sandyf

10 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

Every other country which has left the Empire faced the same issue and every other country got through it no problem.

Unless you know of some unique reason why Scotland could not do the same? 

Exactly. A total of 63 countries have claimed independence from the UK.

It would appear that some cannot stand the thought of having no one left to dominate.

43 minutes ago, jayboy said:

How would an independent Scotland deal with the currency issue?

 

There seem to be some huge problems whether joining the Euro (EC rules on deficit financing), remaining in Sterling (England would determine fiscal policy) or starting a new currency (international creditworthiness).

 

It is not a problem, a country does not have to be in the EU or Eurozone to use the Euro. It can be done by a monetary agreement with the EU.

https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/euro-area/euro/use-euro/euro-outside-euro-area_en

5 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Yawn. Are you still trying to sell that 51st state nonsense? Remainers are increasingly desperate for something to go wrong for the UK, so sad.

Obviously you are of the opinion that the UK did not become a target as a result of Blair getting into bed with George Bush.

I doubt the victims relatives would agree with you. Time to grow up and face the real world.

20 hours ago, baansgr said:

Thats very new...Jomtien are renowned for keeping things simple. Sounds like an inexperienced IO confusing marriage extension requirements

I had to do a map and had a home visit for a retirement extension at Sri Ratcha(Chonburi Immigration) a year ago November.

A map has to have the Thai language so the IO doing a home visit can find the way.

14 hours ago, Beggar said:

I don't understand why only Airbnb is the culprit.

Mainly ignorance, many have come to use Airbnb as a cover for all forms of accommodation advertising. Easier than condemning notices on lampposts and doors.

Bit like the old days when everyone called a vacuum cleaner a "Hoover"

21 hours ago, allencraig said:

None of this would be a problem if people could just show a little f*cking consideration toward other people. How hard is that?

 

Personally, I don't care if there are short-term renters in my condo at The Trendy—IF they could just be quiet. But that's too much to ask, especially for certain ethnic groups I've noticed.

 

I'm sick and tired and having to have a "conversation" every three days with the newcomers on either side of my condo. I'm tired of being woken up at 1am, I'm tired of doors and cabinets slamming day and night, and I'm tired of way-too-loud TV noise. 

 

This is not an AirBnB issue necessarily. It's an issue of selfish, inconsiderate, and entitled attitudes that sadly most people have and bring with them wherever they go.

 

(1111 by the way, doesn't seem to know where to refer me. They offered 1116 which is the office of "consumer protection".)

Exactly. I have been a timeshare owner for 35 years, in the early days of a development it is common practice for the developer to let out some of the units to tour operators. Same problems, anti social behaviour is nothing new and just as prevalent in other countries.

1 hour ago, steve187 said:

dream on, keep holding onto the dream of remaining, when will the remainders give up, the potential leader of the commies has

Nothing to do with dreaming, the UK will come to regret voting for the US Trumpet.

Of course unlike Blair, Bojo can take the UK to war with the will of the people.

First thing is not to panic, there is no urgency to upgrade. The reality is that you would probably find using Win 10 more difficult than the upgrade itself.

They are only withdrawing support this month, your computer is not going to stop working. I had Windows updates switched off on my Win 7 machine for long enough without any problem.

If you post a bit more info on the machine spec and the upgrade format I am sure there will be some assistance forthcoming. 

33 minutes ago, glennb6 said:

that may or may not be how the law is written, but at Jomtien office they have signs plastered all about  that if you are extending your LT visa after 10/31 you must have insurance. However their "O-A visa extension check list" they may give you at the info desk says nothing about insurance as a requirement - of course not... Oh, and having less than a full year worth of ins coverage means they will limit your extension to the length that your ins is valid for. FYI YMMV

Quite. Hidden agendas are exactly that, hidden. If for example Immigration wanted to reduce the number of long term extensions, the O-A would now be an easy target. They may well take the view that those on O-A visas should stay on those visas or convert to a Non O extension. We have seen in the past attempts to move people from marriage to retirement extensions.

Insurance for long term expats is a bit of a side issue and does not address the real problem. The drain on the Thai medical facilities is primarily down to short term visitors and until they come out with a viable solution, it will all remain a bit foggy.

19 hours ago, HHTel said:

Hey.  That's exactly what I was doing after school.  I remember it well.  The sugar had to be weighed in blue bags.  That's when I realised that sugar had a smell and weevils were common.  Don't think anyone died of it though.

The worst blue bags that I remember were those hidden in crisp packets, a bit chewy and quite unpleasant.

Sweets came in large glass jars, no problem with recycling, people seem to think that "pick & mix" is a new idea.

As you say, we all got by.

20 hours ago, Max69xl said:

So,you usually carry around a sixpack of beer? Many supermarkets in Europe have charged for plastic bags for years,but then we're talking about much bigger,thicker bags and much better quality. The type of plastic bags you got at 7/11 and Tesco are/were thin and real bad quality, actually <deleted>. I wouldn't mind pay 2 baht extra for a biodegradable normal sized bag that fits in my trash bin in the kitchen.

You have the wrong end of the stick. I agree entirely with what you say and have said so in previous posts.

The comment about the beer was in response to another poster that made out he could not survive if they stopped giving him a bag for his 10 bottles of beer.

4 hours ago, JohnThailandJohn said:

People act like this is the end of the world yet, plastic bags were only invented in the 60s and probably only common place since the 80s.

