"Bates Motel" Final season - the best bits

This frustratingly inconsistent show is going out in style.

• Episode 1's opening sequence was masterly, thanks to writer/producer Kerry Ehrin (eps 2-5  have different writers). There's even a shower curtain reference, with tongue firmly in cheek.
•  The show is at its best when Norma and Norman duke it out (e.g. the scene in the woods with them both brandishing flashlights).
• Chick's viking funeral in Episode 3 was just plain weird. No kimono needed.
• The cheerily lit Bates house with dining room table elegantly set for dinner, contrasting with the reality of Norman's squalid existence.
• Marion Crane (Rhianna) walks past a sign for real estate: "R. A. Bloch" (shout out to the original novel by Robert Bloch).
• Episode 6 was a clever reinterpretation of  key "Psycho" scenes. Not a dud scene. The series most consistent episode. Respectful of its source material, then improving upon it. Producers Ehrin and Cuse scripted this episode. Note: "Sam Loomis" was John Gavin's character in the original movie.
• Episode 7 (scripted by Freddie Highmore) demonstrates Highmore's black sense of humour (see early scenes - bathroom clean-up and dumping Loomis in the well: "Make a wish").
• The intrepid sheriff (Brooke Smith - so good in "Ray Donovan") has some great scenes with Norman in Episode 8.
• Episode 9 had one decent scene - Emma visiting Norman in jail - the rest was tedious padding.
• Episode 10's climax was more like a Greek tragedy. Max Thieriot acted his socks off. The dinner table scene was truly macabre. The show went out in style. (Small gripe: If you were Emma - 30 mins into episode - wouldn't you ignore Dylan and ring the police yourself?)

Bangkok's Underground - MRT

Booths at Lumphini Station

Cheap, clean and efficient. Why can't Australia have a system like this? Spotless carriages, no graffiti, no smells of someone else's junk food. Food and drink are prohited.
Fares start at 16 Baht (60 cents). You can travel to the other side of the city (e.g. Chatuchak Market) for 42 Baht ($1.57).

Beat the traffic!

The cheapest and easiest way from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok CBD

There is a train ever 15-20 mins

Announcements are in Thai and English

Take the airport link train (in Basement) after clearing Customs. The lift is easier if you have lots of luggage but there are escalators also.
You can buy your token from a ticket window. Makkasan Station (connects with Phetchaburi MRT - underground) costs 35 Thai Baht (about US$1). The journey takes 25 minutes. Phaya Thai station is the end of the line (45 baht), this links with BTS Skytrain.

Beat the traffic. View from pedestrian walkway, Phetchaburi MRT top left

MRT map (southbound)

Follow the covered walkway (about 170 metres) to Phetchaburi MRT. This line connects Sukhumvit and Silom Road hotels. Fares start at 16 baht. Ticket machines give change.

Luang Prabang's litter problem

This cultural gem has experienced a tourist boom in the last ten years. Like many other third world countries, the infrastructure cannot keep up with the growth tourism.

A scenic spot, but look below...

View of the Mekong, with pile of plastic bottles and assorted rubbish - Dry Season

It is the public areas (like the roadside rubbish above) that is the problem. Individual hotels, guest houses and restaurants keep their individual areas clean, it's in their interest to have attractive surroundings for their customers.
You can also see the same cascade of litter along the riverbank on the Nam Khan (River). With the wet season, this mountain of rubbish will be swept into the river and downstream to join the rubbish in Vientiane and even farther afield (through Thailand, Cambodia to the delta in southern Vietnam).

Is this Bangkok's coolest high rise?

Located in the Silom district, this condo looks like a cross between an unfinished Lego masterpiece and a Transformer.

The A-Z of Retirement (so far)

A Adapting, learning to relax, not meeting a deadline.
B Budgeting
C Crosswords - keeps the mind active, hopefully.
D Dog - crucial
E Exercises
F Five o'clock drinks at home - wine o'clock.
G Garage becomes a gym.
H Hammock
I  Internet - more time for trivia.
J  Jetting off.
K Kitchen - more time to shop around for bargains, better and varied meals.
L Long Service Leave - use it all up before retirement.
M Morning walk - with the dog. Win-win situation.
N Netflix - more time to binge.
O Out with the old - declutter.
P Photograph albums are replaced by Facebook posts.
Q Queensland
R Reading crime fiction.
S Seniors Card - invaluable - free weekend travel in Australian cities.
T Travelling - out of holiday/peak time, saves a bundle.
U Utilities - check your entitlement for concessions and rebates on water, gas and electricity
V Vacuuming, my job; after while wife dusts.
W Whinging - grumpy old man
X Xenophobia = ignorance
Y Yeast, new product in the kitchen now partner has taken up baking.
Z zzzzz's Afternoon naps

The best bits of "Taboo" (BBC/FX)

BBC's new historical drama is full of fun, if you can get past the mumbling and murky plotting. Steven ("Peaky Blinders") Knight turns his attention to Regency England.

• Tom Hardy cutting through the streets of London in stovepipe hat and billowing greatcoat.
• Jonathan Pryce tapping his cane ominously in the East India Company board room.
• The Machiavellian Solomon Coop (Jason Watkins) has a great catchphrase: "Always assume I know".
• Gout ridden Prince Regent (heavily padded Mark Gatiss) surrounded by stuffed zebra and legless giraffe.
• Atticus's (Stephen Graham - remember Al Capone in "Boardwalk Empire"?) compass rose skull tattoo
• The always-good-value David Hayman (in any scene).
• Michael Kelly (Doug Stamper from "House Of Cards").
• The intriguing relationship between Delaney and his school chum/EIC spy
• Chemistry lessons with manure-munching Mr Cholmondeley (Tom Hollander; he played the slimy Lance in "The Night Manager").
• Delaney's constant companion, his mini-scythe - it slices, dices, slashed - the perfect kitchen tool.
• Amazing night photography.
• Street scenes - looks like a movie budget
• Lush musical score.

Mercure Canberra - Best value accommodation in town?

Built in the late 1920's to coincide with the building of the (provisional) Parliament House, this historic hotel has lots going for it.

• Great location - 10 mins walk to the Canberra Centre (downtown shopping mall), bars, restaurants, Canberra Theatre, 5 mins walk to the Australian War Memorial and the start of trail to Mount Ainslie.
• Cheap on-site parking ($10 a night)
• Great food (choice of two restaurants - up market or bistro).
• Public bar and bottle shop.
• Clubby decor - open fires, wing chairs, couches in public areas, with quirky touches like a 30's radio unit, old telephone switchboard, huge fish tanks in the corridors.

Central courtyard

Cheap pub food in the beer garden - Lamb shanks, Chicken Kiev

This was our last stop on a road trip which included upscale Accor properties (Sofitel, Pullman, M Gallery), so this 3 star hotel is punching well under its weight.