting together the cone shaped Laitok tents; the antlers for fashioning tools, fishing hooks and ornaments. On the Asiatic side of the Bering Straits the people estimate their wealth by the size of their reindeer herds. The people who are forced to live on the coast and subsist on products of the sea are regarded as an inferior class.

Two Riddles to Sleigh Your Friends

How many reindeers does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Eight, one to screw in the light bulb and seven to hold Rudolph down.

Why is Prancer always wet? Answer: Because he is a rain-deer!

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Down The Iron Road: An unusual German steam locomotive

by John D. Blyth

Introduction

As locomotives increased in size and weight, the problem of ‘balancing’ the moving parts was ever more of a problem; a glance at almost any modern locomotive will show the piston and piston rod assembly joined to a bearing on one of the driving wheels, and it will be realized that at one end the motion is ‘reciprocating’ and at the other end ‘rotating’, changing from one to the other through the length of the connecting rod. The whole of the rotating motion has to be balanced, but it was long a problem of how much of the ‘to-and-fro’ motion to balance, as only rotating motion can be used for the balancing purpose.

Side elevation of German State Railway No. 19 1001, to show the general layout, and the closely-spaced uncoupled wheels in the centre.

A solution, or was it?

Around the late ’30s both the French Northern Railway and the national German ‘Reichsbahn’ were thinking along the lines of a solution to this problem, and in general lightening the weight of the moving parts by driving each pair of that group of wheels (which would normally be ‘coupled’) by an individual ‘steam motor’, each from a pair of cylinders separately fed with steam. The drawing, which comes from the 1930s ‘Henschel Review’, a magazine issued in English as well as German, gives some details of the locomotive as built by Henschels, the great German locomotive building firm in Kassel.

Sketch of proposed rebuild of old Prussian locomotive, to show three pairs of uncoupled driven wheels. There is some doubt if this was ever produced.

As a prelude, however, the first drawing shows an alleged re-build of an old Prussian P.6 type freight engine, as turned into a test-bed for the project. Between the front and rear carrying wheels are three pairs of driven wheels, each with its own steam motor. Only one is seen, that on the near side. There do not seem to have been any photographs of this re-build, nor have I heard of anyone seeing it - thus it is possibly only a scheme, but if built it would have been tested on the fast, light passenger trains on the Hamburg - Lubeck line.

The second drawing is official! It shows No. 19 1001 as built, and I hope it will be clear enough to give an idea of its layout. In this case there were four pairs of driven wheels, each with a steam motor, and a single pair of carrying wheels fore and after. The photograph shows the locomotive not quite completed, with the side sheeting that would normally conceal the wheels and steam motors. The latter were on alternate sides: the leading pair and the third pair have the motors on the far side, whilst the second and fourth pairs have then where they can be clearly seen, with the cylinders in a ‘V’ formation above the casing containing the driving gear. The motors were fixed securely to the main frames, and the connection to each driven axle was through a flexible ‘Pawelka’ coupling to allow for the essential vertical movement of the wheel and axle box assemblies.

No. 19 1001 at the Henschel works, not quite completed, with the side plating removed to show two ‘V-Motors’ to drive the first and third pairs of wheels; the second and fourth are driven by identical motors on the far side.

I have another interesting drawing, but only in ‘transparency’ form, which is a part section of one of the motors, and shows a lot of interesting detail. But it is a deliberate deception, as it shows a rudimentary valve gear that would not allow for the engine being reversed, nor the point of ‘cut-off’ of steam supply to the cylinders being adjusted for economical working, a feature of all locomotives since quite early days. Long after 19 1001 had met its end, I was told that Henschel regarded the valve gear as a top secret, and it has never been published by them. We shall see how it came about that the Americans had the chance to know!

