simon43

That was me, but the guesthouse room was of identical dimensions to a UK prison cell, had no heating (this was February 2023, so after Covid) and I had to buy a standalone heater to keep warm), no hot shower water, loads of black mould climbing up the wall, all guesthouse facilities closed and the teenage manager stole my post on several occasions. As the saying goes, it was no place for old men, and that room rate of 400 quid (which is hardly a bargain when you're strapped for cash), will double in the warm holiday season. If you live in the UK with only a state pension to survive on, then you will be eligible for state help with your accommodation expenses etc. For me, I would not have a happy retirement in the knowledge that I'm only surviving thanks to state help. I prefer to find a location where I can live a modest lifestyle without state help.

Yep, having been out of the UK for 20 years I was somewhat shocked at the number of homeless, charity shops, hugely obese people, people riding mobility scooters and the miserable weather (well, it was February in Blackpool...). Honestly, I couldn't imagine spending my retirement in the UK trying to live on a state pension. Hence why I'm relaxing in north Laos. This morning I bought a huge fresh pineapple, half a kilo of hairy bollok fruit and a large french stick fresh salad/meat roll and it cost the equivalent of 2 quid...

Luckily I had the good sense to get a forecast some years ago and was able to voluntarily top up many years at the cheapest rate (because I was working outside the UK). So my 800 pounds or so is the latest forecast if I just pay the small amounts that will be due this and next year. Also, the insurance company who refused my claim was April International (France) - the expat insurer, not April Thailand. The reasons for their refusal were covered in a separate thread, but basically they refused my claim because I forgot to disclose a medical condition that was unrelated to the suspected prostate cancer. I could argue that this was my innocent error, but I certainly would not want to take out insurance with a company who uses their 'small print' to refuse a claim for medical treatment that's unrelated to the medical condition that I forgot to mention (minor BPH that was verbally mentioned to me years earlier). I do have new insurance now with WR Life (with the exclusion of BPH but including cover for prostate cancer).

Yes, it will be frozen when I start to receive it in 2 years from now. The Philippines is the only country in Asia where it is not frozen. Another destination where it would not be frozen is Mauritius, but you need to bring in $1,500 USD per month to qualify for an annual visa. Most other locations where the UK state pension is not frozen would probably work out rather expensive (EU countries etc), although somewhere like Bulgaria is meant to be cheap and pleasant.

To add my own comments, I went back to the UK for prostate cancer investigations after an MRI scan in Bangkok and raised PSA numbers suggested that early stage cancer was highly likely. My insurance company refused to pay, so I returned to the UK for hospital investigations and possible treatment. (Happily, cancer treatment was not necessary - the growths in my prostate were benign stones and I was able to return to Thailand and now have semi-retired to Laos. I had no family ties in the UK, so chose Blackpool as the cheapest place to stay in a guesthouse. However, it's only cheap in the Winter! Hotel and guesthouse prices shoot up when it gets into Spring/Summer. I was able to register for NHS etc within a few days and received free colon cancer check-up, free eye tests etc. Before my cancer results were known, I seriously considered returning to the UK permanently. But I rejected this because my UK pension (due in 2025) would see me living in poverty and reliant on social services handouts. Also, my lungs are (now what's the medical term?)... ah yes "<deleted>" in cold weather!! So I returned to live in Laos where I am currently enjoying a very relaxing time and spending less than $500 per month (to cover ALL costs >>annual visa, private medical insurance, detached house rental by the Mekong river, food etc etc). So my UK pension of about 800 quid should see me fine,, UNLESS I am forced to return to the UK due to some serious ailment or dementia etc. Wherever you reside, your small income won't go far if you spend it on booze, fags, women etc etc. Whatever you decide to do, please try to sort out your dependencies. Good luck!

That would definitely put me off my lunch....

Just eat plenty of fibre, muesli etc and you'll be fine!

Since the theft was caught on CCTV, I wonder what excuse (if any) the thief is giving to the police. It seems to be an ... er .... open and shut case!

As a child growing up in Leicester in the 1960s, it was common knowledge that immigrants came from the West Indies because there were few work opportunities at that time in the WI, and so many men came to the UK to look for work and they brought their families with them. I don't recall there being any anomosity towards these immigrants at the time. I DO recall being moved primary schools after large numbers of Asian immigrants arrived in the city and I was being taught some Asian language at school - my parents moved me to a prep school where I would be taught in English....

