Gsxrnz

Scion?

I think spawn, would be more appropriate.

The journalist must have broken out the thesaurus. Scion is a word that I don't recall coming across before.

But yes, spawn would be a more appropriate description.

........That's an incredible amount of food. I don't think I could get through that. I always adjust the size of my meals so I don't feel bloated.

The only time I eat to excess is when I eat at the evening Hilton buffet on the very odd special occasion. The problem is that I get full too quickly as I haven't trained my stomach to handle a lot of food and that's the one time I would like to eat more.

I've heard the Hilton buffet mentioned a few times. Is it really that good and worth trying?

I'm the same as you, don't often eat to excess but I can (and do) make exceptions for extra good food, especially when there is variety such as a buffet.

I rarely eat breakfast. Never have done since I was about 12 and managed to rebel from having gruel like porridge served up every morning. So I've never really had breakfast apart from coffee.

However, I do have fry-up brunch once a week or so and I starve myself the previous day in preparation. Make it myself. It's an event I do relish but if did it every day I'd be the size of a house.

4 rashers of bacon

2 beef sausages

1 fried egg

2 eggs scrambled

3 hash browns (or fried potatoes if I have some leftovers. Mashed spuds fried in butter - to die for!)

Fried mushrooms

1 Grilled tomato

1 Slice of fried bread

A few slices of black pudding (when I can get it)

Baked Beans (Heinz or Brooklands, can't stand the Thai stuff)

Bubble and Squeak (no meat, just whatever veges I can lay my hands on, mainly cabbage and carrots or whatever is in the fridge)

Topped with HP sauce and a bucket of salt and pepper

Toast and marmalade, and two cups of Tea

I can't eat for the rest of the day and well into the next day. Can't eat it on a golfing day as I'd be buggered after 3 holes.

But the other 6 days of the week I just have coffee until maybe mid afternoon when I'll have a snack (leftovers or a sandwich), and then a meal at say 6pm.

That's an incredible amount of food. I don't think I could get through that. I always adjust the size of my meals so I don't feel bloated.

The only time I eat to excess is when I eat at the evening Hilton buffet on the very odd special occasion. The problem is that I get full too quickly as I haven't trained my stomach to handle a lot of food and that's the one time I would like to eat more.

Yeah it's the Full Monty English Breakfast - only thing missing is the kidneys which I'm not overly fond of. I do confess to retiring to the couch for most of the day to watch the superbikes or MotoGP, all the time telling myself I'll never do that again.........until next week.

Doesn't seem to hurt me. 53yo, 75kg, and drive my NZ doctor nuts because I pass the annual insurance physical with flying colours even though I smoke like a train.

I rarely eat breakfast. Never have done since I was about 12 and managed to rebel from having gruel like porridge served up every morning. So I've never really had breakfast apart from coffee.

However, I do have fry-up brunch once a week or so and I starve myself the previous day in preparation. Make it myself. It's an event I do relish but if did it every day I'd be the size of a house.

4 rashers of bacon

2 beef sausages

1 fried egg

2 eggs scrambled

3 hash browns (or fried potatoes if I have some leftovers. Mashed spuds fried in butter - to die for!)

Fried mushrooms

1 Grilled tomato

1 Slice of fried bread

A few slices of black pudding (when I can get it)

Baked Beans (Heinz or Brooklands, can't stand the Thai stuff)

Bubble and Squeak (no meat, just whatever veges I can lay my hands on, mainly cabbage and carrots or whatever is in the fridge)

Topped with HP sauce and a bucket of salt and pepper

Toast and marmalade, and two cups of Tea

I can't eat for the rest of the day and well into the next day. Can't eat it on a golfing day as I'd be buggered after 3 holes.

But the other 6 days of the week I just have coffee until maybe mid afternoon when I'll have a snack (leftovers or a sandwich), and then a meal at say 6pm.

Thais hate walking for sure. Just moved to a new moo baan and I'm receiving unsubtle hints that we have to buy a second scooter, because the closest 7/11 is too far away and if I'm out on the scooter, causes a problem.

I paced it out last night - 200 metres to the moo baan gate, a further 120 metres to the 7/11. The round trip is a bit more than half a kilometre - in Thai speak, that's nearly a marathon distance.

Could somebody advise me which banks pay 3% in the UK or alternatively offshore accounts paying a similar amount in GBP? The best I can manage is 1.95% with Barclays, but for 12 months only. It then reverts to 0.5%!

NZ banks are paying 4% p.a for a 1 year term. Tax free if you're a non resident.

