UK | Travel and Life in Thailand

Favour Swap Shop – a Great Idea For The New Age

Jul 192010

Ian, bit of a nutter but salt of the earth, good idea mate!

I’ve long said that we have got far to ahead of our selves and there is much about the modern way of life that has been fast destroying our communities. So I am very happy to have heard from an old workmate of mine, in the UK, about his new website which offers a step back from the usual consumerism. Take a step back in time to the days of barter and neighbourlyness. This wonderful site gives a modern day platform for people to ask for help, from people in their community, in return for either money or like favours or maybe goods of some sort. There is also a swap section.

Its early days for the website and I know that its creator, Ian, wants to expand and improve the concept in time. At the moment it is UK based but I know that if the interest is there Ian would like to see it go world wide. One of the great things with this site is that it also plans to assist Charities by donating a percentage of all transactions to Charities chosen by the customers.

I think that we all know that, although we would like our governments to do more, if we really want to regain proper civilised communities it is up to us to do something about it. I truely believe that the ideas behind this website offer some assistance towards this aim. Take a look and spread the word:)

All Change At The Brick Road Cafe

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Apr 242009

Actually its not really all change, the staff remain, but myself and Somboon have now ended our time running the Brick Road.
Coming, as I did , from the ‘Care’ sector in the UK, my time helping out at a childrens home in Lamphun, pulled me into getting away from business and back to the sort of work I love.(more on that soon).
So, The Brick Road Cafe is now in the hands of Mr Dimitri Coulon, a French ex-merchant seaman, who promises big changes in decor, has plans for some very interesting specialities on the menu and some beers rarely found in Chiang Mai.
No doubt you are likely to see me or Boon or both of us popping in there when we are town.
As you can imagine there will be some changes to this site, but don’t worry we are not disappearing. The title banner will soon revert to the original, Travel and Life in Thailand, and when I have the time I will continue to add more and more information on places to go , eat and stay.
Look out for upcoming features on the Chiang Mai University language programmes and volunteer opportunities here in Chiang Mai.

Ornothology In Chiang Mai- a Childhood Pastime Revisited.

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Jan 152009

black-drongo As a young child I already had a love for nature and as well as getting hold of every wildlife and nature tome I could find, I became a member of the Young Ornithologists in the UK.

On a local level , in my home town of Worcester in the West Midlands, I often spent time, in a small wood close to my home, ‘on guard’ at a Kestrels nest, ready to report possible egg poachers.

As I entered my teens Punk Rock came along and I became far too busy being a rebel.

Recently that fascination for our winged friends has been revitalised on my road trips around Chiang Mai.

Who could be surprised, with the huge variety of bird life here in Chiang Mai. On my most resent trip out I was fortunate enough to spot four different species in one tree , out near Mae Rim; and doubly fortunate to have my friend Ally there with her bird book for identification.

To share this good fortune, I will shortly be posting reports with those birds that I am lucky enough to catch on camera. This one is a Black Drongo.