AWOL 2014 Issue 281 9th May | Page 15

Advertise here from only 40 baht per week to hull and back Mags Meanderings: From Som Tam To Mushy Peas technology overload April and May are busy months for Public holidays this year, both in Thailand and England. As you poor souls out there face another alcohol free Holy Day on Tuesday 13th, here in the UK our Early Spring bank holiday on May 5th, coming as it did only two weeks after Easter, provided yet another opportunity to get those paintbrushes out, or, weather permitting, to fire up the barbecues and crack open the tinnies. But with only another three weeks to our next (proper) Spring Bank Holiday on May 26th, many of us spent our early Spring break weekend glued to the World Snooker Championship, which of course always takes place in Gods’ Own County of Yorkshire. And without giving away any secrets (by the time you read this you will know who won anyway) what a final it was. But am I the only one who finds the ever more sophisticated computer aided viewing of this event just a little annoying now? We know that technology is expanding our vocabulary almost daily, but it is also being increasingly used to supposedly enhance our enjoyment of some televised sports events. To be fair some of it can help. That computer enhanced cue ball - shown half in black and half in yellow really does illustrate well the spin on the white. The superimposed white line showing the likely route of the cue ball before it even sets off is just about bearable, (although uncannily accurate - how do the ‘experts’ do that? Oh yes of course, they have been World Champions themselves.) What really bugs me is those constant slow motion repeats of shots. Good or bad, there it goes again. The white ball meandering slowly towards the corner pocket and hovering tantalisingly on the edge before disappearing. The black rattling around before deciding to stay in play. All preceded and followed by a visual We have a new ad size! eighth page Prices 4 issues: 1,800 baht (450 baht per issue) 13 issues: 4,940 baht (380 baht per issue) 52 issues: 15,600 baht (300 baht per issue) All prices based on advance payment Please contact us on 081 649 8361 or [email protected] for more information Dream Guesthouse Cheap room for rent from just 350 baht 0915094729 Th/Eng 0805626735 Swe/Eng Soi 94 (1st left after 7-11) effect resembling a cross between a fan and a venetian blind sweeping across the screen. Admittedly all very clever stuff, but I can’t be the only viewer who finds those interruptions to the flow of the matches just a tad disconcerting. No sooner had a repeat ended than we were back in real time, often only just in time to see a hand on the table and a cue hitting the white ball, and so confused by then that the body attached to the hand could have belonged to either of the players. Does the BBC really think that we all get bored by watching a player consider his next shot? That we can’t bear to wait until the next short break to see repeats of the most important play? It seems to me that it is now more important for them to demonstrate the newest whizz kid technology, simply because they can. And so to our word of the week. ‘Uxorious’ refers to a man who is excessively fond of his wife. Now there’s a word which could only have been invented by a man! KEEP CALM AND FIND PARADISE Sopha Land and Houses sell land in a beautiful unspoilt area about 200 km south of Hua Hin. There are miles of beaches and prices and costs of living are still quite inexpensive. For information ring Sopha (English/ Thai) on 083 3240907 or visit www.sophalandhouse.com Join the AWOL forum 15