simon43

I explained this in another thread some time ago. Outside the EU/EEA, UK state pensions are increased only in those countries that have a social security agreement with the UK, and those agreements are few and far between and generally were made a long time ago, (example being The Philippines). South Korea also has a similar agreement with the UK I believe. The government of Thailand did request many years ago such a social security agreement to be established with the UK, but their formal request was not even acknowledged by the UK government, let alone acted upon.... Other countries (eg Laos, Cambodia etc) never made any request. So the reason for frozen pensions in Thailand is 100% down to the actions (or non-action) of the UK government at the time). BTW, any discussion about the effects of UK ID cards on expats is moot, because the Starmer government has zero idea of any aspect of this ID card scheme. IMHO, it is yet another attempt to deflect discussion from the issue of illegal immigration, which will continue to increase regardless of anything that this useless government proposes or implements, (short of using live rounds to persuade the boats to turn around). I'll happily donate to buy some ammo...

Given the age of most posters on this forum, I think most of our mums have passed on yonks ago. The last time that I chatted with my elderly mum when she was in this world, she eagerly asked about Thailand and we chatted for 10 minutes about what I was doing and up to in Thailand, at which point she looked at me and said "very interesting, but who are you?"..... (true story)

I have a Bangkok Bank account for 20+ years, never had a problem. But.... since I'm physically not living in Thailand now (I live/work in Laos and Myanmar), I'm making minimal use of my Bangkok Bank account because I don't want $$ to be frozen and an invitation to visit the bank in person - which obviously I can't do. I'm mainly using my Lao bank, UK bank accounts and $$ under the bed in Myanmar....

I wonder what these voting stats would look like if you could divide them into 'Americans' and non-Americans

red thumb, what's that then?

Yesterday I was buying a shirt in the local market in Luang Prabang. The female market seller and her other female friends were so inquisitive! They wanted to know why I was in Laos, was I married, how many wives/ex-wives, how many kids did I have, where were my kids, did I want to marry again (because the stall-holder was single and likes older foreigners) ! Jeez, I never knew buying a shirt would be like the Spanish Inquisition.....

Well, if it's from the James Webb space telescope, then every image is enhanced, since radio waves have no colour 🙂

Rubbish reply from you (as usual). I had to make several unexpected trips to/from Myanmar and Laos.

... which is what I did 2 weeks ago when my not-yet-expired UK passport became almost full, thanks to one-page Lao and Myanmar visa stamps (6 empty pages suddenly became 1 free page...). Too long to wait to get a new passport posted to Laos - I jumped on a plane to the UK, collected my new passport in a 4-hour turnaround time and got back on the plane..... Expensive but problem sorted!

That's more than my monthly budget 30 years later here in north Laos 🙂 . You must have been living like a king!

Between my teaching stints in Myanmar I spend time in Luang Prabang (north Laos). You'd think it would be a great place for star-gazing, but sadly there are always too many low clouds. I gave my 10cm telescope to a friend.... Myanmar is better, no light pollution 'cos there's no electricity......

So basically it's out of fear that the old codger will drop dead on the floor after giving half a litre.......

Do what I do in Laos - LIE! I can't donate blood since reaching 60 years old. But I know that the local hospital in Luang Prabang is always short of blood. So on blood donation days I go to the centre and lie about my age 🙂 . They never ask to see my passport. Some years I'm 55 years old, the next I'm 56. Last year I said that I was 54 and caused great confusion (and hidden smiles) from the nurses because they need the blood! The truth is that all I want is the free t-shirt from them each year, thus saving on buying one.... In any case, is there some medical reason to ban the over-60s from donating blood?

Commenting on the post title, (which seems to be about cheap plane tickets from the UK to Bangkok), I recently flew from Gatwick to Bangkok for 285 pounds with Turkmenistan Airlines, with a stop for 2 hours in Ashgabad. The flight was almost deserted (wonder why!), the cabin crew were as miserable as hell, but the plane itself and flight were fine 🙂

That is the insurer that I previously mentioned...

Cann someone tell me why none of the other Arab nations in the Middle East accept the Palastinians to live in their countries? After all, Saudi has a huge land area, for example.

The statistics say (according to ChatGPT etc): "Record number of 1.6m migrants in Britain not working are costing taxpayer £8bn a year" I guess that many of these unemployed immigrants are dependants of the (skilled) immigrant who is working. That doesn't make economic sense. I assume the ECHR 'Right to a family life' rule is how these dependants can legally come to the UK. If you want a family life, stay with your family in your home country....

GG's body, clothes and attitude just shouts "I AM GAY!!!" I'm not gay and I never get approached by men. Must be my scruffy attire and "I don't give a <deleted> about anything" attitude 🙂

I grow them especially for this purpose.....

Happy to say that I received my correct monthly pension payment today. So this 60 quid must have simply been some form of payment adjustment.

Everything is back on track now. My new school employer is applying for my entry visa, and if that is all OK, then I'll be back in Myanmar and based in Taunggyi very soon. I've been rechecking the special kit that I need in Myanmar; solar-powered/handcranked torch, solar panel controller box, car battery charger, 12v DC to 220v AC inverter, USB panel lights for Zoom classes, emergency medicine, DIY fix a tooth kit, DIY heart bypass surgery kit .. ah wait!! that's for Afghanistan.... I also bought a nice, flatpack 'top box' to put on the motorbike that I rent/buy in Taunggyi - real top boxes seem non-existent to buy (last time I strapped 2 toolboxes to my trusty bike 🙂.) This photo looking at the Leinli Bridge near to Paunglaung, on the scenic road between Naypyitaw and Taunggyi - now too dangerous to travel along because of fighting.

From yesterday, news that one European country can change a war, and could do the same with Myanmar. Poland closed the border trainline into Europe which originates in China, bringing billions of $ of Chinese goods into Europe. Their aim is to persuade China to stop backing Russia in the Ukraine-Russia war. I think China is now between a rock and a hard place,,,, Suppose Poland told China to end the civil war in Myanmar, or the train line stays shut. China easily has enough power and infuence to stop the junta stone dead in its tracks, (although that might not stop inter-ethnic fighting). Wishful thinking...

Yes, this is very true, and I'm surprised no-one has mentioned religion. When my young niece died of TB a few years ago, she was completely lucid until just her final day. On the eve of her final day, a nurse came to talk with her and explained that the life that she was living right now would end very soon, but no problem because as a Buddhist she knew that this was just the first of many lives. She accepted all this with complete calm, with no fear of death, and passed relatively peacefully the next day. I'm not religious, but as one gets older, any fear of death dimishes. I'm not an Immortal Octopus 🙂

Yep same here. I'm younger than you (66), but normal blood pressure, most other things normal , never had to take sick leave apart from a few days. I'm of the attitude that I should get on with my life, try to stay healthy, and hope that when I die, it's quick and painless, 'cos I don't want to hang around in hospital... If you know of a cure for mortality then I'm all ears 🙂

I usually live in Myanmar and Laos, with very poor medical care. I have medical insurance, but if I had a major accident or medical event, then I'd probably be dead long before decent medical care arrives. I accept this situation. I try to mitigate this by leading a healthy lifestyle, eating healthy foods, walking 5km every day, riding my motorbike slowly and wearing a crash helmet. I had an ECG/heart stress test in Thailand a few months ago - everything was squeaky clean 🙂. I try to have general bloodwork tests every 6 months. In your situation, I would drop the medical insurance if you can't afford the premiums and it's stressing you out. Visit your local government hospital and register with them now to minimise paperwork delays, should you need their medical help in the future.