• News & article

  History comes alive in those pub names

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 18/06/2023

  » The news has been so dull this week we might as well continue to pursue last week's investigations concerning the historical value of English pub names. If nothing else it may prompt readers to recall some of the more exotic inns where they have supped ale. It beats politics anyway.

• News & article

  French learn about their Aussie 'mates'

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 26/09/2021

  » It is encouraging to learn that it is not just Thailand that gets into deep water involving contracts over submarines. France is most upset with Australia for pulling the plug on a nuclear submarine deal, resulting in various shades of not-so-diplomatic name-calling. Standing out was the rather poignant observation from the recalled French ambassador to Australia that "what makes me sad is that we thought we were mates but we were stabbed in the back".

• News & article

  Becoming Long John Silver just for a day

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 19/09/2021

  » Important news. Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, on which everyone is encouraged to speak in the manner of a buccaneer, sea dog, corsair, picaroon or whatever you wish to call them. If you are desperate Captain Jack Sparrow impersonations will suffice.

• News & article

  When great debate went into extra time

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 05/09/2021

  » No-confidence debates like that taking place during the past week have become something of a tradition in Thailand, but it is rare for them to be successful. Perhaps the biggest excitement came some years ago when in the middle of such a debate one MP called a leading a politician a "toad", which didn't go down too well. But at least it livened up proceedings.

• News & article

  Possibly the worst job in the world?

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 01/11/2020

  » On the day Americans went to the polls four years ago the Miami Herald ran what must have been its shortest-ever editorial which simply read: "Her, Not Him, Enough Said". In light of what ensued, it must have been tempting to blame the proof-readers and come out the next day with: "Correction: Him Not Her."

• News & article

  Of lords, ladies and gentlemen

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 22/09/2019

  » Congratulations are in order to former Bangkok Post journalist Natalie Bennett who has been made a House of Lords peer and is now named Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle. Natalie, or rather Lady Bennett, who had been the leader of the Green Party for several years, was given this title in former prime minister Theresa May's resignation honours list last week.

• News & article

  Alas, the truth is still putting its boots on

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 05/05/2019

  » According to the Washington Post, last week President Donald Trump notched up his 10,000th lie or untruth since took he took office. While many of the falsehoods are admittedly trifling and others child-like exaggerations of which he is so fond, there have also been a few embarrassing "whoppers". It still works out at about 17 alleged "porky pies" a day, which takes some doing.

• News & article

  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.

• News & article

  2018: The rescue that gripped the world

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 30/12/2018

  » It ended up as a truly inspiring feel-good story, but could so easily have been a heart-breaking tragedy. That was why the tale of the Wild Boars football team -- 12 young Thai boys and their coach trapped in a flooded cave system in Chiang Rai -- held the attention of the world for more than a fortnight.

• News & article

  Wild Boars become a part of history

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 15/07/2018

  » This time last week the rescue mission of the 12 young Wild Boars and their coach had only been half completed. They had all been found miraculously alive, but the question remained how to get them out. And in all honesty, it didn't look great. It was a very strange, uncomfortable feeling. With heavy rains forecast, the initial joy of finding them transformed into the real fear that they could not escape what had become their watery dungeon. It was a race against time.

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