expatman

I installed Office 2010 (on Windows 7) and now all my existing documents (most in Word97 or Excel97) format can only be opened in read-only mode !

Supposedly this is the default (what a stupid choice that is !) and it can be turned off, but the directions for doing so don't work. All the appropriate boxes were unchecked, Office apps closed, and I even rebooted the system, but the "fix" still doesn't work !!!!

Anyone else run into this screw-up by Microsoft ?

I had 2 partitions, both using Windows XP, so I wanted to install Win7 in one of the partitions and keep XP in the other.

I tried installing the 64-bit version first, but could not run the setup (64 bit) when booting from my existing 32-bit system.

So I installed 32-bit Windows 7, which runs OK but cannot connect to Internet ! It appears my Wifi card (IntelProWireless 2200B) is too old, Intel does not provide driver for Win7. The laptop is less than 2 years old, this is a conspiracy by Intel/MS !

From Internet research it appears I may be able to use the Vista driver, but so far no luck.

The MS program "upgradeadvisor" made no mention of this problem !

I may wind up reformatting that partition, put back XP, and save the Win7 for another machine !

just bought genuine Windows7 - it has 2 discs, 32bit and 64 bit

Which should I install ?

My laptop has 4GB RAM, Pentium dual core 2.2Ghz.

Will be using AutoCAD Map, ArcGIS, MS-Office

looking for free sw to convert AVI files to DVD format

Is anyone getting cable TV from a provider called "Pratin Network" or something like that ?

How many English channels does it get ? Which ones ? Quality of transmission ? Cost ?

Any other alternatives to True Visions in central Sukhumvit area ?

I've just handed over 41k for next term's fees. You may want to speak to Dr Pin as it would seem you are paying considerably more than I am...

Just checked with the wife, she is definitely in the English program and Dr Pin is the head of admissions. She must be Tess and Anachalee's boss. What age/grade is your child?

Well, this is getting more interesting.......

My son is in Grade 4, and we have been paying 58,000 baht per semester since G1.

The total 58K is tuition plus all other incidental fees (textbooks, etc - there is only 1 bill for the total)

I still suspect your niece is in Kindergarten or the CC program.

Coincidentally I just had a haircut this morning and my barber's son is in G7, not in EP, and she paid 41K, same as you.

But it appears fee is going up 5 % for next year.

I assume you are referring to the English Programme at Srivikorn ?

My son has been going to Srivikorn for 4 years now. At first we were very happy with the school, however lately I'm becoming concerned about the level of instruction in English. The school promotes itself as bilingual with one Thai teacher and one native English speaker for each class, with small classes. Class size seems to be growing, and now they have hired several Philipina teachers for the "native English speaker" positions (math, science, "English").

For kindergarten classes you should be OK, but for higher level grades I might consider another school.

But then it is only 82k a year. We pay for a niece to study there, and she seems to be doing well. Its a lot cheaper than the international schools our children are in, and the standard is much higher than the government school our niece was in before. In my opinion you get what you pay for and that is true of this school also. Good for the money.

Current fees for Srivikorn English Programme is 58,000 baht per semester, that's 116,000 per year.

Other comments are interesting, some like, some hate the school. I think it depends a lot on the particular teacher(s) the student has, which seems to be the problem for my son this year.

I've also considered the Thai Christian School, but also wary of the religious angle.

I've just handed over 41k for next term's fees. You may want to speak to Dr Pin as it would seem you are paying considerably more than I am...

Are you sure your niece is in the English Programme ?

Srivikorn has another program called the "Child-Centered Program", I suspect that is what she attends. Or perhaps the ordinary Thai curriculum.

BTW, II don't know this "Dr Pin", he must be in the CC program. the EP is run by two women - Tess (Philipina) and Anachalee (Thai)

I assume you are referring to the English Programme at Srivikorn ?

My son has been going to Srivikorn for 4 years now. At first we were very happy with the school, however lately I'm becoming concerned about the level of instruction in English. The school promotes itself as bilingual with one Thai teacher and one native English speaker for each class, with small classes. Class size seems to be growing, and now they have hired several Philipina teachers for the "native English speaker" positions (math, science, "English").

For kindergarten classes you should be OK, but for higher level grades I might consider another school.

But then it is only 82k a year. We pay for a niece to study there, and she seems to be doing well. Its a lot cheaper than the international schools our children are in, and the standard is much higher than the government school our niece was in before. In my opinion you get what you pay for and that is true of this school also. Good for the money.

Current fees for Srivikorn English Programme is 58,000 baht per semester, that's 116,000 per year.

