Kinnock

Only had a sit in the new Triton, but was impressed with the interior - large screen, good quality finishes for a pick-up, electric seat etc. And it seems to have had a comprehensive update this year. I prefer a unibody SUV myself, so I'd probably go for a Subaru Forrester or Honda CR-V. The Scoobydoo in within your budget, and good value now as there's a new model due next year.

Homepro and Thaiwatsadu have sound absorbing, foam tiles. I think you need to order them, but I saw samples and photos in the stores. They also have secondary window frames. You'll need a combination of noise absorbers and sound proofing. The first thing is to seal any gaps .... foam strips around windows, sealant around AC pipework etc. Then add secondary glazing. Standard double glazing usually has an inadequate air gap between the glass panes - you need a wide gap, or secondary windows. Sound absorbing tiles in the roof space will also help. And insulation under rooftiles. Ceiling lights can be a problem as they provide a direct route to the roofspace - seal if you can. Most house walls in Thailand are lightweight, single leaf bricks - so adding mass such as plasterboard can help. Inside your rooms go for lots of heavy soft furnishings - they are additional absorbers. Sound proofing is mainly about mass - so thick glass in windows, heavy rock wool insulation, plasterboard. Then you need sound absorbers everywhere. But a hole or gap in walls, ceilings and windows will defeat all the rest.

He got an acute version of the chronic condition he was causing for everyone else.

I agree, but with one exception. There is a slot for English Teachers on the Thai hierarchical ranking. I mean real English teachers, not the convenient visa option. It's not high on the ranking, but it's a recognised peg in the Thai system for foreigners. When I try ro explain my work as a manager of a consultancy, I get confused looks, so it can be easier to say I'm an English teacher. Teaching is seen as an honourable but low paid position.

For Manchester, Lufthansa is good (if not on strike). Business to Germany, then a short economy flight to UK.

For Manchester, Lufthansa is good (if not on strike). Business to Germany, then a short economy flight to UK.

Is this a result of the Swiss elephant sanctuary being closed down?

In my home country I used to arrange the adoption of stray cats for the Cats Protection League - and that taught me all I needed to know about Thai women. When a stray was first adopted, she would eat like it was a last meal ever, fearing the food supply would not last. She'd start to put on weight, which at first was a healthy improvement, but normally before she got fat, she'd realise these was this dedicated slave who adored her, and provided an unlimited supply of free food. Then she'd get picky about what she'd eat - only fresh salmon with a side dish of prawns, or just the most expensive cat food. Her weight would stabilise as she gradually took over the house. But some cats couldn't kick the habit of over eating, so they'd need an exercise routine. Cat wheel, toys, 15 minutes chasing a laser pointer etc. Try getting your wife an exercise bike, or a clockwork mouse.

BA business class is only good if you have a thing for looking up your fellow passengers nostrils, or you want to recreate the experience of sleeping on a hospital trolley in a busy corridor. EVA seat layout is much better. And paying extra for seat choice is a rip off.

"Toddle off"? Playground comments are not technical points 😅 An electric scooter is an EV .... and the number of wheels on a vehicle is not a critical issue for battery degradation. Many electric scooters and motorcycles have exactly the same battery technology as electric cars. Mine is Lithium and it's battery has degraded to the point where I need to charge after every trip. So my personal experience means I will not buy an electric car until battery tech changes. Mobile phones have the same issue, but there's no alternative tech yet. You may have accepted the risk .... good for you .... but don't make excuses for your higher risk apetite - live with it.

Foreigners behaving badly has become a bit of theme in the Thai news lately. While it must represent a tiny minority, it's not a good trend when there's a government that is only interested in sound bite policies. Let's all try to avoid kicking, shoving or spitting on the locals for the rest of the month.

Thailand is for Thai people, and we will always be visitors. Have you ever arrived at the airport and been greeted by a non-Thai immigration officer? Compare that to The Islamic Republic of Heathrow.