Henschels great works have no direct connection to the main line railway, and so all locomotives have had to travel on a section of line through the streets of the city of Kassel for some 2 km. Normally they go alone, but 19 1001 had only one steam motor fitted when it ran its first test, to the main station and back - just to see that it worked - although there had been bench tests a-plenty; ‘just in case’ it was accompanied by a works shunting engine to haul it in should anything go wrong - but all was well.

Test runs showed that some adjustments were called for to lower the excessive consumption of coal and water; this done it went into regular service, and from time to time showed up one of the snags of independently driven pairs of wheels. This engine had an adhesion weight on its four axles about 18 tonnes more than that of the normal ‘Pacifics’, yet it was sometimes quite unable to re-start its train if stopped on a rising gradient. This is because a given weight for adhesion is less effective with uncoupled wheels, as any pair can spin independently if it gets on a slimy bit of rail; when this happens it takes more than its fair share of steam, and so is receiving little help from the other driven wheels. In the U.K. I have seen the same trouble on early diesel-electric locomotives; here the diesel power unit drives a generator, in its turn supplying current to traction motors mounted on each axle: spin a pair of current wheels, and the current will do what the steam did on 19 1001. Diesel and electrical engineers, with modern technology, including the use of computers, have long solved the ‘slipping’ problem, but it was not done for steam.

Tests over, 19 1001 went into regular service on fast trains, loaded up to about 650 tonnes, on the main lines from Hamburg to Berlin, and Hamburg to Osnabruck. Other than the problem mentioned, it did well enough, and in peace time there could have been developments, but 19 1001 was, in August 1944, the victim of damage from an Allied air attack. It was not beyond repair, but was left for peace to break out, in May 1945; it was not long before the US Army Transportation Corps were around the Henschel works, and the order was given that 19 1001 should be put into working order again. It was done, and witnessed by my friend the late Dennis Carling, and - of all surprises - it was shipped to the U.S.A. to be examined as to how it worked, at an establishment at Fortress Monroe (Virginia). I suspect it was never steamed, but just examined, that valve gear as well! But no real interest was shown, and it was finally broken up there in 1952. A strange end indeed.

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Social Commentary by Khai Khem

In Defence of the Postal System

That time of year has come when the whiners about Thailand’s mail service begin to surface (as though there were not enough things in life to complain about). Perhaps some of the mishaps with mail are due more to a lack of understanding of how the system works than a dereliction of duty involving the postman.

I realise that there are those who are extremely attached to their incoming missives and pension cheques, but would you believe there are people who actually think the deliveryman tosses the mail into an empty field, and speeds off to an early lunch? Those individuals who are having problems will dispute this; but the Thai postal service is one of the things in Thailand that actually works very well. We even get mail delivery on Sundays! Imagine that in England or Australia.

In defence of the Thai mail service, most people I know receive their mail without incident. My maid receives letters from countries as far flung as Gabon and Morocco, Moscow and Nova Scotia, with the cash still inside them. She has wonderfully catholic tastes in paramours; which is a blessing, since she could never survive on the wages I pay her. I, myself, never actually receive letters. However, I do receive bills. Kilos of them every year. If any one is interested, you can use your American Express card in Kazakhstan, and the bill will be waiting in your letterbox here in Thailand, before you return.

Since all people living in the developed democracies think those of us residing in the “Third World” are living in coconut trees and wearing sarongs, friends and relatives send floods of “care” packages for us. One Thai friend has a cousin who sends him a year’s supply of underwear every year from Germany. Apparently the Germans don’t realise that no one with any brains would wear underwear in the tropics. If you doubt that, just observe the crowds gathered at the bottom of the escalators in our large shopping centres. It is also the reason why the administration of Bangkok prevents vendors from hawking near the Skyway stations.

The domestic service is as predictable and constant as the international type. The Thai Post Office serves as a bank for the locals who would rather trust their monthly remittances to up-country families to their local post office, than a wire-transfer from any of those now defunct finance companies, or the Thai Banks which are now under what is mirthfully known as “rehabilitation”. It may be “snail mail” but it is “safe as houses”. Sorry! That is an unfortunate choice of phrase in this depressed property market.

