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Family Money: The
Year That Was - Part 2
By Leslie
Wright
Here is the review of the rest of my forecasts for
2001.
#10: The peg of the Hong Kong Dollar to the US$
remained in place, as I predicted it would. But I also predicted that the
Hong Kong economy would see modest, somewhat volatile but relatively
unspectacular growth in 2001. Well, this always volatile sentiment-driven
market in fact fared poorly this year, with the Hang Seng Index losing
some 25% of its value.
#11: I then discussed the international bond market,
and pointed out that if the US market suffered a significant correction,
then major-market bonds would perform quite well. That has in fact proved
the case.
#12: However, one area of concern at the beginning of
the year was emerging-market debt. Several countries - Argentina and
Thailand to name but two - had issued bonds for which their governments
were having difficulties finding the money to pay the dividends as they
became due.
Indeed, Argentina’s economy encountered serious
problems in 2001 - but the consolidation of Thailand’s public debt has
eased some of the pressure on the economy, and servicing its international
debt has prevented the much-feared run on the Thai Baht.
#13: On the local scene, I guessed that the
‘illegal’ structures along the Walking Street section of Beach Road
would still be there at year’s end, with much discussion having gone
back & forth between the interested parties, and a few token
extensions having been dismantled to appease the authorities and save face
all round. But the main edifices would still be there and open for
business as usual, resulting in yet more deliberations and delays to the
construction of the new jetty. Any further comment would be superfluous.
#14: On the other hand, I predicted that one or two
public toilets would be constructed along Jomtien Beach; but these would
not be up to international tourists’ expectations, so letters will have
been sent to the editor of this newspaper complaining about their size,
maintenance, and aroma (the toilets, that is, not the tourists) - and that
prediction proved correct in both aspects
The Songkran festival in Pattaya, as predicted, was
traumatic for local residents, with pick-ups roaming around town filled
with young farangs, accompanied by scantily-clad local females rented
especially for the occasion, whose idea of participation in the
merry-making involved soaking anyone within range of their high-pressure
pumps charged from 45-gallon drums of water.
#15: The long-awaited water treatment plant was finally
operational this year - but of little apparent benefit to many of us who
are not connected to it.
#16: Resurfacing works on various roads were indeed
undertaken, mostly during the rainy season, and patches laid on the
multitudinous potholes and cracks which appear with tedious regularity,
making driving about town an ever-exciting adventure ...
#17: I predicted that the public bus system, which was
supposed to have been implemented more than three years ago, would again
not happen in 2001, and baht buses would still be driven around by
mirror-ignoring anarchists with whom arguing is potentially dangerous to
your health. Another easy one, and I expect this situation will remain for
as long as it is the interests of the local authorities to maintain the
status quo.
#18: As happens every year, lots of bar-girls fell
madly in love with ageing farang wallets, the owners of which will have
been made to feel ‘special’ for the first time in years, and took
their new-found playmates out of that miserable life (which of course the
gals were forced into out of economic necessity, not because it’s easier
to work horizontally for 20 minutes than vertically for 10 hours) to set
up house together (in her name, of course, since the proposed bill to
permit foreigners to own land still has not been passed into law - as I
predicted it wouldn’t).
#19: As also predicted, lots of huts in the provinces
were damaged by inclement weather during the rainy season, requiring a
contribution from the farang boyfriend/husband to rebuild the family hut
(which of course needs to be larger than before, to support the additional
cousins who have come to help with the farm while she/he stays with the
farang).
#20: Similarly lots of mothers and fathers in northern
provinces got sick during a) the hot season, b) the rainy season, c) the
recently-passed cool season, and hence were unable to work, requiring
additional financial support from the farang boyfriend/husband.
#21: As also predicted, gold shops around town have
done almost as brisk a trade in 2001 as the pawnshops, which always
benefit from the subsequent trade-ins. (Now there’s a business venture
to get into!)
#22: Motorcycle shops have also done well in 2001, but
lots of the bikes are unregistered and either a) race or b) meander around
town with no road tax, no licence plate, and no rear lights.
#23: And last but not least, there have - as predicted
- been lots of bars, hotels and restaurants for sale in Pattaya - all
‘guaranteed’ by their present owners to make the new foreign owners a
small fortune (but better start with a big one...).
Summary
So let’s see how many I got right.
This year I’m not going to count my predictions about
the local scene, as these were easy ones to call by anyone with any
knowledge of local affairs. But of the 20 more serious predictions that
were discussed last week and this, I reckon I got 17 about right. So
that’s an overall score of 85%.
Things to Come
My crystal ball for next year is very cloudy, so I’m
not going to venture any lengthy predictions for the coming year, except
to say that I’m bullish for UK stocks in the first half of the year; for
the US to recover in the 2nd quarter; neutral for European stocks; and
neutral-to-negative for Japan and Asian equities, with the exception of
China, which I expect to do well again in the coming year.
I’m neutral for emerging markets with a few
exceptions, but suggest you use broad-based emerging market funds rather
than try to select individual winning markets, as the situation going
forward for these smaller and inherently more volatile markets is very
unclear.
International bonds I expect will continue to do well;
Sterling will, I believe, remain relatively strong to the US dollar while
doubts persist over the Euro.
And fun and games will continue in this wonderful town
where your dreams and fantasies can be fulfilled and shattered, all within
the same week. Happy New Year.
Snap Shots: Photographing
the New Year
by Harry Flashman
The welcoming in of the New Year is always a momentous
time, and one that you should try and capture on film. However, so much
happens at New Year that there is no way you can encapsulate it all on one
tiny negative. Photographing New Year, the whole “event” takes time,
patience and lots of film, so be prepared.
For most people it is a case of eating and drinking,
and generally to excess. So here’s the first New Year photography
problem. Harry has always found that if you try to enjoy an event, and
photograph it at the same time, the results will not be what you want.
Unless of course you want 30 degree horizons and other photographic signs
of insobriety. So Rule number 1 - if you are going to photograph New Year,
leave your own celebration until 1 a.m. They’re still celebrating in
Delhi at that time, so you haven’t really missed anything.
What you must do is sit down beforehand and work out a
“shoot” list. These are the shots you have to take to make a
reasonable photo album record of the event, because that is precisely what
you are going to produce - a photo album.
 The
first shot should say what the event is. In this case being New Year you
would look for and photograph a sign somewhere which proclaims Happy New
Year 2002, so look for it and snap away. Take two shots, just in case one
isn’t quite right.
The next shot has to say the location. If you are
having the celebration at one of the restaurants, take a shot of their
sign. Let’s imagine you are at the Captain’s Corner, then a shot of
the illuminated sign outside is the way to go. Set the camera on “A”
for auto, turn off the flash and you’ve got that one.
