simon43

Personally, it is of little surprise to me that there is a growing number of right-wing English people who are outspoken in their views about the state of the country, immigration, deprivation etc. 

If you are a middle-of-the-road patriot, then your view is ignored by the government, by the London Lord Mayor, by elected MPs (who IMHO are nothing more than a bunch of corrupt b*st***s who line their own pockets, regardless of whart party they belong to).  I hold the same view for almost ALL elected representatives right across the world.  There are very, very few honest elected representatives.

I foretell that if the views and wishes of patriotic English people continues to be ignored by whatever government is in power, then widespread civil unrest will occur, possibly leading to the overthrow of the government by a combination of honest, patriotic citizens with the support of the armed forces.

I am of the opinion that this old lady is in fact dead, and has been for some time.  This is clearly a scam to obtain 5,000 baht each year... 🙂

Not quite a scooter, but a story about downgrading from a big bike to a small bike:

25 years in when I lived in the UK, I rode a beautiful Honda GL1000.  It was a very heavy machine (obviously!), but it took me to and from work every day and al around the Swiss Alps 2-up with lots of luggage.

Nowadays, and living in north Laos, I do not want a large cc bike. At 65 years old, I'm not as strong as I was all those years ago in the UK.  Furthermore, the roads in Laos are rough!  You need an off-road bike and a light bike that you can pick up when you fall off, (as you will many times on the mountain roads which have potholes inside potholes!).

When working in Burma around 2017, I had a genuine Honda XR150 which was an excellent bike to get me over the hills in Shan State, (the yellow helmet photo is just above Inle Lake).

Then I used to ride a KLX in Laos around 2019, but sold that a few years ago when I left Laos just after Covid. 

Now I have a Honda XR150 again (this time a Chinese clone, but very comfortable and reliable).

Scooters are fine for me if I stay in town, but useless on the 'red roads' and tracks when you leave the town.

3 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I'm giving the wrong impression here. I don't mean Europeans aren't criminal, I simply observe a strong trust in laws within the Europeans (I mean American, Canadian etc... too) when compare to the Thai people.

 

In the mind of the Finnish guy Jay he has a piece of paper which gives him a sense of security because he believes the system will protect him. Thai people in my observation don't have this same trust because they know there is a corruption in the officials and the paper is only as good the person willing to enforce it, which may never happen.

 

I've never gone through the legal system in Thailand but I don't trust it because I see the Thai people themselves don't trust their authorities. That's my only point.

Another personal example of corruption in the Land Office.  Many years ago my ex #2 wanted to borrow some money with the land plot as security. She borrowed privately but a charge was placed on the chanote by the lender and therefore this charge and the loan contract were registered at the Land Office in Phuket.  I went along to the office with her.

The loan contract stipulated that the loan had to be repaid in full after 12 months, or the land was forfeit.  We both checked the loan contract and then the lender went into an office with the Land Office official, emerging 10 minutes later with the contract to sign.  I spotted that the period '12 months' now read '2 months'!!  Rather than accusing them of attempted fraud, I politely suggested that their printer had a problem.... They forced a smile and reprinted the contract with the correct term.

Anyway, it actually made no difference, because dopey ex failed to make the payment after 12 months and the land was forfeited! 🙂

A usufruct simply allows you to 'use' the land, not own it.  If he gets divorced, he still doesn't own the land.

I just watched the video. Nothing new at all - he has a usufruct to use the land.  But that means nothing if her brother and friends come along with knifes and 'ask' him to leave the land.

I don't think he is doing anything new, and AFAIK pre-nups are not legal in Thailand.

Look, you can create any type of usufruct or contract if it makes you feel better.  But the bottom line is that if he falls out with his wife (or vice-versa), no amount of legal paperwork will protect your body if the 'ban nork' in-laws want to make things difficult for you...

Not related to a Thai wife etc, but years ago, I was forced off my land/guesthouse in Phuket by the local police who were working with the local yaba dealers.  Life got 'dangerous' for me and I had no choice but to make a speedy exit 🙂

Sometimes, it simply ain't worth the trouble and I like my kneecaps.... I hope this Finnish guy doesn't assume that he's legally OK if his relationship goes south...

From this morning I see that a pop-up on my laptop reminds me to remove my ad-blocker when viewing AseanNow.

As one of the oldest forum members (in terms of membership length), and an internet 'guru' to boot, I can say that it is better to use a 'carrot' rather than a 'stick'.  More pop-ups and more intrusive ads that slow down and spoil the user experience will not end well for the new owners......

1 hour ago, 1happykamper said:

"it".? I hope that was just a typo on your part.... Yes? 

As others have said, we are free to use whatever pronouns we want to use.  If you speak Thai you'll maybe know that many Thai women disrespectfully refer to their male partner/customer as 'มัน', which literally means 'it'.  Goose for the gander etc...

Wow, so many anti-vax posters.  Did you never have vacs as a kid to protect you from Polio, Tetanus, Whooping Cough etc?

Tipping was never a thing in the UK, except for a small tip for the barber and taxi driver.  So no, I haven't changed my habits since leaving the UK 22 years ago.  I tip the barber and I tip the taxi/motodip driver - that's it 🙂

2 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

The hatred for a man who simply decided that the organisation he was born into and was expected to uphold was so internecine, so corrupt and so out of date that he wanted nothing to do with it is astonishing, and shows how remarkably adept the palace is at keeping the sheep on side while they bleed them dry. 

Yes, but 'he wanted nothing to do with it.." is simply untrue.  He wants everything that a Royal title can provide.  If he wants rid of the Royal Family, then he should renounce all his titles and simply be known as Mr Harry Doormat, (US resident).

Please delete your photos of Lat Krabang beach!  Otherwise, you may alert the authorities who will come and cut down all those nice trees... 🙂

No one should write using that Modern style.  That is simply a simplified font that is often used for advert signs.... good to know how to read, but not to be written!

I think the new owners should issue shares in the business to any loyal forum members of more than 20 years standing... 🙂