Perhaps a few tips on how to use the system successfully would be in order for those who are having a bumpy patch with the mail. Be certain of your proper address in both Thai and English. Find out what the house registration lists as the address. Then choose a post office nearest your home or office. Find out from the Post Master at that branch if you have your address correct. These people speak English and will be happy to help you. Get to know the people who serve you at your nearest P.O., if you have complaints, they can help sort them out. Any letters or parcels which are particularly important should be registered. The EMS service is reliable.

Those who receive mail from other countries need to make certain that the people who are on the other end get your address correct. I have seen the letters friends receive from all over which have countless inconsistencies on the face of the envelope, and it still arrived. It is, however, a good idea not to leave these things to chance.

A word of advice to residents living in Chonburi Province is pertinent at this point. Any of us who are expecting mail from the West Coast and Southwestern states of the USA should be aware of a strange coincidence. For the past few years, the American states have been changing their postal codes. Many letters and parcels which are sent to addresses in Chonburi simply disappear into the cosmos. We never receive them, nor are they returned to the sender. A drawn out survey and a little detective work on my part produced a reward. Apparently there is an obscure state in the southern part of the USA with a similar postal prefix as our Chonburi, 20260. Since most of the US postal workers in that region are Spanish speaking, they usually sort the mail by numbers. So if we want to receive mail from that area, we need to delete our zip code altogether and just include Chonburi, THAILAND.

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The Computer Doctor

by Richard Bunch

From Jerome, Paris: As a frequent visitor to Pattaya, I read your column regularly on the Internet. I know there are many CD rippers available to rip audio CD’s, in fact there are so many, I don’t know which one is best. I have downloaded several demo/trial versions from the Internet but haven’t been very impressed yet. They all seem to have failings, slow, poor quality, and unfriendly user interface, hence me turning to you. Can you help?

Computer Doctor replies: Indeed there are so many of these products around I agree it is difficult to find one to suit. Some merely rip to a WAV file, while others rip to a WAV file then convert using either internal or external converters to MP3, then the best in my opinion rip and convert directly to MP3. And the best of the latter is I believe Music Match Jukebox now at version 6. This will rip and convert an average CD in around 5 minutes on a reasonably specified computer. The user interface is friendly and informative and options are easy to set. Presets allow you to record MP3 at either 128 or 160kbps in CD quality, 96kbps in near CD quality and 64kbps in Radio quality, whilst custom options give further options for the real enthusiast. With an Internet connection available, then the integral CDDB lookup facility will quickly fill in the Artist, Title, Album, etc. from its database. Of course some of the more obscure titles may not be available so you will have to type the details in; once done you can help your fellow man by uploading the details to the CDDB database.

As well as being an excellent recorder, it is also a fairly well rounded player, with available formats of MP3, M3U, Windows Media Player, Shoutcast, Music CD’s and Secure Music. An integral Graphic Equaliser and plug-ins are available to enhance listening pleasure. The player can be downloaded from www.musicmatch.com

No doubt many readers are thinking of Christmas, and the New Year, and possibly you will be purchasing a new computer. If you are, please give some consideration to also purchasing a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). These relatively inexpensive units will protect your system from over and under current, both of which can cause serious damage to a PC’s components. Of course such damage is not covered by warranty and often insurance policies do not cover. Even if not buying a new PC, if your old PC isn’t protected, then you too should give serious consideration to purchasing one.

Send your questions or comments to the Pattaya Mail at 370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, 20260 or Fax to 038 427 596 or E-mail to [email protected] . The views and comments expressed within this column are not necessarily those of the writer or Pattaya Mail Publishing.

