Showing 1 - 10 of 13
The lesson that was all over the map
Roger Crutchley, Published on 26/04/2026
» Last week's item regarding the wonderful world of maps and atlases sparked memories of how a map played a key cameo role during my early days in Bangkok. It was 1969 and I was teaching at a commercial college. One of the subjects I was assigned was geography. After the first lesson it was clear there was a language problem. None of the Thai class understood a word I was saying.
Those elusive influential persons
Roger Crutchley, Published on 29/10/2023
» Most intriguing news of the week is that according to a parliamentary House committee there are only 180 "influential people" in the kingdom and in 10 provinces there are none at all. For those unfamiliar with the term "influential person" in Thailand, it is usually interpreted as someone who is powerful enough not to worry about the "long arm of the law" and can go about their sometimes shady business without fear of arrest.
Overdue return to land of rocket men
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 02/07/2023
» Last weekend I found myself in the Northeastern province of Yasothon for the first time in more than 20 years. It brought back fond memories as there was a time ''Yaso" was something of a home away from home.
Those happy days of family albums
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 25/06/2023
» For most of June I have been squirrelled away in Chaiyaphum and very pleasant it has been too. There has been a fair amount of rain which is good news for our rubber trees which were looking decidedly thirsty.
Something of a cover-up on the beach
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 07/08/2022
» A "No Bikinis" sign on a Thai beach prompted a considerable debate last week although it appears to be little more than a storm in a B-cup. The sign appeared on Koh Samae San, a small Chon Buri island owned by the Thai Navy which apparently disapproves of this type of swimwear.
Come on baby, let's do the Twist
Oped, Roger Crutchley, Published on 10/04/2022
» The other day I heard on the radio Chubby Checker bursting forth with his 1960 hit 'The Twist'. It's not the greatest of songs but it sparked fond memories because it launched a dance craze which proved a social life-saver for me and many other shy teenagers.
Sunken 'ghost ship' could haunt Gulf fish
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 16/01/2022
» The week began promisingly with the discovery of a mystery "ghost ship" drifting in the Gulf of Thailand with no crew, cargo or documents aboard -- not even any defiant rodents. First spotted by Chevron oil-rig workers, the dilapidated Fin Shui Yuan 2, appeared to be a freighter of Chinese origin. Unfortunately, the vessel sunk in rough seas off the Nakhon Sri Thammarat coast while being towed towards land by the Thai Navy.
You can't escape a rural soundtrack
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 03/01/2021
» Admittedly it's is not exactly earth-shattering news, but for the first time in 20 years I haven't spent the New Year holiday in Isan (the Northeast). This was not due to any dramas, but simply a combination of factors that made it more sensible to stay in the Big Mango.
The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 03/11/2019
» Every now and again in Bangkok something triggers memories of childhood days in England. Not far from my current residence a condominium is going up called the Glendale, which was the name of my local cinema back home in Reading.
Where there's a rhyme there's a reason
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 01/09/2019
» Today we welcome in a new month, September. I have a certain attachment for the ninth month of the year for a rather simplistic reason. Whenever I can't remember how many days there are in a particular month, I still resort to the old rhyme "30 days hath September, April, June and November…" and so on. So much for my education.