Showing 1 - 6 of 6
Nose for business: Smell, sell, repeat in Thai laundry culture
Nonthawat Phakham, Published on 28/01/2026
» Have you ever felt confused buying fabric softener or detergent in Thailand? I have. Choosing these products is no longer just about scent. They now offer features like UV protection, night-dry and indoor-dry formulas, quick or expert wash options, fast-wash, anti–colour-transfer technology and multiple scent variations for each formula.
Beatniks, beards, duffel coats and music
Roger Crutchley, Published on 11/08/2024
» There seems to be daily protests going on around the world including England. It is uncomfortable witnessing in my home country scenes of bricks being lobbed through windows, doors kicked in, businesses boarded up and terrified shopkeepers pulling down the shutters. Thankfully, things appear to have temporarily calmed down and hopefully it will stay that way.
Fifty fascinating years in Wonderland
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 14/04/2019
» Having first arrived in Thailand a few days before Songkran, each year the festival approaches it sparks memories of those early days in the Kingdom. This year is slightly more significant because earlier this week marked my 50th year in Thailand, or to put it another way, roughly 18,250 days. That sounds decidedly scary. The frightening thing is that I can remember those early days better than the events of last week. The immature youth is now an immature wrinkly.
Yemen: Saudi Arabia's even bigger lie
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 26/10/2018
» While Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) frantically tries to scrub Jamal Khashoggi's blood off his hands like a Middle Eastern Lady Macbeth -- "Here's the smell of blood still. Not all the sweet perfumes of Arabia will sweeten this hand" -- could we have a word about his war in Yemen too?
Daffodils, bluebells and dodgy perfumes
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 12/08/2018
» Since it is Mother's Day in Thailand it seems an appropriate time to acknowledge the role played by mums, mae or, for North American friends, "moms". We must also not forget the madres, mamas and maters around the globe. For most of us, our mum is the best in the world, which is the way it should be. Mums are after all, quite useful. As someone once observed: "God couldn't be everywhere so he created mothers."
A lovely weekend of silly hats, headlines
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 27/05/2018
» I'm not exactly a fan of weddings, but it was almost impossible to escape last week's knees-up at Windsor Castle with ball-by-ball coverage on the major cable stations. Horses, hats, castles, queens, princesses, lords and ladies, dukes and duchesses and Elton John. Even the weather behaved. The Brits still know how to put on a good show. At least it was more entertaining than the FA Cup final which followed.