Richard Bunch is Managing Director of Action Computer Technologies Co., Ltd. Providing professional information technology and Internet services which includes; custom database and application development; website design, promotion and hosting; domain name registration; turnkey e-commerce solutions; computer and peripheral sales service and repairs, networks (LAN & WAN) and IT consulting. For further information, please e-mail [email protected]  or telephone/fax 038 716 816 or see our website www.act.co.th  

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Sea Worlds : Discoveries

by Apichart

For the first millennium of mankind’s navigation of the seas, we only skimmed the surface. Ferdinand Magellan was the first, as far as we know, to attempt a sounding of the open ocean. After negotiating the dangers of the strait which bears his name, Magellan lowered a sounding lead on all the line he had. It became part of the great navigator’s legacy, the circumnavigation of the globe via water.

The most important scientific voyage in history, after Sir Charles Darwin’s in H.M.S. Beagle, was that of H.M.S. Challenger, lead by Sir Wyville Thomson. The Challenger’s odyssey began in 1872 and covered nearly 70,000 nautical miles in 42 months. This journey gave the world its first intimation of the reality of the deep ocean. This expedition cost so little, but produced monumental results for human knowledge. According to Thomson, and to most biologists of that time, further than 1,800 feet below the oceans’ surface, either lack of light or hydrostatic pressure would prevent life from existing.

Agile basket star

Some of their calculations of physics on the characteristics of the deep were correct. About the tenacity and the adaptability of life under the sea, they were entirely wrong. However, information gathered on this expedition and the theories which followed were the mainstay of the scientific community’s mindset until well into the 20th Century. William Beebe’s bathyscaphe, based on a steel balloon, and the submersibles which followed, changed the way in which oceanographers were able to gather information. New technology would help to destroy the myth of the abyss as totally void of life. In the 1960s a conceptual revolution, the theory of plate tectonics, changed the way earth scientists thought. According to this theory, new sea floor is continually forming in regions where the continents drift or divide. Sliding and colliding, separating and fragmenting, great trenches are forming, and volcanoes and vents are being created. New species and sub-species are being discovered where no life was thought to be.

Until 1979 and the discovery of warm currents rising from volcanic vents between the Galapagos Islands and the continent of South America, the current dogma was that which supposed that all food chains lead downward from photosynthetic plankton. Yet, here on the bottom of the sea floor in this region, primary production was running wild. Colonies of limpets, clams, mussels, and forests of long white tube worms were clustering thickly around these hydro-thermal springs formed around the vents. This was in absolute contradiction of the theory of photosynthesis. It turned out that the hydrogen sulphide rising from the sea floor vents produced a process called chemosynthesis; the basis of the food chain. The sea surrenders her secrets slowly. And scientific study of the deep has just begun.

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Guide to buying a small dog: Scottish Terrier

by C. Schloemer

Good Points: straight forward and honest, reliable temperament, fine watchdog, utterly loyal, home-loving

Take Heed: has little time for strangers, best for a childless couple or unattached owner, or a family with older children

The Scottish Terrier or Scottie has been aptly described as a gentleman. It is an honest dog that will not look for trouble, but upon finding it will always fight fairly. It has a devoted nature and makes a priceless companion for its owner. Unfortunately, it has little time for strangers and is not an ideal choice for a family with small children. This breed is not enamoured with tiny, grasping hands which pull ears and tail, and it may defend itself. This is not to say that there are not Scotties living in happy families with kids. It really depends on how young the puppy is introduced into the family and how educated the family is on the particular characteristics of this breed. Well behaved children who understand that kindness and respect are due the family pet will find this dog a fine friend.

The Scottie makes a fine watchdog and is completely loyal and loving. His temperament is predictable and although a bit wilful in early training, this pet is very willing to please an attached owner. Altogether, this breed is a beautiful and sporty little animal and a joy to own. It is also an ideal choice for the elderly who want a loving companion.

Size: Weight: 8.6-10 kg. Height: 25-28 cm.