Other comments are interesting, some like, some hate the school. I think it depends a lot on the particular teacher(s) the student has, which seems to be the problem for my son this year.

I've also considered the Thai Christian School, but also wary of the religious angle.

It is possible if your name is on the birth certificate as the father (make sure this gets done correctly, sometimes the hospital will make a "mistake".) For the visa you will have to show a minimum of 400,000 baht in bank, same for dependent child as for wife.

A letter from your GF will help. (I assume you are not married, otherwise you could apply on basis of wife.) The more money you can show in the bank the better, I think, even if it's not all in Thailand.

As has been pointed out before, multi-entry visas are much easier to get in your home country , this is true for tourist and business visas as well. I was able to get a one year multiple non-immigrant "O" visa in both Hanoi and Colombo on the basis of my son. However, in both cases I was able to show an employment contract requiring multiple visits to those countries. If you can't show a need for multiple visits the embassy/consulate may just give you a single entry.

You can get a 60 day extension with just the birth certificate, no need to show money. For a 1 year extension you must show the money.

Try for a multiple entry if that's what you want. If you don't get it, go for 1 year extension, and get multiple reentry permit. The cost of both options is about the same.

I assume you are referring to the English Programme at Srivikorn ?

My son has been going to Srivikorn for 4 years now. At first we were very happy with the school, however lately I'm becoming concerned about the level of instruction in English. The school promotes itself as bilingual with one Thai teacher and one native English speaker for each class, with small classes. Class size seems to be growing, and now they have hired several Philipina teachers for the "native English speaker" positions (math, science, "English").

For kindergarten classes you should be OK, but for higher level grades I might consider another school.

I had to do this once for a job in Saudi.

Mailed the fingerprints (taken by Thai police)to RCMP HQ, teir report sent back by post.

It took about 3 months, the Thai police report took only 1 week.

In December I stayed at the Furama Riverfront for 3 nights with my wife and son, the bill was SGD567. Booked through AsiaRooms, but billed directly by the hotel. This rate was a prepaid special (no refund) and included 2 free breakfasts (very good buffet). However, extra bed (paid on checkout) for son was SGD 70 per night. Hotel location is OK but could be better, (not within walking distance of MRT). Don't confuse this one with the other Furama which is more centrally located near Chinatown.

No problem leaving and entering on a Thai passport and leaving and entering another country on another passport, as long as you do it by air (as your son will). Only at land borders it would not be possible.

I know there will be no problem in Singapore - the airline specifically asked for passport details and said if passport validity is less than 6 months boarding would be denied.

But what about coming back to Thailand using passport valid less than 6 months ? I know Thai immigration sometimes applies this rule to foreigners, but could they do it for a Thai on Thai passport valid less than 6 months. ?

It would be strange if they did, but I've seen crazier interpretations of "rules" here before.

I'm planning a trip to Singapore with my family.

My son has 2 passports, one Canadian and one Thai.

The Thai passport has only 2 1/2 months left, so he will use the Canadian passport to enter/leave Singapore.

But will he have any problems leaviong/entering Thailand using the Thai passport ?

I think he shouldn't, but TIT,

I suggest China Town, somewhere cruising up and down Charoen Krung Rd. should do...

try any post office !

but I don't think they give quantity discount

I have a multiple-entry "O" visa that expires in April.

However, in January of February I want to renew my passport as it will expire later in 2012.

I know I can have the current "Stay valid until ..." stamp transferred to my new passport.

But can I continue to use the multi-entry visa as many times as I want up to the expiry date just by showing the old and new passports together ?

I think you got that a little off. Thai's only buy 22k and 24k because of the higher gold content. Lower karat gold is mixed with silver that makes it shine more. The higher purity of the gold the less it shines.

Yes, you're right. I should have said brighter, or more "yellowy" (if that's a word).

Of course the real reason is that Thai gold can be easily sold or exchanged.

Over the years I've bought many gold necklaces for my GF, but the only one she hasn't sold or exchanged is (what I think is) a beautiful 18k tri-color (red, white, gold) necklace that comes out on special occasions.

...

What the SSO now offers is, according to the law, a lump sum payment of the pension of 3% plus interest of the amount, that was taken from your contribution for the pension fund. With this 3%++ all your entitlements to pension payments are covered.

...

Thanks for the info, but I don't understand the calculation formula. Can you elaborate ?

What kind of documents did you need to provide ?

I was afraid you would ask that as I really don't remember. All the information is in their computer and I know I supplied no tax statements. Seemed only my passport, possibly work permit and the letter from work. Again, need to contact SSO to get the specifics.

Did you get back all the money you contributed ? That would be 750 baht / month or 9000 Baht per year worked ?

