Patong2

Hi Mark WINZ and the Customs share information and they know when I depart and when I re-enter and my wife and I have to notify them how long we are out of NZ etc. We notify them religiously and inform them of the reasons etc why we are out of the country and before we leave. Never had a problem. If you want super you must apply before you leave the country and if you are going for an extended period you must satisfy their criteria. Get it sorted and play by their rules or you will be in the terrible situation of being stuck overseas being denied income, to which you are entitled, but you failed to file the paperwork and fulfil the residency requirements. Good luck

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had a new Honda HRV done 2 years ago at Honda. I feel it is really worthwhile, keeps looking like new and a shower of rain seems to take all the grime away. Cannot remember the cost but included 4 retouches 6 months apart. Get a lot of salt/sand grime from Patong Beach every day and we use the car every day.

A fair and reasonable government would ensure the compensation claims from the Post Office scandal should be paid out long before any consideration of a claim by this terrorist. British Justice was the paragon standard that the rest of the world aspired to. The lawyers, the consultant lawyers and the executives and investigative staff of the Post Office and Royal Mail has besmirched the reputation of the entire legal system. This is the issue that needs to be finalised now, not some technical issue with a signature.

Just had a look on Google and food looks delicious. Definitely try it in the next few days. Thank you

Those baguettes at Chez Nous are worth the drive down from Patong. We regularly go down and enjoy an afternoon meal, delightful staff. Got caught in the traffic for the King's Regatta at Kata last night on our way down. Took an hour to get through but well worth the wait as we went to Le Celtique and we again shared a deep fried, breaded Goat cheese as an entree and that is an absolute delight. Our main meals were just as excellent. We are so spoilt with great food and restaurants on Phuket with some really nice staff.

Thanks everybody for your help I thought Big C was still opening at 10 or 11am so I will try at 9am I think i can exist till then for the pleasure of a fresh baked baguette. Going to try freezing the half baguettes, ideal with garlic butter smeared on them.

Anyone know of a shop/bakery, in Patong, that has fresh crusty baguettes and is open, say from 8am or earlier? Just love a good baguette and cheese with a morning coffee.

The interview want to see is Hilary Clinton Perhaps a "The View" special for her?

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Interesting take, especially the comment of recent migrants retaining immediate contact with their "roots" by internet/phone and not being thrust into the new community as were migrants say 50 years ago.

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The raid by the NZ Police on DotComs mansion left many of us aghast in NZ. The raid was probably the biggest misuse of Police Assets we have ever seen. There had been no threat articulated by DotCom to anyone and when, in Auckland, we are unable to get Police to respond in a timely manner to assaults, burglaries and rapes it is unfathomable. Why such a waste of resources for a "financial" crime which occurred in another country? What was offered to the NZ Police to stage this assault and who offered it? As for DotCom? the crime appears to be more of a civil matter so I really wouldn't my taxes wasted on his legal battles to stay in NZ.

Sorry to see the problems you are having Xylophone. We have had our share of mobility problems too and it definitely gives you cause to consider whether Patong is the best place to be. Are in New Zealand for the past two weeks and already finding it cold (8C as I write this) and boring. Stuck here for treatment for at least another 8 weeks and it is certainly not a long term option for us. We will be happy when we get back to Patong. The thing with Patong is there is such a variety of things that are interesting, challenging and even still exciting (if you find it still exciting to look at attractive women who dress to be looked at). A walk at 6am along the beach is equal to anywhere in the world. Supermarketing, restaurants and cheap eats are available easily. We eat at many restaurants around the island and because of my wife's limited mobility choose places we can park close to the venue. Lots of choice of so many different tastes. A short walk down to Soi Sansabai and you can have a ringside seat and a good meal at Summer Breeze or The Yorkshire and others, to a constant parade of, dare I say it, the good bad and the ugly up and down the street for as long as you like. Having spent periods of time living in places like Ko Khaeo and Cherngtalay, we just find them too quiet for our liking. Nice to visit but not to stay long term. Patong ain't what it used to be, but it is still pretty darn good.

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As a New Zealander I care about the USA as we enjoy travelling there often. In 2018 we travelled from California to Nevada, Utah, Idaho, South Dakota,Wyoming, Montana, then down through Colorado New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. A trip we have done several years in a row. The difference in 2018 was that the small towns, instead of dying, were thriving. Talking to the American folks in those small towns they were ecstatic over the turnaround Trump had made to their local economies. the difference between Obama's job policy and Trumps was glaringly obvious. I like most Americans and love their country and want them to prosper and continue to play world policeman as they are better than the other choices.

I thought Eric's post was dripping sarcasm. Surely it was.

Glad to see you getting out and coming back to normal. There is definitely lower numbers in Patong than the last few weeks. Traffic and pedestrians show that. The piers for the cruise boats have gone and so have all the boat tenders to bring the passengers on shore. Looks a little bare up that end now. Still lots of crazy driving and I avoided a head on coming back to Patong on Friday night. Two crowded lanes of traffic heading up the hill and a lunatic pulled out on the blind corner and overtook as I was coming sedately down the other side. Completely on my side of the road and unusually I had nothing beside me so managed to squeeze off to the left and he missed by a hairsbreadth. We never miss honking the horn for luck at the temple at the top. With Patong Hill you need all the help you can get and something has managed to save us for many years. During the day I was pulled in at Kathu at the police check and the cop actually had a careful look at my Thai licence for the first time ever. As my wife is having temporary mobility problems we have been eating at restaurants that we can park very close to and in Patong there is not that many. Last night we felt like something different and went down to a Kazakhstan restaurant in Chalong. Great decor and it was very busy with only traditional Kazakstani dishes which are very meat based. Generous portions and good service. I think nearly everyone other than us were Russian and some of the ladies were very smartly dressed. Have enjoyed both the tiny Mexican Taco place and also Le Bistrot at the south end of Nanai Rd a few times but have lost my easy parking at Santorini now the Hotel opposite has reopened. Shame because I enjoy the Greek food. Looking forward to a quieter time for a few months.

So you can't have elephant rides or play with them on the beach anymore? So how is 500lb of daily feed goingb to be paid for? What happens to the elephants here now? Do you want to see "elephants steaks"on the menu boards? Be careful what you wish for

If I recall at the time, the difference between an RS which had to have a sunroof and the EL without sunroof was about a B100,000 and I felt paying extra for something which we have already found a problem and actually never used, in previous cars NZ was not a good idea. By the way, we reluctantly agreed to some coating which had to be a applied 4 times, 6 months apart. It has actually been very effective and definitely keeps the car sparkling and rarely does dirt accumulate. Our car is pearl white colour.