Exercise: The Scottie loves nothing more than being outdoors and it would be wrong to deprive it of romps in the garden or regular walks several times a day. Therefore, apartment life in a crowed city may not be the happiest of environments for this breed unless the owner has plenty of time to take it along to a nearby park. Being shut up all day in apartment while the owner is at work is not a suitable life for the Scottie. A life in the countryside or a suburban home with plenty of space would satisfy this dog. This is an energetic little dog and loves a good ball game or a stick to fetch and carry.

Grooming: Grooming the Scottish Terrier is not a difficult task. The only equipment needed is a stiff brush and a comb. Old hairs should be removed with finger and thumb, allowing the undercoat to come through. The Scotties fine beard should be brushed daily and trimmed in spring and autumn.

Origin and History: The Scottish Terrier, once known as the Aberdeen Terrier, and generally known as the Scottie, has existed in various forms for many centuries, but it was not until after 1800 that line breeding began. The first Scottish Terrier Club was formed in Scotland in 1892, when a standard was laid down for the breed.

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Secrets of The Hand : The Life Line

by Anchalee

One of the most important lines on the hand is the Line of Life. To achieve anything, people need longevity. It is the base without which every other thing is futile. Life is dependent on health, and good health is essential. Thus long life means good physique for a long time. Considering this as a base, all palmists concentrate their attention and study on the longevity revealed in the art of interpreting the lines of the palm by first studying the Line of Life.

Another important mount on the hand is the Mount of Venus. The Mount of Venus has on it the great palm arch, which is regarded as being closely connected with the heart, stomach, and other such vital organs. Because of this, it is reasonable to conclude that the Life Line indicates the length of life as intended by nature, and health conditions, whether good or bad during the period of life.

Years of events can be read from this line. It must be stated that a long Life Line does not necessarily mean a long life. There are many instances where people with a very long Life Line die prematurely. In such cases, it is to be assumed that unfavourable marks were found on other parts of the hand. Palmists also verify events from the marks and signs seen elsewhere on the hand; for example, the very important Line of Health. Our life depends on our health, and those who waste their vital forces of health come to an early end.

The Line of Health is the most capricious of lines and it changes frequently according to our fears, becoming deeper or fading. If one considers from the point of view of health, the Life Line represents the person’s vital organs. When the Line of Life is well traced, deep, long, even and well coloured, and free from breaks and irregularities, this denotes a robust constitution, great vitality, and will enjoy supremely good health throughout his life. This line indicates the degree of vital forces which move the body and create in us the qualities of emotional responsiveness, sympathy, and kindness. People with a well developed mount of Venus encircled by a Line of Life have been found to have a strong animal like passion. Those with a flat, narrow mount of Venus girdled by the Life Line are cold and unresponsive.

The Life Line on the right of the hand indicates the coming events concerning health, career and life’s milestones. On the left hand, it indicates the strength of the constitution of the body, heredity tendencies of life and health, and the length of the life of his family, and his parents. Therefore, it is advisable to examine the lines of Life, Health, Heart, Head, and Fate, and the thumb before the palmist comes to conclusions about the length of life of a person. If satisfactory evidence is found, one can safely expect the subject to live to an old age. Shortness of the Life Line denotes short life.

The breadth of the Life Line shows abundant strength, while its depth relates to people who have more willpower. It is the deeper line that enables the subject to pull through and live under the strain of ill health. A broader, but more shallow line shows a tendency to collapse and does not have much power to resist. A very broad line indicates muscular strength rather than strength of will. When the Life Line is thick and red, it implies violence and brutality. If the line is thin or fades out at any point, with a darkish spot, it points to death. When the Life Line is chained in tiny circles, ill health will be the lot of this person. However, a well traced line coming out into a sweeping circle of the palm downward toward the wrist, a very long life can be anticipated.

Any breaks in its course are an unfavourable sign. Breaks on the Line of Life should be verified on both hands. If a Life Line is laddered for any length, it is a certain sign of lingering illness. When these irregularities are noted on the left hand, the palmist will evaluate the right hand very closely for signs of correction and a better outcome. There are vicissitudes in life and health which can be out lived or treated, insuring happier results.