Poor return, you can get over 9% here

http://www.csb.co.in/asp/0100text.asp?pageId=43

The "Catholic Syrian Bank". Now that looks like a totally risk free investment to me.

Best wishes Mate, get it sorted and get yourself back as soon as you can. Chock dee kap

Could somebody advise me which banks pay 3% in the UK or alternatively offshore accounts paying a similar amount in GBP? The best I can manage is 1.95% with Barclays, but for 12 months only. It then reverts to 0.5%!

NZ banks are paying 4% p.a for a 1 year term. Tax free if you're a non resident.

but do you have to GO to NZ and open the account in person? or can you now do it online?

You can open an account directly with a NZ domestic bank online and IMT the funds. However, opening an account like this is normally for intended immigrants. Check out the requirements online at ANZ, BNZ, Westpac.

Some NZ banks do operate in the UK and you could probably open an account there. I'm not sure if an account opened that way would be considered an offshore account, or domiciled in NZ.

Although a foreign investor would normally open a NZD FX account with their own domestic bank in the UK. The rates your domestic banks offers is up to them, but would normally reflect the NZ market.

My mate in Australia had the same issue with young guys next door. Used to park his lawnmower under the guy's bedroom window early in the morning, after they had kept him up all night partying, fill it up with petrol and start it up on full revs. Then he would go out. They got the message after a while.

Don't know if this would work for the op, being Pattaya they would probably kill him and keep partying.

Yeah they probably would, especially since it would be somewhat difficult to explain why you're revving up the lawnmower on the 16th (or whatever) floor of a condo.

Try seeking out some second tier merchant banks that specialise in finding equity investors for their commercial client base. You can choose all sorts of private investments with returns and risk levels that suit you.

They have client bases of developing and mature middle level companies seeking funding for growth and development - and I don't mean "start up" companies, but long established private firms that are seeking to seriously expand or grow through acquisitions etc. Often the merchant bank will form a strategy with their client to seek equity from investors with a view to selling or doing an IPO in a 3-5 year period.

These companies are traditionally owned by families or small partnerships that have matured over several decades to a point where they need serious dollars to become dominant in their market, or take a strategic step that will double their balance sheet. Traditional banks are reluctant to take part through debt so the company seeks new equity investors. Often the merchant bank will also take an equity position and assist the company with management and advisory skills to achieve their objectives.

You can put all your eggs in one basket or spread your investments - up to you. The real benefit here is that you are privy to balance sheets and budgets, and can see the anticipated cashflows etc. These are real companies with real assets and real cashflows. Sure, they're not all geese that lay golden eggs, but pick the right investments and serious returns and profits can be made with risk that is acceptable due to the tangible asset base they have.

Interesting.

It's worth a serious look, believe me. I could quote you some numbers that I've achieved through private investments such as this, but the tall poppy brigade will have a go at me and also suggest my SAS membership is questionable. Bugger it, here's the best investment, - Talking 350% p.a ROSF on an original investment made 18 years ago, and 25% return per annum post tax (fully imputed) on the current MV and been that way for the last 10 years, with unrealised capital gains of 1800% over those 18 years, and a lineup of shareholders that want to by me out - um.......nuh, I'll keep the golden Goose, ta very much - where else can I park the cash and get a return like that!

The real benefit is the physically tangible balance sheet. You can go and physically kick the tyres of the company you're investing in, and can even become a director if you have sufficient cash.

A less risky option is become (via the merchant bank) a shareholder in a structured company that purchases dedicated commercial property. Solid long term tenants (often internationally recognised companies), guaranteed rental income, leveraged debt from banks, guaranteed cashflows for the life of the lease (say 8-12 years), and capital gains on top. They're structured on the assumption that you've borrowed 100% of your investment so the COF is the bare minimum they return per annum, paid monthly.

these numbers stack up well.

only concern for me would be sustenance, which you seem to have.

in these markets, anything beyond 3 years shall be deemed to sustainable

can you pls suggest me a few of these second tier banks you would consider?

I'm a Kiwi, so merchant banks in the UK are unknown to me. My favoured one in NZ is Murray & Co, but there are probably six or seven of equal calibre. Google and I'm sure you'll find plenty in the UK- obviously check their credentials. Look for those that specialise in small/medium size merger and acquisitions. While those words sound a bit top heavy and we associate them with large international corporates, believe me there is a whole host of small companies with balance sheets of say GBP5-50M that are hungry for equity that you can provide.

They generally stay below the radar because they aren't listed and keep out of the news.....until one goes global and suddenly the small investor that got on in the ground floor is beating off the buyers.

