Bredbury Blue

We used to have a full Truevisions but since our lads are away at Uni we have downgraded to a basic Truevisions package with the football add on - we only use it to watch CL (and PL in previous seasons). Wife says the whole package is b300. Pop in to a True/Truevisions office to sort it out. We recently subscribed for one month to try out Monomax so we can watch the PL. Its OK. Seems to buffer sometimes and we can only get Thai commentary (don't know if English commentary is available). We will take out a 1 year subscription.

Wouldn't it be great if somebody with clout (newspaper, legal firm, embassy) championed on behalf of all people here on a Retirement visa and banking with Bangkok Bank, and got the Bangkok Bank to explain what it is doing and challenge the bank's legal right to be freezing retirees Bank accounts, and also interview the chief of immigration for their take on is this a immigration policy that BKK Bank is applying and is it necessary. Doesn't Asean Now have a link to such a media outlet, Taiger is it called?

Of course they can implement it. People not resident at the address of their bluebook can be tracked (RD and SocialSecurity both have officers who investigate). They will likely be on a relatives blue book (we have two of my wife's relatives on our blue book that don't live here); RD can pay a visit. They will likely have a phone account, bank account, social security number, etc. There may be some that slip through the gaps, but the majority will be in RD's net. How will the illiterate do a tax return (online or paper form version)? Same way my mother-in-law and brother-in-law deal with bureaucracy; they go see the phu yai baan in the village for help, or they could go to the local RD in the district for help. Will the thais all do a tax return. That depends on the individual and how the RD will police it. Some in my wife's family would probably do a tax return if they thought they must, others I know wouldn't. I don't know thais you say. In my 4th decade here, married to a thai for 3 decades, familiar with her family in bkk and the rice farmers relatives in their isaan village, I employ thais, i do tax returns and have been to RD office many times.

The wife does both of our tax returns. It's possible to implement, but I'm not sure my wife's relatives in the village will know they have to do it, have the nouce to do it, and will be arsed to do it.

Every thai is on a blue book. Every thai has an ID number. Tax return form is online. Therefore possible to implement.

HDPrime is still active. 1. Download 'Telegram' app (similar to Line and WhatsApp). 2. You can contact them at "@hdprime". They will give you their bank details. 3. Transfer the amount to their bank account. 4. Contact them on Telegram to ask them to credit your account (send them screenshot of the payment transfer).

Just tried listening to Radio 6. Craig Charles was on, so listening live is OK but I like to listen to programmes of the previous week while I'm working so seems I'm limited to live shows only (no catch-up or downloading shows). Very disappointing. Can't really see the point of turning off BBC Sounds for people outside UK. More crap developments in the UK.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250207-bbc-podcasts-are-now-available-on-the-bbc-website-and-app

I was on a lunchtime EVA flight BKK to Taipei last year. Plane moved from the gate maybe 200m and then parked on the taxiway due to problem. Sat on the plane for 2 hours while they checked a problem, finally we all had to go back to the departure gate on buses. Then it was chaotic while the flight staff arranged for each person to go to one hotel in Bkk. I live local so I asked could I go home (I only had carry on baggage), they agreed and told me I had to back at checkin desk the next day at 4 am. We were all marched in batches to the VIP/Fast Track immigration entry. I went home (WITH my passport). All the others collected their baggage and went to the hotel on coaches and back to Suvarnabhumi on coaches the next day. Next morning I went back to Suvarnabhumi at 4am. Check-in again, security, immigration, etc. (they stamped my departure stamp VOID on the 1st day to show I didn't leave Thailand that day). We had a new plane on the 2nd day to Taipei (plane with problem was still parked). So handing over passports wasn't a requirement.

The pair visit every time we cut the grass, for just one day, poking around, making lots of holes in the turf, successfully searching for worms.

CORRECT!

Back in the 90s, when I used to pop in for a swift half, it used to play the best music down the 'Pong.

To be a Thailand old hand you need to know Trink's favourite brand of beef stew.

Nothing too unusual about that. Cities hold air-raid drills, everyone is to know where their air-raid shelter is located, mine for a period was the underground carpark a few 100 metres from the hotel I was staying.

Agreed, and the IO will usually remind you on entry that your visa will expire soon.

My favourite province. Sounds a great trip. I've driven to all those places except these two: 1. Kanchanaburi Sinakharin Reservoir Loop. Doable by car, or only bike? 2. Road up to Pilok. Decent road? Your trip is a reminder i must make the effort to return to Sangkhlaburi, lovely place, like nowhere else in Thailand.

Went out the house Tuesday, still unhatched eggs and bird sitting on eggs. Came back, no eggs. Over the years we've had many bulbul nests with eggs and chicks, and not once have we seen them fully fledge, something always comes along and has them (golden tree snakes maybe, see them alot).

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.