Quite.  I used to work in a shop after school and many ingredients like sugar came in sacks and we had to weigh it out into 1lb in paper bags.

Cheese came 2 large rounds in a wooden crate. That was cut up by hand with a wire and wrapped in greaseproof paper. No plastic bags or clingfilm then.

5 hours ago, smedly said:

you're not getting it are you, the cost has nothing to do with it, if we are talking supermarket shopping and a planned shop - I bring my own bag

 

one my way home from a night out is entirely different - you need something to carry stuff in - what do you suggest, going for a night out with a shopping bag ????

 

what part of "Convenience Store" are you not understanding ?

It's you that won't be getting it, for free, when your "convenience store", like many other "convenience stores" around the world, start charging for bags.

Get a box of beer and you won't have to worry about the bag.

Have a look at the Ancient City, Muang Boran, its flat and you can drive around or get a cart.

https://www.muangboranmuseum.com/en/

10 hours ago, smedly said:

seems we have a bag expert on TVF

 

I think it's safe to say we all generally agree that plastic is bad, problem is a lot of these "convenience" stores are used by customers on the hoof - used without a pre plan to use, that would account for 80% of my usage - out doing something else and drop in on my way home - try carrying 10 bottles of beer a pint of milk and a loaf without a bag

Take it you haven't been to the UK recently. They stopped giving away plastic bags along time ago, if you want one you have to pay for it, soon makes people carry their own. The cost is insignificant for your 10 bottles of beer.

8 minutes ago, saengd said:

Which can be seriously unhelpful when the turn around time turns out to be six weeks (as happened to us two years ago) and you can't really make flight/hotel reservations until the visa is issued.

Quite. One year I had to do 3 visas prior to travel, UK, Canada and Germany, made things tight.

I have always booked and paid for all flights,accommodation and insurance before making the application, and then stated quite clearly in the sponsor letter that these expenses had already been met. Returning together on the same flight goes a long way but it would be a personal decision.

4 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Shouldn't and shall not mean two very different things. 

You fill in the application and collect your supporting doc's as far in advance as you want. You then scan them or take them to VFS who will scan them for you ( 460 baht ). VFS then forward the electronic file to the visa section who decide yes or no. VFS say you 'shouldn't' submit more than 3 months prior to date of travel.

They will forward earlier if you really want to, you can add a document on the lines of submission is a bit early as we have plans for travel during the period preceeding the holiday blah blah blah.

I am quite aware of how it works thank you, but as I said it is not up to VFS, you do not go there unless you already have an appointment, which you must make before you pay for the application.

On 12/14/2019 at 8:24 AM, spidermike007 said:

The authorities here have only themselves to blame, for the massive collapse of the tourism market. I am not referring to the tens of millions who fill up the airports, and clog the streets, but bring little in the way of revenue. But rather middle class tourists, and wealthy tourists who used to frequent this nation, and have not come back for a dozen valid reasons.

Nobody is talking about a "massive collapse" in tourism, the OP is talking about a significant reduction in the Pattaya entertainment business, quite different.

"Talk about biting off the hand that feeds you." - the strength of the baht would indicate that nothing is being bitten off. Tourism is the last thing any country wants to be reliant on.

On 12/31/2019 at 2:17 PM, overherebc said:

VFS office in BKK say you shouldn't apply more than 90 days prior.

It is not really up to VFS. The application is done in stages and it can certainly be created and completed prior to the 3 month point. There is then the Declaration, Appointment and Payment to be made and one of those stages may have a time restriction, you would only find out by trial and error.

On 12/31/2019 at 3:12 PM, DannyCarlton said:

Ao Yang or Ao Nang. Don't know Ao Yang.

On the coast just north of Koh Chang.

On 12/28/2019 at 3:06 PM, FritsSikkink said:

AIRbnb is forbidden for short rentals like in more countries.

Absolute garbage. Hosts have been making false statements to Airbnb and bringing the service into disrepute.

9 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

Girls getting naked in the bar and seriously interacting with the customers is the new beer bar.

You mean like it was before mobile phones came along.

The biggest bar complexes have had serious interaction with a bulldozer.

10 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

I have. Recently Phuket and Hua Hin are even more dead than Pattaya.

I went down to Ao Yang at the weekend. Been going there over 10 years and when I first went it was like the back of beyond, not a hotel in sight. Now several to choose from and the road signs are all in English with many indicating tourist attractions. Caucasian tourists have been on the increase year in year out, just one little coastal area doing it's bit.

As it happens the guy in the room next to us was English, a cyclist, had come from Bangkok and was heading off to Koh Chang. He was then planning to cycle through Cambodia and Vietnam up to Hanoi, bit of a challenge, and a different kind of tourist.

2 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

Not 9 years, 2 at the most, and saying that it was due to "behaviour" is a nonsense. Chicken and egg. IMO, farangs stopped coming (mostly exchange rate) and TAT shifted it's desired demographic as a result.

Have to agree to disagree on that, the old TAT statements will be around somewhere.

Been around Pattaya for over 20 years and seen it change, both good and bad, the roads are busier and the bars are quieter.

11 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said:

The news coming from the ground and concerning Phuket, Hua hin, Koh Samui and Chiang mai doesn't seem to be very good with a massive fall in the money generated by the tourism,

so what are the other areas expending their business? Bangkok? 

Or are you by any chance working for TAT?

Or at least lured by the ''officials'' datas about the numbers of arrivals?

You really ought to get out and about a bit more.