[cokLoolioli]

I will try to reply in reverse...

The forums have not officially had anything done to them, nor have they unofficially. They are indeed causing major server issues. It even has played it's fair part in causing the server to overheat at various times recently. These errors you see are just part of the lack of required resources the server needs and we see many more errors as the traffic increases. There are some steps in motion to get this problem resolved, but no major decisions have been made on anything yet. Though it is something that will soon need to be addressed.

Good choice on the drink matter. Evidently the Thai people in the UK do their 'gatherings' differently than they do in North America. I have many friends in the Leamington area near Windsor, and there gatherings are as I mentioned above.

The average gifts are presented in Thailand and anywhere else in the world I guess really. But simply at a social gathering it is a gift to be used at the gathering itself. The fact that they use it at the gathering on the same day of the gathering is in itself their unspoken way of showing appreciation for your thoughts.

Again I emphasize - This is for a regular get together style gathering. Some would say Party? If the gathering has a purpose that is more than the average excuse for a party you will need to bring money in an envelope. Even at house warmings & weddings money is presented, not gifts. I guess it is because it is so expensive to live here. You could offer very nice artwork, cutlery knives camcorders anything. But when you get to the house you will see a table with a pile of envelopes, not boxes.