chunktal

Children and adults all develop at the pace they are most comfortable with. Relax, Dad.

This is the best advice, every kid is different and will get there when they are ready. I've got 12, 5 and a half and 2 and a half year olds and encouraged each without forcing them. The 5 and a half year old is good in both Thai and English and easily slips between them on the fly. The 2 and a half year old is putting sentences together now and you can see her concentrate as she sorts out what she wants to say, I just wait patiently, I love this age and watching them learn.

Toilet training is another, the 5 and a half year old was encouraged (but not forced) to use the potty we got her but preferred nappies until one day when she was around 3, she decided to use the toilet and that was that, never wore nappies again.

Like nithisa78 said, relax and enjoy your kid, they grow up too quick.

Both my girls were given little pink books at the hospital when they were born and all their general medical info is recorded in it each time they visit the doctor. Height, weight, etc and the vaccinations are listed on the last page or near the back and the doctor signs off as these are done. This is pretty much the same book my son got in Aus when he was born there.

Not sure if you have one of these for the kids?

From the NSW Health Department site http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/pages/enrolment_primary.aspx regarding immunisation and enrolment at school, there is a section in the FAQ that says if you have overseas records, visit a doctor in Aus and they can check if the immunisations have been done as per the requirements in Aus and enter the details into the ACIR/Medicare system for the kids (probably need to get them enrolled in Medicare first) and can do any additional vaccines if required. The pink books I've got for the kids lists what the vaccine is for in English from memory (don't have one here to look at) and the doctor in Aus should be able to sort it all out.

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Another grenade landed near the bunker of the anti aircraft unit soldiers erected to ensure safety for protesters.

An anti-aircraft unit? Really?

It's outside the anti aircraft units base on Chaeng Whattana, pretty sure that they aren't using anti-aircraft guns to shoot down M79 grenades (TiT so I could be wrong )

I'm in a similar situation, extensions based on marriage each July and my passport would have expired in February 2015. My understanding is they would only give the extension up to the expiry date of the passport in Feb 2015 so I've renewed the passport now so when the next extension is done it'll be for the full year and I won't need to do another extension in February next year.

Mine's the same. The best solution I've found is to agree she's right so she can immediately change her mind and mock me for being so stupid, saves a lot of time

PM me also with some details. I worked for a multi-national engineering company managing the drafting section here for a few years and when they pulled out of Asia, I went to work managing a small group from there in a new company. Basically doing the same thing.

I would be happy to have a chat with you.

http://www.invadeit.co.th/category/portable-hard-drives/

Bought a few things from these guys and they are good to deal with.

Just sold my 2011 Ford Everest, not a bad car but after 2 years of Ford "service", I rage quit them and am picking up a new Fortuner in a couple of weeks.

The missus said after the mouthful I gave them it's probably a good idea not to go back, we might find the brakes not working. They had the car for a day, didn't do what I'd booked it in for (they don't have a wheel balance machine..... so why let me book it in for a wheel balance?) and gave me a bill for "washing" the car. When questioned about the road grime on the side, apparently they washed the underside of the car.

The vehicle itself is not bad, I just can't take that level of stupid from the dealership any more.

What did you sell it for?

Less than it's probably worth but enough to pay it out and get into the Toyota.

We owned a Toyota Hilux previously and their service was always great. Toyota would call prior to a service being due to arrange it, the missus would try to call the Ford number and the dealer for days with no answer and have to go there to book it in.

It's got a busted air vent (little clip inside is broken) and it should be replaced under warranty. They keep telling us they need to order a new one which has been going on for 7 months and they still haven't ordered the part.

One of the bolts on the plastic bonnet protector came off and there were 3 of the Ford staff staring at it and couldn't figure out how to fix it (just went to Homepro and bought a new one). Same bonnet protector falls off when we went to Toyota to look at the Fortuner (they were inspecting it for a trade in value) and they whip out the tools and a few guys refit it and apologise for it falling off.

That's the big part for me, the level of after sales service hence the move back.

I wasn't sure how to figure that one hour break. I think it is supposed to be 8 hours of "work" and in that 8 hours, one of those hours is a break. So 9 hours is still 1 hour of OT. Am I wrong? Anyhow, he doesn't get an hour break. He gets enough time to eat something and then back to the grind. True, it's not always busy and true many employees do suck.

Perhaps these labor laws are geared more toward "white" collar jobs such as in an office or a bank. These workers are probably more educated and knowledgable about the laws and bring more value to the table. I suppose hotel jobs are easier to get and thus easier to lose and the whole thing is precarious for both sides. I will tell him to just sit tight and take what they offer for the time being. He is happy to be working anyhow so I will just screw things up!