That is NOT a large crocodile. Heavens, at my school in the UK we kept a larger and very much alive croc in the biology lab.....

I recently stayed for 3 months in Blackpool. I can vouch for the fact that Blackpool cannot be considered as the Pattaya of the UK...!

Sorry if I misunderstand here...... but surely it is illegal for a non-Thai citizen to engage in this type of work. Why doesn't he try selling his squid in Vietnam?

Now if he had used a parrot then he could have engaged in sex-chat at the same time, perhaps teach it some lewd phrases... "go on, go on, go on, oh you're such a big boy, who's a sexy polly?"

An update on the state of my lungs and the copious amounts of thick phlegm that I was coughing up (or attempting to cough up). Quick recap - I have suffered from what seems to be some sort of lung allergy for about 22 years, in that no lung disease has ever been identified and my lung health remains fairly constant unless exposed to colder climates, which is what happened earlier this year when I had to return to the UK for prostate cancer investigations for 3 months. The bronchitus and thick mucus in my lungs almost made me cancel the cancer investigations and return to Thailand, but I managed to stay for 3 months and I was given the all-clear for prostate cancer. On returning to Thailand, I continued to suffer from coughing, bronchitus and excess phlegm/mucus. In earlier posts in the thread, several medications were advised by forum members (thanks). Anyway, I started off with the following: - cough lozenges - Tiger brown mixture - Mucus thinner tablets - Anti-histamine tablets - Honey drinks - Gargling with salt water - Daily 4km fast walks. As my health slowly improved, I eliminated some of these medications until I'm at the current condition where I no longer have bronchitus, cough very little, and have phlegm that is thin enough to cough up. I feel much better although the underlying lung allergy is still present. I've found that in order to maintain my lung health I do need the following: - Mucus thinner tablets - Anti-histamine tablets - Gargling with salt - Daily 4km fast walks. Without anti-histamine tablets my nose gets stuffed up. Without the mucus thinner tablets I can't cough up the thick phlegm. Gargling with salt water several times a day really does make a positive difference to my lung health. Without daily long fast walks my lungs quickly fill up with mucus... So I'm happy with the outcome (no lung allergy would be even nicer, but my current lung health is not a negative and doesn't affect my daily activities). Hope this helps others who suffer from excess phlegm etc.

The name of the insurance company is clearly stated in the video

Do these truck engines not have gears?

Only one out of all those officers needs to pull his trigger.......

I think you 'dodged a bullet' there. This 'woman' is well-known in the area for these scams. Actually 'her' real name is Khun Ham Yai and she is reknowned for enticing western guys with her tasty Isaan sausage......

No, you have to go to the NBTC office in Bangkok, (although check Blackcab's comments re Amorn at Tutkom).

Apart from the mentally-unstable point, the type of good GF would be a woman who doesn't consider looking 'flash' or rich as a requirement. All of my 3 wives were essentially only concerned about how much money they could get from me. Since adopting a strategy of putting myself first and only doing what I want to do and ignoring what others think of me I have been a much happier man ???? PS - Not having a partner means that I have more money to spend on fishhead soup....

Yonks ago in Phuket we were told that the local OrBorTor office would only give us planning permission for our guesthouse project if we used their staff to draw up the plans.... We used their staff!

Always look sh*t poor, mentally unstable and leave your doors and windows unlocked. That way, no-one will bother to break into your house. It has worked for me for over 20 years...

How many hours flying time is Dubai?

BMT, it's none of my business, but do you normally wear your hair tied up like that? Your dress looks nice ????

What do you mean by a 'black' radio? If you mean a black walkie-talkie that operates typically over the range of 136 - 154MHz, then only the police, utilitity operators and licenced radio amateurs with reciprocal Thai ham licences can legally own these. I have a 'black' walkie-talkie for use on the 2 metre ham band. At the NBTC you need to go to building 7 ground-floor which deals with all kinds of personal licences (CB and radio amateurs). It would help you a lot if you can speak/read Thai, but the staff are helpful ???? You have to apply in person for the licence - it cannot be applied for online AFAIK. On the Amorn sign above it says that to purchase a black radio, you need to show your ID card, house book and licence. I was able to buy a black radio by showing my UK passport, Thai ham radio licence and lifetime membership card of the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand.