Kinnock

Just an update which may be of interest to anyone else caring for an elderly relative, and to see if anyone has any more useful advice ..... Over three weeks since her stroke, and still in ICU and on a ventilator. The nurses remove the ventilator daily to try to strengthen her natural breathing, but she gets exhausted quickly. She did not serm to recognise her relatives when they visited, and while she appeared to recognise my wife during her twice daily visits - when my wife took a few days break from the visits (to reassure herself that I've not managed to destroy the house while she's been away), her Mother did not recognise her when she resumed the daily visits. She seems to have no long term memory. Although she seems stable, probably due to the good nursing care and the equipment. I'm still concerned about the practical aspects of long term care. The hospital want to move her from the ICU to a local hospital, and then to her home. The rest of the family made one 'royal visit' then went back home ..... and while my wife is learning about how to care for her Mother, I'd like my wife back! I also have a concern about the long term costs .... the rest of the family is claiming poverty 🤨

Yes, good friends, but only two .... and they both have an international education and outlook.

Also remember the 'Thai gold' bought in the shops in the malls is not the same purity as 24k gold. It's 23k. No issue if you sell it in Thailand in the future, as it's a set price based on the current gold price per Baht, but if you want to sell it in another country, 24k gold is better. If you buy the little gold bars in the malls, you often have to buy the dinky plastic box, as that's the profit for the shop. If you buy jewellery you pay for making on top of the current price. Making can be negotiable, or even free if you pay for "membership' at chains like Aurora. If you want 24k gold, try Chinatown. If you want official gold coins like a UK Crown, Singapore is good. But Thai girls like Thai gold jewellery, so they can sell it after they dump you. Long term Thai wives want Thai gold to sell after their husbands take a Gik.

Isn't taking the video and sharing it online technically Defamation in Thailand? Which is a criminal offence. The fact that the subjects of the video may also be in the wrong is irrelevant under Thai defamation law.

That's the theory, but in practice it's the girls who can hold down a job and it's the daughters who look after their Mothers (the father having buggered off years ago).

I think Everest or waiting for new Fortuna is probably best bet, but the Nissan Terra is worth a look .... it's more spacious inside than the Fortuna and has a better ride, and lower cost than the Everest.

There must be a standard safety procedure for a live shell jammed in a gun. I'm pretty sure it's not mooring the warship behind another vessel with the gun pointing at the other ship! I've zero experience of large bore weapons, but even my limited experience with a hand gun on a shooting range included detailed training in what do in the case of a jam.

Yes .... if it had happened in real life instead of only in his head. But even making up a story like that is both sad and weird

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.