AWOL 2014 Issue 306 21st November | Page 17

Advertise here from only 40 baht per week to hull and back Mags Meanderings: From Som Tam To Mushy Peas snails before swine Looking for a gift for that special someone? Look no further. These two little gems came to my attention just the other day. The first - bacon flavoured massage oil - may not appeal to all faiths. But you have to admit that it sounds like a winner. Available on Amazon it could certainly liven up breakfast times, giving a whole new meaning to breakfast in bed, although there is no indication as to whether it is produced smoked or unsmoked, and as we all know some people are very fussy about their bacon. The second offering is quite frankly bizarre by comparison. Last week I mentioned all the retail ads which land in my inbox, and one of those retailers is the popular UK High Street supplier of health foods Holland and Barrett. It’s the place to go for your cod liver oil capsules, pitted prunes and all things herbal. This time though Holland and Barrett have surpassed themselves by offering gift packs of snail gel beauty products. For just 40 pounds - or around 2000 Baht you get snail gel hand and nail elixir, snail gel facial serum, and the mysterious sounding ‘original snail gel.’ (Probably best not to confuse that with the bacon massage oil.) All snail products are of course organic, and are derived from a ‘unique substance’ which snails produce to regenerate and protect their shells and skin. This ‘remarkable secretion’ is blended with other natural products to help soothe and moisturise the skin. I realise that we women are prone to trying all kinds of miracle skin products which promise eternal youth. Some even get quite nasty substances injected into their wrinkles. But I honestly can’t see snail gel flying off the shelves, can you? You might fancy a coffee now to help you recover from visions of snail gel on the bathroom shelf. Which brings us to this weeks word - ‘barista’. With the huge rise in Starbucks world wide, plus all its very similar big brand rivals, ‘barista’ has become a quite common word to describe those who serve up our caffeine shots. Cheap room for rent from just 350 baht 0915094729 Th/Eng 0805626735 Swe/Eng Soi 94 (1st left after 7-11) Back in my Hua Hin days a leisurely break now and then during shopping trips provided an excuse for a relaxing half hour or so just watching the world go by. Whether in Bon Cafe - which was on Naebkerhardt Rd in a lovely old wooden building, or at one of those mobile sidewalk huts serving 20 baht shots of thick black stuff. Some things don’t change, and the same routine is followed here in the UK, (where coffee consumption now exceeds that of tea) except that now we are served by Baristas. Which means that as well as being trained to drive the coffee machines provided, they are also adept at adding the frothy milk, and should be able to make pretty patterns on the top of that milk. Rather like our bartenders used to be able to make the shape of a shamrock on top of a pint of Guinness, (now sadly a dying art) the word ‘barista’ is in fact derived from the Italian for bartender. GET NOTICED! An advert in AWOL is the best and cheapest way to reach your customers Disclaimer All articles are published in good faith and based on information available to us at publication. Some articles are satire or ‘spoof’ stories intended as humour. No responsibility is accepted other than that stipulated by law. Although the information in this publication has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, AWOL cannot guarantee accuracy in all cases. Any opinions expressed are those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. All materials copyright. All rights reserved and no part of this Dream Guesthouse publication may be reproduced in part or in full without the previous written consent of the publisher. Neither can any part be stored in a retrieval situation, nor transmitted by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or any other means. AWOL is printed by Petchpoom Printing, and we can be contacted on [email protected] or 081 614 8728. Please send any other communications to Mrs Chukamol James, Managing Director, AWOL Co. Ltd., 136/229 Emerald Hill, Soi 6, Mooban Borfai, Hua Hin, Prachuap Kiri Khan, 7110, THAILAND. Join the AWOL forum 17