Mekong

It sounds like your wife Synched her iPhone 5 to iTunes using the old 4S info, iTunes will show the phone serial number. With OSX / iCloud / Time capsule it is simple to recover but to be honest I am not sure how to go about it with windows. There will be a version of iTunes linked to the iPhone 5 but not being a windows person I could not tell you where to look for it.

I am begining to wonder if this is a Thai trait, Thai women in my experience always throw things in a fit of temper. All I did was reformat the phone and she thought that I had lost all of her data hence her hissy fit, within 10 minutes of getting the repaired phone home everything was back in place from my Time Capsule. Honestly on some occasions I don't believe that Thai females have the brains they were born with, on the plus side she admitted she was wrong and paid for the repairs. DOH did she not think I have a back up of everything.

Are you on UK or BKK? Loads of places in MBK do screen replacement for a reasonable price not that I have dropped mine too often and cracked the screen. I did have an old 3GS repaired last week, (she threw it at me in a temper fit) Home button, Power Button and a new Battery, 1,500 Baht and one hour later I walked out with a new phone.

IMHO the original wine Connection was / is in Silon district whiin the parking lot behind coyotes, Starrtbucks and Molly Malones on Soi Convent. it has been there for well over 10 years now.

Huumlaar Same as you mate, I have heard and used the phrase for over 20 years now knowing the meaning of it but not the literal translation, up until a few days ago.

Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Seen it more than a dozen times but it still cracks me up Guy Richie's best, who the hell can cast Vinny Jones (an ex UK Football Hardman) with the lines "He beat him to death with a rubber dildo" In typical Richie fashion the movie hops from scene to scene but the continuity is via the soundtrack which for this movie he chose 100 Mile City by Ocean Colour Scene, anyone who listens to this without remembering the movie is a liar. (unless you are unfortunate enough to have never seen the movie) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yxp3D7NJ04

Well, it was bound to happen one day and today it did, the ex and I crossed paths, I live in Sathorn District of Bangkok and she works in the same area so it was inevitable, surprised it did not happen sooner to be honest. I was out for dinner with my Lady Friend (Girlfriend sounds stupid when closing on fast at 50) and her brothers, enjoying a family dinner and she walked into the same place, to make matters worse the only free table was next to mine, I bit my tongue and enjoyed my own company until the Check Bin landed, it was 995 THB and I made the snide remark, "Only 999,999 meals to go from what you paid me thank you and "she flipped", OK I did ask for it maybe . She grabbed my Glass, calling me a drunken bum thinking I was drinking Vodka, it was only water, I grabbed her arm and in the ensuing scuffle the liquid ended up in her face and I said "Som Naam Na", she went bright red and stomped off. My Lady Friends younger Brother and the ex's friend who hung around were literally pissing themselves laughing and I was like "Why What is so Funny" and between giggles I heard Som Naam Na. Now I have been using the phrase for over two decades now without understanding the literal translation Naam = Water Na = Face but I never understood the Som Part, To me Som = Orange (as in Naam som orange juice) so Som naam did not make sense to me but in the full context until it was explained to me last night (and why people laughing) Som ® is Orange but Som(f) is Deserve so the Thai phrase Som Naam Na literally translates to "You Deserve Water in Your Face" and the stupid ex through water in her own face, then I got the joke

The Impossible An account of a family caught up in the mayhem post Tsunami Today is the 8th Anniversary

His Daughter is also quite talented. Norah Jones (Full name Geethali Norah Jones Shanka)

No need to make visa runs http://www.thailandelite.com/membership.php

He is a Southern tosser cut him some slack hehe

The Open never has or never will be played at Gleneagles, Open 2013 will be held at Muirfield, Gullane, East Lothian Scotland, a course overlooking the Firth of Forth. The 2014 Ryder Cup will be held at Gleneagles.

Munchie, I am not sure about the Scandinavian countries but Ireland is hurting now. When the "Celtic Tiger" was at it's peak Ireland they attracted a lot of foreign investment by having low corporation tax for manufacturing industries (Intel is still building new Silicon Chip Fabrication Plants in Leixlip) and Service industries supporting "Hi-Tech" and zero tax on the movie industry. I remember when "Support Lines" were all hosted in Ireland before being off-shored to India but still the likes of Apple and Google operate there due to lower tax rates. Even the movie Braveheart was filmed mostly in Ireland. Scotland, like the rest of the UK has lost the majority of its manufacturing industry, along the Clyde alone all of the Shipyards have now disappeared along with the likes of Hastie's & Kincaid's, Howdens, Rankin & Blackmore, Rowens, and Weir's all major employers until the past 20 years but alas no more and that is just along the Clyde, sad state of affairs when the UK, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution has now become reliant on Service Industries. Another issue is that Scotland may loose its Triple A Credit rating if it was to leave the UK and as such would not be able to compete with the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man in the "Offshore Finance" Sector, best not to mention RBS. Depending who one listens too / reads some reckon that Scotland's account Surplus would increase (including Oil & Gas Revenues at todays income) where many think it may decrease by 5% or more. The topic does not concern me one way or the other but the cynic in me cannot help but question why the UK are allowing this vote now just as income from the North Sea is on the decline, could it be that the rest of the UK would be better off if Scotland voted YES? It's a rather interesting topic and if it was to effect me I would do a lot more research into the subject and vote with my head rather than my heart.

