16 hours ago, Ventenio said:

Will buses be running in June?  I mean buses that go across the country and do not originate in BKK or CM?

 

I hear "sex massage" shops are not open, but I see nothing on buses.

 

lol.  

Inter province buses are already running.

You can get a 'massage' if you want one.

1 minute ago, Langsuan Man said:

I guess cutting my hair is too dangerous for the barber 

Already happening this month.

3 minutes ago, Saltire said:

My biggest worry about what will happen after the 31st July is the likely enforcement of strict requirements for entry for all non-Thai. I specifically mean medical certificates and insurance.

 

At 65 with a good UK insurance policy albeit with some pre-existing conditions, I could very likely be uninsurable as far as the Thai insurance requirements go, which would mean if i left, it could be very difficult to get back in.

 

I was supposed to be on a holiday in the UK now but that didn't happen. I now have a one year voucher for a BA flight that I may never take. It could be along time before I can return for a holiday - and be sure of getting back in.

I am in a similar situation but rescheduled my UK/Europe trip to August.

Not getting back in is only a concern from the point of view that we do not know what regulations the Thai authorities might impose. Given that tourism accounts for 14 - 22% of GDP (depending which report you read) I cannot believe that will be onerous. Personally, I believe it will be the usual initial bluster with no real management/monitoring afterwards............................ I cite current visits to malls/shops as an example of inconsistency and Buriram Healthy as a scheme that is words only without any actual back up.

I did take out CV19 insurance here when it was still available - just as a back up.

8 minutes ago, Saltire said:

At least something is moving at last. I will give it a few more weeks before applying but I have 3 queries.

 

1) Am I correct in saying VFS let you keep your old passport till the new one arrives?

 

2) Is there such a thing as an instant passport photo booth/service in or near Trendy Building?

 

3) It  looks like its changed from 2 trips (one to drop off, second to collect) to one if you pay for a courier for the return new one, or is that only for visa applications?

 

Thanks

 

 

1. Yes  (you present the old one as ID when collecting)

2. Yes (VfS will do for a fee)

3. Always 2 trips if you do it yourself  (courier is only for visas)

19 minutes ago, poohy said:

I know (went to school with) Lenny Henry if that counts

Well, he was famous...................so it must count.

3 minutes ago, stouricks said:

The Roman Catholic Church is one of the richest institutions on Earth, all monies coming from poor believers.

.................. and a good few rich ones

1 hour ago, Logosone said:

 

That was not moralising, just an observation.

 

That poor over the hill, economically desperate forty-five year old woman clearly has no economic options and in her desperation decided to offer services for cash to a 78 year old guy, who already admitted he's not a looker.

 

So it's very obvious you're just a walking dollar sign to this mature lady. You are mammon. I did not take any moral position on this whatsoever, whether it was wrong or right. I merely made an observation.

 

However, in terms of viability you could do worse than look at the experiences of Abraham, the first guy with a gik, and how well that worked out with his first lady.

 

In the end this is an obvious dilemma, if the gik is better than your current woman then you'll want the gik and will create untold problems with your current woman.  If the gik is worse than your current woman then there's not much point in the first place to even consider her. Either way you don't take the offer if you have any brains.

 

 

 

 

You clearly fail to understand the commercial relationship with most gik's.

Looks don't matter, age doesn't matter ........................... sex and money matters.

20 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I know what a gik is but what exactly does gik stand for?

13 hours ago, cheekysailor said:

Do booking still require you to email suggesting the three dates and times or can we just rock up at Trendy building?

Yes to both....................... personally , I wouldn't risk just 'rocking up' at the present time.

14 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

But John Wick can kill three men with just a pencil....just saying

.... and Lord Vader with only a thought...... or a tray.

12 minutes ago, Darkside Gray said:

Stuck in vietnam

Is that so bad ?

15 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

The British voted overwhelmingly for this person.

... and, frankly, that is all that matters.

14 hours ago, pontious said:

 

That is four months! I hardly call that efficient.

What is 4 months ?  Processing ?...nobody said that, certainly not me. Please refrain from misquoting.

I have no doubt that HMPO will soon be back to their 3-4 week timescale.

Grimsby Town vs QPR ... mid 1960's I think.

First Division 1 game was Nottingham Forest vs Spurs. February 1967 1-1 Jimmy Greaves (unusually) scored from the edge of the box.

10 minutes ago, Logosone said:

Shame you're not in Chiang Mai, I got one the other day. Got the lady to call them, and lo and behold if you ask nice enough they will send you a masseuse to your house.

 

Was an excellent 2 hour oil massage.

More power to you Sir, ............................. I could last 2 hours with an oil massage.

I might pay for 2 hours but would be out the door within an hour.

28 minutes ago, pontious said:

I wish you well but I cannot see any level of efficiency - there is a huge backlog of applications and that will only grow now that VFS is open. Has your tracking shown that your passport application is completed.?

I haven't personally got a horse in this race but I am very familiar with the process - which is normally very efficient. I have no reason to believe that won't again be the case when some semblance of normality is restored. I don't the backlog is as severe as you think because VfS have not been accepting applications since May. I am aware of people who have had the application fee taken so progress has been made at HMPO.

Any new backlog will create an initial bubble but those will fall behind the applications currently being processed. 

Those with passports expiring in September onwards no longer need to be concerned.

2 hours ago, Martinpeter said:

Hi 

 

So where are our new passports now?

Back in the UK or here?

 

I hope they will contact us finally soon, to collect our new passports (after an 8 week delay).

 

This is totally not an acceptable way to deal with Paying members of the British public.

 

Let's c how many weeks to wait now!

I agree, it has been a dog's breakfast.

However, it is now moving forward and there is no reason why normal levels of efficiency (which were quite acceptable) can't resume immediately. Even if the passports are being held in the UK they should be here in a matter of days.