Bredbury Blue

Thanks. I'll pass on to the wife, who's on the committee. Cheers.

Bit of upset in my moobarn. Man trying to catch red-whiskered bulbuls. Committee has requested he stop. He's told them to prove he's breaking the law or call the police otherwise leave him alone. Second person in the last few years trying to catch them. I'm in the 'not happy about it' corner. See how it develops.

...there are now 2 eggs.

I don’t know if it’s the same pair of birds who’ve had multiple nests of eggs/chicks around my garden, including in my cycling helmet that was hanging from my bike’s handlebars, but they don’t seem very adept at hiding their nests from view. This nest is right next to wear we park our car. No eggs yet. Over the years I’ve yet to see any chicks fledge - something usually comes along and eats them – so maybe this time.

Frozen UK State Pensions: A Deep Injustice — But Now There’s a Way to Change It Every year, over 450,000 British pensioners living overseas receive a UK state pension that is frozen at the rate they first received it — never increased to reflect the rising cost of living. This means many are living on less than half of today’s full UK pension, with its real value shrinking every year. 600,000 pensioners get uprated including most countries in Europe USA and a few others like Jamaica and Barbados This unfair treatment depends entirely on where you live. In the Asia-Pacific region, for example, British citizens in the Philippines receive uprated pensions — but not those in Australia or New Zealand or any other country in APAC. Why? Because the UK Government only uprates pensions in countries where there is a reciprocal agreement — often tied to trade deals. It's a cost-saving loophole — and the Government knows it's unjust. Why Now Is the Time for Action Until recently, many British citizens overseas had no right to vote in UK elections. But since January 2024, that has changed. Now, all British citizens abroad can vote, no matter how long they’ve been away. That’s why the British Overseas Voters Forum (BOVF) was formed — to unite overseas voters and ensure their voices are heard on key issues like Frozen Pensions. We’re building organised voter groups in every UK constituency to create real pressure on MPs. We know that when overseas voters speak collectively, politicians listen. Here’s What You Can Do Register to vote today at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Become a supporter of BOVF for free at bovf.org.uk. Becoming a supporter ensures your MP knows overseas voters in their constituency are watching — and demanding change. You’ll also stay updated on campaign developments and, if you choose, can get more involved. Let’s work together to end frozen pensions and bring fairness to all British citizens, no matter where they live. If you find any difficulties in registering to vote, or you just need some assistance, these two prominent Brits in Thailand will be only too happy to help if you E mail them Eric Jordan - ppieric[at]hotmail.com Ceri Weaver - ceri.weaver[at]hotmail.com.

My experience is the same: no matter how well prepared you are, they will always find something your application is lacking, indeed they don't seem to like it if you are too prepared. You just can't predict what they want that you haven't got with you / what they've changed since last year that you weren't aware of until seeing the IO. Regarding the Kor Ror 2. We were going to the Imm office for at least 15 years without even knowing such a thing existed, we just provided copies of our UK marriage certificate and the certified English-to-Thai translation that we always used no problem, then about 3 annual renewals back we were asked where's your KR2? We now get a Kor Ror 22 (for marriages outside of Thailand) every year at the local amphur.

Well worth knowing about the silent signatory, thanks for the advice. Something to check out.

The wife fills in our individual tax returns every year; she always seems to leave it to the very last day which does my head in. She said when doing my tax return this year, there was a box to tick or a pop up which she clicked to claim the allowance for me being over 65. I got a very nice cheque this morning from the tax department, which far exceeded any tax rebate I've ever received here before.

Never seen in my garden before the last 3 days, and we've lived in this house for +20 years, is a pair of, I assume pied starlings (?). Had the grass cut short and they go around the lawn digging. Very nervy birds so these are the best pictures I could get, hiding in the kitchen.

