sandyf

Believe it or not, but there are several different circumstances that apply to pensioners in Thailand. From what you said, it is quite likely that he benefitted from a discriminatory policy within the state pension arrangement, losing much less than those in other circumstances.

You are wrong, it has not been that way for more than 70 years. Reciprocal agreements are nothing more than a government smokescreen to cover up incompetance and legalised fraud. Who decides if there should be a reciprocal agreement or not? When brexit came along the reciprocal agreement with the EU came to an end, what happened? The government claim the policy has been successfully challenged in court, that is a distortion of the facts. The 2002 court case was brought about under human rights legislation, the policy has never been challenged in court under current equality laws. The government published the equality act and dealt with the fallout as it arose, the trans community probably the most notable. The problem with frozen pensioners is that they are not in the UK, spread around the world with no unified voice and the government relies on the unlikelyhood of a legal challenge. Also a large percentage of the UK population has benefitted significantly from state pension discrimination so they will tend to defend the government position. Only last week in one of the annual events MPs from across the political spectrum quite rightly vocalised their praise and gratitude to the armed forces. Every year when the Social Security Act comes before parliament those hypocrites vote for an arrangement that denies military veterans a full state pension. Over the years there has been attempts during the debate to address the discriminatory policy, but that has been suppressed by the government of the day. In 2019 the Labour Party stated the discrimination was unacceptable and gave their support to the APPG recomendations and included proposed changes in their manifesto. Now in power they now believe the discrimination is no longer unacceptable, and like yourself and others quite happy to continue the perpretation.

Obviously you believe historical precedence justifies discrimination. RR wouldn't be allowed to vote, far less have a job in government, if a long standing arrangement hadn't been overturned. In the 2019 Labour party manifesto on page 76 they pledged to equalise overseas pensions. It would appear that the discrimination can only be seen by Labour when in opposition.

The ignorance surrounding the UK state pension never ceases to amaze. I doubt you are even aware of the policy changes that took place in 1961 and 1975, then overturned in 2016.

Distorted post. Title refers to State pension and text goes on about investment returns. The state pension is a pay-as-you-go arrangement that was intended to be funded from NI contibutions. The government shot themselves in the foot through misappropriation of NI and now have to fund the shortfall from income tax.

A lot depends on where you are staying, you cannot rely on getting transport later on. One year we made the mistake of staying in a hotel on north road and going to Sailor Bar, they used to put on a variety show but just music now, We couldn't get a taxi back, all full up from the pier, ended up on a motorbike. Last year a friend of mine said the beach between Soi 13 and Walking Street was relatively quiet and the north end around the Holiday Inn is usually quite free. The larger hotels in that area tend to include dinner and show on NY so customers stay inside. With children I would strongly recommend you stay away from the Walking Street entrance and the beach around the Pattaya Klang junction. If you go to New Plaza leave early, the crowd will start moving about 11pm.

Back in 2005 I dropped phone in taxi on way to the airport. Following morning sat by a pool in HCMC my then girlfriend took a call. It was the taxi driver calling the last number called on the phone. Reunited with the phone a few weeks later, not sure if Mr T's taxis are still on the go.

I has varied over the years with fireworks being the main event. Beach parties were a popular thing and there used to be a variety of bars with shows but not so much these days. There is now a fairly large music event held in New Plaza as well as the music event at Bali Hai Pier, that is not for the faint hearted, extremely crowded. Covid brought it all to a halt and we went to Koh Chang in 2021 and 22 which was more open. Last year was the first fully open NY since covid and the crowds on the beach in Soi 8 area were horrendous, All those from New Plaza had just poured down Soi 8 on to the beach, best to avoid that part of the beach. The official fireworks are done at Bali Hai but there are fireworks going off all around, mainly from the big hotels. If you are tempted to view from a rooftop bar, be warned they keep the numbers down with highly inflated prices. This was Pattaya beach about 10.30pm on New Years Eve 2020.

I was 13K to have a BCC removed from my ear at a government hospital last year. Surgeon did an excellent job but Bang Saen probably a bit far for you.

Thread title is about relative prices, not marital status. Generally Bangkok has always been more expensive than the Pattaya area, but on saying that I can only go back 25 years, may have been different in the days of R&R.

Agreed. Easy to pick a few things in a particular area that may be cheaper but take a good cross section from across both and you will see a big difference.

Are you really trying to say that out of the whole US population that only a duck under investigation could stand up for the Republican point of view. The whole fiasco is a bit like a horse race where the winner doesn't have to take a dope test.

It would appear there is some DOJ policy of not prosecuting sitting presidents. Maybe Trump put it in place last time round.

Indeed, big time. The DOJ are now looking to drop the outstanding charges against him. Who does that make sense to?

Could be regional. I have done the online after re-entry many times but this year(Sept) the online was rejected with a message to say first application after re-entry is to be done in person. Bit of a pain as my extension being a first on a new visa was also a 90 day, so effectively a report in person. Problem probably that it was done in the room next door.

Indeed. Who would have thought the American people would become the most powerful weapon in the BRICS arsenal.

Indeed, my nephew, just 18, witnessed that money being spent on his best friend. The pilot hid behind the government skirts and has never been named, the families are still waiting for justice to this day. Meanwhile, Pte Neil Donald, 18, from Forres, sent a letter back home from the front line and suggested to relatives that he could be involved in close fighting. Sickeningly, he did not die at the hands of Iraqi fighters but from an allied attack on its own troops. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/past-times/2928943/poignant-last-letters-of-brave-young-highland-soldiers-killed-in-the-gulf-war/

Fairly obvious Americans don't care about anyone other than themselves, something the world is beginning to realise.

I asked the question and don't need any more info. Maybe the admin can transfer the notifications to you.

Not according to the keyboard warriors, but as far as they are concerned nobody can do anything right in Thailand. Like everywhere else there is good and bad and the electrician we use is excellent, far neater and more logical than you see in the UK. Bodgit & Scarper are very well known in the west. I suspect there is more to this than the media have indicated.

Yes there has been a lot of new developments go up since I first came. Mikes was about the only one in the old days and they had no toilets on the ground floor.

How can a country that claims to be the most advanced in the world start shouting election fraud every 4 years. The world shakes it's head in amazement.

When I first came to Thailand in 1999 toilets were a lot scarcer and more disgusting than they are now. I spent some time looking around hotels asking prices and using the toilet, whether necessary or not. When out and about if nature called could just walk straight into a hotel knowing where to go.

The OP was resolved back in January, would think it is time to close the thread.

You are right in one respect, no country is a dictator, only the people in charge. Both the US and European countries have had dictators in their history, and the US may well be in line for another.