Hello to all.

[Glenn Ross]

I have just re-registered on this site, I used to visit Brian's original site often. My name is Glenn Ross and I hailed from Grimsby. I spent most of the 60's & 70's at sea in one form or another. I was on deck.

I have already found one old shipmate from the 'BINSNES' (Jebsons) 1966/67 a 14 month voyage which I never wanted to end, such fantastic memories.

I look forward to remembering some of those memories through these forums. I am now retired and live in the far north of Thailand in Chiang Rai, have been here for 8 years and will see my time out in this 'old seadogs paradise'.

Best wishes, Glenn

[Neil Morton]

G'day and welcome Glenn you will recieve more formal greeting from our brethren but please tell us why your place of retirement is such a paradise.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Glen.
Wecome back, you will enjoy the new site i'm sure, so many tales, memories, and old friends to catch up with.
Cheers Des

[Glenn Ross]

Thank you Des & Neil, in answer to your question Neil.

I decided to settle in Chiang Rai after travelling extensively in S.E, Asia. I was basically looking for somewhere where I could retire to, because I did not want to live in UK or Europe after I had retired. About 10 years ago I had crossed over into Chiang Kong in N. Thailand across the Maekok River from Laos. On arriving in Chiang Rai (approx. 100k journey). I immediately felt comfortable with the, 1. climate, 2. Helpful & friendly people 3. Clean air 4. Low cost of living 5. Lack of tourism 6. Laid back attitudes 7.cheap property and land prices 8.Very cheap beer and of course the very pretty girls. I returned here a number of times during the ensuing 3 years and my love of the place grew, so I decided to drop the hook and built my house here, I have also built 2 chalets which are used by visiting family and friends. I am about a 1 hour drive from the borders with Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, and I often cross over for shopping.

Cheers, Glenn

[Frank Appleford]

Hi Glenn, our years don't quite match and I don't remember the name, welcome aboard and tell us more of the 14 month trip. There used to be some great ports out there, we will probably remember them as well. Might have had the same girlfriend lol. Look forward to hearing more Glenn.

[Glenn Ross]

Hello Frank, I joined the BINSNES in Immingham in July 1966 as EDH, I can’t remember all the ports or indeed the chronological order, but, we visited Fremantle, Bunbury, Albany, Geelong Gladstone, Brisbane and Newcastle, Kwinana in OZ. Bluff in NZ. Seattle, Wilmington, L.A. in the USA. Vancouver and Montreal in Canada remember going to Expo ’67) Takoradi, in West Africa and eventually we paid off in Bremerhaven, Germany in October 1967.
Cheers, Glenn

[Gulliver]

Thank you Des & Neil, in answer to your question Neil.

I decided to settle in Chiang Rai after travelling extensively in S.E, Asia. I was basically looking for somewhere where I could retire to, because I did not want to live in UK or Europe after I had retired. About 10 years ago I had crossed over into Chiang Kong in N. Thailand across the Maekok River from Laos. On arriving in Chiang Rai (approx. 100k journey). I immediately felt comfortable with the, 1. climate, 2. Helpful & friendly people 3. Clean air 4. Low cost of living 5. Lack of tourism 6. Laid back attitudes 7.cheap property and land prices 8.Very cheap beer and of course the very pretty girls.s. I am about a 1 hour drive from the borders with Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, and I often cross over for shopping.

Cheers, Glenn

Me too Glenn..I often don a Dusty Springfield wig and mascara and troll the aisles in Sainsbury's on a Saturday afternoon….

Your list of reasons-why Chiang Rai is such a paradise-we noticed you were very restrained and put your No.8 ,(beer and (pretty girls) almost as an afterthought -when most of us lecherous old sea dogs would have made it Number 1 !

Seriously welcome to the site-.This is reason No.9-your life is now complete then !

All the Best,
Gulliver

[Glenn Ross]

Me too Glenn..I often don a Dusty Springfield wig and mascara and troll the aisles in Sainsbury's on a Saturday afternoon….

Hi Gulliver or Hello Sailor, you would be well at home here with the Thai phenomenon that are the Lady Boys, cross dressing, gender converting boys that look very convincingly like beautiful Thai women. Some of them are significantly more believable as women than as men. Unlike Caucasian gender transitioning men, I believe some Thai boys are born with a lovely feminine bone structure. They’re a widely accepted part of Thai culture. Some Lady Boys put on cabaret style shows - probably similar to drag shows at home.

This is a photo of a very popular pop group, all men, you can be forgiven for thinking otherwise.

[Gulliver]

Hi Gulliver or Hello Sailor, you would be well at home here with the Thai phenomenon that are the Lady Boys, cross dressing, gender converting boys that look very convincingly like beautiful Thai women. Some of them are significantly more believable as women than as men. Unlike Caucasian gender transitioning men, I believe some Thai boys are born with a lovely feminine bone structure. They’re a widely accepted part of Thai culture. Some Lady Boys put on cabaret style shows - probably similar to drag shows at home.

This is a photo of a very popular pop group, all men, you can be forgiven for thinking otherwise.

Heh Heh Glenn-remarkable photo... I'll send a copy to my farming T-V cousin- Trevor,the Transvestite Tractor Driver from Trowbridge .He will be eating his heart out-just look at those white stilettos-they are to die for ! .

Sorry if you got the wrong impression-the only drag shows I like are in the photo below.

Best Regards ...enjoy your cross-overs.

Gulliver

[Clive Williams]

Hello Glen
Welcome back to the site. Chiang Rai is a great place to retire. I enjoyed my stay. The border to Burma was closed when I was there. I did an extensive tour of the country, and flew down to Phuket for the last week to have a rest!