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Forgotten Classics

by Mott the Dog

Forgotten Classics will be a series of articles on CD’s re-released from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Ian Hunter

***** 5 Star Rating

Track Listing
1. Once Bitten Twice Shy
2. Who Do You Love
3. Lounge Lizard
4. Boy
5. 3000 Miles From Here
6. The Truth The Whole Truth and Nuthin’ But The Truth
7. It Ain’t Easy When You Fall
8. Shades Off
9. I Get So Excited

This excellent album comes across as a live set. Ian Hunter joins up with ex David Bowie axe man Mick Ronson to create a blistering Rock ‘n’ Roll album, brushing aside the mourning of the recently demised Mott the Hoople, who Hunter had fronted for the past five years.

The album commences with the classic “Once Bitten Twice Shy” with the Hunter trademark “Allo”. This was a worldwide hit single for Ian, then later covered by Great White and taken to the top of the U.S. charts, followed in rapid succession by two funky rockers about life on the road.

Closing what in the days of vinyl was the last trackside one is “Boy”, probably the most emotional song Ian had written to that point, warning the Rock generation of the perils of the high life, probably dedicated to David Bowie, Ariel Bender or you.

“3000 Miles From Here” is a wonderfully tongue in cheek ode to groupies.

From here on its power/Rock ‘n’ Roll with Geoff Applby/Bass, Peter Arnesen/Keyboards and Dennis Elliot later of Foreigner/Drums laying down a rock steady beat for Hunter & Ronson to throw down their wares. There’s a brief respite while Hunter lays his soul bare with “Shades Off” until Ronson comes crashing back in to take you hurtling along the tracks like a runaway express train to the end of the aptly titled “I Get So Excited”.

This album probably contains some of the best songs ever written by Ian Hunter and the guitar playing of the sadly departed Mick Ronson is terrific throughout.

To contact Mott the Dog try e-mail : [email protected]  

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Coins of the Realm: Coins for Christmas

by Jan Olav Aamlid - President - House of the Golden Coin
http://www.thaicoins.com

Beginning in 1980, the Isle of Man, a dependency of the British Crown located in the Irish Sea, has been issuing special coins for Christmas. Why Isle of Man, as far as I know, is the only one issuing Christmas coins might seem strange. The population of the Isle of Man is close to 70,000, and every year the Isle of Man issues several thousands of commemorative coins.

One might ask if all the 70,000 people on the Isle of Man are coin collectors, and if that is the place to go if you want to be a coin dealer? But the chief industries of the Isle of Man are agriculture, dairy farming, fishing and tourism. Coin collecting is not mentioned. But I have heard that it is attractive to have your company on the Isle of Man when tax is due.

After looking into to the possibilities of starting a coin trading company there, I found that it would not be too difficult to get a company registered. But market research shows that not many of the inhabitants are coin collectors, and it might be hard to make a living selling coins only to the locals and the tourists on the island. I also found out that the coins for the Isle of Man are produced at a private mint in England; the Pobjoy Mint.

The coins for the Isle of Man are produced in a great variety. For instance, cat lovers can build up a collection of cats from around the world. Naturally, the first cat (produced) on a coin from the Isle of Man was the Manx cat. It was a crown from 1970, issued in 150,000 pieces. In 1975 another crown was issued in 35,000 pieces, also with the Manx cat. In 1980 another crown with the Manx cat was issued, this time in unlimited edition.

And after this follows crowns in unlimited editions of the Persian cat, alley cat, Norwegian cat, Siamese cat, Maine coon cat, furry cat, Japanese bobtail cat and Turkish cat in 1995. I am sure in the recent years more cats have been produced.

The Isle of Man does not seem to have the same interest for dogs. In the catalogue I could only find one dog, issued for the Year of the Dog, 1994. It is a nice Pekingese, made in unlimited edition, and in copper-nickel the catalogue price is about 250 baht. All the cats are listed around that price in copper-nickel, but if you want the dog or cat coins in silver, expect to pay a little more than a 1,000 baht.