Your next shots are the ones that will say “Who”
was at the New Year’s party. These are the ones that show all the
guests, but please, please, please don’t line them up in a row like a
group of soldiers on parade. Have a look at the social pages and you
generally see those types of shots every week. 46 people in a row and the
photographer is backed up in the next street to try and get everyone in.
No, what you want are candid shots of groups of people relating to each
other. People face each other when talking. Look for people greeting each
other, hugging, kissing, shaking hands and be ready to snap them. This is
where the camera is still on “A” and now you can turn the flash on.
Try not to miss anybody, even Aunt Agatha who will be sitting tipsily in
the corner. You can always ask another family member to go and chat to her
just for the photograph.
As the night wears on, you will get plenty of photo
opportunities, and people will often get up to sing or drone into a
microphone. Again, this is where you are ready and record it all.
Now here’s a tricky little shot - the “magic
moment” is 12 midnight is it not - so include a shot of a watch or a
clock right at the exact moment. Now, do you wait till 12 midnight to get
it? Of course not. You set your watch or the wall clock to the midnight
hour and record it, because when the real midnight comes, you are going to
be busy.
Come 12 o’clock and you will get all the physical
interactions, the Auld Lang Syne being sung and people with linked arms
enjoying themselves. At this time you will be busier than a one armed
paper hanger.
The other event that happens on the stroke of 12 is the
fireworks. There should be lots going off and try to get some star-bursts.
Remember how to do these? Time exposure and no flash. Leave the shutter
open for 30 seconds and you’ve got it all.
Happy New Year from Harry Flashman! Now go and have a
beer!
Modern Medicine: Travel
insurance? Who needs it?
by Dr Iain Corness, Consultant
Many people have a somewhat cavalier attitude to
insurance and I’m just as guilty! A few months ago I did mention medical
insurance in this column and it was amazing the response that this
brought. When people began to see just how much they were financially
“at risk” by not having insurance, the better brokers were inundated.
Let’s see what the response to this week’s column will be when I look
at travel insurance. By the way, this is not travel insurance to cover
your lost luggage, but to cover medical emergencies.
Unfortunately many people travel under the
misconception that the travel insurance they took out with the travel
agent is going to cover them for all eventualities. Sadly not. The
following is a true story, taken from one of my recent medical journals
from Australia. A gentleman with a leaking heart valve, which was under
investigation and examination by a cardiologist, has to make a business
trip to America. He takes out travel insurance from the travel agent, but
discloses nothing about the on-going cardiologist’s review. Two days
after getting to San Francisco he gets very short of breath and is
admitted to hospital. The insurance company was contacted which then gets
a report from the American hospital, and a report from the patient’s
usual doctor in Australia.
The history of the cardiac condition now comes to
light, and the insurance company state (justifiably) that if they had
known of this situation, they would not have accepted the man as a
reasonable risk and refuse cover. Meanwhile, the man deteriorates rapidly
and has to have an emergency heart valve replacement. All was not plain
sailing and he ended up having 42 days in intensive care. Total cost came
to USD 576,500, for which the businessman was totally liable. To raise the
sum of over half a million dollars he had to liquidate his company and
sell his house at “fire sale” prices.
Like another horror story? A young woman is going to
the UK for a working holiday. Like many people, she has asthma, but it is
reasonably well controlled. Since she was flying directly to the UK and
there is a reciprocal medical agreement between the UK and Australia, she
decides she “logically” doesn’t need travel insurance. Six hours
into the flight she gets an acute attack of asthma and has to be
off-loaded in Singapore. Complications occur and she ends up being in
Singapore for 6 weeks and then has to be medically evacuated back to
Australia with a doctor and nurse escort team. Her stay in Singapore and
the medivac came to AUD 390,000 and her parents have to sell their farm to
raise the money.
So you can see, just because you are covered at the
other end of your flight doesn’t mean to say you are not “at risk”.
The moral of these two tales is simple - take out good travel (medical)
insurance and make sure you declare any pre-existing conditions. Insurance
companies are in the business of “risk” assessment. Forgetting to
declare your medical history is not thought of as being an acceptable
risk. This omission could prove deleterious to both your health and your
wealth.
Think about it before your next trip!
 Dear
Hillary,
Every week I buy the Pattaya Mail and of course I read
your column. It is unbelievable how many stupid farangs are walking here
on holidays. The farangs go to the airport in their particular country and
close their eyes and set their brains on zero and come to Thailand. In
Pattaya they meet girls who are “in love” with them. Forget it! The
ladies only want the money for their family and their children. Later the
ladies go home and the whole family is happy for the extra food and money.
The farang believes everything. When the lady says, “That is my
brother” forget it - mostly it is her husband or boyfriend. When the
farang goes home with a broken heart he writes letters and sends money.
The lady promises “I go your home and wait you.” Forget it! She goes
back to work in the bar again. Later when the farang comes back and
marries the girl he finds he is married to the whole family, and buys
houses, but not in his own name - in hers. There are also stupid farangs,
on the other hand, who get angry when their lady wants more than 2,000
baht each month. But the real situation is that all the ladies are looking
for a good man, and there are enough good ladies here who would like to be
taken out of the bars. My question is now why do most farangs here use and
treat the girls like animals, just because they are paying for them? I
hope you farangs understand that there are many ladies who have a heart,
and sometimes a real broken heart, just like the ladies in your own
country.
Al
Dear Al,
You obviously have a good understanding of what goes on
in that side of Pattaya, and all the scenarios you have written about have
and do, and will happen. It depends so much on the tourist keeping his
brains under his hat and not in his jockey shorts, doesn’t it! Like you,
I am appalled by the loud mouthed drunken louts who frequent some of the
bars, and who think they own a girl because they have made a financial
transaction. It is the old law of supply and demand, and nothing to do
with master and slave. Everybody deserves to be allowed to keep their
dignity. However, what is so often forgotten is that initially the lady
you meet in the bar is doing a job. That job is to keep you, the customer,
happy and keep you coming back to the bar. That is what she is paid for.
Ladies who are good at their job make the farang tourist feel very
special, and this is very easily mistaken as being “love” instead of
being “commerce”. If it develops into something else, that may (or may
not) be a bonus.
Dear Hillary,
For the last two years I have been based in Pattaya and
have had a live-in relationship with a young lady for most of that time.
As my contract runs out soon I have taken another off-shore posting to go
to Malaysia for the next year. I am wondering whether I should keep the
lease going on the condominium and keep my girlfriend in it, or just tell
her that I will let the lease run out (there is another four months to go)
and she will have to go back to live with her mother till I come back. I
don’t want her to go back to the bar. What do you think I should do?
