So what does everybody think about the new Lost Boy logo? In a bid to remove the enormous, distracting header that I’ve been using for about six months, I’m working to simplify this blog’s layout for the benefit of the readership. That means a small, catchy Web 2.0 logo instead of a full header. Over the next couple of weeks I will also be using a new, cleaner theme to more effectively utilize space.

One thing I am thinking of doing soon is creating a “links” page. I’m asking this to everybody who has a link in my sidebar: Would you mind if I moved all of those links to a specific page, because at the moment, there are way too many outgoing links on my homepage and they are cluttering up my free space? You’ll still have the benefit of being linked to from a PR4 blog, but your link will be moved to a new page. If you’re against this idea then say something here.

Other than that, I will be reintroducing Adsense at some point, either with this theme or the new one. I’m not selling out, but once my pages are re-indexed by Google, Adsense will be a decent earner and I have some plans to step up the promotion of this blog over the next few weeks.

I’d love to hear any thoughts.

By the way: That logo cost me just $10. If you want one of your own then drop me a line and I’ll put you in touch with the designer.

For whatever reason, when I moved to Thailand I pretty much stopped buying clothes for myself. There was one time I went to Zara and bought two T-shirts, but in general, I seem to accumulate items of clothing from other people, either as gifts or just general free stuff.

This phenomenon isn’t something I had ever come across before, but since moving to Thailand I have acquired:

• One pair of jeans
• Two pairs of smart trousers
• Two work shirts
• One polo shirt
• One pair of swimming shorts (since lost)
• More than 20 T-shirts

These clothes have included such gems as an Ultraman T-shirt and a T-shirt for a gameshow called “50-50”, which I’ve never seen. Being donated these clothes has meant that I’ve saved lots of money. My favorite T-shirt was given to me today by a friend who just returned from a trip to Isaaan.

The tag line of the T-shirt is, “Devil to kill something to do away with a withness.” It’s the whole doing away with a “withness” thing that I like the most. I’ve got no idea what the T-shirt means but I will be wearing it with pride over the weekend. I just wish people would start giving me socks, but as they so, don’t look a clothes horse in the mouth. (I thought was quite funny in my half-asleep state.)

Am I the only one who has become a clothes-magnet in Thailand?

Techno’ tags: Thailand, Clothes

I’ve just had a very strange dream about Pete Sampras. I am certain that it holds significant meaning, although I’m yet to really decipher it as I’ve just woken up. In the dream I had been eating at my favorite restaurant in Phuket, which is a little Italian place called Farang near Central Festival, where I ate tonight, incidentally.

It was early evening and I was walking away from the restaurant when I noticed Pete Sampras walking toward me wearing his tennis clothes and carrying his tennis bag. I was unsure why he was in Phuket, but I had a look around me and somewhere I saw the result of a tennis match that Pete had just been in. Pete had won the match three sets to two. I decided to congratulate him on the match and pretend I had seen it, because I really wanted to make friends with Pete.

“Wow!” I shouted. “What a match. Five sets. That was unbelievable.”

Pete seemed happy enough to talk to me. He was putting his tennis bag in his car and admitted that it had been a great match, but he was now very tired. The match had been against Miss Universe’s boyfriend, Paradorn Srichaphan.

Victorious Pete told me that because of the excessively long match, he was going to have to stay in Phuket an extra night. Pete then walked away from me and to Farang restaurant where he sat at a table with a man. This man was balding, had tanned skin, and I hated him. For whatever reason, I was really jealous that Pete had chosen to sit with this man and not hang out with me.

I heard the guy call to the next table, “Hey dude. You got a light?” I was fuming and considered going over there and joining Pete and his new friend.

And that’s all I can remember. There are so many pointers in this dream that I’ve got to try and work out what it means. I remember reading Pete Sampras’ name on Wikipedia a few days ago when I was reading about Tim Henman retiring; I ate at Farang restaurant not three hours before the dream; I wrote a story that mentioned Noppadorn today; and I’ve recently quit smoking.

The flag marks are there; I just need to think about them when I’m a bit more awake.

Have you had any strange dreams recently?

Techno’ tags: Thailand, Phuket, Pete Sampras

Now, before anybody thinks I’m getting nostalgic – I’m not. But there are some things I took for granted when I was in England and I kind of miss them. I’m not saying that I want to go back and live in the UK, but if there were seven things I could import to Thailand, this is what they’d be:

The BBC

The BBC is great for so many reasons. While I can get BBC World and log on to the BBC website, it’s not the same. I’d love to be able to watch Eastenders; catch an episode of Neighbours; sit down and watch the news; listen to the Sunday Surgery on Sunday night; and get infuriated at how annoying Sarah Cox is.

Pickled onion Monster Munch

Possibly the best crisps in the world. I did buy a pack from Central World in Bangkok a couple of months back, but they cost me 50 baht and were stale.

My mother’s cooking

Home cooking is the ultimate comfort. It’s a world of sensory memories that crop up every now and then. What I would give for my mum’s spaghetti bolognese, roast lamb or cheese on toast. You can get all of these things in Thailand, but they sure don’t taste like they did in the Crook-family household.

Going to the pub

Nobody else in the world has ever fully grasped the concept of going to the pub. Pubs are multipurpose buildings where English people spend most of their lives. Nothing to do? Go to the pub. Finish work early? Down the pub. On a night out? Let’s meet at the pub. The feeling of walking into a familiar pub with friends is something you can’t recreate in Thailand.

My friends

I’ve lost touch with a lot of people now. Occasionally old faces pop up on Facebook, but in general, people move on, they change their email addresses, and things change. It’s no big deal, but you hope that those people you hold memories of still remember you.

Cider

I used to drink cider every day. When I drink it in Thailand it feels like a special occasion because it’s always imported and it’s always expensive. I’d like to have my cider-drinking habit back to being part of my daily routine. Even cheap cider would do. Even freakin’ White Lightning would suffice.

Normal cats

There was a time when I was quite fond of cats, but in Thailand, the only cats I come across are horrible little monsters. It’s not the cats’ fault, but I have no time for these no-tailed ruffians posing as felines. If I was walking through the streets of Sheffield and I saw a cat I’d stop and pick it up; here in Thailand I’m lucky if I can run away without the cat attacking me, or at least glaring at me.

So what would you like to import for your Thailand-expat experience?

Techno’ tags: Thailand

Woke up: 8:52 am

Ready for work and out the apartment: 8:57 am

Arrived at work: 8:58 am – nobody there.

Somebody arrives with key: 9:02 am

At my desk: 9:05 am