GarryP

No idea if there is a ceiling on savings for UK citizens, but all my savings are in Thailand, so not sure they could check up on me anyway.

Sondhi is a former Thaksin psycophant. He invested a lot through his Manager media group in promoting and supporting Thaksin. His press was full of obsequious platitudes, bullcrapery, and fluff pieces. Sondhi was seen all the time with Thaksin too. They were seen together so often it was a bit cringey, sort of like bosom buddies to the extreme. But then Sonteen (sp) would have rimmed Thacky to get the return he thought he was going to get. Unfortunately, when Thaksin got into power, Sondhi did not get the returns he expected (perhaps even promised?), and Thaksin turned his back on him. That's when things got nasty and the hate campaign started and has continued ever since. As to Jatuporn, he has been blowing his own trumpet since the red shirt movement. He is in it for himself and wants to feel important/relevant, but is about as trustworthy as as a scorpion on a frog's back, and as reliable as a punctured condom. These two were probably made for each other.

My parents never taught me religion. The only time we went to church was for funerals, weddings and christenings. I went to a Church of England primary school, and while we did have Friday morning assemblies, we were not taught religion. At high school we had religious education classes, but in that class we learned about many religions, not just christianity. In other words, it was left to me to decide what I believed in but I didn't really give it much thought. That is, I was not force-fed any belief system and I did the same with my son. I left it up to him to decide. His mother was Buddhist but didn't push her beliefs on him either. Years later, in his twenties, he became very religious of his own volition, following catholicism, then a few other groups in Bangkok such as baptist, evangelical, etc. But ultimately he came to the conclusion that it was all a lie. How did he reach that conclusion? The priests, vicars, and whatever else they were, couldn't or wouldn't answer his questions on their faith and some even told him not to ask questions, but just to believe or leave. He also read the bible from cover to cover, and other reading materials, but finally said they did not make sense on a lot of issues (hence his questions which went unanswered). So now, like me, he is an atheist and believes this is the only life we have.

There is life after before death.

Now that's a load of <deleted>. You do not need to believe in any religion to be a moral and good person. When I die, I will be dead. I know that, but that gives me no impulse to do harm to others, steal things, be a tw@t, etc. Look at the extremist muslims who certainly do believe in an afterlife and that killing others is a good thing and will get them a better afterlife than those who don't. Or is their god a lie, while yours is the truth? You can't have it both ways. The only way to do that would be to prove that your god exists, which you can't do. Indoctrination in religious beliefs does more harm than good.

I'll be forgotten in a few months.

Was he Italian too?

Defamation laws here are crazy. They fall under the criminal code and are used to silence others.

He taught me to work hard and save money. Stopped my pocket money for one year when I was 12 to pay for damage when I threw a stone at my brother but missed, and scratched my dad's new car instead (Austin Allegro). Told me to go and get a job, so I did - a paper round. After one year I asked for my pocket money back, but he told me I didn't need it as I was already earning money for myself. Had part-time and summer jobs until I left the UK at 19 and came here in 1982. Been here ever since.

I stayed on Samui back in 1982 and remember a number of restaurants serving magic mushroom (het kee kwai) milkshakes and omelettes on Chawaeng beach, so it appears things haven't changed that much. Thai sticks were cheap too, back when they were illegal.

I think you'll find that big pharma is making profits from drug sales regardless of where those drugs are being sold. The problem is that they are able to charge so much more in the US and get away with it. I doubt the reasoning for the higher prices in the US is to compensate for lower profits from overseas. Much more likely that they can get away with it in the US, so why not. Price gouging and perhaps more importantly abuse of the patent system resulting in the blocking of generics for much longer is rife and the number one reason for expensive prescription med prices in the US. Big Pharma is evil.

Thaksin will just say that he believed that the doctors were honest and also their diagnosis of his health. Not having studied medicine himself, he had to rely on those who had. 😉

But Farage has been clear that he will not kick out all the illegal immigrants that are already in the UK. He'll just try to stop more coming in. He won't be taking action on the grooming gangs either. He's just a gobby <deleted> who can't be trusted on anything. Having said that, Labour and Conservative are a disgrace, so what alternative is there? Another party forming? I don't see that working, just taking away votes from Reform which could result in another Conservative government.

.........interspersed with convicts and North Koreans.

That is scary if you applied based on marriage, rather than PR. I think most people applying based on marriage understand that they are not required to sing the anthems. Had that happened back during my interview, I would be screwed as I can't sing either and even if I knew the words, my singing would have been a pain to the ears of all who had to listen. On the other hand, it is my understanding that if you are applying based on PR, then whether or not you are married to a Thai, you will be required to sing the anthems.

Had that been proposed by any other person in the government, I would have thought it a good idea. However, I would not trust Anutin as far as I could throw him and on top of that, there have been a number of instances where he has come across as xenophobic (to put it sort of politely). Not really the person you would want in control of establishing a new PR and citizenship policy.

If you are going to be means tested and as a result don't qualify for a pension, then your contributions should be reimbursed. Otherwise, that would amount to theft by the state. I know they would claim that your payments also covered healthcare, but that is a bit disingenuous.

My mum retired and pegged it. Never got much chance to draw on her teachers pension or the national insurance one.

A workplace final salary pension sounds great. I would be laughing if I got that. Alas, my only pension until I hit 67 is my Thai Social Security pension of Baht 5,250/ month and my old git 600 Baht benefit. In other words, I am living off savings.

I think location plays a big role. My dad only waited two weeks for his cataract surgery.

I can't anyway. I've been here since 1982, with only a 6 month break back in the UK in 84 . I've 23 years on record (18 of which were back paid) and can only pay for the next 5 years, which will bring me to 28 years. Then I will be entitled to 184.20 quid a week according to the latest update.

I think you mean whiner.

There are ways to get around the paywall. I use one way on both my PC and smart phone.

After checking the https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record website, I learned that I could back pay 6 years. I then contacted HMRC and submitted an application to back pay. However, when I received the approval and detailed letter on amount to be back paid, I was allowed to back pay 17 years. Definitely worth it in my case. Now paying annually and only for a few more years. Definitely worth the investment in my case, as it is a great return on investment frozen or not.

And all three look like bellends. "You" are excluded.