Frank
Dear Frank,
To be perfectly Frank (sorry, frank) it all depends on
you, Petal. Wake up, Frank. Surely you know by now whether this is the
girl for you. Stop dithering and make a decision. How much does this girl
mean to you? Not much it seems. From the kindness of your heart you will
let her stay on at the condo you have signed a tenancy agreement on for
the next four months - so you have got to pay anyway! After that she can
do anything except go back to the bar (where you got her from) for the
next eight months. Sounds to me as if she should go back there right now
and hope that someone who thinks more about her, rather than himself,
comes along.
Dear Hillary,
Can somebody please tell me why Thai people cannot hear
phones ringing? I can be in another room and hear the phone ringing and
ringing and ringing, and yet neither my maid or my girlfriend do anything
about it. I use my home phone for work too, so it is bad that it gets left
to ring out. They both hear their mobiles going off, so what can I do? Any
advice will be appreciated.
Phone Moan
Dear Phone Moan,
Have you ever stopped to think that perhaps they
don’t want to answer the phone? Can the maid speak English? If she
cannot, then Thais would rather ignore the ringing than embarrass
themselves or the person on the other end by being unable to communicate.
On the other hand, they may both be too “kee gee-ut” (lazy).
GRAPEVINE
Grapevine’s
Year
| January
and February
The New Year 2001 started in cracking form. It was
announced that the infamous baht buses were to be abolished and
replaced by brand new, flat fare minibuses. No need to be cynical,
this was really it at last. No more rip-offs of Japanese tourists who
thought the baht bus fare was $40 rather than 40 baht. Pattaya was to
have a public transport system fit for the twenty first century.
However, January came and went and not a lot, to be brutally frank,
actually happened. Eventually, an official explained that his deputy
had been unable to order the minibuses as he had lost the bit of paper
with the phone number written on it. A meeting was then held to see if
anyone could remember the number. They could, but by then the
minibuses had been shipped to Taiwan. Better luck next time.
March and April
Making the headlines was a French tourist in
serious distress after accidentally dropping her car keys down a
manhole in Central Road. Unfortunately, as she was trying to rescue
them, her passport also dropped through the slits. Eventually a worker
appeared on a motorbike carrying a ladder but, following a full
analysis by the assembled crowd, it was decided that a ladder was not
much use for the downward task in hand. In the event, the personal
possessions were not recovered, but it was suggested helpfully that
tourists be reminded to carry two sets of keys and keep the passport
where it won’t fall out. The other news was that 86 resident farangs
decided to leave Pattaya during the horrific water throwing festival.
The number rose to 107 after it was announced Greg’s Kitchen was
closing for four days.
May and June
The Readers’ Letters were full of heated debate
about the merits and faults of Pattaya’s gay festival. The
intellectual rigor was on occasion a bit disappointing. One guy said
he had nothing against Gay Power as long it worked out cheaper than
electricity, whilst another opined that homos should not be given non
immigrant visas without realizing that this is a double negative. A
shocked tourist from Newton Le Willows was so disgusted when he saw a
farang and his boyfriend holding hands on a baht bus that he told them
they were going straight to hell. This proved to be untrue as they got
off at the Dusit roundabout. Meanwhile, on the straight front, a man
stopped a woman in the street and explained he did not normally talk
to strangers, but he was on his way to confession and was a bit short
of material.
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July and August
The long heralded social order campaign got under
way. Police charged around in pick-up trucks insisting that bars and
nightclubs close promptly at 2.00 a.m. There would be no exceptions.
This was something of a blow to the hundreds of entertainment spots
which weren’t doing much business and were used to closing at 12.30
a.m. or even earlier. Raids were also conducted on premises to look
for any behavior which might affront public morals. One bar conducting
a quiz was asked what was going on. The owner said they were arguing
about which way the queen of hearts looks in a pack of cards.
Convinced that gambling was going on, the authorities ordered the
shutters to be brought down at once.
September and October
ESSS0 (Eastern Seaboard Social Surveys
Organization) conducted an investigation into what sort of room you
get for 100 baht a night. The Royal Cliff and the Dusit were amongst
many institutions not bothering to reply. One backpacker said he had
found a three star hotel near Soi Bukao for 100 baht, but two of them
were shining through the ceiling. Another lodger paying 90 baht
complained bitterly to the manager that the facilities in his room
were practically non existent. She replied that he had obviously got
up on the wrong side of the floor that morning. In late October, a
group of local intellectuals started a debating society specializing
in serious subjects. One man stood up and said that under capitalism
it’s dog eat dog. His opponent said that under communism it was the
other way round.
November and December
Christmas preparations seemed to start early this
year. A shop in North Pattaya displayed a beautiful nativity scene
with snow and all, but apparently overcrowded. Observers who stopped
to look noted that the small plastic figures represented Ali Baba and
the forty thieves. Whether this is an improvement on Snow White and
the seven dwarves is still being debated. As the recession continued
to bite, some farangs decided to economize. One former manager on
Christmas Day told his hungry family to be patient whilst he carved up
the Big Mac. But there were some new features this year. An Australian
asked her shopping companion in the Big C complex if she had seen the
new aluminium Christmas trees. She went on to explain that they were
so realistic you could not tell them apart from the real plastic ones.
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Guide to buying a large
dog: Vizsala (Hungarian Pointer)
by C.
Schloemer
Good points: distinguished appearance, first class
gun dog, clean, steady temperament, intelligent, easy to train, makes an
excellent family pet.
Take heed: no drawbacks known
 Often
referred to as the Hungarian Pointer, and essentially a pointer in type, the
Vizsala is a distinguished looking dog of aristocratic bearing, his short
coat an attractive rusty-gold. He is powerfully built, but lithe and well
balanced, with a light footed, smooth and graceful gait, has a keen sense of
smell and is well able to point, set and retrieve. Here is a multiple
purpose dog for work on upland game, on rabbits, and for waterfowl.
The Vizsala is Hungary’s national dog and is one of the
purest breeds in the world. Intelligent and eager to please, he is easily
trained. Whether the owner wants to hunt his Vizsala or prefers a
well-behaved household pet, he will find this breed to be devoted and loyal.
Size: Height at withers: dog 57-63.5 cm, bitch
53-63.5. Weight: 22-30 kg.
Exercise: Like all gun dogs, and hunters, this breed
needs lots of energetic exercise to remain fit and healthy.
Origin and history: Like most ancient breeds, the
origins of the Vizsala has been obscured by the centuries, but it is fair to
say that its ancestors were hunters and companions of the Magyar tribes
which swarmed over Central Europe more than 1000 years ago and settled in
what is now known as Hungary. Primitive stone etchings of the 10th
century show dogs resembling the Vizsala. And a manuscript of early
Hungarian codes carried a chapter on falconry which was illustrated with a
picture of a dog which can be identified as a Vizsala.
