crumpled

Seriously if that is true i find it shocking and extremely unfair.

(I mean the bar girl who serves you a drink and pines over you but doesn't get to keep whatever you want to give her!!!)

The b/g gets the tip you give her in most bars. In some cases she needs that to buy food when trade is slow.

In very many bars the tip you leave on paying the bill goes into a communal tub and is shared out between all the staff.

Keep your eye on where the money goes.

You can't beat Torquay!

Nah, the women are easier in Blackpool. Mecca of the North(west)

My flights are booked. UK - Swampy. Swampy - Issan. No need to enter Bangkok.

If they take over the airport.......

Sod it, I'm still coming!!

Again with the bloody airport. The ONLY reason the PAD were chased into the airport FIVE years ago was because Taksin was threatening a comeback. The paid thug redshirts just hastened their journey/extended their stay. They couldn't bloody leave. Jesus H enough already

Chill, before you do yourself an injury, or have a heart attack!!

My flights are booked. UK - Swampy. Swampy - Issan. No need to enter Bangkok.

If they take over the airport.......

Sod it, I'm still coming!!

Another phone call today to Thai Embasy in London. They tell me that you need to be 65 for a single entry non O. And that all the consulates have to refer the applications to the Embassy. That leaves the tourist visa option as my best bet.

Call Hull/Birmingham/Cardiff etc and ask THEM if they need to refer single entry Non-Imm, O Visa applications to London - I am sure they will say "no" - then you can get one from them and extend in country (Thailand)

Hull and Birmingham both refer to London now., I checked.

Not sure about the others, but it seems to be London pulling the strings here now.

Hmmmm my lass is in charge of most of the tipping....but if I am on my own it depends on the service and attitude.

That said a 20 Baht tip here and there is normal for me.

Long, long ago I was given a bollo*king for tipping too much and told what to tip by a member of staff in a place I frequented. She told me 20 Baht is a decent tip. I thought that was being tight fisted. Yet since then I have always let the current g/f tip and they tip 20 Baht also. In the odd case where the staff have looked after us particularly well she will give them 40 Baht. On a rare occasion 50 Baht !!

Seems we do tip way over the odds and letting the female half do the tipping stops me feeling guilty over the 20 Baht tips

I have to admit that none of the staff pull a face at that level of tipping. They always smile and happily nod their heads on receipt.

yesterday using my metro bank card at an aeon machine in Pattaya i got 50.84 baht for one pound.

Mastercard rates 50.98 for the 21st and rising. Lovely and just in time for my next trip back. Much better than bouncing along in the mid 40's as it was last time I was there. And I'm hoping - like many - the rise continues.

I simply came to Thailand. No real plans at all. Had some ups and downs. A learning curve almost constantly and a great 'adventure'.

The best laid plans can go awry. So, plan away if you wish, but that takes much of the fun out of it all. I have to admit I made sure, and still do, that I have my home base secured in my home country as my back-up and will always keep that security behind me.

Go, do it, have the fun!!

My only experience of a lady from Myanmar was that of - The then g/f's brother acquired a lady from Myanmar to help take care of an elderly mother. As time passed he became quite attached to the lady. Began taking her out, buying her things from his very limited income. They slept together. Just as he got really serious about her, the Myanmar husband turned up, took her away and that was the last he heard from her.

A bit negative, I realise.

I will say that while she was there she took great care of the mother. No-one had any complaints in that direction, but she was obviously taking the brother for a ride. Is that true to form for Myanmar women? I have no idea. But my one and only experience regarding them, though there are many available as housekeepers etc., if you know which policeman to ask and pay the fee to him. This from other Thai friends at that time.

Sniff, sniff. Wipes nose with panties. Tells police he thought it was a hanky.

My payment (in cash) was sent off. Tracked delivery.

I would rather pay a small admin fee for a credit / debit card (as with some travel agents / rail tickets) than have to pay extra for postal orders.

Whatever the reasons behind it, it is more inconvenient to use cheques and postal orders.