I missed out on a classic because I was too wary. A company called trademe was set up on a shoestring from a garage and sold for something like NZD750M about 8 years later. Still gives me nightmares. It wasn't via a merchant bank- the owner was asking for investors via his online auction website - considered giving him 10k, that would be about 10M when he sold to Fairfax.

Try seeking out some second tier merchant banks that specialise in finding equity investors for their commercial client base. You can choose all sorts of private investments with returns and risk levels that suit you.

They have client bases of developing and mature middle level companies seeking funding for growth and development - and I don't mean "start up" companies, but long established private firms that are seeking to seriously expand or grow through acquisitions etc. Often the merchant bank will form a strategy with their client to seek equity from investors with a view to selling or doing an IPO in a 3-5 year period.

These companies are traditionally owned by families or small partnerships that have matured over several decades to a point where they need serious dollars to become dominant in their market, or take a strategic step that will double their balance sheet. Traditional banks are reluctant to take part through debt so the company seeks new equity investors. Often the merchant bank will also take an equity position and assist the company with management and advisory skills to achieve their objectives.

You can put all your eggs in one basket or spread your investments - up to you. The real benefit here is that you are privy to balance sheets and budgets, and can see the anticipated cashflows etc. These are real companies with real assets and real cashflows. Sure, they're not all geese that lay golden eggs, but pick the right investments and serious returns and profits can be made with risk that is acceptable due to the tangible asset base they have.

Interesting.

It's worth a serious look, believe me. I could quote you some numbers that I've achieved through private investments such as this, but the tall poppy brigade will have a go at me and also suggest my SAS membership is questionable. Bugger it, here's the best investment, - Talking 350% p.a ROSF on an original investment made 18 years ago, and 25% return per annum post tax (fully imputed) on the current MV and been that way for the last 10 years, with unrealised capital gains of 1800% over those 18 years, and a lineup of shareholders that want to by me out - um.......nuh, I'll keep the golden Goose, ta very much - where else can I park the cash and get a return like that!

The real benefit is the physically tangible balance sheet. You can go and physically kick the tyres of the company you're investing in, and can even become a director if you have sufficient cash.

A less risky option is become (via the merchant bank) a shareholder in a structured company that purchases dedicated commercial property. Solid long term tenants (often internationally recognised companies), guaranteed rental income, leveraged debt from banks, guaranteed cashflows for the life of the lease (say 8-12 years), and capital gains on top. They're structured on the assumption that you've borrowed 100% of your investment so the COF is the bare minimum they return per annum, paid monthly.

Could somebody advise me which banks pay 3% in the UK or alternatively offshore accounts paying a similar amount in GBP? The best I can manage is 1.95% with Barclays, but for 12 months only. It then reverts to 0.5%!

NZ banks are paying 4% p.a for a 1 year term. Tax free if you're a non resident.

only for Kiwi-Dollars, not for GBP.

Yes, you can't get non domicile rates for any currency in any country. Even if you buy NZD and invest in NZ at 4% and try to hedge out your FX position at the same time, the time/rate differential will reflect the GBP interest rates so no gain can be made - what you make on the 4% you lose on the forward FX hedge.

But.....if you're willing to take the FX risk for a short period (say 3-6 months) and then hedge it out, there's a good chance you'll get the arbitrage margin. Half the exposure could be hedged, half unhedged. The volatility of the NZD also means you are in a position to take advantage of any peaks or troughs as you're holding both currencies and can do multi forward hedges as and when profits can be taken.

During the past week Americans have had time to collect the news and information concerning the use of chemical weapons in Syria and Prez Obama's response in the making.

NBC News has a new scientific survey that asks specific questions about the naval use only of Tomahawk cruise missiles and whether Assad's use of chemical weapons against his population constitutes crossing a "red line."

Fifty percent of Americans agree with the specific course of punitive military action Prez Obama has presented and is pursuing against the Assad regime.

Fifty-eight percent agree that there needs to be a red line against the use of chemical weapons, and that a leader who crosses the red line should suffer military consequences by the United States. The 58% say Assad has In fact crossed the red line and deserves military punishment by the U.S. as Prez Obama is undertaking.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

The use of chemical weapons by any country is a “red line,” that is an action that would require a significant

U.S. response, including the possibility of military action.

Agree .......................................................... 58

Disagree ..................................................... 35

Depends (VOL) ........................................ 3

Not sure .................................................... 4

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i//MSNBC/Sections/A_Politics/_Today_Stories_Teases/13336_NBC_Syria_Poll.pdf

Did they bother to ask the same survey respondents if they actually knew where Syria was, and a few other pertinent questions regarding the country, its political situation and the history surrounding the current conflict?