The reason for the breed’s continued existence, even
that far back in time, lay in the fact that its innate hunting ability was
fostered and developed by the agricultural and pastoral terrain of the
plains of Hungary. What the human hunter needed was a dog swift of foot,
cautious so as not to alert quarry in uncovered territory, a superior nose,
and a dog which would assume the responsibilities of the specialists as both
hunter and pointer.
The continuance and development of the breed at the hands
of the Magyar nobility showed they took great care to avoid introducing new
blood to make certain they retained a pure breed of outstanding quality and
quality.
In more recent history, the close of World War I found
the Vizsala almost extinct, and the breed was preserved only by the most
devoted and firmest of fanciers. Some refugees who fled to foreign countries
took their Vizsalas with them.
The breed was admitted into the American Kennel Club
registry in 1960.
Shaman’s Rattle: Merry
Xmas? Was it really Jesus’ birthday?
by Dr. Iain
Put simply, the answer is a resounding, No! But it’s
the thought that counts. If you look at the wealth of historical data that
exists in the world, and the research that has been done, then you will come
to the same conclusion.
In a very erudite communication American Baptist Pastor
Greg Wilson wrote, “The date of December 25th is itself evidence that this
holiday is not about the Christ of the Bible. For while we do not know the
exact day of our Lord’s birth, we can be virtually certain that it was not
December 25th. All of the Biblical evidence is against such a date. At that
particular season, the shepherds would not have been in the fields with
their sheep at night. They would have secured them in folds, against the
bitter cold of the Palestinian winter. It is also unlikely that Caesar would
have required all the citizens to return to the cities of their birth for a
tax-census in the dead of the winter. Robert Myers in the book Celebrations,
states “The Biblical narrative of the birth of Jesus contains no
indication of the date that the event occurred. However, Luke’s report
that the shepherds were ‘abiding in the field, keeping watch over their
flocks by night’ suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early
fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds
would have sought shelter for their flocks at night.” All very logical.
However, if I now said that according to legend, December
25th was the birthday of a man who roamed the earth and was born of a
virgin, who was known as the “Mother of God”, would you agree? If I gave
you additional clues that pointed out that this man was also considered as
the son of God, whose function on earth was seen as the protector of our
souls and our guide to heaven, would you agree? I hope so, because again the
research would point us towards Mithras who was also known throughout Europe
and Asia by the names Mithra, Mitra, Meitros, Mihr, Mehr, and Meher. And
Mithras’ birthday was December 25th.
The history of Mithraism is convoluted, as are all such
ancient religions. Mithraism began in Persia where originally a multitude of
gods were worshipped. Amongst them were Ahura-Mazda, god of the skies (I
wonder if Honda and Toyota knows about this?), and Ahriman, the god of
darkness. In the sixth and seventh century B.C., a vast reformation of this
system was done by Zarathustra (AKA Zoroaster), a prophet from the kingdom
of Bactria. Ahura-Mazda was elevated to that of supreme god of goodness,
whereas the god Ahriman became the ultimate embodiment of evil. Does this
look like a familiar scenario? It should do, it is the fore-runner of the
Judeo-Christian God and the Devil.
In the same way that Ahkenaton, Abraham, Heliogabalus,
and Mohammed later initiated “supreme being” cults from the worship of
their respective deities, Zarathustra created a dualism with the gods Ahura-Mazda
and Ahriman. As a result of the Babylonian captivity of the Jews (597 B.C.)
and their later emancipation by King Cyrus the Great of Persia (538 B.C.),
Zoroastrian dualism was to influence the Jewish belief in the existence of
HaShatan, the malicious adversary of the god Yahweh, and lay the foundation
for the evolution of the Christian Satan-Jehovah dichotomy. That Persian
religious dualism became the foundation of an ethical system that has lasted
until this day.
According to the legend, Ahura-Mazda was said to have
created Mithras to be as great and worthy as himself. He would fight the
spirits of evil to protect the creations of Ahura-Mazda and cause even
Ahriman to tremble. Mithras was seen as the protector of just souls from
demons seeking to drag them down to Hell, and the guide of these souls to
Paradise.
Now here is what is interesting, the worshippers of
Mithras strongly believed in a celestial heaven and an infernal hell. They
believed that their god would sympathize with their suffering and grant them
immortality and eternal salvation and they looked forward to a final day of
judgement in which the dead would be resurrected.
They were baptised and took part in a ceremony in which
they drank wine and ate bread to symbolize the body and blood of their god.
Sundays were held sacred, and on December the 25th each year the birth of
Mithras was celebrated. After Mithras’ earthly mission had been
accomplished, he took part in a Last Supper with his companions before
ascending to heaven, to forever protect the faithful from above.
Does this mean that Mithras and Jesus were one and the
same? Does this mean Mithraism and Christianity were one and the same? No,
on both counts, since other deities such as Osiris, Tammuz, Adonis, Balder,
Attis, and Dionysus were said to have died and been resurrected and many
classical heroic figures, such as Hercules, Perseus, and Theseus, were said
to have been born of a virgin mother and a divine father. However,
Christianity does have some of its origins in pagan religious practices
which were incorporated into Christianity as it spread across the world.
After all, who wanted to lose the Xmas holidays! And a Happy New Year!
Animal Crackers: Living
with a House Rabbit
by Mirin MacCarthy
Despite cruel jokes about their breeding habits and the
wisecracking Brer Rabbit who inhabits my TV set, rabbits do make good pets.
In fact, house rabbits are in vogue all over the world, ranking in “pet”
value along with domestic cats and dogs.
Rabbits are probably even better than cats as pets, being
more easily socialised than the aloof felines, making for a loving companion
animal.
 Rabbits,
like puppies, do chew everything, so it is important to bunny-proof your
house if Thumper is going to have the run of the place. It is natural for
rabbits to chew on furniture, rugs, curtains, and unfortunately, electrical
cords. Exposed cords should be encased in vinyl tubing (found at hardware
stores). By splitting the tubing lengthwise the cord can be pushed inside
it.
The “cure” for this habit is distraction therapy.
Plenty of attention and safe chewable toys works best. A cardboard box
stuffed with hay makes an inexpensive playbox. Young rabbits (under a year)
are also more inclined to mischief and require more confinement and
bunny-proofing than mature rabbits.
Even if you want your rabbit to have the run of the
household, it is better to start with a secure cage. While bunny is caged,
you house-train your pet by putting a litter box in one corner and praise
the little rabbit every time the litter box is used, just as you do with
puppies (or humans for that matter)!
