doctormann

Thanks. I'll put on the list to consider.

My HP OfficeJet Pro seems to have died after 5 years of faithful service so it looks like replacement time. Any recommendations for a fully compatible printer or printer/scanner that will work with Linux Mint 19.3? I guess that I need another HP model, using HPLIP. I can upgrade to Mint 20 or 20.1 if necessary. Thanks.

How about considering Libre Office <https://www.libreoffice.org> Same functionality as MS Office and absolutely free.

No, everything done as outpatient.

Certainly can! 'Special'? I don't know - there may be other options but GiffGaff works for me and for many others. I got into the situation where my UK bank (Barclays) would only send OTP by SMS to a UK mobile number, hence the requirement for a UK SIM. I have been using GiffGaff now for many years without any problems. I recommend that you try it as the cost is minimal.

You could get a UK SIM from GiffGaff - https://www.giffgaff.com/ This works in Thailand. Minimal cost - just need to put a small credit on the SIM and then make the occasional SMS or phone call to keep it active.

Definitely approved - the new slip is now in my passport.

Applied today at 06:20 and received approval at 07:59. I'm surprised that Immigration work at such an early hour so this makes me think that the whole process is now automated. My reporting office is Jomtien.

I wonder if this is just an Electrolux Thailand problem? Certainly, back in the UK, Electrolux was/is a very well respected brand. Here in Thailand I have bought an Electrolux vacuum cleaner and that has been fine, The gas hob that I bought seemed to be of good quality but my missus managed to partially destroy it, hence the requirement for spare parts. It seems to be the after sales service that sucks here, rather than the quality of the brand.

Agreed - even happens eventually to really high quality lenses. I had a pair of photochromic vari-focals from Rodenstock with anti-scratch coating. Excellent lenses but the coating did start to degrade after a couple of years and they eventually became unusable. I was advised to only use liquid baby soap for cleaning, which I did. I asked about using impregnated lens tissues, as you would probably use on camera lenses, and was advised against this because it would degrade the coating!

You might try this guy: [email protected] I was having trouble with getting spares for a gas hob and the Pattaya Service Centre were just giving me the runaround. He was very helpful and the problem got sorted immediately. Also, this is the Customer Care contact link, which you may already have: [email protected]

My TTB internet banking account has been locked! Apparently, I need a temporary password to unlock it. I can, allegedly, get one from a TTB branch - don't have one anywhere near me - or from a TTB ATM - nowhere near, again! Supposedly, I should be able to do this via my TTB Touch mobile app but the instructions make no sense whatsoever. I have wasted hours on this! Anyone have any clues or do I have to trog into town on Monday!!

Thanks. Yes, I found Vespresso and wondered if it was run by the same people. We may give it a go.

Did Ticino Restaurant and Vespa Bar on Pattaya Dark Side close down? I can't find it on Google Maps. Not been there for a very long time but I remember it being very good. Just looking for somewhere for the wife's birthday that we don't normally go to.

Which make/model was that?

I take your point. Walking is probably safer - although didn't stop me from breaking an ankle when the sidewalk collapsed under my feet, back in 2008. Right now, walking is actually a problem for me if I want to go any distance. Just no pleasure in it and gets quite painful after a while. I don't know if an e-scooter is really the answer - just looking at alternatives at the moment.

Life expectancy 5 minutes, maybe, if you're lucky!

Maybe more like this one ...

I'm rethinking this. Maybe not such a good idea after all! I was referring to actual scooters - like the one you maybe had as a child, only bigger with an electric motor - not the PCX / Click full size electric scooter thingies. Used a lot in Europe for commuting, allegedly, but I haven't seen any in Pattaya.

Not sure if this is the right place for this - I wouldn't want to offend anyone who has a 'proper' motorcycle! Anyway, the question is, does anyone have experience with e-scooters? My mobility is getting a bit compromised and I think that an e-scooter might be the solution to just getting around locally - mainly to the local shops and maybe to the pub. I don't need anything fast or with a long range, just something fairly basic. I don't have a m/c licence so anything gasoline-powered isn't really an option. I don't think that a licence is required for an e-scooter of 500W, or less, power. Any recommendations on make / model? Is there anywhere in Pattaya that sells these things?

I did pay extra for the initial eye examination, which was carried out at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. That was to specify the lenses and to check for glaucoma or any other problems. This was less than 2000 Baht. The only other expenses were for post-op medication - eye drops that you have to use for a few weeks. Didn't cost much. I had my first eye done just a few days after the initial exam and the second eye a month after that. I had a final check on both eyes after a further three months. Be aware that it does take a few days - it did in my case - before you can see clearly with the operated eye. Immediately after the operation the eye is 'packed' and the packing is removed after 24 hours. I had to go back to BPH for this. No possibility of driving yourself anywhere at this stage so you need someone to assist you. Depending on the degree of corneal swelling it does take a while for the eye to settle down. In my case, the left eye took about four days before I could see clearly. The right eye only about one day. i found that the biggest PITA was the need to use eye drops every few hours for the first couple of weeks and needing to use an eye shield overnight. All good now though and I am very pleased with the result.

A small heads-up that may have been covered before but I'll post it here anyway. I have been using the new online system for a while now, without any problems and the email prompts have been coming through so everything was just working fine. However, I just renewed my annual extension of stay and my next 90-day reporting date was due just a few days after this. When I tried to use the online system I was not initially able to do so - got an error message that my reporting date was later than the expiry date of my permission to stay. This must mean that the 90-day database is not synchronized with whichever bit of Immigration keeps track of extension dates. No real surprise there, I guess! Anyway, the problem was easily resolved by editing the permission to stay date on the TM47 that pops up when you use the auto fill-in option on the online site. Everything then went through as normal and I got the conformation within an hour. I use the Jomtien office if this is relevant.

Or a photocopier - most unreliable machine known to mankind!

Agreed. Small chance of a delivery within 30 days by normal snail mail where I live. We are very lucky if we see the mailman once a month!

Yes, I am a farang! I was surprised at the relative cheapness of the surgery. Jomtien had a special package on offer at the time and I believe that this is still the case. The only extra that I paid was for the thorough eye exam and lens specification that was done prior to the surgery. This was done at Bangkok Pattaya and the cost was only a couple of thousand Baht. Jomtien Eye Centre website here <https://www.jomtienhospital.com/en/eye-department.html>