Route21mkII

I suspect many, many UK expats resident in Thailand are totally unaware that, on their death in Thailand, their wife (apparently Thai or otherwise) now not only loses their husband's UK Government pension but gets no widow's pension or any other financial support whatsoever from the UK Government!

 

If more expats were aware of it, maybe it might have been brought to Boris' attention on his recent visit?

 

https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment

 

 

bsp1.pdf

bsp1-notes.pdf

Why does it say FIL under nationality on the DL. He was British? No? FIL=Filippino? 

 

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

An old driving license from the Philippines was also pictured.

 

53 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said that in his experience King Cobras cause no problems for people.

Translation:

"We've never had any complaints from people bitten by King Cobras."

2 hours ago, arithai12 said:

(btw, the sex ratio is only 2% in the working age group, it's only for older people that it becomes more skewed)

That was the question that I was going to ask as, at least locally, women seem to survive much longer than the men - and I suspect that a higher proportion of young male motorcyclists are killed in accidents than females.

Who comes up with these headlines ?

Rumble.png

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/rumble

5. (tr) informal Brit to find out about (someone or something); discover (something): the police rumbled their plans.

Many thanks, Tywais. The Brooksy banner doesn't mention anything about TuneIn Radio and suggests downloading a "Thaivisa Radio" app from Google play. Very confusing!

Searched on my android phone for thaivisa radio on Google play, but it can't find it. Is there a problem?

PS

I can get both radio 1 & 2 on my PC and phone via thaivisa.com/radio.

Can the Prime Minister of Italy choose the next Pope? Under consideration? Surely politics and religion are different.

Archbishop of Canterbury

"Since the English Reformation, the Church of England has been more explicitly a state church and the choice is legally that of the Crown; today it is made by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, who receives a shortlist of two names from an ad hoc committee called the Crown Nominations Commission."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop_of_Canterbury

I didn't get a transportation pull down list that included Airplane

The "flight number" appeared as an optional additional field, if Airplane, car(?) or ship(?) were selected, but not "other".

I arrived by tuk-tuk from Laos, so didn't have a problem over flight numbers, even though he might have gone a bit fast.

Maybe "car" should be read as meaning "road" (visitors by road could come by any means from "on foot" to "by coach").

R21

You may have a pop up blocker that is blocking a message. When did you last enter the country?

Sorry - forgot to mention I'd already turned off IE's pop-up blocker.

Last entered the country in 2011.

Your entry is probably the problem. Immigration has stated an entry prior to 2013 may not be in the data base.

You should be getting the message to contact your local immigration office which means your record cannot be found.

I'm not getting any messages to contact Immigration, despite turning off IE's pop-up blocker.

Looks like it's the DoE problem you suggest.

Back to snail-mail.

You may have a pop up blocker that is blocking a message. When did you last enter the country?

Sorry - forgot to mention I'd already turned off IE's pop-up blocker.

Last entered the country in 2011.

I too am getting the blank screen instead of page 2.

My latest attempts, today (90-day due 12 Oct):

Internet explorer, using the HTTPS, ignoring the security warning, all info in block capitals, passport number (without their GBR head-code), nationality selected from pull-down list, transportation = either car (baht-bus) or "other". "Other" doesn't help and "car" requests flight number(?).

Any suggestions?

Yes near khao kor is this new temple. There are 2 temples opposit of eachother. Some months ago it wasn't all finished yet but open. You can only enter without shoes so bring cheap fitflops.

Also short sleeves are not allowed, i couldn't go in because of that.

I don't know why you were stopped for wearing a short sleeved top, but see the opening stages of the posted video, which clearly shows both men and ladies in short sleeved tops that are perfectly acceptable.

The dress-of-the day is basically respectful smart casual, including smart jeans. Ladies in shorts or short skirts/see-through fabrics/sleeveless tops etc are asked to use wraparounds provided by the Wat at the entrances. As a gent, I always wear shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt and have never had any problems.

The toilets are clean and modern and located near the shoe drop-off locations. They even provide you with free temporary-use of flip-flops near the toilets.

We've been there many times. It's a beautiful place in beautiful surroundings. We normally go all the way up to park in the top car park, very close to the massive Buddha statue. Last time we went was on a recent bank holiday and we had to park on the road a little way down from the car park, but close to the top entrance/toilets.

We go North up Route 21, then left onto Route 12, both good roads. The road off the 12 is narrow, winding and steep locally.

Whilst in the Khao Kho area, there are many more superb places to visit, such as the King's Palace, the open-air war relic museum (with a "huey" helicopter, field artillery, a fixed wing spotter-plane, machine guns, ammunition, etc) - great fun, even for our 1-year old grandson. An obelisk tops a nearby hill, honouring those who fought off waves of communist insurgents. There's also the "International Library", with its attractive displays of flowers, colourful plants and flowering/fruit trees. And there's a nearby large Stupa (housing a Buddhist relic) with a (very) long line of large prayer-bells to ring. The scenic views around the whole area are superb.

Njoy!

If people/vehicles continue to ignore all warnings .....