I find credit / debit cards are more convenient. I honestly cannot remember the last time I used a cheque. Added to that, the delay in contacting the bank and getting a cheque book sent out for ONE cheque seems crazy. Companies are looking to save money by becoming paperless in this day and age. That seems a good thing to me and I can keep all my payments, bills and statements in a backed up folder on my computer. Also I do not have to shred documents to help prevent identity theft.

Cheques? Yes, it does seem crazy to be going backwards in time.

On looking at Birminham and the Thai embassy, it seems they use the same rules of no credit / debit cards now too.

edit to add....

I have previously always found Hull consulate to be friendly and very helpful over many years of getting visas.

Hmmm. Just out of prison and he has a network of girlfriends. I wonder what sexual persuasion these girlfriends might be?

I try to make her laugh every day, kiss her every day. I tell her she is sexy and beautiful.

I have tried to make her self sufficient too and that seems to be working.

Treat her like a normal human being too.

No, not in my case.

But awareness of what happens here and there to others makes you more aware of the pitfalls and gives some an idea what to look out for.

There is a lot of negativity and that can make some doubtful about what is going on around them. Again, I do not think this is a bad thing, especially to those with purely rose tinted glasses on. IMHO, of course

Poor guy maybe needed money for a new shirt and flip-flops.

I always used a fan only in the daytime unless in the bedroom for nookie then down to 20 deg C.

For sleeping purposes air con on for 1 hour and fan on all night. No sheets or quilt.

^^^ Nice one. Good to hear you have had offers.

You do not need to go to a bar!

Most of the women working in resort towns are from Isaan.

Hotel maids, waitresses, house cleaners, you name it most are from here.

You don't need a sex worker if you do not want sex!

Most miss home and family very much and would rtaher be here than there.

Look around, find what you think is a nice one who speaks o.k. English. ( not many here speak English well and you will need a translator)

Offer her 300- 500 baht per day, you pay food,travel and lodging and I would be very surprised if she would not be thrilled to help you.

As long as she can get away from her job and still return.

As long as you do not look as scary as some posters here say you do!

Isaan is a wonderful place to be if you have the right attitude and temperament

Give it a try.

Choke Dee!.

^^^ Sensible.

I'd be tempted to get on some dating sites and tell them what I want and that I'd be willing to pay for the room etc. Maybe some ladies (if that is what the OP is after) would take him up on the offer.

OP if you can work in the rice paddies, feed the buffalo,the chickens and such like, you might find some lady willing to take you on, especially if you are young and handsum man with big muscles. More so if you are happy to pay for the privilige.

No way can I see many people simply waltzing up to a village and getting in to stay. They need a starting point and that is usually a woman (or other ).

Good luck though.

Buy some of that gel (forget the name - but it is the one used for anal sex). 7/11 sell it? Hand it to the son and say something like, "I'll see you later, sweetie, after your shower." A big wink and seductive smile might help too.

He will be out the door like a bullet from a gun.

It was the roads fault,officer,I was not driving too fast for the conditions.

Its job trying to decide which is the safest way to travel in Thailand,Air,

Rail,Boat,or Road,I suppose walking maybe best,

regards Worgeordie

Whoa, worgeordie !! Walk? Amongst all those lunatic drivers? You'll need armour like Robocop or be Superman

Looking at the visa form it does say on the payment page that they no longer accept debit / credit cards.

Considering banks here in the UK rarely issue cheque books any longer that has to be a problem for some, plus the added expense of buying postal orders. Bank cheque guarantee card number also required for cheques.

edit... same applies for Birmingham and the Thai Embassy in London.

Hope this topic not covered before, apologies if it has.

I am asleep and having a thaivisa nightmare. I will wake up soon, I hope.

Two things (maybe 3).

If she does not know the damage the family have caused why have you not invited her round to see for herself?

Throw the little git out!! He is not yours.

If you are hapopy to keep her on, let the damage be and lesson learned. 20K is not really so much to lose if she is that important to you.

But still throw the little git out and as said in an earlier post, change the locks.