soalbundy

Nevertheless, things change without interference or drama. Things change when they have to, communism in Russia was defeated without a war, time killed it. Vietnam and Afghanistan showed that interference is futile, counterproductive even, things will change there all in good time and so it will be with Thailand.

I don't know, I do know of one who shouldn't be here by law but has successfully used an agent for many years. I don't understand why one would use an agent, the procedures are quite straight forward, the most time that I have spent in the IO for an extension was three hours but last week only one hour was sufficient.

The erections seen through their trousers gave them away obviously.

noble sentiments leads one to the block without ever knowing if your sacrifice will succeed or was in vain. There are many brave people in Thailand willing to sacrifice life and/or liberty for a just cause but it should be noted that no tyrant, political system or situation lasts forever, action through inaction generally works quite well, change will always happen all by itself although some gallant souls feel called upon to be a catalyst even though the chemical mixture was brewing quiet nicely alone, speed isn't a quality of nature.

If they were 'legal' they could have gotten their visas themselves surely.

Brave but foolish, Thailand doesn't do truth, what with all the demonstrations now Thailand has enough martyrs, throwing himself into the fray for self interest wont benefit anybody least of all himself. These truths were already known by those in charge but nobody was foolish enough to speak them out loud just in case a miracle happened and tourists came. When you have been walking on Teflon for so long it is difficult to get used to any other surface.

A Dugong suicide is different, still tragic of course but different.

it's an awful long way and Thai trains aren't known for modern comfort

Sounds a bit more complicated than 4 years ago when I last renewed mine in Surin, e-learning? whatever next. We just watched a boring film, no appointment, did the colour blind and brake test and that was it. I shall see next year.

If he can get in anybody can

You can't rebuild a system immediately because the teachers have also been taught 'the Thai way' one would have to start with a new influx of teacher training college students. The system is nothing without the people using it, a new system with the old guard is next to useless. This may have come about because of the demonstrations concerning 'you know who', the geriatrics in parliament consider that the status quo must be maintained.

Isn't their system somewhat different? You pay into their bank account from your home country's bank and then receive your money from a Thai bank to your Thai bank account, it is a transparent system.

Like a group of cats talking about their 'operation'

Or what's left of it.

You are dear to my heart.

I said yes, I am old in years but I don't let that define me, once you do that you are finished. As for 40 well; I worked in a design office for BMW, full of serious dedicated engineers, all around 40 then, like myself. We had to wear a BMW pass on our suits, attached by a plastic clip. Mine broke so I fashioned a new one from a paper clip. When I entered a different office to my own to consult with an electronics engineer he had a look of horror on his face, his eyes continually transfixed on my paper clip, he gave me the information that I needed and as I left the office his eyes followed me in disbelief....he was already 80 in my opinion.

"The time has come," the Walrus said "To talk of many things, of shoes and ships and sealing wax - of cabbages and kings and why the sea is boiling hot and whether pigs have wings.''

In years yes but I am a lot younger than many 40 year olds regarding the attitudes to life. Age is serenity not senility, although not necessarily of course. I've been there, done that, I've made my mistakes and have learnt from them without dwelling on them. Wisdom cloaks the years served on earth and opens doors closed to the young, although if beards meant wisdom then goats could preach. The study of Eastern philosophies and meditation really does keep the mind sharp and dampens arrogance (I have a problem with that, photos of me in primary school show the face of a boy who should have been born 'Lord Clive of India' and not a member of the working class). I have made progress, I am a better person than I was and when this avatar called 'me' drops out of the game the consciousness that plays it will be ready for another shot at it with a new avatar, hopefully a better one next time, something with more flair and better at maths.

Yes, I can see your problem already.

You don't go to bars for an intelligent conversation but for a laugh, bar girls are brilliant entertainers, I go with the missus to one in a nearby town sometimes when the kids allow us out.

I agree, whatever country you are in you should learn the language. It took me 3 years to be fluent in German where I spent most of my working life and before retiring to Thailand I spent 2 years learning to read and write Thai (a prerequisite for speaking the tones correctly) I then read all the Harry Potter books in Thai that I could get my hands on. I am now in a village in Isaan where the local dialect is Khmern but no matter they can all speak Thai. Apart from my missus my two step daughters and my son I wouldn't say that I have close Thai friends but I do have good relationships with the villagers, some I would regard as bordering on friendship. That is enough for me as I am comfortable with my own company and the relationships that I have here. I am genetically blessed with good health, at 73 I have false teeth and glasses but that is about all, I climb on the roof of my house to clean the rain gutters and help with the rice harvest. Whether you are old or not is a matter of your own attitude to life, if you think you are old then you are old, can I run a marathon, no, but I wouldn't try to, I know my limits but that doesn't make me old. I keep mentally active with the internet, reading and dealing with my sometimes petulant teenage son and the babblings of my two step granddaughters. I understand that some may need the company of falang from their own country but that would make me old after having met many with closed minds, ill health and a desire to dress comfortably, ie shorts and vest with elastic stockings for their varicose veins, you become the company you keep.

I did my retirement extension yesterday, all very easy. I arrived just before opening time, handed in my documents and had to wait outside the office (covid). All the necessary forms were filled out by the staff and brought out for me to sign, after 1 hour it was done and dusted.

If you've got paddy that's all you have, paddy. Rice is a staple diet in Asia, the price shouldn't be this low.

Yes.

Well some people still regard a Rolls Royce car as being the 'best of British'