Showing 1 - 10 of 14
The big black door which has no keys
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 30/10/2022
» In recent weeks whenever I have switched on the TV news bulletins I seem to have been greeted by the sight of the imposing black door at No 10 Downing Street. It must be the most photographed door in history.
Tuning in to the opening day of May
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 01/05/2022
» Well, here we are in the first 24 hours of the magical month of May. According to the dictionary, May Day is the time for "a celebration of the coming of Spring". Unfortunately, we don't experience Spring in Thailand and are still perspiring our way through the hot season, hoping Jupiter Pluvius might oblige with an occasional refreshing shower.
Tokyo finally reaches the finishing line
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 08/08/2021
» It is no secret that the build-up to the Tokyo Olympics was not exactly plain sailing, primarily due to the Covid pandemic. For a start it was a year late through no fault of its own, and was being held at the hottest and most humid time of the Japanese summer when sensible people retreat into air conditioning. It was not just by chance that when Tokyo hosted the Games in 1964 it was held in October, Japan's autumn.
Early encounters with the Nite Owl
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 18/10/2020
» A few words on former colleague Bernard Trink, who sadly passed away last week at the age of 89.
Sometimes you just have to walk away
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 03/03/2019
» The Hanoi summit may not have gone quite as smoothly as planned, but I'll leave that for the experts to dissect. One suspects the expression "sometimes you have to walk" will be widely featured in forthcoming panel discussions. Nonetheless, the summit did have its entertaining moments.
A long flight for the paper plane pilot
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 14/10/2018
» It was pleasing to see that Mong Thongdee's dream of becoming a Thai citizen appears to have finally come true. Nine years ago Mr Mong made the headlines as a 12-year-old when he won the Thailand paper plane championships. However, he was devastated after being told he could not represent the kingdom at the international tournament in Japan because he was stateless, his parents being immigrants from Myanmar.
Reaching the finish line in Rio's Games
Oped, Roger Crutchley, Published on 21/08/2016
» Because of the 10-hour time difference, it's been quite gruelling following that sporting event down in the land where "coffee beans grow by the billions" -- I still can't get that song out of my head. I can safely claim to have dozed off while watching swimming, boxing, badminton, golf (sorry Ariya) and missing far too many gold medal performances.
Stairway to a kind of heaven in Bangkok
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 10/07/2016
» The recent case in which Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant were cleared of stealing the opening riff of their massive hit Stairway to Heaven reminded me of the first time I heard a Thai band play the song in Bangkok.
'Boaty McBoatface' just wouldn't float
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 08/05/2016
» Earlier this year, Britain's National Environment Research Council (NERC) decided it would be a good idea for the public to choose the name of their new polar scientific research ship. What better example of democracy in action?
Pistol and Boo not the first shaggy dog tale
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 24/04/2016
» So Capt Jack Sparrow (alias Johnny Depp) and his dogs didn't have to walk the plank after all, following their indiscretions in Australia while filming the latest version of the never-ending Pirates of the Caribbean. It was bit of an anti-climax really -- like some of Depp's recent films.