choccy we're here for you when you need us so don't worry about popping in and out. i really need to lose weight am about 6 st over weight, i had lost a st before getting pg but then gained nearly all of it again after mc.
mummya orange i know it's bit weird can't remember the website but it was actually quite interesting, i don't think i'd ever be able to use the glass again.
zam sorry af here.
nic good luck for tomorrow.
bee i like pombears to end up fighting for them with ds, just from the local shop.
dach hope you're doing ok today.
hadrian i could be here all day talking about thailand, i've actually only been once, (2 months before the sunami) but my uncle lived over there for years and is married to a thai, (not mail order and dodgey 
) with 2 kids.
do you have the AA spiral guide?? i found it really useful, some nice restaurants in there. we went to a restaurant on the other side of the river, sat next to the river with a view of the lights of the city nice (i think it was Galae but i can't remember). Doi Suthep in chiang mai, is a must if you can get an excursion. We went to the elephant camp in chiang mai and had a ride on one of the elephants that was fun.
We went to a restaurant in Bangkok called cabbages and condoms (i know) it was actually really really nice, it's a chain to promote safe sex over there and when we went you came in downstairs there's a little shop selling novelty things with condoms on. a big bowl on the desk full of condoms that you can help yourself to. upstairs was where you ate, almost amongst the trees there were no walls, with loads of little fairy lights amongst the branches, food was wonderful.
basic stuff - If you go out in a taxi make sure it has it's meter on, if it hasn't ask them to put it on. And always know where you want to go street name, temple name etc. if you can, get one from the hotel.
Don't be surprised if they take you to a jewelry store first, they did with us once in bangkok (2 women travelling) gave us a drink of lemonade we just walked round not looking at anything in particular and then as we left they gave us a different car and driver who took us where we'd asked to go. This is very common so don't be too worried or angry the drivers get commision.
Always barter from markets. Don't pick anything up unless you plan to buy it eventually.
They don't like shows of emotion such as anger. no matter what always keep calm and don't shout at them. If you do have any problems(we didn't) they have tourist police who obviously specialise in tourists.
tourism is very important to them, they take crime toward tourist very serious. Just make sure you're sensible. My uncle once told me of these two women who went to a beach party in Patong, (it's a huge party people go from all over the country and world i think) They decided to go for a swim and left all their stuff, on the beach, bags, money passport etc on it's own, no surprise it was gone by the time they came back. Police response, well you shouldn't have been so stupid.
Just don't do anything you wouldn't think of at home in regards to your own safety.
don't show the bottom of your feet as they find that offensive e.g putting foot on other knee. and don't touch someone's head, e.g pat a child on head.
if go into a temple make sure your shoulders are covered and take your shoes off but they usually have signs can't remember if you can wear shorts or not.
The only other thing i can think of is to use deodarant but not anti persperant because you want to sweat to help keep you cool but you don't want to stink with it. It tends to be a little cooler out of Bangkok.
again it's just a case of common sense. I've probably made it sound worse than it'll feel.
Have a fantastic time. i am very 
now have an urge to relook at the hol piccies and video.
Sorry to everyone for taking over.....again