Yesterday was King Bhumibol Adulyadej's birthday.

As the King of Thailand is highly revered and considered the father of the nation it is also 'Fathers Day', a national holiday.

He is 85 this year and looking quite frail, however he still made the effort to come and speak to the hundreds of thousands of people wanting to wish him a happy birthday.

It is an amazing spectacle, all of the people are wearing yellow, clutching both the Thai and Royal flags together with pictures of their, much loved, monarch. All shouting 'long live the king!'.

For the first time since I moved to Phuket (2 years now) I actually went to the beach! As the King's birthday coincides with the bosses we went to Surin Beach in the west of the island and had a great time. I must make sure it's not another 2 years before I go again... 

LONG LIVE THE KING!

There is no direct comparison with these two and the sleep assessment & advisory service, the closest is:

'Log position - If you sleep on your side with both arms down, you are a social, easy-going person who is trusting, sometimes to the point of being gullible. The study showed 15% of people sleep like a log.'

However they are all different, which makes me think they are just making it all up 

I think with this one the 'Sleep Advisory Service' and http://clivewhite.co.uk/?p=19143 are pretty similar. This is what they said:

'Freefall position - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.'

I often sleep like this - but I have an excuse!

After my bike accident 20 years ago I have a bad leg and a foot that is constantly painful, this means that I frequently hang it out the end of the bed as that is the least painful way for it to be. This all despite my wonderful Hugs Mattress :D.

I will explain about my accident in another post and will accept no criticism of my decision... 

This is what the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service said:

"Starfish position - Sleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for 5% of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful, and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night's sleep more often."

Some similarity I guess, or am I just being charitable?

The Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service described people who sleep in this position like this: "These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly."

A quite different assessment.

This from http://clivewhite.co.uk/?p=19143

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of something called the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, says that a study of 1,000 people in England showed that the most common mattress sleep positions are indicative of the six different types of personality. He reckons that:

Fetus position - A whopping 41% of participants sleep in this curled-up manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly.

Log position - If you sleep on your side with both arms down, you are a social, easy-going person who is trusting, sometimes to the point of being gullible. The study showed 15% of people sleep like a log.

Yearner position - A close third is the side-lying position with both arms out in front of the body, with 13% of partipants sleeping like this. Yearners are noted to be open-minded and still cynical, suspicious, and stubborn about sticking to decisions once they are made.

Soldier position - These sleepers lie on their backs with arms down and kept close to the body. This 8% study is said to be reserved, quiet, without fuss, and hold themselves and others to a high standard. Soldier sleepers have a higher likelihood for snoring due to the flat-back position, which may not cause them to wake up often but may result in a less restful night's sleep.

Freefall position - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

Starfish position - Sleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for 5% of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful, and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night's sleep more often.

If you think you are one of those people who move through all of these positions, that's not likely to really be the case. Idzikowski said the research reveals most people stay in the same position all night and only 5% lay differently night by night. Also interesting is that the study showed only one in ten people cover their bodies entirely with a blanket, with most people exposing an arm, leg, or both feet.

To be honest I'm not sure about this kind of survey, particularly as I will post one tomorrow that has completely different results…

Andy

Does this picture make you feel itchy?

You could get your mattress cleaned but wouldn't a nice new Hugs mattress be better?

It's the only way you can be SURE the bed bugs are gone.

We deliver free (mattresses, not bed bugs!)

Quite a few months ago I went into one of the largest mattress shops here in Phuket.

I asked if they had a mattress that used fire retardant materials.

I expected that the cheaper ones wouldn't but I didn't expect to be told that not a single one used fire retardant fabric.

Amazing Thailand indeed. In Western countries it is compulsory, here it is almost unheard of.

Take care.

Andy & Karn

I find it strange that so much store is placed on trying out your mattress before you buy it.

How helpful is this in reality? I mean you lie on the mattress for what, 10 seconds, in a situation with a salesman in close attendance pestering you? It's hardly the circumstances or enough time to come to a decent decision. It's like with a car, a seat that seems comfortable when sitting in it for a few moments in the showroom may well give you backache on a long journey.

We, on the other hand, offer a 30-day money back guarantee; so you have the opportunity to really try the mattress out and ensure it is suitable for you.

Of course we are confident you will be happy and sleep well but if you don't, send it back, we will refund your money and even pay for the mattress pick up, anywhere in Thailand.

Have a great day.

Andy

I have been ill the last few days, started feeling dizzy all the time and being unable to walk straight.

Obviously, being a chap, I thought it must be a brain tumour!

It isn't.

The doctor took away some of the problem immediately by having me lay down with my head hanging off the end of the bed, turned to first the left then the right, while she supported it. She said that would reset the 'crystal' in my inner ear which had shifted out of position, clever stuff!

She also gave me some tablets and, after a couple of days spent mostly horizontal, on my lovely hugs mattress (sorry, had to get a plug for our mattresses in!) at home here in Phuket, I feel much better. I'm still not 100%, so there is still some lingering doubt in my mind about the brain tumour, but I think I might just survive...

I guess the moral of the story, more directed at me than anyone reading this, is that I must go to the doctor when I have a problem. The trouble is, having spent many months in hospital when I was younger, I just don't like them.

hugs!