Not bad. Well done. Now we're all wondering what the raffle prize was (I'll leave it to your mate Umish to suggest something)!

At one time I was all set to become a banana farmer in Davao, but that (like so many of my "plans"*) ended up down the pan, as it were.

However (and as you suggest), I have had a bit more success in the Monk department!

* Remember "Man Plans, God Laughs"!

Bought a paddy field in northern Thailand, imagine retirement with the floppy hat, shorts and dodging snakes.

Go for it (but don't forget to send us some photos)!

I seem to recall seeing a few monks out that way, as well.

Neil,
Have you ever met "Shaggy" I think his real name is Alan Kent? We was at the KHMC in the mid to late Eighties. You just described his retirement plan.

No never met Shaggy, But the question is "did he buy the paddy field"? I have the field, Thai wife and child, best country to retire to, beautiful people, weather, beaches and scenery.

... not to mention, er ... snakes!

Met some nice snakes trekking through the jungle north of Chiang Mai, always best to keep a safe distance, including the human kind.
we was trekking not the snakes

Bill, you know mine and Shaggy's retirement plans, what about your own?

biomedbill (back in Nov 2009) mentioned:-
Alan "Shaggy" Kent - him and his room always smelt of Johnson's Baby Oil. Spent many a happy night drinking arak and playing Elite on his PC. Mad, happy days.....

PC? ... or BBC Micro?

Welcome to the Club, Mate.