That's not accurate is it? We could buy an Almera.

I think we all Adapt, Accept and Acclimatise to different extents. Rather than fully integrate, I believe we take some of the positives of Thai culture (not over thinking, acceptance of fate, sense of fun, outward polite behaviour) and add strengths from our own cultures (logic, commitment, sense of fair play). I also hope we resist some of the negative traits here (entitlement, unearned respect, spite).

So sorry to hear that. Must have been a very difficult time. It's currently distressing for my wife when her Mother only recognises her for a few seconds, then she seems to forget everyone again.

So please explain? Or is this just a defensive response due to buyers remorse?

Well they both have the same battery technology and an electric motor, plus similar charging cycles. The scooter is just smaller, and this may mean the ill effects appear sooner that with a car. Also has the scooter has a much shorter range from new, so the issue becomes critical sooner. I was considering a battery electric car before my experience with the scooter, but I'll now be sticking to an ICE for now, or perhaps changing to a plug in hybrid.

Yes .... in our case the older sisters seem to feel they're privileged because they were born earlier, so the younger sister with the 'rich' husband can do the real work, while they make Royal Visits. Once we know if she can go back home, I think paid help may be the solution ..... either to look after her Mothet .... or me 😄

Thank you for the great tips. My wife is determined to care for her at her Mother's home, which unfortunately for me, is 400km from where I live and work. I know I'm being selfish, but her Mother abandoned her daughter when she was 7 years old, so in my mind she's lucky to get such devotion from her youngest daughter. I'll visit when I can to support my wife, but due to my work that may be infrequent.

Good points, thank you. The only medication is Amiodarone for her heart .... no pain killers.

Thank you for the very helpful and wise advice. We've already arranged for the Mother's house to be improved (basically rebuilt) to make living on the ground floor possible, and if she's coming home we'll order a proper hospital bed etc .... but I think I"m just disappointed that my wife seems to have taken on the total responsibility when there's three older siblings doing nothing to help. I guess I was looking for a valid reason to not let my wife take on the tough challenge of being a carer. I think it may be Thai culture that the youngest daughter does all the work .... or maybe just the daughter with a foreign husband.

I don't have an electric car, but I do have experience of an electric scooter that has put me off an EV. While it's convenient, quiet and fun, it's range has reduced significantly over one year of ownership. It has a lithium battery and a smart charger, and at first an overnight charge would give me about 30km range (claimed range was 40km). After 12 months the range has dropped to about 15km. And the battery behaviour has also changed .... it shows full charge for about 14km, then suddenly drops into the red and stops. It may take longer for an electric car to have the same issue, but my experience with other battery devices such as phones and cameras makes me believe that current battery tech has longevity issues.

Anyone had experience of this, as it's well beyond my own knowledge and I'm unsure about what's practical? The Mother-in-law (73) had a stroke, and while she's gradually recovering use of arms and legs, she's still on a ventilator and cannot swallow, so feeding is via a tube. The hospital Doctor says she will recover slowly, and they will try to remove the ventilator when they think she's strong enough to breathe unassisted. But of even greater concern to me is that she looks (in my amateur view anyway) to have serious dementia. She does not recognise her relatives and is not communicating proactively 2 weeks after the stroke. The Doctor and nurses dismiss my concerns about dementia, but even though she can sit up and look at people, there looks (to me) to be no higher level understanding about what's going on around her, and no attempts at communication. After consulting Dr Google it sounds like vascular dementia to me. My wife has plans for moving her back to her Mother's house and caring for her there .... but is this practical? She's on a ventilator, fed through a tube, suffering from probable dementia and incontinent. Back in my home country that would mean professional care in a nursing home ..... my the Missus thinks she can care for her. Surely this will be a huge strain?

You were misinformed. Probably.

I have a 5 year Thai licence and got an IDP from the Land Transport Office (took about 20 minutes). When I hired a car the UK they only wanted to see the IDP.