sandyf

Your entitled to your opinion but i would suggest that is biased as it worked out for you. I wore variofocal glasses for decades and a couple of times they didn't get it right and had to have the glasses replaced. When i was measured for the lens i was offered monofocal or variofocal and had no hesitation on rejecting the variofocal. Changing glasses is relatively easy. My opinion is no doubt biased from historical experience, it is up to each to make a judgement call. It is coming up for 6 years now since I had mine done and have only ever needed glasses for labels in the supermarket, can't see that I have lost a great deal in rejecting the variofocal.

You are free to think what you like.

Unfortunately you have to be a bit careful when there is talk of e-visa as context means everything. There is a system that allows some visa status extensions to be done online but the term "E-Extension" has been distorted to "VFS e-visa", the online application is currently handled by VFS. https://miceoss.tceb.or.th/en/the-service-for-extending-thailand-visas-for-foreigners-can-be-done-online-through-thailand-visa-e-extension/ This is completely different to the global e-visa system implemented by the MFA and now in use at neighbouring countries. https://www.thaievisa.go.th/

Very difficult to get a good nights sleep in a carriage full of drunks or on drugs. When ever possible I try and go first class, with your own compartment problems disappear. Usually someone will knock on the door and ask if you want anything to drink, I am well prepared but a cold beer goes down well.

No, I mean all trains. I travel from Sheffield to Forres and usually try and get the LNR to Aberdeen as they allow alcohol. However timing invariably means I have to get Scotrail via Inverness back to Edinburgh. Being fairly early in the morning the alcohol ban is not a problem, in Edinburgh by lunchtime and back on to LNR or Cross Country.

Thailand is not unique in this regard, but probably unique with a more comfortable journey. I was on a UK train back in Oct and most of the carriage was half cut and extremely noisy, not the best way to travel. i enjoy my drink on the Thai trains but do it with respect for others.

Quite. I travelled on the trains several times following the rape and it wasn't difficult to have a drink if you were discrete. The only ones I saw being challenged and penalised were those, obviously intoxicated, being a public nuisance. I suspect many SA comments are from those that have never been on a train.

Scotrail do not allow alcohol on their trains.

We should be so lucky.

You would need to explain to me how the framework for tiles can be less work than this. Don't the tile supports have to be square? As for cost, your are having a laugh.

What past experiences would that be. When Thailand was changing the regulations every month, it was virtually overnight.

That would surprise me as I cannot see that method being cheaper than the way mine was done with the large sheets of plasterboard. Also a lot more work involved putting up the suspension framework for the tiles. I can only see a preference if the patterned ceiling was wanted. The other thing is the tile method i have seen does give access to the roof space which may be a requirement. However I seen some where the tiles and framework are not a good fit which over here is not very desireable. Obviously the method is still available, but I have not seen it in any of the builders merchants I use.

When I said a letter I meant by registered snail mail, there would be a much higher chance of a response. I would also suggest you include a copy of letter from the British Army. I would think that the most likely outcome is a deferral, like a student, with the possibility of an exemption once some time has been served in the British Army.

You have taken the statement out of context, the term embassy merely indicated representation. There are several countries with only one embassy but many consulates. In some countries there is no embassy but have a consulate making consular services the only role from representation. The very first British Consulate was in Bangkok, that also handled trade and diplomatic relations with Siam.

One swallow does not a summer make. Consular Services were the backbone of UK embassies but the UK government never made consular assistance a legal right, it is purely discretionary, and is now using that to run down the services available. By promoting the myth that the embassy was never there to help will deminish any incentive or campaign to to put that right. Introducing a legal right to consular assistance would not only benefit British nationals who find themselves in dire circumstances while traveling abroad. It would benefit the British State by offering a structured approach for protection of its nationals, and would ensure that British values are respected, even beyond our borders. It would also represent a real opportunity for the UK to show leadership and reinforce its standing on the world stage, and would likely deliver economic benefits due to the increased sense of security that would encourage international travel and commerce. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://redress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Principles-for-a-Legal-Right-to-Consular-Assistance.pdf

I believe any deferral or exemption needs to be done in the country where such exemption or deferral would take place and your son will be, not where he is, which would mean the London Embassy. Normally military service would only be required once so the request based on UK military service has every chance of being granted. Just a question of the right channels. I would suggest a letter to the UK embassy with a copy to the Thai conscription office and see what transpires. every chance if you chase the Indian embassy they will refer you to London.

When overseas passports were transferred from the FCO to the Passport Office with the function being sub contracted to VFS.

You are wrong. Consular services was the first role of the UK embassy, trade and diplomacy came later. The fact that the government has reduced the significance of consular services does not take away the importance of the role and people like you only contribute towards the demise.

How long ago? I got caught up in the passport fiasco in 2014 and had to turn to the embassy for help. They responded promptly and saved the day, but that was before the Consular Section was reduced in size.

The role of the UK Embassy Consular Section is to assist UK nationals in that particular country. "The Consular Service is the part of the UK Government to which British nationals turn when they encounter serious problems overseas: from lost passports to kidnapping, detention or death. The Consular Service also has a role in the event of a crisis abroad and may arrange evacuation “in extreme and rare circumstances” for British nationals." https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2024-0075/#:~:text=The Consular Service is the,to kidnapping%2C detention or death.

That is a rubbish statement. The term "whiskey" should be used if produced in a column still, the term "whisky" should only be used if produced in a pot still in Scotland. Many countries make whiskey in column stills, including Scotland.

In 2018 the more experienced consular staff were transferred to India when they dispensed with visa processing at the embassy. From what I heard in the early days the majority of the remaining consular staff were Thai employees, not sure if that still the case.

The DWP use an intermediary bank to make the pension payments which are then done via an account with the BOT. The intermediary bank buys THB in bulk from the BOT which is then paid out to local accounts via Bahtnet. The bulk buying means you get a favourable rate on your pension.

When I got my card the procedure was to make a cash withdrawal at an ATM before the card could be used for anything else. Bit surprised they changed from that.

I think you would struggle to find them now. It is 15 years since I had my suspended ceiling done and they used sheet to do it, think it is 6mm. May well be cement board.