soalbundy

How did you deserve that? Only once did an officer call down the 'big boss' from his office to 'investigate' me, she couldn't understand why an Englishman received a German pension, the German embassy letter wouldn't ally her fears that I was a fraud, she had never heard of the EU. The boss was quite puzzled by her confusion and opened up my file on the computer for her to see. From the ensuing conversation I was amazed about what they knew about me, a lot of private stuff, Where I used to live in Thailand, that I had been checked and found suitable to look after my partners 2 small daughters (I am estranged from my Thai legal wife), when my son was born and that he only had Thai citizen ship, that I had never left Thailand for a holiday back home etc. He then explained the EU to her and finished with the words, "Extend his Visa", gave me a smile and left.

You are letting your imagination run away with you. The Chinese aren't any more important than any other nation except possibly as a flavour of the month. No country can plan years ahead, world politics are too volatile for that. Thailand is all about Thailand they are a pragmatic bunch (see Russia/Ukraine war), they always hedge their bets. I've never felt enmity towards falangs (here in Isaan) in fact just the opposite. A few years ago the wife and went to the IO very early, before they had opened and watched all the officers perform their flag saluting ceremony, the boss gave them a pep talk about being fair and friendly to their customers and to help the falang where they could.

Why get your knickers in a twist about something that probably won't happen. Hakparn had a bad hair day about some criminal elements which reflected badly on him and made some remarks about being stricter with the laws, so now you extrapolate from that that he will lead a crusade against retirees who have been here for years, I don't think so, Thailand has a record of 'clamping down', it lasts all of 3 days. I've been here nearly 20 years without ever leaving and have never had a problem with visa extensions, I am on the 65k/month route, maybe eventually they will bump it up but I doubt it will be exaggerated. Have you ever considered that the IO needs us as a justification for their existence, (hence the 90 day nonsense) a mass exodus is not what they want.

That would be superfluous for anyone who has been here 20 years, the Thai police would have to issue it.

Yes, there isn't a great deal at stake here. Democracy is an over rated word anyway, most people will go their whole lives without being confronted by constitutional matters or having to speak with their MP. As for 'Western democracy' if we take the UK as an example, there is no proportional representation in government, just winner takes all and an unelected House of Lords and a huge disparity in the distribution of wealth. More important than parliament is an Independent judiciary (providing you can afford a lawyer) and a free press but the media is owned by the elite. The majority of people get by just fine under a benign dictatorship or a pseudo democracy like Thailand, a little excitement only happens at election time but soon calms down and life goes on in its own chaotic way.

It isn't Bangkok per se but more likely arrivals at swampy who then get a connecting flight elsewhere.

No, that's just transferring responsibility. Accept instead of expecting. It is as it is, there is nothing else, start from there. He could be mentally ill, in which case he doesn't have a starting point. Drugs and/or alcohol as an escape perhaps but then he was expecting instead of accepting. 2,000 years ago the stoic philosopher and Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius said, "You can't control outside circumstances but you can control your reaction to them" that is as true today as it was then.

I think you are talking about the second crop, where I am in Isaan they don't have a second crop and the present Jasmin rice is coming along fine, harvest in Dezember.

So Thai farmers should get a decent price this year, it's an ill wind that blows no good

Nothing wrong with the world as long as you accept it for what it is and stop trying to change it.

A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.............Lao Tzu

Too many horses in the coral confuses the traders.

admirable qualifications for a high office in any government.

The disappointment may be large in one camp while there is relief in the other. I don't know, so I am assuming, that many Thais (if one includes, as one must, the old and middle aged) are traditionalists and that changes to paragraph 112 wasn't popular with them, whoever wins there will always be losers who will feel disenfranchised (an exaggeration). Whatever system is in place it is never perfect. No system is written in stone and if it were it can be chipped away piece by piece, as is happening now, no need for a bulldozer.

Life entails compromise and patience while always keeping in mind 'I may be wrong'. MFP has decided in this instance to die for a cause instead of living for it. Of course it may be clever political move, if they assumed that Pita stood no chance of being PM in this constellation no matter what they did then it is better to go down with all flags flying, to rise again later like a virgin birth, "Pure and resolute that we are, we, unlike others, stood by our principles." They may indeed be better at horse trading than I first thought.

Well for cats it's a cloud or a glaring, the latter would fit well. It must have been funny but you had to be there (at a safe distance, out of high heeled shoe range)

Many of his supporters probably can't read.

Oh come now, what did you expect, a 'love in' with the people? PT is being pragmatic, time to get back on the gravy train. MFP has learnt a valuable lesson, keep radical views under cover until you have the power to implement them. MFP is a party for the young to 40 year old's, Thailand is starting to get top heavy with the older more traditionalists section of the population, it's a waiting game, wait for natures cull and you too will have your gravy. Human nature being what it is I don't expect the idealism to last once the robes of power drape the shoulders of 'the peoples choice'. Politicians aren't noticed for their honesty, ethics gets in the way of business.

I'm more annoyed by all these intrusive adverts on 'Asean Now', as soon as you get rid of one another one pops up. I don't understand it, I never buy online. 'That Expat Health insurance' one really gets on my goat, it's even half covered over by another ad, like they're lining up and can't wait to annoy.

Thanks for the tip, now where is the baksheesh.

That might elicit the reply, '' Oh, are you as confused as me'', to which you could reply, ''Y'all knows ah wus jus jokin.

Yes, there are many ways to mutilate a language, some endearing, others not so much. The American southern drawl I find just as obnoxious as the London accent of my home city, it took me years to get rid of it.

He'll only come if PTP is in power and a watertight deal is in place otherwise the establishment would have to help him escape again, perhaps an important football match in China he has to see.

He's not that dumb.

In America one could just say y'all and grin stupidly.