Schwartz, Cohen and Ginsburg were all close friends since childhood. They decided they wanted to go into business together. Schwartz says, "OK! I'll invest $100,000." Cohen says, "I will go for $200,000." Ginsburg says, "All right, I'll put in $1,000." Cohen says, "Since I'm putting in $200,000, I'll be the President and CEO of the corporation. Schwartz, for your $100,000, you can be Vice President and CFO. And Ginsburg, for your $1,000, you will be our Sexual Adviser." Puzzled, Ginsburg asks Cohen, "What is a Sexual Adviser?" Cohen replies, "When we want your fucking advice, we'll ask for it."

I think that the reason that the UK Goverment is now allowing the refurrrendum is due to the fall in North Sea Oil revenues, by 2020 production will only be at a third of what it was during its peak. Around 2007 the UK had to import Oil & Gas again for the first time in over 40 years. In the short term this will work OK for Scotland since they will be able to auction all rights to the sectors in their teratorial waters and take all revenue from O&G production but in the medium term of about 15 years from now I personally cannot see how it could generate enough revenue as an independent country. Just my opinion from the line of work I am involved in.

Nigeria's Information Minister Dora Akunyili told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the sci-fi movie is not welcomed in the country and that she had ordered the Nigerian film and video censors' board to ask all cinemas to stop showing it. On the reason why, Akunyili explained, "We feel very bad about this because the film clearly denigrated Nigeria's image by portraying us as if we are cannibals, we are criminals." She was referring to the scene where Eugene Khumbanyiwa's main gangster character, Obesandjo, tries to cut off and eat the arm of the film's protagonist in an attempt to gain his supernatural powers, among others. The minister also mentioned that the name of the major baddie is very similar to that of former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo. "The name our former president was clearly spelt out as the head of the criminal gang and our ladies shown like prostitutes sleeping with extra-terrestrial beings," she added.

Cavanami struggles to get up from the couch then starts putting on his coat. His wife, seeing the unexpected behaviour, asks, 'Where are you going?' He replies, 'I'm going to the doctor.' She says, 'Why, are you sick?' He says, 'Nope, I'm going to get me some of that Viagra stuff.' Immediately the wife gets out of her rocker, gets her coat out of the closet and puts it on. He says, 'Where the heck are you going'? She answers, 'I'm going to the doctor, too.' He says, 'Why, what do you need?' She says, 'If you're going to start using that rusty old thing, I'm getting a Tetanus shot.' And then the fight started....

Cheers buddha, It was an interesting experience and one I would not wish on anybody, I am just glad it is all behind me now.

Cheers dean, But of course salvaging and resurrecting my life is a net result of getting my career back on track they tend to go hand in hand. It is rather ironic that I am now back in the same Engineering house in Thailand that "Let me go" four years ago, inside I knew the reason why my contract was not renewed but it was never mentioned but this time I am back as the Client representative so now my old boss is reporting to me, gotta love it when life turns full circle. Passingthru69, You are so correct in what you say about rebuilding trust and reputation, I know I definitely burned a lot of my bridges, 30 years of such can be destroyed in six months and even though one is clean who is going to give you a chance again? I got Lucky and someone gave me my chance. My main boss now is based in Houston TX and he was concerned about things being said out of the Madrid office about me, I was working in Madrid when the ex-wife told me it was over and it did effect me hard I went on 2-3 day benders then turned up at the office next morning still pissed, I did not give a good representation of myself. I told him straight what had happened and how I had returned to Thailand and put myself into Detox and his reply was "I Don't care about your past, you are not the first and no doubt not the last, I have been down a similar road myself years ago and was given another chance, You blitzed the interview and your resume is head and shoulders above the other candidates, there are only two other people in the company know and as long as you are OK now it won't be a problem and will never be mentioned" So I have been given another chance and there is no way I am going to blow it this time. The crazy thing is was the fact that I was a functioning alcoholic, I could pass judgement and make decisions as good as or better than the next man and I got the majority of my calls spot on, in fact all of my previous employers have no problem with issuing a Technical Reference for me, but they won't issue a personal reference PT, From what I have read of your posts over the past few years you have turned your life around, you short term loss has become your long term gain, come on mate how many truckers in the States are hauling rigs across country with their Thai wife by there side who actually takes an interest in your work and enjoys being with you, not many I bet. So in return, hats off to you for turning your life around and long may it continue, nobody realises what a dark deep abyss alcoholism is until it is too late and it takes a strong mind and willpower to get out of that hole, not many of us can do it but sure as hell I want to be one of the minority just like yourself. Kong

