TorquayFan

Empty - please read the post again. I think it's quite clear. Hamas' brutal Oct 7 was appalling and inhuman and Israel's counter action equally so - many Israeli too hold that view. The almost total destruction of Gaza and what's happened on the West Bank since, is a crying shame. It's possible to be anti-Israel with being anti-semitic one jot. It's not about sides and were the participants Catholic, Muslim, Christian, I would write the same . . . .

Yes of course - why not ?? It's right to deplore and work against anti-semitism but the process would be a lot easier if we can all acknowledge that it is possible to be anti-Israel without being anti-semitic one jot ! Personally I am disgusted by the actions of the Netanyahu Govt. but I am not anti-semitic at all. It IS possible. And that's not to defend Hamas at all !

Good riddance to the Duke of York ! Undoubtedly he is a grade 1 sleazebag and should not be part of public life anymore. (Tug - I understand Andrew is no longer part of the 'civil list' and is self funded). But undoubtedly Andrew should now move from Royal Lodge to Frogmore Cottage, (Harry's place), a move the King has long been mooting for. No doubt the release of the Epstein files will heap more disgrace on Andrew but that said, as far as the ongoing chatter about the Giuffre saga, (R.I.P.), she was after all, 17 at the time, and seemed to be enjoying the high life she had chosen, before her later regrets and moneygrabbing exploits.

Inevitable - good riddance. Time for Andrew to show humility and relinquish his residence at Royal Lodge and move to Frogmore Corrage, as suggested by the King. Undoubtedly Andrew is a total sleazebag and there is likely to be much more to come ! But regarding the Giuffre saga, she was after all, 17 and she (R.I.P.) was no doubt enjoying the high life she was living, before she later had regrets and pursued her money grabbing enterprise.

The coming release of the Hamas hostages will be a great moment and thank God for that ! Trump already bathes greedily in the joy of this event but it may be time to reflect . . . . . . After all, Trump claimed the power to end the Ukraine conflict on Day 1 of his Presidency - if only. He never had that power - those were empty words from this habitual braggart. But Trump and the USA did have much MORE chance of affecting the Gaza situation quickly. IMO the only reason that we now have some sort of fragile 'peace' agreement in Gaza is that Israel has already achieved all that it wanted. Trump has been played along and fooled yet again, (as with Putin). 1. Gaza's housing and infrastructure is comprehensively destroyed and the territory is so damaged it seems impossible for the Palestinians to sustain any kind of reasonable existence there in the future. 2. Under cover of the Gaza war, the stability of the West Bank has been systematically undermined by the Israeli military and the settlers. 3. It seems to have been accepted that the he 'two-state' solution will not be pursued. I've been nauseated this weekend to see the UK media's obeisance to the braggart. Trump's 'achievement' is seen in the rubble of Gaza. Not to excuse Biden's part in this, but Trump is your Day 1 man !!! So Donald - what took you so long !!

Yellow - fact is that Starmer is an accomplished legal professional unlike Trump who is an accomplished criminal and a genetic lawbreaker. Give Starmer some allowance - running the UK is an almost impossible job atm. I'll leave you to attend to Trump as you describe.

As a Brit, I find Starmer's obeisance to the idiot Trump, unsettling to say the least. I'm sure that Starmer hates being in this position too. I only hope Starmer has the consolation of being able to influence the USA's wacky President - if only just a little. Under the 'care' of Trump, God help Gaza ! And for that matter, the West Bank.

Yagoda - "Guess you are just keeping the jew hate algorythym going". No Sir ! There is no algorithm. Anti-Israel sentiment is based on the behaviour of Israel itself. As it happens many of the Jewish faith are deeply ashamed of the merciless and brutal Netanyahu regime. Harris Fan - "Don't start wars if you don't want to get levelled". Winning a war is the important bit - the 'levelling' is simply an indulgence. And as for the 2000 years, time we did better then !

Angry Guy - you may not have noticed but Donald Trump is now President of the USA.

Amidst all Trump's bullying, the Nobel laureate didn't come his way - good - the very idea is bald faced idiocy. Gaza lies in ruins, Palestinians has nowhere to live and tens of thousands of lives have been lost over the last 2 years. Trump has been in office for many months and has patently failed to stand up at any time to the ruthless Netanyahu. Had Trump used his massive power early on in his term, things would be much better now. Yes Hamas deserved everything they got but Israel has opportunistically exploited the (undeniable) grievance, (both in Gaza and the West Bank).. Anti-semitism should have no place in the debate but anti-Israel sentiment is now rife across the World. As for other Trump 'peacemaking' claims around the World - a puff of wind. His attitude to Zelensky and Ukraine has been shameful throughout. The Nobel Committee should declare that candidates will be disqualified for consideration if they lobby for themselves.

Just to add that I had already registered my Thai accounts with my renewed passport details etc.

Thanks Oink.

Proton - I see your point but I think Oink means 'extension' when he writes 'visa'. A new question. I've just returned from the UK where I renewed my own passport - (nice to have a blue one again!). My extension will be in Jan 2026 before I go back to the UK in May. It seems unnnecessary to transfer the 2025 extension from the old passport as I will have a 2026 extension by then? Agreed? Anyone? Thanks

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm back in Thailand now. I visited BKK Bank this morning and believe I know why I had the problem. I renewed my passport, (whilst away in the UK) and of course, the renewed passport has a different number. However, IMO the different number was not the problem. AFAIK, Wise don't ask for a passport no. anyway ?? BUT, BKK Bank have a passport number and an expiry date - so when Wise sent the number, in effect, BKK Bank didn't have an up to date record and rejected the money. BKK Bank have now got my new passport details and have issued me with a new passbook, (same ATM card though), Hopefully, my transfer from Wise will arrive today, now the records have been updated. A palaver as usual with so many papers at the Bank. Quite how one copes with this if still out of Thailand, I have no idea, There it is, ATB

YES !!!