On your route in Non Bua ... Wat Tham Erawan is a must. Steps up to massive cave. Walk through cave (easy), up steps at back of cave to amazing view. On leaving Udon... Red Lotus Lake Kumphawapi ทะเลบัวแดง กุมภวาปี Get up early to be there by 9am latest. Then continue travel on to Sakon Nakhon. Slight detour off Udon to Sakon Nakhon road, but Wat Phu Tok in Bueng Kan province is well worth it. Don't believe the numpties saying there's nothing in Isaan, simply not true, and as place to visit or live as a farlang, it's definitely improved. +30 years ago visiting the wife's village near Sakon Nakhon was a bit of a chore, but the past 10 years has seen big supermarkets open, coffe shops, more decent places to stay, so now I love going. Enjoy your trip, looks a great route.

Not sure what an FTD account is, but if I understand correctly you have 2 accounts and your wife is co signature to both. How does that work? Always thought that the farlang had to have the B400k or B800k in one's own private account. Can you have a private account with a co signature? Would certainly help, if possible, on one's demise to permit the spouse access to the funds.

Any fruit we don't want we put out for the birds. Papaya, bananas, watermelon, etc. This bird found the source of the unpicked Papaya...the initial hole in the papaya made by one of our garden's resident squirrels. 20250607_094103.mp4 20250607_095526.mp4

The wife says: อะโวคาโด ไม่เอาเละ เอาเเข็งๆ Literal translation = avocados, not want soft, want hard เละ - means soft, used for fruit vegetables Google translates the wife's translation as Avocado, no, not hard ones.

My two are in their early 20s and I still provide their birth certificates IDs and they're in my photos. If one or both was unavailable for any reason and couldn't be in my photos I guess I might have to explain to the IO.

Problem visiting Neil's is parking is rubbish.

Very definitely a matter of personal prefence. I used to have mountain bike and now considering whether a road bike might be better for a bit of touring.

What kind of bike have you got? What's the spec? I ask as I'm thinking of taking up cycling again.

My choice for when I fancy steak, on the outskirts of Bkk, is Chopkeeper Bangna (close to Megabangna) or Chopkeeper Butcher & Tap Pattanakarn Excellent food, not expensive like some of those mentioned, always get a table, just nice restaurants.

People often go on about the Koel being annoying, the noisiest bird, but personally i love their sound - the sound of Southeast Asia for me. I get Koels in my garden, but the noisiest (not in decibels but persistence) for me is the common tailorbird, they never shut up morning till night.

No feedback on the health package, but the wife and I between us have had 3 surgeries in recent years at Bangkok Christian and it's a very decent hospital with excellent doctors.

I very much doubt that text about approving/signing by Employer would be seen by the Labour court as a reason not to accept your resignation so long as you gave your notice to them as stated in the contract; it's more of their administrative reason than a legal requirement. Not a nice situation to be in when your employer is difficult or threatening. If they continue to be difficult, and as you are leaving anyway, the best thing to do is advise them if they continue to be obstructive, you will go to the labour department and file a complaint against them. My experience of the labour department when I filed a complaint is that they are very pro-employee. In my case I went to file my complaint at an office which was on Rama 4 near Hualampong (don't know if its still there). My wife explained in thai my complaint (I possibly showed them my contract). I had to file a statement on a form (the official dictated to my wife in thai what to write and my wife wrote for me). I got my day in court a few months later (success).

Could you post the actual clause in YOUR contract. I'm sure it won't stand up to scrutiny. They have a clause where my notice needs to be approved by them

Bet it was hopping around and not flying.

After seeing the bird above, we drove to the Thai-Cambodian border, and just past Thailand’s narrowest point, where there's a mountain range/jungle one side of the road and the coast on the other, had a pair of toucans fly right in front of the car. Made my day! In my 4th decade here, been to many national parks, and NEVER seen toucans before. The wife (thai) had also never seen before.

Poor picture i know, but is it Indochinese roller or Indian roller. Beautiful blue under it's wings in flight. Banchuen beach, Trat.