sidjameson

Hmm, the UK, like Europe was once covered by forest with great biodiversity. It wasn't the Chinese that cut all the trees down.

Another place bites the dust. South east Asia is not what it used to be. I first arrived in 95 when the population was half what it is today. Average age was twenty years younger. Temps were two degrees cooler.Tourism was a trickle not a flood. No burning season that I remember. Most places were without traffic jams. Get away from the main spots and locals hadn't spoken to a foreigner before. Sorry it's off topic, the OP just made me sad.

Lived with a non Japanese wife in Japan. It would have been much easier if I had married a native. Dealing with government taxes, utilities, other problems much easier if one of you is fluent in the language/culture.

Lovely sunny story on a forum that specialises in dark clouds. How long together before you knew she was a keeper?

Subatomic particles don't have morality. Do you?

1980 average salary £25k pa (today's money) 2025 minimum wage £25k pa.

Good point.

If you're up for a proper discussion about 80's Uk compared to today then say how you disagree.

The op was comparing the UK now to the UK of 40 years ago. Not to Thailand now. I agree Thailand is better. And he was talking about the UK in general not your life in the UK. Any of these groups: on benefits, on minimum wage, skilled blue collar, skilled graduate, the UK of 2025 is better than the UK of 1985.

Better food now. Skilled working class labour like plumbing much better paid now. Better TV, free (entertainment online) now. Better minimum wage now. Houses better heated now. Anyone can and does enter university now. Better flights to Europe now. Much cheaper. Better state pension now. Better access to information now. Less perverts like Jimmy saville now. Better place to be gay now. Better place to be a woman now. People less racist now. Cheaper pubs now. Things much better now, albeit there are problems that need fixing.

OP has no hobbies, interests or friends, ( millions of old guys in the same boat) No country will offer a good retirement. He's better off where he is and working imo.

Do you see a danger that alcohol filled the vacuum and if you recover you'll still have the problem of how to fill the empty?

Very enviable position. Don't know where in Thailand you live, but can you really find that beautiful state of mind with the air quality as it is?

Good for you. All financial worries gone. What makes your life meaningful these days?

How old are you? How old you think most forum members are????