Before that, more than likely the first date! Joking asides, it was my heavy drinking which led to Alcoholism, something I am not proud of but also something I would never deny happend. She could not tolerate my excessive drinking at the time but rather than try to help me all she did was nag all the time until she decided she had had enough when I was working overseas in Europe and threw me out lock stock and barrel. It was when I returned to Thailand that I decided to do something about it and turn my life around and ironically the ex-wife during the proceedings saw me sober and decided she wanted to have me back "give it another go" there is no way I would have contemplated going back to her after what she put me through I am better off without her. I turned my life around without her and will continue to live it as such. Don't get me wrong, I am no teetotaler who looks down his nose and sneers at people who drink, hey I still enjoy a night out and a few beers but the difference now is the fact that I can control the alcohol where as before for many years I allowed the alcohol to control me. I am not the first guy it has happened to and without doubt not the last, at least I was able to salvage and resurrect my career.

She tried for life insurance and was well pissed off when she realised that it's in my mothers name, the only woman I can trust.

Hence the reason I went after her for more than I actually Wanted / Expected, Court fees are 2% of what one is after and if settled outside of court one gets 80% back which is what happened in my scenario. It's a win win situation, she is happy at negotiating me down to 75% of my initial claim where as I would have been happy with 50% of what I was after, the old trick "How much would you settle for? Double it" Even though I have withdrawn all charges against her and her family Crown Prosecution are still pursuing a couple of them. First one is "Document Offences", I can tell the world now it's all over, she got her cousin who is a Doctor to issue a Death Certificate in my name and then sold my apartments as a widow, sorry I am still alive, Second offence is Transfer Tax, she reported to Land Registry a sale value of the Apartments at lot less than she sold them for. So, I have allegedly abandoned her in August 2553, yet she came to see me in Spain October 2553, I have been declared Persona Non Gratia in Thailand and I have been declared dead, nasty piece of work she was, this is the shit I have been through the past 16 months but I am still smiling now even though I must admit the thought of paying a hitman 20K to put a bullet in her head did cross my mind on more than one occasion but I resisted temptation. The future is bright, away from her money in the bank and now working for the biggest Oil Company in the world as resident engineer in an EPC office in Sri Racha and living in Pattaya during the week, Sweet! Top Tip, you have 12 Months to petition for divorce or the Thai partner can claim abandonment and take 100%, that's what my ex tried, I petitioned in September 2554 and she claimed I left in August 2553, I had to get a court order for her to produce her passport and Credit Card statements to prove she was in Spain with me October 2553, there were no hotel bills on her CC because she was staying with me,

Five days after the event and I am still pinching myself, I fucking beat her, Thai Chinese egotistical bitch who thought her shit did not stink took on me a thick skinned Northern Englander who works in O&G and never admits defeat, shit I get more grief at the coffee machine in the morning than she tried to give me. First she tried to get me Personna Non Gratia from Thailand, I won that, Next she stated "I get nothing I pay spouse support if I return" OK Next? She got no spouse support but paid me to keep her ass out of jail, we read many stories of "Named Thais" using their connections to beat the Jurastiction it didn't work for her but I still don't know how I won I must have an innocent face before all the Judges I had to see. I am looking forward to the next phase of my life. Kong PS KS you can now return this thread to general discussions again now the battle is over!

Cheers kamui, On numerous occasions I was tempted to just give in but I refused to give her the pleasure. The number of times I have had to listen to her Lawyer tell out and out lies in court then proceed with a character assassination of me, I am lucky I was only found in contempt of court twice over the past year or so, the Judges gave me an easy ride I think. It has been a full time job, one should never rely on a Thai Lawyer to build your case for you, it is up to the Plaintiff to get all the evidence together and build the case file which entails going to each court in turn presenting a court order and explaining to the Judge why you want it signed, they never rejected any of mine, then delivering to the parties where order is applicable I must have run up 40,000 THB in Taxi fares alone. The reason I settled for 90% is because I have just started a new job in Thailand so for one I don't have the time to invest in continuing to fight and for a second if she found out I was working here she could have been able to claim 50% of my income so she capitulated at just the right time. To be honest I don't think that the courts would have awarded me more than 75% of what I was after but she had the risk of having a criminal record and a bad credit rating for 10 years so she agreed to pay 90% as long as I dropped all charges. Most of my charges against her and her family were "Compoundable" meaning that if I withdraw the prosecution then it goes no further, things such as Misappropriation, concealing assets etc but one charge is "Non Compoundable" which is a Document Offence, She lied to Land Registry Office stating on a form that she was Single when she was Married to sell one of my properties, now if Crown Prosecution wish to procede with this charge there is nothing I can do about it. She could have paid up 16 months ago and saved me all of this hassle but she thought she was being clever so if CP decide to prosecute she has bought it onto herself, Som Nam Na! For me, I can now just get on with my life, although it has been a rather interesting experience there is no way I want to go through that again. P.S. Available for Consultations if any other BM finds themselves in the shit I was in!