thenervoussurgeon

And that folks is why i pay cash

You pay cash to avoid 5% per year interest?... I am sorry that you have such a low opportunity cost of capital

so ,get a loan ,i dont need to ,or want to.

And that folks is why i pay cash

" even though the British economy is not wonderfull ,the consensus seems to be that the pound is not a bad bet and should strengthen a bit this year"

but based on what economic fundamentals?

based on the mighty British Empire. RULE BRITANNIA!

See even the mighty Naam thinks we are the best!!!

The pound is up again this morning against the baht and the dollar i personally havnt a clue what is going to happen ,but as to Britain relying on exports to Europe ,well they seem to be going down while exports to the rest of the world are rising ,i know that for some time now my brothers company have been looking outside Europe for their exports.

there is only one rule in Thai driving

"ME FIRST"

Meet up once a week for a drink with friends ,but to be honest i like being home with the wife ,whats wrong with that

Reading all the projections in the trade papers and online ,even though the British economy is not wonderfull ,the consensus seems to be that the pound is not a bad bet and should strengthen a bit this year

any thoughts on what the pound v the baht will be by year end?

Save? If you want safety, stay away!

I moved recently to the "Nong Prue" area, because I am an adventurously guy.

Street gangs, shootouts, robbery, illegal street racings everywhere.

You can't go out after sunset, because of beeing assaulted.

The next 7/11 is near Sukhumvit, about 5 Km.

No Tesco, BigC, restaurants, markets, just nothing!

It's an undeveloped, "wild west area", so beware.

But I would suggest, swing your ass on a motorbike and have a closer look.

But be careful, you have been warned!!

Save? If you want safety, stay away!

I moved recently to the "Nong Prue" area, because I am an adventurously guy.

Street gangs, shootouts, robbery, illegal street racings everywhere.

You can't go out after sunset, because of beeing assaulted.

The next 7/11 is near Sukhumvit, about 5 Km.

No Tesco, BigC, restaurants, markets, just nothing!

It's an undeveloped, "wild west area", so beware.

But I would suggest, swing your ass on a motorbike and have a closer look.

But be careful, you have been warned!!

A friend lives there and when we visit ,we take an armed guard!!

A post that is a little too sexually explicit and not directly related to the topic, has been deleted.

And i had my legs smacked and was made to sit on the naughty step ,however ,the truth about a religion sometimes hurts and chief Imams say that this sort of thing is not wrong . just google it.

yeah i am not buying it that "most" farang-thai marriages work long term. my guess is that it is probably like 20%.

I think you mix with the wrong people and read the wrong sort of books about Thailand

not really. go inside the US embassy (or wherever you come from). it is free. you can just stand in the visa section and take a look at those applying for visas and registering marriages. i dont know what your social circle is but if it is something like fluent long term expat, then no you are not in the majority of farang husbands.

Actually ime a Brit and i mix with quite a wide circle of friends ,although i must admit many are quite well heeled ,but except in a few cases most have been married for a long time and have famillies , i have only one friend who was ripped off ,all the rest are settled and have no problems and normal marriages.

i think the road widening is a terrific idea ,it could be widened and raised right to the waters edge ,this would allow the motorbike vendors to park all the way along beach road ,then wide enough to double park tour buses , this also gets rid of all the hookers and drug dealers along the footpaths and if a jetty was built it would allow the jet skies to tie up alongside ,job done. another complete f-ck up.to celebrate the next 4 years.

yeah i am not buying it that "most" farang-thai marriages work long term. my guess is that it is probably like 20%.

I think you mix with the wrong people and read the wrong sort of books about Thailand

Your landlady sounds great ,you have a problem ,get it fixed and deduct it from the rent ,way to go half the landlords would do nothing and still want all the rent ,its your home fix it ,or go live in a hotel.

I know this may sound callous, but perhaps Australia should opt not to resettle refugees or it's relatively low population would result in enormous financial strain being put on it's taxpayers, which in turn may lead to knock on public order problems. All it takes is one bad apple and you have a financial disaster. To give a UK example, according to a group known as the taxpayers alliance radical cleric Abu Hamza has so far cost Britain 2.75 million pounds in wellfare payments, council housing, NHS and prison bills.

