Henry Fuller and Ian Parkin, where are you? I've just spent 30,000b on a new computer and I'd much, MUCH rather have bought you both tickets to Thailand. One way tickets!

Production-wise, I was told that our computer (which a mere 5 years ago was an all singing and dancing wonder of modern electronics) was on its knees and in imminent danger of blowing its brains out. Myself and the person who really knows how to operate it were at exactly the same risk! So as I sadly lost touch with Henry and Ian 23 years ago, the only alternative was to buy an expensive new box of soon-to-be-outdated whizz-trickery.

Way back then, these 2 stalwarts of pre-computerised production wielded paper, photos, glue and rulers and assembled every week (WEEK, not month!!) the editorial of Britain's biggest car magazine, a sophisticated 70-odd page compilation of colour and black and white which sold to 145,000 people.

The genial, grey-haired Henry and earnest, bearded Ian didn't freeze or hang, they didn't stop to open windows, they didn't lose files or bring viruses into the office - and they never pretended that they could do mammoth tasks which were actually impossible. They just got on with their work cheerfully and well and

WHERE ARE THEY AND THEIR LIKE NOWADAYS? Killed off by these expensive, short-lived, sneaky, alleged high-tech boxes on which we've all become far too reliant!!

Well not killed off literally of course. Henry I'm sure was the luckiest, drifting off into blissfully unaware retirement just as the men downstairs were unloading the big Japanese boxes. It's poor young Ian I feel sorry for, having to put his glue and scissors away for ever and struggle to adapt to the insane silver screen. If by any chance you read this, mate, get over here and let's try turning back the clock!

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest before those nice young men in their clean white coats came along to take me away.

In Good Morning's Good News Department this month we serve up yet another exclusive feature, a very sane silver screen story about the recent visit of a Hollywood favourite to film elephants. Elsewhere there are old and new restaurants to celebrate, while Riverbank Stone serves up another down to earth report - this time on Isaan - which I'm sure will NOT be turned into a travel documentary.....

But it was Night Fowl who really caught my eye this month. It's rare to find him on a sobering note, but don't miss the seriousness of his remarks re people who expire out here. He knows lots of folk, but 27 is a lot to toast as Absent Friends over less than 7 years - and he's grumbling that there's probably a 28th that he's overlooked. This deserves a follow up and we're already working on it. Be careful out there!

TOP SECRET: Meg Ryan Hits Chiangmai!

The inside story of a Hollywood star's visit to Chiangmai - and some very rare photos!

David Hardy

Chiangmai and the North

Isaan - a rough guide

My Chiangmai

David Hardy

The Drinks Page

Night Fowl

Letters

Heart to Heart

Mountain People of Northern Thailand

THE LUA

Cabbages & Condoms Go International

The condom-making, cabbage-farming tycoon is now going into Australia and Romania with his amazing recipe (...).

MISS SENGSON. I am a 35 year old Thai woman, 49kgs weight, 152cms tall and single. My interests are travel, cooking, reading and more (...).

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