cooked

Really confusing. In October 2022 I got the following: "Dear Mr Plonker,, Thank you for your email. We have suspended the issuing of Life Certificates due to the ongoing global pandemic. This will not affect your UK State Pension." After spending an hour or two trying one number after another, being put on hold for 15 minutes, giving all my personal details, the lady told me she couldn't get through to Social Security to check up. The number was +44 8007 310341

Yeah. And you're next for saying that there are two genders.

I'm pretty sure that most Amphurs insist on the actual physical presence of the person that is requesting a Thai ID. Even Thais living in Thailand have to do this if they decide to change Amphur (which is why many don't bother)>

Eh? Having your bank account suspended means you can't carry out digital payments.

Oh boy. Did you read recently that 'PEP's' - Politically Exposed Persons - may not only have their bank accounts suspended but find it impossible to find another bank that will accept their account? https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/uk-banks-shun-farage-without-explanation/ This thanks to EU regulations. Have you forgotten that Trudeau summarily attacked those truck drivers that were demonstrating by locking their bank accounts? accounts? https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-17/police-begin-financial-squeeze-trudeau-defends-emergency-edict#xj4y7vzkg But of course older people just can't keep up with the need for these new fangled ways of doing things, I must admit I can't work out how to tip the girl that washes my car windscreen yet, but we can look forward to implanting chips into people, just to make things easier. By the way, at age 75 I have absolutely no problem using electronic banking, and wish I could use my card at 7-11.

My wife recently decided to sort out various land ownership conflicts, coming from the fact that the land we live on was divided up between family members at the time of her father's death. We needed a lawyer for this, even though there is no contesting our intentions. He told us that it would be better if I got a yellow house book (Tabien baan), for reasons that still remain obscure to us. The general consensus amongst ex-pats seems to be that it isn't necessary. However we found that the local Amphur were very enthusiastic about me going forward with obtaining the book and when we finally got the book two senior officials appeared and a group foto was taken. "Welcome to Thailand" was written on a prepared sign behind us ... I've been here for 11 years. . anyway, I guess I will no longer need a residence certificate every time I buy a house, renew my driving licence or open a new bank account. It wasn't an easy process and mostly our fault, the visit to Chaeng Wattana was most frustrating and in the end unnecessary, also with hotel, travel, embassy and translation services kind of expensive. It is still a mystery to me why I need this book.