For quite a while, I thought you were talking about Odessa, Texas, USA! I didn't know there was one in the Ukraine; I had to look it up in my atlas (which spells it with one S.)

Be careful over there, and good luck to you!

LOL! Do tell....

I work on the edge of Chinatown. Lunch is never boring.

I got a surprise this past Saturday. I was at my son's final swimming session at a local community college when one of the Chinese teacher came over and gave me homemade Chinese dumplings. Her son was also in this class). Oh man, I was stoked and couldn't wait to have'em. I spoke to her the week before how I was wishing for some dumplings from one of the other Chinese teacher. Oh yeah, I thanked her for them. LOL!

"On the whole, I'd rather be in Cleveland."….  W. C. Fields

Snap, great story about Italy.  As far as it goes, I have a friend who met a girl from the Ukraine on the internet and they have been happily married for the better part of 15 years or so.  Even adopted together an orphan from the area too.  Just go in with your eyes open and good luck.

I am being very realistic over this and although I have been in contact for a year now I am not committing myself until I have met this lady (and several others ;)) seen where they live, met their family and assessed their suitability to fit into MY lifestyle, not theirs.

22 years in the military as an officer and leader has taught and given me much experience about reading people and I will make it plain that this is not for them to get into the UK. It is a lifelong commitment. I am more than aware of the risks and have already put my house and what little savings I have into a trust which is administered by my family members. apart from what is in my band account and lots of plastic kits, tools, paints nice camera, musical instruments and a large collection of German beer glasses there is nothing for any woman to get out of me!

I have read many online scare and scam stories and am well prepared. I am a Yorkshireman, paranoid not only by training but by breeding too. I know not to get in the taxi they turn up in that has a dodgy meter and that a agreement between the woman and driver to split the large fare. I'll rent a motorbike and tell them to pay for the taxi and I will follow them!

The Suspicious *** Node is hardwired into the brain and no doubt will be screaming its lungs out as it was every time I went out on patrol from the bases I served in around the world!

When it comes to money you do know that copper wire was invented by two Yorkshiremen fighting over a penny don't you!

The Lawyer I use is an old army colleague and he knows what I am doing and is quite capable of making someone's life a legal misery!

I know that not every lady on the website is a scam artist and I am sure that there is a wonderful caring partner to be found. I am just being very careful, as I always am to find the right lady who fits into both my slow, steady and quiet lifestyle but who is also full of laughter and fun.

She is there somewhere in Odessa!

Anyone want to join in and maybe shoot a few Russians while dating some of Odessa's hottest girls??

I've been to China, but it was a long time ago. It is a nice place to visit. The problem is the air pollution. A good friend of mine runs the office of an American company there, but his wife cannot live there because of her health.

The food really is incredible though.

I don't know much about these overseas wives, but there is an immigration lawyer upstairs from my firm and he's got a steady stream of traffic in and out.

Just keep your eyes open and know that the primary motivation for these women is to get out of whatever hell hole they are in and have a better life. That of course doesn't mean things can't work out, but they can divorce you or just leave once they have moved over, and lose nothing by it. So just be realistic.

Snapdragonxxx, I've not yet made your acquaintance, but you certainly have the right attitude! I, too am a heart patient, and can somewhat relate. Glad you are doing well and love the story about the idiot.

BlackSheep, my wife and I are going to China in the fall with our adult daughter. She is adopting a special needs child, a girl. My goodness that baby is cute, although she will be about two when all is said and done.

just be careful. If you haven't met in person, yet, be extra careful. A lady in our community (a veterinarian) fell into the online trap and ended up sending 170,000 dollars to this clown. Problem was the money was her mother's and the clown did not exist.

Thanks Tankerbuilder. I love travelling Europe, but since my heart wend south I don't really want to travel solo anymore. I want to share my discoveries and loves around Europe. English ladies don't want to know anything if you have something wrong with you, so I cast my net further wider and I do know that when I get my boots on the ground in Odessa there is more than one lady who wants to meet me. Word has spread around there like a bushfire!

I can get a week in a very nice 4* right in the centre of Odessa including flights etc for £800. My last trip to London cost double that just for the hotel!

I think the hotel will be under siege from young single ladies!

Mwaaa Haaaaaaa Haaaaaaa Haaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Yo !

 Hey , I am right there with you on the ticker thingy ! My travels are now limited by range and cost .When the last lady in my life passed we had just returned from Sicily by way of Austria .hmm . great trip that .Good luck on your ventures and the Odessa connection .May your travel be fair and your love as strong as the granite of the earth .

Ah... China. I've been wishing to go there. Where I work, Chinese language classes is offered in various elementary & high schools in my area. I've gotten to know most of the Chinese teachers that teach the language. Heck one even brought me some authentic homemade Chinese dumplings (made by her husband no less) that were to die for! Anyways, Chinese language and writing in Chinese is very hard to learn.

Anyways, one of the supervisors who's in charge of Chinese language program told me she was going to China on a Business trip for a week, I jokingly begged & pleaded to come along as a "luggage carrier". LOL!

In reality, I know my wife and son have no interest in going to China anytime soon nor in the future. If I ever have the opportunity, I'd go. I'd love to go for a month just to experience the culture, the food and the land.  My top 2 places I want to visit are The Great Wall and the Terracotta Soldiers.

snapdragonxxx

There are some incredibly beautiful ladies in china. They also are very dedicated to their man too.

Make it into a holiday. Go and visit China and meet up.... ask for a photo first!

Lol, so I am tempted but I only speak about fifty words of Mandarin!!!

There are some incredibly beautiful ladies in china. They also are very dedicated to their man too.