Urination should not be confused with “marking
territory” which the unsprayed rabbits will do. Spaying or neutering your
rabbit improves litter-box habits, lessens chewing behaviour, decreases
territorial aggression, and gives your rabbit a happier, longer life. Do
this between 4 to 6 months.
Surprisingly, rabbits should not be fed a great amount of
green food as it may cause diarrhoea. If you feel you must give your rabbit
green food give a small amount of greens, carrot, apple or bread. Contrary
to popular belief, lettuce is not suitable for rabbits as too much lettuce
can lead to kidney damage. Fortunately the most suitable diet for rabbits is
the easiest to provide. Pelletized feed products have been developed which
provide all the necessary ingredients to raise a healthy rabbit. As a guide,
a 5 kg adult rabbit needs 150 grams of pellet food daily.
House rabbits and indoor cats can get along fine, as do
rabbits and well-mannered dogs. Dogs should be trained to respond to
commands before being trusted with a free-running rabbit, and super- vision
is needed to control a dog’s playful impulses (this is especially true for
puppies). Adding a second rabbit is easiest if the rabbits are neutered
adults of opposite sexes, and they are introduced for short periods in an
area unfamiliar to both rabbits, however it should be noted that rabbits are
solitary animals and eventually two rabbits housed together will fight.
Very early on, with a new baby rabbit you should get it
used to being handled. Your baby rabbit may struggle when picked up the
first few times but hold it firmly and gently against your chest and soothe
it by gently stroking and speaking to it in soothing tones. The best way of
holding rabbits is to hold them firmly with one hand under the rump so your
rabbit will feel secure, and never pick up a rabbit by the ears. As well as
being cruel this can damage the muscles and membranes in the ears.
Rabbits groom themselves just like cats, and consequently
do get fur balls in their stomachs just like puss. To try and stop this, it
is best to have a weekly grooming session, and provide exercise time/space -
at least 30 hours a week; and give a fresh handful of hay each day; adding
fresh vegetables gradually to the diet; and give petroleum laxatives during
a heavy moult.
The computer doctor
by Richard Bunch
Over the next two issues, as the year draws to a close, I
will recap on some things that have been in the column over this time and
are well worth remembering.
When things go wrong, don’t panic; stay calm and think
before unleashing a plethora of keystrokes!
Often when a problem occurs it is concurrent with newly
installed hardware and sometimes software. Although a problem may not seem
attributable to a recent change on your system, it probably is. To
troubleshoot the problem, you have to eliminate the variables, so if you
just added a piece of hardware, check Device Manager to make sure it’s
properly installed and the driver is working. If it is then remove the
driver then the hardware itself. Has the problem gone away? More than likely
the answer is yes, so then you need to resolve the issue for that device.
Frequently, a recent application installation can cause
problems, so uninstall it; the probability is that this will fix the problem
but if it didn’t try going back another week.
Some later Operating Systems include technology that can
control this for you. Windows ME was the first to incorporate a System
Restore feature, although not 100% successful it will very often return your
system to a working condition. Windows XP went one step further and as well
as a System Restore, it has Rollback, a nice touch, as if an updated
hardware driver is causing a problem it is possible to rollback to the
previous one. A word of warning about the System Restore feature; this is a
powerful tool but can also unleash a disaster in its own right. I mean this
because if your system had a virus that caused damage and was rectified, it
is possible that the System Restore will also bring back the unwanted virus,
so use caution and if this is a possibility choose a Restore Point well
before there was any possibility of the virus being on the system, even if
this means having to reinstall and deinstall many programs or pieces of
hardware. It is better to err on the side of caution.
When installing applications, I even include Windows XP
in this although under this system it is unlikely to be such a problem with
its protected DLL’s, I consider it prudent to only install one application
at a time, restart the PC and check all is well. Many programs will often
prompt you to do a reboot but this is not always mandatory at the time and
can be forgotten if not done immediately. By adopting this, although a
little irksome it is often possible to reap the rewards as it is possible to
diagnose the culprit. If you notice, many applications offer installation
options like minimal, typical, full, custom, etc. I firmly believe in taking
the custom route, deselect any options that you don’t think you need and
only select those that you do. One thing to be mindful of is that, and
graphic programs are probably the biggest offenders, installing lots of
fonts is just about the quickest way to slow down any system. Generally
speaking, your system should have not more than 300 fonts, check this out in
Control Panel and if you are bogged down, prune those that you don’t use,
taking care not to remove system and program fonts! It is a good idea to
backup the fonts directory before doing this.
Next week we will continue this topic.
Send your questions or comments to the Pattaya Mail
at 370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, 20260 or fax to 038 427 596 or
e-mail to [email protected] The views and comments expressed within
this column are not necessarily those of the writer or Pattaya Mail
Publishing.
Richard Bunch is managing director of Action Computer
Technologies Co., Ltd. For further information, please telephone 0 1782
4829, fax 0 3842 6335, e-mail: [email protected] or see the firm’s website
www.act.co.th
Social Commentary by
Khai Khem
A ‘Southern’ Sunday
I have never been inside an American Southern Baptist
church. My recent stay in Atlanta, Georgia would have been the perfect
opportunity to visit one. However, the excessive amount of wine on the
previous Saturday evening meant that I was too hung-over to attend a church
service with the proper decorum. Staying with a family of old friends who
were members of that particular Christian denomination, I was sure that
sometime during my visit I would have the chance, but alas, I never got
around to it. My resident Atlanta pals got up early in the morning and all
went off to church. My lady friend from Boston and I slept late like the
Heathens we really are.
We two visitors from out of town had planned to go into
the city and have an expensive and indulgent lunch. I had even bought a book
which listed all the finest restaurants in Atlanta and rated them.
Unfortunately when we called around for reservations, we were told that all
of our choices were closed on Sunday. Even the dining room in the classy
Ritz Carlton Hotel was closed. My voice must have betrayed my disappointment
and puzzlement. When the hotel manager heard that I was from Thailand he
expressed his deepest regrets. It seems that Sundays are not popular dining
out days for locals and this is the day that the top class restaurants
choose to give their staff a day off.
Never mind. I was in the American South which is famous
for their wonderful home cooked meals and my host was a cook! We would not
starve. Southern fried chicken and things like homemade biscuits and gravy,
fried catfish and other sumptuous delights were served and I began to worry
if my clothes would fit by the time I returned to Pattaya. Much of the food
was rather bland for my taste, but I didn’t have the heart to add the
dried chilies I had secreted in my bag. There was a vague feeling of being
‘watched’ while eating during my entire stay. Everyone, including
perfect strangers in restaurants and waitresses commented that I didn’t
eat enough to “keep a bird alive.” But I simply could not consume the
giant portions which are so popular in the USA. I didn’t even want the
leftovers to take home. That seemed to shock the spectators.
