peter48

Good news again. When you change governments these things happen. I said it before and will say it again because too many oldies get into ever lasting moaning mode. These new politicians who are running Thailand in last year or so are open, progressive, internationalist and so the economy will improve , Tourism will increase and Thailand may return to the prosperity and more equality years of Thaksin Shinawatra when far more Europeans came to the land of smiles, brought property, retired and came for longer vacations.

Respectfully, so many grumbling oldies here me suspects. We had them in UK after 14 yrs of decline & decay the only real folk to vote Conservative were over 65+. So worn down with pessimism. Its really good to see new generation taking power in Thailand who will be dynamic, outward looking and less elitist, less older, less insular, less conservative and less traditional. That was the theme of last year's election - change. If you dont like it try comming back to Europe.

Youre right on 1st part but where did you get that 2nd part. Back in the mid 2000s under her father Brits and others swarmed to Thailand, we bought property, we stayed longer, the £ bought 55 baht, we were more welcome, Thailand was buzzing, Thai ppeople had cheaper healthcare access, things were much better than recent years where Thailand felt more down in the dumps for Europeans. Its all good news - UK graduate, open, aspirational, dynamic Thailand, , may yet again become LOS. Like Britain under a better inclusive government things are looking up.

These changes are good for Thailand- younger, dynamic, outward looking, good for business and Tourism. As with Tahksin's government before more inclusive for all especially the poorer North and funding more devevolpments for all. Better Baht tourism rates, more open to Farangs, English speaking ,having spent time ay University of Surrey its inevitable this is a good chapter for Thailand and its openess to the world. Bring it on.

Fantastic news. Broken Britain with healthcare meltdown, cancer waits for many months, medics leaving in droves, public service collapse, no room in prisons, high inequality compared to Europe, rising child poverty in the regions, chronic housing shortages, sinking state schooling as teachers leave, appalling governance creating tribal divisiveness & hate towards asylum seekers, diversity and minorities of every type. Tories led by Far Right Wingers have lost the respect of Britain. With hundreds of new MPs Labour and Liberal Democrats the UK can be like Europeans from Norway down to Germany in prosperity, healthcare,wellbeing and better governance. Gone are the tricksters, liars, self servers who served themselves not the public. Oh happy days when Sir Keir and Labour can implement decency and social justice to a down beaten country misled for 14yrs by rich arrogant semi-competent Eton school boys.

I said it before and I'll say it again to the old nay sayers - you change governments to a more dynamic, business- focused, younger, more inclusive, outward looking group of politicians, internationalist and Thailand begins to transform. So it happens. Hopefully we can reach the happy days of Thaksin and Tony Blair in the 2000s when Brits and others came in droves to Thailand buying property, bringing families, touring and enjoying a good rate of exchange ( which Brexit damaged). Thailand is changing & its good.

True Brexit horror was voted through by a small majority 52% to 48%. Cameron should have gone for a higher majority in his plans. That was 8yrs ago and most ppl now with exception of non college older males would vote to Remain especially under 45s. but 1) Johnson, Farage lied about the Brexit effects especially the obvious economic ones that has reduced UK living Standards since. 2) The press owners were pro-Brexit and led their newspapers as such especially Murdoch's Sun and Rothermere's Daily Mail. 3) Take Johnson's dad lives in France , his brother, his sister and his ex-Wife were against Brexit. 4) Many countries have high standards of living and then that included all Scandanavia, France, Germany etc with high immigrastion. It was a right wing distraction to kid the low income groups their problems were due to migration. They know that now & are not voting Tory again.

Yes for some living in parts of London or wealthy commuter towns close by, owner occupiers, good high job pensions, good transport/roads into well governed London led by Labour Mayor. ( thanks Sadiq for Elizabeth Line to airport,for free transport pass & cleaner air) Yes some seniors are lucky but now affected by rising crime, social care cuts, longest healthcare waits in western EU etc) ( Covid deaths twice were highest in Europe) But the rest of the population is suffering and inequality is one of highest in Europe bar Bulgaria and child poverty one of worst too. Our kids face highest university fees in Europe, highest rents especiallky in cities, many staying home and quite frankly compared to Finland, Norway,Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belguim, France, Austria and Switzerland our well being and happiness has seriously dropped. Thats why UK Tories scoring lowest polling in modern age.

Do not forget clown Boris Johnson took UK out of the 500M Single Market not just affecting trade, costs of imports, costs of exports, companies not coming to UK, shares down relative to EU/US so smaller pension pots, pound down after Johnson came in,lower economic growth but we lost ,freedom of movement' to live, love,retire,study etc in the 30 mainly better off countries of most of Europe. Spain and Portugal are options but you need to sort a lot more out now than before Brexit. Brexit was the greatest economic self harm ever done by any modern economy.

20% of Pensioners are not millionnaires, UK state pension below £1000 per mth is one of lowest in Europe ( Spain is 3 times higher) the NHS has longest waits in Europe especially a) Cancer diagnosis b) then wait more for Cancer treatment, massive shortages of nurses,GPs & Specialists because of underfunding/low pay, medics leaving in droves to Aus/NZ & Canada & Middle East, one of worst housing shortages, homelessness in Europe, massive rents and high mortages in London/SE/big cities, each medicine is nearly £10, energy costs/transport one of most expensive in Europe, high child poverty especially in N/NE, food banks...Brexit effect on food prices etc There's a reason the Conservatives have had their lowest polling ever this Spring. Britain is broken after the last 14yrs of hitting the average people

Well you would if he was one of your own family or close friend. Unlikey you would miss costly flight back or fail at that age to re-assure his nearest and dearest. God speed & I do hope police etc can find out quickly what has happened to this tourist. He's not some gap year twenty something finding himself. He's a UK citizen missing and the UK authorities too need to up the ante and do what all countries do when one of their own goes missing.

Japan did far, far better than Johnson's high Covid deaths UK during Covid Pandemic. Japan is more densely populated, has far more elderly people than UK. Clown Johnson delayed and delayed masks in 2020 despite Far East superior performance. UK got highest global Covid deaths in Spring 2020. Wear a mask especially in very crowded subways/buses/planes like Bangkok or London especially in mid winter, flu times or whenever things are worse in Thailand. This goes especially for those with a poor health record or likely over 75s. Its difficult but you have to make that judgement sometimes. The Chinese medics established in 2020 that Covid began to spread from longer coach journeys.

I think the thing is once you get into mid 70s for example and you get a prolonged chest infection which gets serious and you 've never had that before in your life, you do think twice. In UK if you get even a little bit of blood in your plegm thats a red flag and you get blood tests, x-ray and hospital Scan within days. Mostly its not serious (if as is the case your scan shows nothing serious) but I wonder in Thailand what's the costs of those quick triple tests would be? PS You will always be asked: Do you/have you Smoked

We said it before especially those guys who knew Thailand in the earlier 2000s when the pound went further, we bought property, Thais were happier & more western tourists came to a more open better LOS. But there were the nay sayers, old conservative types denying that, saying the arrival of the Thaksin and the present government was same old. Well we said no, it was similar to the popular Blair years where UK was open, progressive, booming and more equal. So here we are now with Thai PM on the cover of Time, a world wide publication.. Lift your glasses guys & girls welcome back to a more open and likely more prosperous Thailand. When the economy grows with with more exports, more inward foreign companies and investments and more tourism things tend to get better for all.

Interestingly, America in many progressive cities are handling it. Compared to many other serious drugs its a lot better I guess. Compared to the pub culture in rough less prosperous areas like UK of heavy weekend drinking & need for much security & extra policing it seems this soft drug presents far less problems if any.