Now that would have made for some interesting replies and I suggest may render the results of the poll as somewhat meaningless. Surely, isn't Syria somewhere near Australia, right next door to France?

Assinine [sic].

Really? Considering 37% of Americans can't find the USA on a map, I thought my comment was particularly germane.

http://youtu.be/dTG4toZtg4c

Could somebody advise me which banks pay 3% in the UK or alternatively offshore accounts paying a similar amount in GBP? The best I can manage is 1.95% with Barclays, but for 12 months only. It then reverts to 0.5%!

NZ banks are paying 4% p.a for a 1 year term. Tax free if you're a non resident.

Try seeking out some second tier merchant banks that specialise in finding equity investors for their commercial client base. You can choose all sorts of private investments with returns and risk levels that suit you.

They have client bases of developing and mature middle level companies seeking funding for growth and development - and I don't mean "start up" companies, but long established private firms that are seeking to seriously expand or grow through acquisitions etc. Often the merchant bank will form a strategy with their client to seek equity from investors with a view to selling or doing an IPO in a 3-5 year period.

These companies are traditionally owned by families or small partnerships that have matured over several decades to a point where they need serious dollars to become dominant in their market, or take a strategic step that will double their balance sheet. Traditional banks are reluctant to take part through debt so the company seeks new equity investors. Often the merchant bank will also take an equity position and assist the company with management and advisory skills to achieve their objectives.

You can put all your eggs in one basket or spread your investments - up to you. The real benefit here is that you are privy to balance sheets and budgets, and can see the anticipated cashflows etc. These are real companies with real assets and real cashflows. Sure, they're not all geese that lay golden eggs, but pick the right investments and serious returns and profits can be made with risk that is acceptable due to the tangible asset base they have.

During the past week Americans have had time to collect the news and information concerning the use of chemical weapons in Syria and Prez Obama's response in the making.

NBC News has a new scientific survey that asks specific questions about the naval use only of Tomahawk cruise missiles and whether Assad's use of chemical weapons against his population constitutes crossing a "red line."

Fifty percent of Americans agree with the specific course of punitive military action Prez Obama has presented and is pursuing against the Assad regime.

Fifty-eight percent agree that there needs to be a red line against the use of chemical weapons, and that a leader who crosses the red line should suffer military consequences by the United States. The 58% say Assad has In fact crossed the red line and deserves military punishment by the U.S. as Prez Obama is undertaking.

Now, more specifically, if U.S. military action in Syria were limited to air strikes using cruise missiles

launched from U.S. naval ships that were meant to destroy military units and infrastructure that have been

used to carry out chemical attacks would you support or oppose this U.S. military action in Syria?

Support ................................................................. 50

Oppose ................................................................. 44

Not sure .............................................................. 6

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

The use of chemical weapons by any country is a “red line,” that is an action that would require a significant

U.S. response, including the possibility of military action.

Agree .......................................................... 58

Disagree ..................................................... 35

Depends (VOL) ........................................ 3

Not sure .................................................... 4

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i//MSNBC/Sections/A_Politics/_Today_Stories_Teases/13336_NBC_Syria_Poll.pdf

Did they bother to ask the same survey respondents if they actually knew where Syria was, and a few other pertinent questions regarding the country, its political situation and the history surrounding the current conflict?

Now that would have made for some interesting replies and I suggest may render the results of the poll as somewhat meaningless. Surely, isn't Syria somewhere near Australia, right next door to France?

KASITHBK is the code for all general transactions or remittances - that's the code you need for international money transfers.

Branches don't have separate codes - specialist divisions/departments/treasuries may have an additional 3 characters to differentiate them but they are for specialist type transactions.

I have diarrhea and stomach pain every now and then, i produce enuff methane for a power-plant that would cover all energy expenditure on this street, while even leave some for export

That's pretty much the standard practice isn't it? Solid bowel motions are a rare thing in Thailand - the rarest bowel complaint here is constipation.

It's all the fault of the foreigners - if the Italians hadn't invented the Ferrari this would not have happened!

While I don't necessarily agree with your assessment, it's an <deleted> humorous one.

Thailand's not a third world country.

These are third world countries, check it : http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/third_world.htm

Pedantic - assume it's not 1st world and stick to the theme of the OP's question.

Mine lambasts Thailand and it's many foibles far more than I ever do. She knows it's not 1st world and on many occasion she is more annoyed than me about some of the <deleted> that happens and things she sees.

Murphy's Law clearly states the however much you set aside will not be enough. Put aside as much as you can and get medical and/or travel insurance if you are able. You don't state how old you are or your state of health, so difficult to advise in more detail.