Sundays are family days in most places, and Atlanta is no
exception. The work week is hectic and modern life seems to cut into the
time we all have with our loved ones. I decided to join some friends for an
afternoon at a lovely park. I needed the exercise after that enormous lunch
and I offered to walk the dogs; both of them.
The Cocker Spaniel was a well behaved lady, but the
Siberian Husky dragged me up a hill and through a pinewood forest until my
knees were scraped and my clothes were in rags. Served me right! These dogs
are made to pull pack-sleds in the Russian hinterland. Well, I was on
holiday and new experiences were exactly what I needed. The remainder of my
time would be spent doing some personal business, so I planned to have some
fun even if it killed me. The days were flashing by and I realized soon I
would say farewell to my friends and wing my way back to tropical Asia.
Cramped sleeping quarters and strange food aside, I was
having a wonderful time and planned to return some day in the near future. A
cold nip was in the air. It was autumn and the leaves were turning bright
oranges, yellows and reds. Dressed in my thin clothes from Thailand I
shivered constantly, but even that could not detract from the beauty of the
peaceful Georgia countryside.
I had arrived in the USA after the September 11 terrorist
attack and had wondered how much it would change everyday life in American.
During my visit I could see that it had not really changed the way of life
there very much at all. That buoyant spirit was still apparent and people
were basically going about their lives as they always had; perhaps a little
more aware of some issues which need addressing. But not ‘terrorized’.
Not that, certainly.
Down The Iron Road: The
Great Western Family 4-6-0
- Part 7
by John D. Blyth, P.O.
Box 97, Pattaya City 20260
The Mighty “King” Class
Last week I gave some clues as to the doubts which have
led this small Class of 2-8-0 locomotives to be argued over since the first
one took the rails in the summer of 1927. Once again it was Sir Felix Pole
who held that only the Great Western should have the most powerful
locomotives in Britain. Actually, he was never to be convinced about the
‘Tractive Effort’ figure (relatively simple to calculate). I have never
seen what the actual cost had been of producing all the modified parts I
have mentioned to enable Pole’s insistence that they should have a high
‘T.E.’ figure and that it should be far in advance of all comparable
locomotives. Pole, in fact, demanded over 40,000 pounds.
The production of the first locomotive was touch and go.
No one had told the works manager Swindon that his target of the end of
September was way off. U.S.A. Baltimore & Ohio RR had invited the G.W.R.
to send a locomotive to take part in their Centenary exhibition and the
locomotive was wanted in the U.S. by the end of July. There was just enough
time for this to be done, including fitting the air brake to engine and
tender and running it all in. They also needed to make one run to Plymouth
and back with the ‘Cornish Riviera Express’. The locomotive was also due
to make a run with a test train under the observation of engineers from
three U.S. railroads. There was no question of using any other than engine.
No. 6000, named after the then reigning monarch, King George V.
No.
6000 ‘King George V’ fitted with air-brake equipment prior to its visit
to the U.S.A.
The engines were named in reverse order, after the Kings
of England, all the way back to King Stephen. And while No. 6000 was
‘flying the flag’, others of the type were going into traffic. One of
them, No. 6003, working a London to Plymouth train, suffered derailment of
the bogie, happily not doing bad damage nor derailing the whole engine. But
until the cause had been determined and put right there could be no chances
taken with No. 6000 on U.S.A. rails. It turned out to be a minor design
fault, and W.A. Stanier, with No. 6000 in Baltimore, was able to get the
railroad shops there to effect the alteration.
Driver Young and Fireman Pearce handled this almost
unknown locomotive with classic skill. The test train was heavier than most
than even the ‘Kings’ would handle at home, and the small (by U.S.
standards) locomotive gave the Yankees an impressive display. However, at
home, some of the early performances recorded were disappointing and
questions were being asked about design faults. In fact, so large an engine
needed time for the crews to become familiar with them so that they could
show their true potential. In particular, the boiler revealed itself to be
one of the most consistent steam-raisers ever made. A descendent of the
famous ‘No. 1’, it was much bigger, but it really was the secret of
their eventual success.
Built in 1927-28 and ten more in 1930, they soon settled
down to a successful career, although their great weight was a limitation.
This almost justified Sir Felix Pole’s demands. An almost equally good
locomotive - still the most powerful - could have been produced much more
cheaply but for Pole’s intervention. They needed careful and regular
maintenance, and scheduled shopping dates were vigilantly observed. Even so,
there were some bad failures.
In the early part of 1954, a bogie frame broke, on a
‘King’ just about to join an early morning train. This led to the
emergency withdrawal of the whole class for a short period until the extent
of damage on other engines had been checked and a simple but permanent
remedy found. Near the end of 1954 drafting devised and fitted by Sam Ell
was leading to some unexpected troubles. The increasing rate of failure was
alarming. Indeed, on one day just eight ‘Kings’ out of 30 were available
for service! A double-chimney might be a clue, it was thought, and an L.M.R.
‘Duchess’ Pacific, already so fitted, was borrowed for May 1955. The
performance was so satisfactory that first one ‘King’, then several (and
within 15 months the whole class) were fitted with this accessory. Their
performance was transformed at once. Many of the ‘Castles’ were also
fitted, but only those with new boilers (which doesn’t indicate new
engines - exchanges in shops were made regularly). But this work was still
incomplete when dieselisation brought new problems.
I have no space to deal with the many test runs made with
‘Kings’, one of which at least demonstrated their brute strength (60
M.P.H. maintained with a train of almost 800 tons). However, the presence of
a ‘King’ on the 1948 Interchange trials (and also a ‘Modified Hall’)
should be noted. The width permitted by the G.M.R. loading gauge (itself a
legacy of Brunei’s Broad Gauge) allowed the ‘King’ to run only on the
line from King’s Cross to Leeds, and the ‘Hall’ from Marylebone via
the route of the old Great Central Railway (which has now almost totally
disappeared in the Beeching holocast) to Manchester via Sheffield; and the
Woodhead Tunnel.
 No.
6001 on test run in 1953, near Swindon; 60 mph with 25 coaches - 798 tons.
Once again the sure-footed starting of the ‘King’
from King’s Cross showed up the slippery Gresley ‘Pacifics’ which
habitually spun their wheels. Roaring exhausts and black smoke thrown high
in the sky led the Eastern Region men to ponder. One very senior man said,
“Our engines seem to slip much more than some from other lines. Why is
that?” There was no answer given and no lessons learnt.
