Gsxrnz

Mine works OK.  Activity shown for current and three previous months.

Some good advice already given so I won't repeat it other than to say than any exposure to decent English will help.  The downside is that your wife seems reluctant to assist and that may be the bigger issue.

My adopted daughter was exposed only to my English (fulltime) from age 2 years. From 2 to 5 she barely uttered a word of English but it was patently obvious that she understood everything I said.

Enrolled in a small and relatively inexpensive international primary school at 5 years.  Three weeks later it was like a tap was turned on and she wouldn't shut up.

There is a downside.  Now at 12 she is a 100% NE speaker and has better English language grammar and writing ability than my same age grandkids back home.  She would eclipse them on every level.  The downside is that she now struggles with written and spoken Thai.

I have a friend with two Thai daughters in their late 20's.  He tells me they have a similar story - reluctant to use Thai and what is more worrying, they feel uncomfortable when doing so even in everyday situations.

It's now ironic that now I have to spend time encouraging her to develop her Thai and develop confidence in using it.

39 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Well it shouldn't be difficult... minibuses or coaches running down Sukhumvit would stop for a passenger if not full. 

I feel sure he escaped safely but it's the details I'm interested in. 

Did he have a map and compass? He could have got a dodgy not-to-scale tourist advertising map at Foodland but let's face it, asking a local which way north is would be like asking for quantum mechanics formulae. 

Did he wear a disguise, did the GF have all her GF's whizzing around Jomtien on scooters on a manhunt, did he have the correct documentation to alight public transport? Was he wearing a hat?

All a solid base for a third rate Thailand novel that can't be given away.  I can't wait!

Or will a mysterious article found floating in the water around Jomtien Soi 12 on Monday morning turn out to be our man.

Hope all goes well with a decent crowd and the day is not a fizzer.

What visa?  STV?

17 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

Agreed....certain things should remain under government (or at least NGO) control......energy, water, roads, rail, local buses.......opening them up to so called competition has been an unmitigated disaster .

I think the clincher in your comment is "so called competition".  I'm not overly familiar with the UK system but I know in NZ that the privatization of energy supply is definitely a classic cockup. 

The reason being that government will not get out of the way of private enterprise. They have so much legislation and compliance law that a true capitalist is unable to do what they want to do - sell a product/service in a sustainable and profitable manner.  Government won't let them.

There's a reason why we haven't let  government be responsible for the production of beer.

That's a fairly nominal increase but every satang counts for poorer Thai.  Still, I can't see too many of them gluing their face to the road in protest.

7 minutes ago, Speedhump said:

I remember the 'Don't shoot me, I'm not a tourist' t-shirts, although they were mostly for the downtown areas...

The Brits were easily identifiable as the ones wearing the "No sex please, we're British" T-shirts.

2 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

The car driver was not at fault.

The seeding truck not paying attention to the road caused the accident. four way flashers on would have made no difference as the truck driver was out to lunch.

 

 

"Fault" is irrelevant in Thailand.  "Death" is more relevant and best avoided.

3 minutes ago, toofarnorth said:

Is there an  Old Bent Road in Patts. there should be ?

Boyz Town is as close as we get to it.  You need Boyz Town, Soi 6, and Soi 13/2 before you can erect anything on them.  But rents these days are somewhat difficult to come by.

4 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Yes running again (to my latest info).

Don't expect it to run too often.

Was it every 2 hours?

 

I literally saw one do a U-Turn on Thappraya to go to the carpark at approximately 9am this morning.

Busses departing from Foodmart carpark on Thapraya near the Thepprasit traffic lights.  Not sure of their schedule but there's a massage shop there in which you can take refuge while you wait.

I'd be more scared of developing salmonella or campylobacter because the Somchai or Ning that constructed your McThai Samurai Pork Burger are averse to washing their German Bands after using the inhouse  McBog.

14 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Quote - "entrepreneur plays monopoly"

 

Not sure if there's a Thai version of Monopoly. 

Walking Street and Soi Buakaeow don't hold quite the same charm and desirability as Mayfair and Park Lane.

Drive north or south on Sukhumvit and before you've gone 10klm in either direction you will see a roadside display of at least one shop selling used vehicle bumpers grills and hoods/bonnets.

Some shops specialize in the front ends, some specialize on the back ends. I guess it depends on whether the vehicle driver was early or late on the brakes.

I know for sure there are probably three of these outlets north of Pattaya and at least one going south.  If they haven't got the one you want I'm sure they can find one for you.

Otherwise try Evilbay - lots of sellers in Thailand sell Chinese made bumbers and grills for Fortuners and Revos.  Email them about their quoted international freight cost to get a discount for local delivery.

16 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

Have transportation, but don't want to drink and drive.

I also used to assume that it was safer to get a baht bus or bike taxi rather than ride my scooter while intoxicated.

Assessing risk is a personality trait often found wanting in the land of smiles. 

I also wonder about the sanity of anybody who purchases an insurance policy of any kind in a developing country and expects the contract laws of that country to protect them. 

7 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

You  would need more than that to be allowed to be on your way. Or the cells and the judge next day.

10K is the negotiated going rate to avoid the metal bracelets in Patts. That doesn't include the cost of the taxi ride to the ATM for you and the copper, and the ride back to the checkpoint for him.