Banana - passport renewed but no other changes. The BKK a/c is still active. PPGuy - I've tried 6 times over 2 weeks. Have used the 'send again' function too. Confident I can resolve this ok when I get back to Th. in 10 days time. Thanks all.

OJAS thanks - that may be the problem . . . is it possible to register a new passport no. (renewal), to the SIM card online ? Anyone ?

NoDisplay - I've had no similar from Wise myself. But thanks. OJAS - I think it's probably unrelated - I did register my SIM years ago but you never know. I'll bear it in mind when I visit BKK in a couple of weeks. ATB

Thanks all for the replies . . . . Farmer thanks, I should be ok on all those points. I'll try that phone no. next week, again, (after speaking to BKK London, they gave me that no. but I was met with a blank tone). Hey one disadvantage of the situation, Wise take up to 10 days to return the funds sent, (£1,500). By the time I get that I'll be in Thailand. Generally Wise are brilliant, (in my experience) - this one is down to BKK Bank ! Good to hear the different experiences and thanks again.

I'm in the UK atm but returning to Thailand this month. I tried in the normal way, to transfer some funds to BKK Bank, via Wise as usual. THB 60,000 has been returned 4/5 times by BKK Bank on the grounds that the details were 'different'. BUT, they are NOT - I have made this transfer before at least 30 times. Nothing has changed. Everything is correct. Probably best that I sort this out after my return but any ideas ? I wonder what is going on ?

What's that about ? If you make it on your own you don't have a Father, (or Mother) any more ? Leave 'em to it I say. It's Family stuff . . . . .

The thread has meandered at best. Here's a headline and a line drom the DT today that makes sense to me :- "Comparing Farage and Trump to Hitler is the mark of a moron". . . . . "Extraordinary, isn’t it? Trump’s foes are hardly short of things they could attack him on. From his approach to Ukraine to the chaos caused by his tariffs on free trade, there are countless criticisms of Trump that are perfectly reasonable and legitimate. Yet these nitwits have chosen just about the only one that isn’t." Enjoy https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/10/comparing-farage-and-trump-to-hitler-is-the-mark-of-a-moron/

Trump to most balanced people, right or left, is a deluded, incompetent, sleazebag, megalomaniac criminal, but to call him 'Hitler' is an exaggeration.

Thanks for the replies. Beast of Bodmin - I'm guessing Milliband's time will come. Andrew 65 - fair enough, but IMO you are wrong. Different parties pursue different policies which may make your lot better or worse e.g. Labour HAVE increased the minimum wage which helps you presumably. Cyclist - all Parties say they are 'ready to go' with changes. It would be better if all of them acknowledged the UK's financial plight and presented us with different ways of tackling it - so we are all then ready for the inescapable cuts to benefits and increases to taxes, without the bull. Avinalaff - well I daresay that something somewhere had to go - wherever is targeted, the disappointment is understandable. Thus the discontent. Prepare for more, whatever Govt. is in place. If you think it's kid's stuff - have a go yourself ! In your next - "spinning faster than a Superstar DJ's mixing decks". MMMmmm. A wild exaggeration. As for the ECHR, I'm guessing that as in most things Europe, the UK will be unable to change things for the better and that we will in fact, leave ! Hopefully. Knocker - aptly named. Starmer was as you know, Director of Public Prosecutions for some years and a considerable figure in the legal world. Sorry to ask, but what did you do ? Throw insults for a living ? One point - Starmer has done well playing the Trump card - well done to him on that. Mikey - really ? Actually Mahmoud has a reputation as a 'hard liner' on the subject of immigration, (which is good to know). Cyclist - lack of judgement ? You can do better can you? Things move on and change - maybe he made a good call at the time. Andrew - yes there is always a late rush. My own opinion is we should turnaround the boats as they leave French waters, (not pick 'em up and bring them here FGS). Only something that radical will work . . . . I'm done for now. ATB

Well we are all entitled to our opinions but anti-incumbent kneejerks need to be resisted - it's too easy and if you have the nous to do any better, then get on with it ! I notice that the most virulent critics often take a pride in NOT voting or never having voted. See how that turns out ! It's undeniable that this Labour Govt have made grievous errors - the ERNI increase, the Chagos deal, extra employee rights etc. Let's remember, Labour took over a deep founded poisoned chalice, (putting it mildly). Last time I did a 'per head' calculation of the 'National Debt', it showed Govt. overspending of nearly £50K per head, (all to make the disfunctional. entitled and in some ways gutless nation we have now). To pretend this is the fault of Starmer and Co. is easy meat for the moaners but Brits need to get behind someone and pull together. Reform are a joke, and vote for them if you dare. Farage is a puff of wind, (though likeable), and just won't cope at all IMO. Reeve's (?) coming Budget will not be radical enough or face up to the depth of the UK problems, yet there will be howls of horror from everywhere. Good Luck UK !