• News & article

  Throwing the cat among the pigeons

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 30/09/2018

  » The rapidly increasing numbers of pigeons (nok pilab) has ruffled a few official feathers in Bangkok. There was bit of a flap after authorities warned that citizens caught feeding the birds would face a stiff fine, explaining the pigeons were spreading disease. These birds divide opinion, some calling them "rats with wings", others more generously "doves without the PR".

• News & article

  When shortwave radio was my best friend

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 12/03/2017

  » After 20 years the BBC is ending its foreign-language shortwave transmissions from Nakhon Sawan after failing to renegotiate its agreement with the Thai authorities. The transmissions were directed mainly at places like Afghanistan and Pakistan where radios are sometimes still the only source of news.

• News & article

  Don't think twice, Bob -- it's all right

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 23/10/2016

  » Everyone has an opinion on Bob Dylan being the first songwriter to win the Nobel prize for literature. The organisers explained Dylan was bestowed the honour "as a great poet". At the time of writing, he has yet to respond, a poet unusually lost for words.

• News & article

  Seeing red as Sgt Nop takes over lights

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 04/09/2016

  » Reports that Bangkok police have been ordered to abandon computerised traffic lights and return to manual handling have not exactly been greeted with dancing in the streets by the city's long-suffering motorists.

• News & article

  Doubtful delights of standing in line

  Roger Crutchley, Published on 03/03/2024

  » It is encouraging to learn that the Prime Minister is concerned about large queues at Suvarnabhumi airport, particularly at the arrivals area. We've all probably experienced that sinking feeling after stepping off the moving walkway and being faced by a definitely non-moving formidable queue. It is especially grim if you've just suffered an exhausting long-distance flight and are already feeling knackered.

• News & article

  There's nothing wrong in shedding a tear

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 25/09/2022

  » I admit to spending the best part of Monday afternoon stoically trying to fight off the teardrops -- and almost managing it. I was watching the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on TV and for an ancient Brit like me it was emotionally exhausting. Please excuse me for the sentimentality.

• News & article

  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.

• News & article

  Beware the TV bookshelf backdrop

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 14/02/2021

  » Since the arrival of Covid we have been accustomed to watching television programmes with pundits, politicians and celebrities interviewed in their homes, invariably with bookcases being the backdrop of choice.

• News & article

  Spivs, wide boys and dodgy kipper ties

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 22/11/2020

  » Every now and again a word pops up which I have not heard for ages. That was the case recently with an email from a London-born friend who complained about "spivs" who had contributed to ruining his local football club's finances.

• News & article

  Mullumbimby's 'Russians' in good voice

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 07/06/2020

  » A rare piece of cheerful news comes from the unlikely locale of Mullumbimby, a small Australian town in New South Wales where 28 middle-aged bearded Aussies have formed a choir, singing only traditional Russian folk and marching songs. They call themselves "Dustyesky", dress as Russian workers in cloth caps and cheekily refer to their town as Mullumgrad. Calling themselves a "fake genuine Russian choir", their stirring rendition of the Song of the Volga Boatmen is something to behold.

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