Plan B.

Maybe, one of these days, (& not just in Thailand) approved level crossings (unguarded or otherwise) could be equiped with mini, inexpensive CCTV cameras, pointing across the railtrack at the oncoming traffic in both directions, beamed, maybe via a local wifi hotspot (or otherwise), to the cab of any oncoming train, to alert the driver in time to apply the brakes and avoid a collision.

Depends on what value you place on human life .......

Just sayin'

PS Many smartphones already have the ability to act as a local wifi hotspot - the technology is already available.

In most cases the railway was there first, by a good many years, then people decided to build access roads across the tracks.

The uncontrolled crossings, those with no drop down barrier or flashing warning signals should at least be marked by a stop sign and a "Railway Crossing " sign.

stop.jpgstop1.jpg

I wouldn't think it would cost too much to erect, as a minimum, both the signs you suggest, together with the word "STOP" below the stop sign (for farangs who can't read Thai) and flashing "RED" solar-powered beacons (similar to the amber ones at dual carriageway U-turns). The signs may also need to be lit by solar-powered LED lights at night.

The "minimal" cost (at least at officially recognised crossings) could, presumably be met by the railway company and, as another poster has suggested, unofficial crossings be blocked to vehicular traffic by the local authority.

Maybe, as an added warning,, train drivers need to be alerted to sound their horn on approaching such crossings.

May save a few lives at minimal cost.

Just sayin'

I have just used Phetchabun Hospital, after being bitten by a dog, and have used my card with no problems.

I got my statins & blood pressure medication there, under the insurance scheme, around a month ago, during a routine check-up.

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The hospital I have the card from confirmed this,charged me full price

for that visit AND required full payment for the previous visit ,less the

30 bht I had paid., so it looked good for the few months it was

going,Thailand is very good at U turns.

regards Worgeordie

Just for info ... which hospital told you it no longer applied to expats?

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I somewhat doubt if you'll need to increase the lime content of your well water.

I live in the Phetchabun area and use their mains water that comes from a borehole. It's absolutely loaded with calcium (and has a sizeable amount of iron) so much so that it furs up the walls of storage tanks, both outside and in the loft. It also furs up the outside surface of the ball valves and in toilet cisterns.

I believe your best option would be for a Thai to have a quiet chat with the the provincial water authority located via the local headman/deputy who looks after the "nam papa" mains water and see what they analyse for and what levels they see. They should know what quality you're likely to get from your borehole and what to test for. They should also know where to get your water tested.

Regards

R21

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PS The regular fee from HSBC worked out at 133 baht + 150 baht from Bangkok Bank.

Tried to edit my previous post but connection to edit server taking too long!

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I have regularly, in the past, withdrawn 2x20000 baht from my offshore HSBC $ savings account with my VISA debit card from Aeon ATM's in Phetchabun, with no fee.

Last weekend, I tried to do the same, but was told "card not supported".

Fortunately, I could get my money out from the adjacent Bangkok Bank ATM, albeit being asked to agree to the fee.

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Thanks for the reply Route21mkII.

I was referring to Phetchabun Hospital. I also have pre-existing conditions, and that was OK too !

We have to got to the Hospital this week with my mum-in-law, I'll ask about the card while I'm there, thanks for the information.

All part of the service ;-)

Hope everything goes well for your mil.

R21

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I did all the blood tests, etc and was given a receipt, but was told to use the receipt if I needed health care. Are the Hospital now giving out cards ?

We were also told that I have to have these test every year, in order to keep up the Insurance scheme.

You don't mention which hospital you went to, but I was told by the nurse/coordinator at Phetchabun that I could come back in a month's time to pick up my card, but I should show the receipt and test results sheet if I needed treatment in the meantime.

For treatment under the scheme you need to go, in the 1st instance, to the hospital where you registered, but they will refer you on, if necessary, to the regional hospital (in my case Phitsanulok) or even Bangkok.

Yes, it's an annual insurance deal and so it's the same deal next time, but there's apparently no age limit (an 80 year old mate of mine has just signed up on my recommendation) and pre-existing conditions don't appear to affect it. I take aspirin and generic medications for BP, cholesterol and pulse rate - all of which will be covered under the insurance. They easily offset the up-front cost of the tests and insurance.

Also - it's good to know you have a safety net!

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Anyone got any further information on what's going up alongside Tesco's?

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Completed the formalities today for the insurance, covering accident and illnesses, including any necessary medication provided by the hospital in Phetchabun and, if necessary, any referral to Phitsanulok or Bangkok hospitals.

Membership is, apparently, age-independent.

Will be able to pick up membership card after 1 month, but use receipt and medical results sheet to obtain treatment in the meantime.

Applications now taking 2 days:

1st day covers paperwork, blood/urine test, x-ray and payment of the overall 2, 800 cost. Blood sample is not taken until 1hr after taking a special pill.

3pm 2nd day pick up results sheet for immediate cover.

Hope this helps.

PS No appointment required. Just walk-in with passport, yellow book and wife's ID card and visit "information desk".

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