The ‘King’ No. 6018, seen as one of the best at the
time, ran well enough but with no special time being kept on all runs. It
may be that the coal provided was not familiar to the fireman, but in
general the work done was good enough. One cannot say the same for the
‘Hall’, which lost time quite badly on several runs. Here again the coal
may have been suspect.
Of the remaining ‘Kings’ No. 6000, after many miles
of running as a ‘preserved’ engine, has found a home in the Railway
Museum at Swindon, and is not likely to run again. Word is the restoration
of No. 6023 to running order is well advanced, whilst No. 6024 is often in
use and is in fine fettle. More years yet for these fine machines.
The Message In The
Moon: Sun in Cancer/Moon in Gemini
by Anchalee Kaewmanee
The Antenna
This combination suggests wit, sophistication, and
intellectual agility. Highly perceptive and a natural critic, the
Cancer-Gemini has a phenomenal memory and the ability to learn just about
anything. That Cancer personality is intuitive, sensitive, and
impressionable. And the Gemini inner nature is restless, seeks variety and
very curious. But despite this buoyant spirit and gifted mind, natives of
this sign have got their fair share of problems.
Introspection is difficult for people of this combo
because they are so busy sorting out all the conflicting demands and
impressions they receive from those around them. Like all highly sensitive
persons, they run the risk of over-accommodating others and adapting to
situations which may not actually be in their best interests. In other
words, rather than doing what they want to do in life, they often find
themselves fulfilling someone else’s dream. This ambivalence toward their
own goals in life can land them in difficult situations.
Rather than feeling what they want to feel, they absorb
the emotional atmosphere around them. In a tense or overly aggressive
environment, these natives can become tense, and in a peaceful and non
competitive situation, they become tranquil and passive. Like chameleons,
they take on the color of their surroundings. They seem to pick up feelings
and ideas from the air around them and are never quite sure whether they are
their own, or have ‘borrowed’ them from others. Is it any wonder that
Cancer-Gemini Henry David Thoreau chose to work outside the mainstream of
society, where his work and thoughts would be unimpeded?
For people born into this Sun-Moon sign, it is necessary
for them to stop and think when they need to make a decision. What is it
that they really want? Learning to be more assertive will insure independent
decision-making. And once they have done so, they need to act. Their first
impressions are often correct, so it is vital that they heed them and learn
to trust them.
Although decisions need to be made alone, the
Cancer-Gemini usually works best in partnership or within an organized
framework. These persons are not usually suited to executive positions,
since they are often indecisive. But their ingenuity, imagination and
intellectual skills can be valuable in many fields. They may be attracted to
advertising and the media. Or if there is a strong creative or artistic
aspect in their charts, they can aim for the arts.
Loyal to whoever happens to be around them at the time,
they sometimes make promises they cannot keep. They often feel the need to
tell people what they think they want to know, and then try to back out
later. Female Cancer-Geminis may be overwhelmed by stronger, more assertive
partners, and thus run the risk of losing themselves in a submissive role.
These ladies should search for a partner who is as independent and
open-minded as they are and avoid lovers who are overbearing or domineering.
A Gemini Moon also tends to make these natives hypercritical. Thus it is
wise not to nag a partner just because he or she fails to provide novelty
and excitement all the time. That restless nature can surely find fulfilling
outlets which ease the need to be constantly entertained by a mate.
A Slice of Thai
History: The Opium Trade
by Duncan Steam
Part One: Beginnings to 1852
The opium poppy, a plant indigenous to Asia Minor and
first mentioned in Sumerian medicinal texts, was more than likely first
brought into the Southeast Asian region, and thence to China, by Arab
traders around the 7th to 8th Century.
Initially used for medicinal purposes, opium was
something of a rarity until the habit of smoking it for pleasure began to
take hold, especially in China, around the 1600’s.
The Dutch on the island of Taiwan smoked a mixture of
opium and tobacco to combat malaria, at least that’s what they claimed.
The British, having conquered India, began trading silver with China in
return for tea, but soon found opium a far more profitable source of
revenue.
As more and more Chinese became addicted to smoking
opium, the government attempted to curb the cultivation and importation of
the poppy.
Chinese immigrants to Thailand in the late 18th and early
19th Century’s not only found excellent employment opportunities, they
also brought their addiction to the opium poppy with them, establishing
opium dens wherever they settled, from Chiang Mai in the north as far as Had
Yai in the south.
Setting up in business as merchants, craftsmen and
artisans, the hard-working Chinese began to dominate the commercial life of
Thailand’s major cities, particularly the new capital, Bangkok.
The Thai government was quick to recognise the social
problems associated with opium smoking and, as early as 1811, King Rama II
introduced a ban on the sale and consumption of the drug. The edict was
effectively ignored.
By 1821 there was an estimated 440,000 Chinese immigrants
living in Thailand. By 1880, it was suggested that over half the population
of Bangkok was Chinese or of Chinese origin, a fertile market for opium
smoking.
In 1839, King Rama III reintroduced the prohibition on
opium and instituted the death penalty for those convicted of major
trafficking. Indeed the Proclamation Against Opium was the first publication
produced by the Thai government.
However, although those Chinese engaged in the opium
trade could be arrested and sentenced to death or long jail sentences by
Thai courts, British merchants who smuggled the illicit drug into Thailand
were virtually immune from prosecution. If ever a British national was
apprehended, the British political mission would make veiled threats and the
smuggler was soon released.
The Thais were well aware of what could happen if they
attempted to stand up to the might of the British Empire and its determined
merchants. In an effort to end the opium trade, China had attempted to ban
trade with Britain. The result was the First Opium War (1839-1842) which led
to the defeat of China and the ceding of Hong Kong to the British.
Bowing to the real politik of the times, King Rama IV (Mongkut)
established a royal opium franchise in 1852, leasing the concession to a
wealthy Chinese merchant. Within a short time, opium taxes, along with
lotteries, gambling and alcohol, were providing between 40% and 50% of
government revenue.
However, in an effort to prevent Thais becoming opium
addicts, King Mongkut issued an edict which compelled any Thai found guilty
of smoking opium to wear a pigtail and pay the Chinese a tax. As a
consequence, very few Thais became opium addicts and the habit of smoking
the drug did not take on.
Women’s World: The
Three Witches of Bideford Part 2
by Lesley Warner
During the trial, Temperance Lloyd described in some
detail the black man: ‘She said he was about the length of her arm and
that his eyes were very big, and that he hopped or leapt in the way before
her.’
Susanna Edwards related a similar tale in her confession:
‘about two years ago she did meet with a gentleman in a field called the
Parsonage Close in the town of Bideford. And saith that his apparel was all
of black.’ This was interpreted by her accusers to be an appearance of the
devil.
