Showing 1 - 10 of 12
The last word on weird book titles
Roger Crutchley, Published on 14/12/2025
» Being somewhat old-fashioned I still love browsing in bookshops. It provides a brief escape to a completely different world, both relaxing and therapeutic. Alas it is a pleasure future generations are unlikely to experience as these days bookshops are something of an endangered species.
Let's give June a warm, wet welcome
Roger Crutchley, Published on 01/06/2025
» It's hard to believe we are already into the sixth month of the year celebrating the first day of June, a month Canadian author M L Montgomery referred to as "the pearl of summer, shining with warmth and joy."
The barrow, the guy and the carrot
Roger Crutchley, Published on 05/11/2023
» Today is the fifth of November which to many English people of my wrinkly age means Guy Fawkes Day or more likely Bonfire Night. It has very much declined in popularity since I was a kid, fighting a losing battle with the horrors of Halloween.
Brits can still put on a good show
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 14/05/2023
» Considering how depressing the world news has been lately, the coronation of King Charles III last weekend provided a brief diversion. It might not be everybody's cup of tea but the Brits certainly know how to put on a show if a bit of history is involved. They're good at pomp and pageantry and most importantly love a parade with plenty of horses.
Those wonderful signs of the times
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 22/05/2022
» For many months there had been a large green road sign near the entrance to my local mall in eastern Bangkok which read "Entrace", the second "n" having gone missing in action. It was a minor thing and I was resigned to seeing it for years to come. However, I am pleased to report the rogue "n" has surprisingly been located and now the mall has a proper "Entrance" again. Congratulations to the eagle-eyed official who spotted the missing "n".
Seducing shoppers with special offers
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 27/02/2022
» In many Bangkok retail establishments there are frequent special offers with variations on the "buy one, get one free!" theme. It is known in the trade as BOGO or BOGOF which actually sounds a bit rude. The immediate reaction to this sort of offer, especially when the word "free!" appears with an accompanying exclamation mark, tends to be "what's the catch?"
Final curtain call for grand old station
Oped, Roger Crutchley, Published on 05/12/2021
» There is some debate concerning the fate of Bangkok's 105-year-old Hua Lamphong railway station which is scheduled to close at the end of the month. Hopefully a happy compromise can be reached with the station being preserved as a museum and its immediate area a public park. The State Railway of Thailand should also be given leeway to make itself some money, even if it means yet another mall.
Don't worry, be happy … like the Finns
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 28/03/2021
» For the second year running Thailand was ranked 54th in the UN-sponsored World Happiness Report which covers 149 countries. It seems that although we have not quite descended into the depths of Les Miserables, Thai people are not exactly dancing in the streets with joy either. However, considering the Covid situation, one suspects there's not one country in the world that is particularly happy.
It's not a good time to be a statue
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 14/06/2020
» This past week has seen statues of controversial historical figures under attack around the globe. It is surprising it has taken so long. Hopefully the statues can be used for educational purposes by being placed into museums, accompanied by accurate historical accounts of what these people really did. The statues are an important reminder of an inglorious part of history. There is a possibility, however, that any statue or monument could become a target. One problem with statues is that they are quite vulnerable unless they are atop towering columns, like Nelson in Trafalgar Square.
From Billy the goat to William Windsor
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 05/04/2020
» An unexpected outcome of the coronavirus is that around the world wildlife is taking advantage of empty towns and visiting the deserted streets. One such example is in Llandudno, a resort town on the Irish Sea in northern Wales. During the past week spotted strolling around the town centre was a herd of Kashmir (Cashmere) Goats, which have been enjoying themselves dining on the town's tasty hedgerows.