The Usual Suspect

The "holiday" UUGGHH! wreaked more havoc with my pension transfer, than with immigration! What a pain in the arse. I just went in this morning to the immigration office in Amnat Charoen. As always, I was treated with promptness and respect. The immigration officer even apologized for the "inconvenience" I experienced because of the holiday and processed my visa extension as fast as he could, as we walked in the door the minute the office opened. I have NEVER in the four years I have lived in Thailand, had a single problem with immigration! We ALWAYS go in with our ducks in a row, no overstays, proper documents (in duplicate), photos, etc. We have never had to wait more than fifteen minutes to be processed. Every staff member we have had to deal with has been right on. We were even informed that "if all goes according to plan" I will be able to do my next 90 day report in Roi Et! Thank you, Sweet Jesus!

If you hang around toilets long enough you're bound to get some crap on your shoes.

I've lived in Thailand only a few years. I used to return once a year to the U.S. to visit relatives. Every year I returned it became more and more uncomfortable. More drama, more laying on of guilt and blame for my "selfish" decision to live on the other side of the planet, (even though I'm retired and on a meager income that would make it nearly impossible to live in America). Quite frankly, although I love my family, I don't see a return to the U.S. in my future unless someone dies, maybe not even then.

Education?

Tell your son to bail out as quickly as possible! If the family is asking for this much from the start, and they are changing things around already, just imagine what it's going to be like when they REALLY get their hooks in him!

Hey Colin.......Do I detect a recurring theme here?

Does anyone have a serious recommendation for Thai life insurance for expats 65+?

Always comes with my chicken and rice. I just slide it off to the side of my plate and carry on. My wife won't touch the stuff either.

An expat friend of mine was recently involved in a near fatal motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed for life. It spooked my wife and now she wants me to purchase a life/accident policy with AIA just for safety's sake. They're quoting me around 27,000 baht per year for a policy. Just wondering if anyone has experience with AIA and if so, what you think about it. Ever made a claim or know anyone who has? Please, serious replies only. No wife/life insurance jokes or smart remarks......I've heard enough of them already.

I ate 2.5 kilos of tangerines, 2 kilos of roast chicken breasts, 5 roast sweet potatoes, a pan of roast potatoes, cabbage, gravy, 6 chocolate bars, a pack of sesame biscuits; 10 coconut pastries, and 3 cups of Aribica coffee. I was going to go on a naughty massage mission, but I can not get off the couch!

butthole

Do you think that maybe........just maybe, they should review their safety procedures?

A good supply of small to medium size bones (pork, beef, or buffalo) seemed to be a great deterrent with our teething pups. We usually make them savory and cook them over an open fire. We still provide them with bones now that they are older and they really enjoy them.

What's really funny, is that english people think that everyone else is interested in their little soccer games, in their little island country, not to mention an individual players name. Like, who cares?

Obviously the English people care. And in fairness people are interested, the Premier league is the most watch football in the World.

My Thai wife is nuts about football and so are most of her friends! She follows the games religiously.

We planted some sweet corn in our garden a while back and some of the plants developed ears of corn faster than others. One day while we were out working in the garden my wife casually said, "Honey, I think some corn is gay". Taken by surprise, I asked her why she thought that. She smiled and said, "Well, they like our friend Tik (a ladyboy)......he pretty but no can have baby. Same same corn, pretty but no baby corn".

There is no defense for this. It is lame and stupid. It is time for Thailand to get up to speed with the rest of the planet.

Funny........I live up in the northeast by Laos and it's been dry as a desert for over a month!

Everyone back home were gob smacked I was going to leave the country to live in Thailand before Xmas.

I couldn't think of a better place to be! As far away as possible. Hot (Australia), expensive and hard work

Same here. When I left in to live in Thailand in late November a few years ago the family had a fit. How could you leave just before Christmas? How could you be so uncaring? I answered quite matter of factly that the "family" had not gotten together as a group in several years, and when we did get together it was usually a very awkward scene. The last Christmas holiday I was back home I had to visit four different groups of "family" who had issues with each other. I was the only one who had no issues with any of them. To be honest, I am ecstatic that I won't be there for the holiday or the snow!

I'm not slighting the folks who get all worked up about Christmas.....if it makes you happy that's fine, enjoy yourselves to the fullest. However, I worked in retail in the States for a number of years and, quite frankly, I got to a point where I dreaded the Christmas holidays. I appreciate the true spirit of the holiday with religious observances, family gatherings, and all the trimmings, but it seems that has become secondary to the commercial aspect the world over, and in Thailand, that's the ONLY aspect. I was briefly in the States this year until Nov. 2, and some businesses were already starting to set up Christmas decorations! I couldn't wait to get out of there!. As far as my family here in Thailand is concerned, none of them have ever celebrated Christmas and that's fine with me. Usually on the week before Christmas I set up a little (9") artificial tree with lights and maybe a few twinklies. On Christmas day I usually gift my wife with some little treats she likes. That's enough for me.

This is a young guy. Where are his family?

Kindness and generosity mean the same thing the world over. So often we get wrapped up in the day to day and forget the simple little things that make a day special to those we care about. Nanlaew, thanks for making my day with your post.