Aside from this there 'should' be a clear principle in the E.U where asylum seekers are processed in the first E.U Country they enter, instead of being allowed to make a bee line for the Country with the most generous social provision. Australia has some trade links to ASEAN and I don't see why similar agreements can't be entered into with neighboring Countries Granted this would still no doubt cost Australia money, but if the expectation of being able to choose where to apply for asylum was removed then this might separate the persecuted from the economic migrants.

Far from being Callous Dan its the simple truth ,which more and more cannot be either written or spoken due to "Political correctness" or fear of being branded an "extremist", millions think the same as me but Ain't the guts to air their opinions in public.

I dont mind airing my opinions ,they fight tooth and nail to get to the west for the freebies and promptly try to change where they are living in freedom into the shitholes they came from ,my old home town is a point in case.

by the way talking of jokes ,i was kicked out of a muslim store the other day ,all i asked for was a bomber jacket.

Trying to promote Pattaya as an upmarket holiday destination is a bit like saying Blackpool is a millionairs playground.

but we still love it.

the large tops on central road has lots of cans of coke zero and diet coke ,they also "had " 5 1.25 litre bottles of pepsi max ,now i have.

I take it that they now have all the "quality" tourists from Russia,India and the middle east and must look further afield ,perhaps Rumanian Gypsies Somalian's or any other "big spenders" or now the baht is at 49.5 to the pound he could tempt Brits away from the Costa beaches.

slightly off-topic:

I am looking for a sour, sugar-free lemonade.

At the moment, I am fed up with these sweet zero/max/diet cokes.

I want something new.

Any recommendations?

It's not lemonade but Chang has a new soda water "Blue" that has an interesting taste. It is soda water with some type of flavoring added which adds a nice taste to the stuff. Available at all the usual stores.

I have tried all 3 flavours of this ,must say that who ever thought them up had no taste buds ,interesting" taste just about sums it up

I have read all the posts and i will give you some advice ,this from someone who has lived here had buisness dealings here have a home wife and son here,for the last 6 of 23 years ,

keep the dream alive but do not give up your life and come here to live alone ,unless that is what you really like ,you will end up hanging around bars,you are to young work a lot longer then when you are in your 50"s come hereand spend 6 months or so to see how it goes . do not buy here untill you are absolutely sure you really do like it and the lifestyle .

hope it all works out and doubt you will listen to a word i said

ps forget the 30 year lease with 30plus 30 after it will not happen 30 is the maximum you can rely on.

Ime British brush twice a day and have good teeth ,stupid thread ,get a life.

anyway as you said ,if it doesnt kill you it makes you stronger.

slightly off-topic:

I am looking for a sour, sugar-free lemonade.

At the moment, I am fed up with these sweet zero/max/diet cokes.

I want something new.

Any recommendations?

If you find any ,please ,please let me know.

To be honest for many of the "immegrants" to Britain its a pity its not 3 years.

Go to Luton in Bedfordshire ,then you can meet people from all around the world ,visit bury park ,you will think you are in India ,go to wardown park and see the swans being caught for supper by immegrants ,visit hockwell ring and be mugged ,then off to high town and you will believe you are in Poland ,last stop off in the Arndale centre and see multiculturalism at work oh and dont forget to strp outside and see the unamployed spending their money on special brew,lastly pop into the charity shops(they are the only ones left open) for those presents to take home.

My son has just finished there after 5 years and is off to uni,he did the English programme ,as his english is perfect(lived in uk for 6 years) i have nothing but praise for the place ,he has done very well there and it is very well run ,e mail me if you would like a chat.

Why do you all worry about not being able to get this unhealthy crap! It's garbage drink good fresh water

They contain instead of sugar:-

Aspartame (Nutrasweet and Equal) is believed to be carcinogenic and accounts for more reports of adverse reactions than all other foods and food additives combined.Acesulfame potassium (Acesulfame-K) has been linked to kidney problems, and sucralose (Splenda) has been found to reduce the amount of beneficial microflora in your gut by 50 percent—in addition to being associated with many of the same adverse reactions as aspartame.Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that artificial sweeteners can stimulate your appetite; increase carbohydrate cravings; stimulate fat storage and weight gain. Diet sodas may actually double your risk of obesity.

Just thought I would add this as a public service, don't suppose it will change anybodies mind!

hasnt changed mine