Here I have only mentioned dogs and cats from the Isle of Man, but if the small one in the family wants a seal, deer, kangaroo, Tasmanian devil or some other animal for Christmas, just buy a coin from the Isle of Man, they are clean and easy to feed.

Back to the Christmas coins from the Isle of Man. The motifs for the more than 20 years the Christmas coins have been issued have not necessarily had something to do with Christmas. There have also been cars, planes, trams, motorbikes, ships and trains. I suppose it is not easy to find a new Christmas motif that fits a coin for so many years. Anyway, Christmas is written on the coin, the face value is 50 pence, and the catalogue value is less than 100 baht.

The Christmas coins can also be bought inserted into a Christmas card, and one can be sure that the recipient of the card will take good care of it. It might increase in value sometime in the future.

I wish my readers long life and Happy New Year.

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Women’s World : Gooseflesh?

by Lesley Warner

I think sometimes we spend so much time on our face that we forget the rest of the body ages at the same rate, sometimes even quicker. Take a look at your hands, elbows, legs and feet, not so good eh? You suddenly realise how much maintenance there is to keeping the ‘old body’ looking good; it’s a wonder that there’s time to do anything else! Here are a few tips:

If your knees are darker than the rest of the leg, mix lemon juice, curd and wheat flour, make it like a paste and apply, remove after 5 minutes.

Soak legs in warm water for 5 minutes and rub with pumice stone. Apply cold cream.

Apply white petroleum jelly on feet to remove dry skin.

Use 10 drops of sandalwood oil in 100ml coconut oil or olive oil and massage your legs or the entire body just before your bath. This one is great and makes your skin feel lovely, just be careful as you slide into the bath.

Waxing or shaving too often can result in gooseflesh or ugly goose bumps that spoil the shape of legs. Do this massage more often. Start at the ankles and work your way towards the top of the thighs with a rotary action using lots of soap. Then wash. Dry your legs with a towel using a strong upward motion from your feet. Then massage in good hand and body lotion or baby oil while the skin is still warm and the pores are open, so that the skin gets well nourished. Concentrate a bit more on the knees and rough heels, as these require more attention.

Soak feet for 10 minutes in warm water to which salt has been added. Remove and scrub dry, especially between the toes. This is the easiest way to relax tired feet. Mix a few drops of lemon juice in Vaseline and apply gently on cracked heels.

Here are a few simple exercises to improve calves, thighs and leg muscles.

For the calves, stand absolutely straight with your hands on your hips and your legs together. Now keep your spine straight and bend only the knees until you assume a squatting position. Hold it there to the count of four and rise slowly, keeping your spine as straight as possible. Repeat this exercise at least ten times.

To slim your thighs, firstly lie flat on the floor and then draw your knees up towards your chest. Now push your legs up in the air and keep them as straight as you can. Slowly start moving your legs as if you are riding a bicycle. Do this about 5-6 times and then repeat the movements at a fast speed for another 5-6 times. Repeat the whole routine 5-6 times, including the slow and fast movements.

To improve leg muscles, firstly sit straight in a chair. Your back should be absolutely erect. Keep your feet on the floor and slowly stretch your legs out as far as possible. The feet and knees should be together. Now raise your legs until your feet are off the floor and your knees are completely straight. Keeping this position, bend the feet towards you, pushing your heels out as far as possible and then point the toes down as much as you can. Do both these movements about six times each. Now relax. For the next step, raise your feet once again, and keeping them together, turn them outwards until the soles support each other. Then turn them inwards until the ankles and big toe joints touch each other. Repeat each of these movements six times and relax.

To exercise your feet sit in a chair, press your toes down hard on the floor as if making knuckles with your toes. But do not let them curl under. Relax and repeat a few times.

Sit on the edge of a chair with your heels resting on the floor, spread the toes wide and then relax them. Repeat 10 times.

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