Cheers....

Section 23 - "...the working time shall not exceed 8 hours per day..."

Section 27 - "...an employer shall arrange a rest period during work for an employee of not less than 1 hour...." and "....the rest period during work shall not be counted as working time....."

Seems pretty clear, please note I'm not saying your friend isn't being screwed over (and many others that don't know their rights), just saying you need to check the facts if you are going to argue the point with the employer. 8 hours of work time plus a 1 hour break after no more than 5 hours work (Section 27 also) equals a 9 hour period, 08:00 - 17:00 for example.

Also note, I'm just going off the 1998 version of the Labour Protection Act, it's the only copy I have and it may have been updated.

Don't forget that between 08:00 and 17:00, there is a 1 hour lunch break, or should be (it's in the Labour Law as well) so it is an 8 hour work day not 9, he can't claim 1 hour o/t for lunch. If he's not getting his break, that is a different problem.

Just something to consider when/if you do an extension of stay after you get sorted out. If your wife is Thai, look at doing the extension based on being married to a Thai. Then if you change jobs again, the extension is not based on employment so doesn't end when your job does.

Sorry it's off topic, just looking ahead a bit.

Very difficult for a foreigner to get any Thai credit card. Better to try to get one in Singapore or Hong Kong. My BB Be1st debit card works OK on internet, most of the time. I have never been able to link PayPal to Be1st. One of the prices you pay to live in paradise.

BS, I've had 2 at the same time both unsecured. First one they gave me a Platinum one, told the missus I wanted one with a low limit as well for online purchases.

Went to a second bank and applied, specifically told the guy I didn't want a Platinum one and only a 30K limit max, they still gave me one with a 300K limit. Got rid of it in the end as it defeated the purpose.

Got a job, work permit and good credit history, not difficult at all.

Sorry, did it late last night, had tried to attach this photo of it but didn't do it properly. Hope this time works.

Not sure about the Note 10.1 but I got this for the Note 8 at the Samsung Shop at Central Chaeng Whattana for 990 Baht from memory. Micro usb to HDMI connector and a micro usb slot on the side for the power.

Mirrors the screen and the sound comes out the TV.

I've used Banana IT in store but not online. No problems at the one I got to. Bought a 3Tb drive from them a week ago and it was not recognised in 2 separate systems that should have had no problems. Took it back yesterday, no receipt, and they tested it. It was faulty and I gave them the date of the purchase and they were able to look it up and confirm the serial number of the drive and replaced it with a new one.

Also just started ordering from InvadeIT and no problems with them either. They had what I was looking for and the last order was delivered over night to Bangkok, first one took a couple of days but I assume that was waiting for the bank transfer of funds being the first time to their account.

Is n't this precisely the same as the UK system - tax advantages of being married and having children - but worded bass ackwards?

In Thailand tax advantage wouldnt work...since so few pays tax. It wouldnt be encouragement.

So, guess came the idea, turn the table, and tax the individuals.

Wont need to have a job, wont have to prove your earnings to be able to tax you, and thus offer tax advantage in turn...just enough to know that you exist.

I think if they would introduce a government child walfare that also has in some countries...ie. money to parents to help to raise the child...that could work. Just like old age pension, parents would get say 1000thb/kid/month.

Would it encourage really lots of adult to have kids for whom the diapers would cost twice that much monthly? not really, but then it would help some for the patents, as well, it would be still better than have piles of rice, or rubber, or whatever else come out of the usual great ideas of this government.

They already do, I get 800 Baht a month for the 2 kids (when they remember to deposit in the account, sometimes goes a few months and then a lump sum get deposited) from Social Security. Not a lot to raise kids on but there is something there. Don't know how I got it, got a lump sum payment out of the blue a while back and queried what it was and that was it, been getting it randomly since.

I vaguely remember something about a 20000 Baht payment for each kid when they were born, probably should pay more attention. The missus would know but is out, it was something to do with the Social Security from working from memory. She dealt with all that stuff though and I may be incorrect there.

Also, as someone else said, you can already make dedications for the wife and kids in your tax return.

Given the new licenses are in English and Thai, they'd be valid in NSW (and probably similar rules in other Australian states and territories) as per the following:

As a temporary overseas visitor, if you hold a current driver licence from another country, you are allowed to drive in NSW on your overseas licence as long as:

You remain a temporary overseas visitor

Your overseas licence remains current

You have not been disqualified from driving in NSW or elsewhere and

You have not had your licence suspended or cancelled or your visiting driver privileges withdrawn.