Make it into a holiday. Go and visit China and meet up.... ask for a photo first!

Wow, after going though all that I'd think I'd want to take some time off to relax!!!

Good luck with your lady-friend, I hope things work out.  As a single guy myself the owner lady at my favorite Chinese restaurant wanted to know if she could set me up with her cousin. I said 'sure' until she told me she's not Chinese/American but actually lives in China... I've been set up on some crazy blind dates before but never asked to fly from the US east coast halfway across the world to meet someone!  

snapdragonxxx

 

P mitch - you are right. Over 22 years (or so) I have been blown up, set on fire, shot more then once spent a long time stood on a mine in Bosnia, had dog turds thrown at me by children, fired on by allies and an unpleasant incident east of the wind!!!!!!

I know Yorkshire is rough, but didn't think it was that bad

James, I am happy to hear that you took care of business while in Italy and I wish you all the best for your trip to Odessa.  

mix petrol and diesel. Explodes, sticks, burns like crazy and not easy to put out.

Anybody have a recipe for Greek Fire?????

P mitch - you are right. Over 22 years (or so) I have been blown up, set on fire, shot more then once spent a long time stood on a mine in Bosnia, had dog turds thrown at me by children, fired on by allies and an unpleasant incident east of the wind!!!!!!

I also had the "privilege" of leading a bayonet charge in Afghanistan. At the time it was either that or get overrun. The order to "Fix Bayonets" may not have been understood in Pashtu (or whatever it is there) but the message certainly got home with 30 troops charging out of smoke screaming their lungs out with their blood and adrenaline up!

ON the other side, I have served on Royalty protection, travelled around the world and done many parades. Military music, marches etc is top of my music listening list and certainly stirs my blood even now.

With the virus and the shrapnel injuries My lifestyle has changed completely with a swing from highly active and hectic lifestyle to slow, inactive, day to day stady as it goes. It has taken 4 years for this to happen and for me to get used to it, and a day at my workbench is now regarded as an active fun filled day, as is a day out on the motorbike somewhere!

I have, for the past week been working towards starting to airbrush. The kit I chose was miniart's SU76M SPG as it is an inexpensive thing. the problem is that none of it goes together properly and every part needs clean up from flash.

I think that It is time to consign it to the scrapheap and cross miniart off my kit list(s)

James

Snap

No matter what happens I wish you luck as you sounds like you've had enough trouble in your life. Just keep your back side down and use a bit of vaseline in the Molotov's, helps it stick better (don't ask how I know that)

Phil

As for the italian incident: good work!

As for Odessa, please look out! But on the bright side, maybe you could pick up some nice ICM or Masterbox kits!

Hey chaps

Thanks for the messages of support - I shall always wear it!!! ;)

To the best of my knowledge the Unfortunate Italian will be dragged through the courts. I did make a statement to the local uniforms and if circumstances had permitted it would have given him a good kicking with my stout military walking boots. Over the 4 years since the virus struck I have had good chance to learn to listen to what the old ticker is telling me and as you can imagine it has been a long road both physically and mentally to get myself back to what now is laughingly called a "Stable Condition".

The sudden stress and physical activity at the time made my heart suddenly say "What the F@@@ are you doing? Sit Down idiot!" It was also joined by a pain in my chest and down my left arm. Classic warning signs for me. so I sat down and used the nitro spray thingy as instructed by the doc.

As to Odessa - I have been communicating with a lovely lady there for the past year through a dating website and both of us have agreed that we have got as far as we can get through the website and before making any decision on the future of our relationship and the ability to take it further we should meet and spend some time together.

As British Visitor's visas are like gold dust to get hold of, and to spite Putin (I think he is secretly gay) I will put my boots on the ground in Odessa to meet this lady who has captured what is left of my heart.

We have discussed at length the crisis and she feels so strongly that Russia is not welcome in the Ukraine that she is prepared to man street barricades should they cross the border. If I am there at the time then dicky ticker or not, I will be alongside her lobbing Molotov cocktails and verbally abusing the enemy in a broad Yorkshire accent or if I can get hold of a tank and a crew... even better!

Before you all ask...

Yes. She is younger than me. She knows all about my heart, PTSD etc and she still likes me for who I am and not for what I have! she is also stunningly gorgeous but I do not consider her a trophy wife/wag. To me she is very much a very caring lifetime partner.

Wow! Glad you're able to stop the theft of your camera. Heh - had to laugh trying to imagine the look on the thief's face when he was caught on an unexpected "short leash" followed by a clock to the head. Priceless...

Yeah, good to hear you're ok after all that, hopefully the thief will get some nice time in jail to re-evaluate his life.  

Snap, all the best to you and your family, very sorry to hear about your experience.

Terry

Tojo72

wow,if you were in the USA you would probably be arrested for assault,and the would be thief would be sueing you.

glad it turned out okay and you are feeling okay

Not too likely- most street cops enjoy the karma of a crook who chooses the wrong victim. I know that I sure do and I can not imagine any that I work with hooking anybody in similar straights. But the ambulance chasing bottom feeders, now that is another issue...

Glad to hear that it all went well for you Snap, but I gotta echo Bish about the trip to Odessa. Things in that part of the world are getting foolish again.

wow,if you were in the USA you would probably be arrested for assault,and the would be thief would be sueing you.

glad it turned out okay and you are feeling okay

snap, I didn't know you had a heart problem. Glad your Ok and the toe rag got his just deserts. Do you know what punishment he got.

As for Odessa, you sure that's a good idea at the moment.

Good to hear you're OK and that the wannabe thief got what he deserved.