Showing 1 - 10 of 16
A missing item in the rural soundtrack
Roger Crutchley, Published on 18/01/2026
» As usual at this time of the year I have been enjoying life in the Northeastern province of Chaiyaphum for several weeks. However on this visit there was something slightly different which I couldn't immediately put my finger on. It took a few days before realising I was not being woken up by the usual early morning chorus of roosters or chickens of any sort.
The art of choosing the right words
Roger Crutchley, Published on 09/03/2025
» The word "diplomacy" has been making frequent appearances on newspaper pages in recent days and unless you have been in hibernation there is no need to explain why.
Thai casinos are looming, you can bet on it
Roger Crutchley, Published on 08/09/2024
» It seems the Thai authorities are determined to open casinos as part of a large entertainment complex. The casino debate has been going on for decades during which an estimated 100 committees have been set up to mull, ponder, reflect, ruminate and even excogitate the pros and cons only to decide not to come to a decision.
Going bananas over the 'Day-O' song
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 07/05/2023
» The recent death of the gifted Jamaican-American singer Harry Belafonte at the age of 96 inevitably sparked memories of when his biggest hit "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" swept the globe, including Britain.
It seemed a good idea at the time
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 27/11/2022
» The annual elephant festival in Surin attracted more than the usual attention last week after featuring an attempt to enter the hallowed Guinness Book of Records. Alas, the only record achieved was that hundreds of student "volunteers" roasted in the sun, exposed for hours to high temperatures reaching 39C.
Warning: It's blowing a hoolie out there
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 24/04/2022
» Part of the ceiling of our small carport was blown off by a freak gusting wind recently. No great drama but this minor incident served as a reminder of just how powerful the wind can be, even an insignificant "Bangkok gust". I am truly thankful not to have experienced tornadoes like those in the US which must be terrifying.
Welcome to the year's merriest month
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 02/05/2021
» We are already in the merry month of May, not that there's much to be merry about these days.
Full of beans, but feeling a bit guilty
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 21/03/2021
» With all the tasty food available in Thailand it might seem to be sacrilege that on occasions I am partial to tucking into a bland plate of baked beans on toast. If I haven't tried it for a while it almost feels like a treat. It must be something to do with my heritage, because in Britain more than two million cans of baked beans are consumed every day. That's quite scary.
Elton, a madman and a ghetto blaster
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 07/07/2019
» During the early 1970s, my main source of recorded music in Bangkok was a little shop called Rex Records on Phetchaburi Road. In addition to having a decent collection of vinyl albums, it also provided a useful service by transposing albums onto cassette tapes which was then the most common form of listening to music.
News that is driving us all up the wall
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 20/01/2019
» Just as most Brits must be sick to death of ever hearing the word Brexit, across the Pond one suspects the majority of Americans have also had more than their fill of The Wall. You can't escape those dreaded words even here in Thailand. Switch on the satellite news and you will be bombarded by the two topics, analysed by every expert in the world, most of whom happen to have just written a book on the subject.