Got it all back which is my contributions plus matching contributions from work. Pretty hefty check I must say.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to have to give this a try, could be a nice bonus !

One more thought : Does the refund count as taxable income ?

(Probably yes, since contributions were deductible from taxable income)

Tywais...

1. So what did you do and who did you contact to get lump sum payout?

2. Are you a foreign national?

3. How many years working in Thailand?

4. When did you finish working?

5. How oldwhere you when you applied for refund of SS funds?

If willing to share, I am sure that many would be interested in learning from your experience.

1. The secretary where I worked took me to the SSO (Social Security Office) to assist in the process. Believe most if not all the forms were in Thai so useful to have a Thai with you if your reading skills are not up to it. After filling out and signing the forms the check was ready in a few days. It was a while ago so the check may have been cut on the spot. Pretty painless actually if you have someone with you to be sure you understand what is going on. Suspect there was a letter from work to support the request.

2. Foreign national - yes (if USA counts)

3. Working for nearly 20 years.

4. Have not finished working but as a government employee no longer could work under the normal system due to mandatory retirement laws and went to annual contracts. That was 3+ years ago.

One thing I'm not sure of is if there is a minimum age to get the lump sum. They (SSO) can tell you quickly either in person or phone call.

What kind of documents did you need to provide ? Are income tax statements sufficient ? Those I have, but I doubt whether I could get statements from all the companies I worked for except for the last.

Did you get back all the money you contributed ? That would be 750 baht / month or 9000 Baht per year worked ?

The shop at the corner of Sukhumvit and Soi 10 has always been honest and straight forward with me.

I do suggest you get several estimates from other shops. Make a note of the weight and notice if it varies shop to shop.

I agree with the recommendation of this shop, they will buy non-thai gold, but maybe only for regular customers. The problem is that they can't sell it, no Thais will buy less than 22k gold because it's not shiny enough ! They have to sell it to another company that melts it down to retrieve the gold content to making gold bars. I had an old 18k gold keychain that was broken, they did some kind of test for the purity and gave me a fair price based on the weight and purity and what they could get from the other company.

If members of the cabinet (ministers and maybe deputies) are normally not voting in the house, this move makes sense. No idea how many MPs the difference would be, but unlike suggested by k. Surawit Pheu Thai would not get extra party-list MPs.

I don't know the Election Laws details, but wonder how 'automatic' a party can fill a vacated party-list seat. Does it depend on why the seat is vacated?

1. I'm surprised no one else commented on the change in number from 61 to 70. Surely this is wrong.

2. I agree it's not clear that another one from the list will be automatically added if one resigns. At the very least the Election Commision would (or should) have to endorse the replacement. In this regard one party-list member (PT I think)was disquualified by the EC due to bankruptcy and the next one in line endorsed by the EC.

3. In regard to voting by MP's who are cabinet ministers I think the voting prohibition only applies to bills which involve expenditure by the ministry they supervise, on assumption this is a conflict of interest.

Bring cash - you always get a bttter exchange rate than for credit cards.

You could also do a wire transfer, for which exchange rate is slightly better than cash, but this would be offset by the wire transfer fee, so it depends on how much money you're talking about,

From time to time, I am using Jack Golf... their big bus is not brand new and it's a 5am -Time Square- daily departure....

But after using several other companies these last ten years, they are my preferred.

Otherwise, the staff on board is very friendly, and except signing the bottom of a few forms they fill it out the rest for yourself.

In Poipet, they drop you in one of the casino, where you can have a brunch -included in the package- while the staff is doing all the paperwork.

Usually, you are back in Bangkok around 2pm.

I agree, use Jack Golf, just did it last week, costs 2,100 Baht. Their big bus is comfortable, only drawback is 5 am departure, but you can sleep a couple of hours until you get to Poipet around 8 am. Then transferred to hotel, re-enter Thailand around 10 am (may be some delays there if large number of people crossing, get back to Bangkok around 2-3 pm depending on traffic and where you get off the bus.

I've also used another company leaving from Ekkamai around 9:30 am but they use minibuses. They go to a very small town in the middle of nowhere, no hotels like in Poipet, so no hotel meal and thus you must stand around near the bridge waiting for the Cambodian paperwork or visit a few shops on other side of bridge. Afternoon return means more likely to hit traffic when nearing Bangkok.

Anyone have contact details (email, phone) for the Bangkok Soccer League.

Their web page still shows 2010-2011 season. The new season should start in September and I want to register my son.

Contact email for Stephen Wise (chairman last year) does not work, and I can't find any other contact details on the website.

(note, previously posted this on Sports forum, but no replies received !)