JohnC

Thanks DM I will check that out when I get back at the end of next week.

John

Is there a problem with mobiles in Pattaya this week? I keep getting a sound like number unobtainable, it was ok on sunday. A friend is having the same problem with a different number also in Pattaya. We are calling from the UK

I dive with aquanauts and found them very good, excellent instrucors that look after you. I was qualified before I came to Pattaya so cant comment on the training element. I have also dived with Mermaids and the only thing that annoyed me was too many dive masters or trainee dive masters in the water with our group all with their own ideas and trying to adjust my equipmet even though I was comfortable with it! So I only use aquanauts now.

I would love another one to replace ours that was stolen! I am back in Pattaya in just over two weeks and I will be coming up to Bangkok shorlty afterwards so if the offer is still there I could take two! So if you want we could take both puppies and if you get stuck we will take mum as well.

If you cannot wait two weeks let me know and I will ask my partner if he can come up and get them.

If you find a good one ket me know and I will come and join you!

You dont say what OP you are usin g, but assuming its WinXP why not just reinstall windows and somewhere along the line it gives you the option to clear old partitions and change to NTFS and re-partition the hard drive. I would suspect that way you can use the "good" sectors although I am not an expert and others may disagree!

They are back in business as part of Daimler-Chrysler, big problem was they are overpiriced for what you get but the SMART cars are still popular for town/city driving and the brabus is popular with those that like "sports" cars.

Well I have yet to discover what its for! so I dont use it! Mind you I only play my own music collection so I guess its something like winmx or similar, no doubt someone will enlighten me one day!

I have a O2 samsung E350 and when in Thailand I bought a one2call sim and just slotted it in and it works fine, when I come back to UK I just put the O2 sim card in and back to normal. The only thing with one2call is if you dont activate it after your credit expires they will close your number after 3 months and you can't add credit from UK so it depends how often you travel to Thailand whether you put loads of credit on it and extend the dates. Mind you a new sim card can be bought for 350 baht so no big deal. Better than a new phone!

I have just purchased a new HP PC with winxp and it has IT Tunes pre loaded although I have not used it yet. I think they franchised the idea from Apple!

Have a look at http://www.direct.gov.uk/Over50s/fs/en

When I looked into my state pension I was told by themt hat no annual increase is paid if living abroad but if you return to UK your pension is brought up to date.

Not sure about wife though, I suspect as she has never lived in Uk then she will not be entitled to a pension in her own name but she may get a widows pension when you finally depart! I am interested in how you get on as I have a partner and not sure how they will stand when I go!

I found this very interesting as I am about to invest in a new washing m/c, however I dont recognise any of the shops mentioned except for Tesco Lotus so is there a Central or Emperor or similar in Pattaya? I know we have a Home Pro and Tesco Lotus and Carefour and Big C can anyone add to where to look?

Can anyone tell me where I would go to buy and have installed the system described above?

Have you tried a system restore to a point when everything worked? thats assuming your OS is win xp !

Thanks fir that EDH

QUOTE(tywais @ 2006-03-25 10:13:12)

I thought I would add this link to the pinned topic. Where to apply

Having looked at where to apply I cant understand where to apply in Pattaya! can anyone help?

Also have a look at this one for over 50s living abroad, it would appear you can claim mainly in EEC countries but I have not followed all the threads so there might be some hidden oyster!

http://www.direct.gov.uk/BritonsLivingAbroad/fs/en

Try downloading Avast that has a boot scan facility, I have found this picks up most trojans as it runs before windows kicks in. You can download the free version from www.avast.com/.

Let me know if this works, they also have another programme for trojan worms only.

Looks like I might have boobed! I didnt realise they cannceled the sim immediately the credit ran out , I thought like here there would be a period of grace and two weeks later I could jus add some credit! Oh well a new sim at 350 baht will not break the bank and another lesson learnt!

Many thanks guys that was most helpful, I have my house book so will pursue TOT and adsl.

I have followed all the threads on adsl etc and think I have worked out what would be best, however before I get to that point I need a land line! Any recommends on what company is best or is there only one choice? Where do I go in Pattaya to apply for a line and do they provide the phone as they used to in UK ? Any indication on time scale would be helpful.

Last question! will my UK phone work if I bring it over?

Thanks guys.

I bought a One 2 Call simm card with 100baht credit for 350 baht in the shopping mall in Pattaya, I put it in my O2 contract phone and it worked fine, every time I did a top up with 50baht cards it extended the date, when I came home I had an expiry date of 17th April. I dont return until 29th April, however I purchased two 50 baht cards so when I land I will use them to top up. This seems to be a cost effective way as at some point I will cancel my contract with O2 but will be able to retain my samsung E350!

Well no sign of him so looks like he has gone for good, I will be back next month this time for good and think I will get a doberman!

I have managed to download the table of benefits as I am also interested in insurance, I will try and send it to you but make sure you have adobe installed as it does not convert to word.

I sent some papers to the British Embassy in Bangkok from UK by registered post and they got there untouched within a week. I sent my B/F a birthday card and it arrived open!

Lat week I sent a valentines card to him by airmail and it arrived unopened in 4 days!

If you were anywhere near Cumbria I would take them for you as I fly out again on Saturday! Yippeee!