Susanna Edwards claimed in her final confession upon the
scaffold that he was a short black man, similar to Temperance Lloyd’s
claim. These apparitions belong to the world of pixies and goblins rather
than of witchcraft and diabolism: these beings were in their origin the
little people of folklore, transformed by Christian theology into demons and
hence acquiring sinister attributes. These demons, it was commonly believed,
had intercourse with the witches, or sucked the blood of their mistresses
through “witches teats”. Temperance Lloyd also confessed that the black
man did suck her in her secret parts, she kneeling down to him but his
sucking was with a great pain unto her. In the case of Susanna Edwards the
devil had sucked her in her breast and in her secret parts. This sucking was
interpreted as being the way in which witches fed blood to the devil or
their familiars, the devil placing on the witch’s body for this purpose
‘a piece of flesh from which he, in his own person or that of a familiar,
might suck the blood of a witch’.
The most that can be said at present on the sexual aspect
of the trials is that the mythology of witchcraft was at its height at a
time when women were generally believed to be sexually more voracious than
men; ‘of women’s unnatural, insatiable lust’, wrote the bachelor,
Robert Burton, in 1621, ‘what country, what village doth not complain.’
It is also important that the Bideford witches were women
alone, a spinster and two widows, and they do not appear to have had any
children who might have defended them or defined their role as women.
What is so confusing is the witches’ apparent
willingness to admit to all the accusations made against them. They made
little or no attempt at denial of even the most fanciful of the accusations.
It has been suggested that they were tired of their lives and knowing that
there was nothing but persecution to look forward to, they submitted to the
proceedings as a form of legalised suicide.
Although condemned to be hanged, there was the
possibility in the circumstances of a reprieve. On this occasion, however,
the powers that be said, “Sir, I find the country so fully possessed
against them that although some of the virtuosi may think these the effects
of confederacy, melancholy, or delusion, and that young folks are altogether
as quick-sighted as they who are old and infirm; yet we cannot reprieve them
without appearing to deny the very being of witches, which, as it is
contrary to law, so I think it would be ill for his Majesty’s service, for
it may give the faction occasion to set afoot the old trade of witch finding
that may cost many innocent persons their lives, which the justice will not
prevent.”
This was a political decision and the real reason for
their eventual deaths. The deaths of the three women were seen as being
justified by the avoidance of a greater evil.
If you visit Exeter in Devon outside the old Assizes
Courts you will see a plaque affixed to the wall of Rougemont Castle bearing
the following inscription:
“THE DEVON WITCHES
IN MEMORY OF
Temperance Lloyd, Susannah Edwards and Mary Trembles
OF BIDEFORD DIED 1682
THE LAST PEOPLE IN ENGLAND TO BE EXECUTED FOR WITCHCRAFT
TRIED HERE & HANGED AT HEAVITREE
In the hope of an end to persecution & intolerance”
After reading this book and other material, in my opinion
‘witch hunters’ and their accomplices were a bunch of depraved fanatics
that had spent too many years being Puritans and living with Puritan wives!
Antiques, are they
genuine?: 18th century English glass
by Apichart Panyadee
Collectors of 18th century English
glass have a number of pitfalls to contend with. They are in three main
categories. First, there are deliberate fakes, of good quality and
proportions with all the right combinations of feet, bowl and stems. But the
quality of the metal is suspect. Next are the glasses in designs that never
existed in the original repertoire and where the material is quite obviously
wrong.
 This
page from the Hill-Ouston catalogue shows a selection of 19th
century drinking glasses.
The third category, and perhaps the most difficult to
spot for the beginner, are the glasses of the 18th
century date produced in Europe and Scandinavia in imitation of English
glass. This was the result of fashion that swept Europe after the discovery
of lead glass. The discovery was made by Ravenscroft in the late 1670s and
this subsequently developed an English ‘style’.
Continental glassmakers undertook visits to English
glasshouses in an effort to discover their secrets. And English glassmakers
were also enticed to work abroad in developing glass industries. A notable
example was James Keith, a master glassblower from Newcastle who emigrated
to the Nostetangen factory in Norway in 1755. The impact of the English
style on Norwegian glass is evident right up until 1830 and is echoed in
Finnish, Swedish and Dutch glass. The Peter F. Heering collection of Danish
glass contains many examples often thought of as English.
Frankly, the whole question of Scandinavian imitations
needs to be more widely publicised. Even now it is possible to come across
glass ascribed in sale room catalogues as English and dated to the early 18th
century, when it is in fact Scandinavian and was made 50 years earlier.
 Lead
glass and balusters; wineglasses were reproduced often imitating Venetian
fashion of the late 17th
century. These glasses were most probably produced in the 1920s.
Eighteenth-century glass began to be reproduced during
the 19th century by glassmakers eager to compare their
own skills with those of their predecessors. The appearance of deliberate
fakes in the early 20th century coincided with the
beginnings of research into the history of English glass and the increased
numbers of sales in the auction rooms.
In 1897 Albert Harthshorne published Old English
Glasses, the first complete survey of the subject. The next 30 years saw
publication of the classic works by Francis Buckley, Grant Francis, Powell,
Thorpe, and a host of others. With the revival of the Adam style in the
Edwardian period, the glass firms churned out imitations of 18th
century glasses to match the reproductions of period furniture. A glance
through various company pattern books for the appropriate dates reveals page
upon page of copies.
Silesian and baluster stems do not occur very often. The
outright favourites were air and opaque twists with some facet cut stems and
the occasional drawn trumpet stem. The large firms of Stevens and Williams,
Thos Webb & Sons, H. G. Richardson and Walsh of Birmingham were the
chief producers and may have supplied the Birmingham retailers Hill-Ouston.
The catalogue issued by that company in 1934 offered a bewildering
assortment of cut, blown and engraved glass with some emphasis on
reproduction and “antique services and individual items”. Special
attention was given to wine glasses, which are the most accurate of the
antique copies and the most frightening for collectors.
 These
sketches reveal the effort made by freelance decorators who conspired to
hone their skill to the level of their predecessors of an earlier age.
Pattern books, catalogues and photographs of fake glasses
are obviously of great help when it comes to identifying forgeries. But
there really is no substitute for constant handling. Only in this way can
both knowledge and a sixth sense be acquired. Each period of glassmaking
used certain techniques peculiar to its own time, which when recognised, can
give clues to date and place.
An awareness of these methods will allow the collector to
spot the types of fake that appear in the Hill-Ouston catalogue. Out of all
the techniques the most contentious and misunderstood is the pontil mark
which will be discussed in the next column.
Updated every Friday
Copyright 2001 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel. 66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax: 66-38 427 596
Updated by
Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.
E-Mail: [email protected]
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