You are not required to obtain a NSW licence if you comply with these conditions and can continue to prove your genuine visitor status to NSW Police if required.

Note 1: If you are a licence holder from New Zealand, you must obtain a NSW driver licence within three months of residing in NSW or you must stop driving.

Note 2: Australian citizens who reside overseas and are not permanent residents of Australia are allowed to drive in NSW on a current overseas licence as an international visitor. There is no need to apply for the issue or renewal of a NSW licence.

When driving in NSW you must carry your overseas driver licence. Your licence must be written in English or, if the licence is not in English, you must either carry an English translation or an International Driving Permit.

Every country should make it law, for travel agents selling any country with repeated scams.to advise the traveller of the risks and not to get involved in certain kinds of activities, i know every country has a page warning about this and that,but truthfully, not many tourists look at them.

Yep, from the Australian Government travel website http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand

"Australian travellers continue to report harassment and threats of violence by jet ski operators on beaches across Thailand, and particularly in Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan."

The warning is there, just need to get people back home to read it before travelling.

From the Australian Citizenship website:

Revoking citizenship

If you became a citizen by application you can have your citizenship taken away if you are found to have committed a serious criminal offence prior to gaining citizenship. Australian citizenship can be revoked if:

you have been convicted of making a false statement or representation in relation to your application to become an Australian citizen

you are convicted of a serious criminal offence at any time prior to becoming a citizen involving a sentence of 12 months or more

your approval to become an Australian citizen was gained as a result of migration-related fraud

your approval to become an Australian citizen was gained as a result of third party fraud; for example, fraudulent conduct by a migration agent in the citizenship application

it would be contrary to the public interest for you to remain an Australian citizen.

An Australian citizen by birth cannot have their Australian citizenship revoked. Similarly, a person conferred citizenship, after fully disclosing all relevant factors, cannot have their Australian citizenship revoked.

People who have their citizenship revoked can be removed from Australia.

No, not required.

If the employer is a big enough company, no issue at all, if a smaller company you might need to collate a detailed CV indicating you have specialist experience.

Like Monty says, not needed but you will probably need to do a CV, I don't have a degree/diploma but have specialised training. I've had a work permit here for 8 years like that with no problems. I was transferred here with the company I worked for in Aus and had to put a CV together with the specialised training and work experience, for the role I was going to be doing, in that to get the original work permit.

The Baby will be Thai and Australian , so can have both Passports

The baby will be Thai, he'll need to apply for "Citizenship by Decent" for the baby before it will gain Australian citizenship.

No need to rush the application, I've got 2 kids, one has dual Australian/Thai citizenship the other only has Thai, just need to get to the embassy. The one with dual citizenship, I applied for it just after she was 1 with no problems. The other one is 1 1/2 now, probably should do it soon.

Both travelled to Australia on their Thai passports and tourist visas (had to get one for the missus anyway) the first time they went. The eldest has her Australian passport now and travels on that. Just be aware that once you apply for citizenship for the child they cannot go to Australia on their Thai passport. They need to get the citizenship approved then you have to go back and apply for their passport after that. You can fill in the passport application and take it with you when you pick up the citizenship certificate, fill in the number on the passport application and drop it off while you are there.

Don't have the Thai Labour Law book (translated in English) here to copy the section but from memory you are entitled to 30 days maximum a year sick leave, there is no stipulation on years of service that I recall.

Edit: Just Googled it and found this - http://www.mediafire.com/download/ytq3wt2r33ri719/Thai+Labour+Act+1998.pdf

Section 32 and Section 57 are the relevant parts, these match what I remember from the book I have from the Labour Office at home.

I'm a former NSW Rural Fire Service firefighter so I'm trained in fire fighting and basic first aid. We've got a small extinguisher in the kitchen with a large one and hose reel just outside the condo door, also a small one in the car. The condo does yearly fire drills including live fire drills with extinguishers. Fire alarms are tested monthly.

The company I worked for previously organised fire training for all staff at one of the local refineries which was interesting (all office based staff). Doing drills in their training area with pipe line fires and gas fires.

The one thing I stress to the wife though is that if there is a fire, grab the kids, get out and stay out, there is nothing in the condo worth more than that.

Felt it in Nonthaburi 10th floor. Bedroom door swaying back and forth slightly (thought it was the kids mucking about) then slight dizzy feeling.

Figured it out after that.