TorquayFan

For many years I've enjoyed sausages from KORAT CHEF I believe they make their own . . . https://www.koratchef.com/ https://www.koratchef.com/product-category/fresh-frozen-goods/steak-and-meats/sausages-bacon/

A Friend's experience - a few weeks ago, after 50 years with Barclays, he queried by email the non-arrival of his new debit card, and received this circular in return https://www.barclays.co.uk/important-information/living-outside-the-uk/#EEAresidents And that was that !! I note that such closures apply to the credit card, current a/c, savings a/c, ISA, Home insurance, Bonds/deposits and loans. A shocker all round.

Brewster - re. your Lloyds Manager - that's reassuring of course. But the Bank can change it's policy as we are seeing from time to time. Good luck though.

Absolutely Brewster ! Fortunately I did just that . . . . But the Bank could still 'spot' you were not UK resident from the activity on the account - that's what worries me.

OK thanks EFF. Nevertheless, being in the paper again today, I guess it's an ongoing policy. Quite alarming IMO

I think the oil has been changed before but I can't remember the last time. OK so that's an oil change and check the clutch adjustment. Any other thoughts welcome ! Thanks.

I noticed this in the DT today. "Expats who bank with Barclays are to be stripped of their accounts in a move that could leave some customers unable to access their savings and pensions. British people living abroad will no longer be able to hold a Barclays UK current or savings account, the lender said. The bank began a review of its international offerings in 2021 and is now writing to customers with a six-month warning" . . . . . . . . "Professor David Barker, 89, said he set up his Barclays account more than 60 years ago, when he lived in Surbiton in Greater London, and that he moved with his wife Catherine to Australia in 1988. He uses the account to collect his English pensions and book royalties, as well as to pay direct debits to the Royal Artillery Club and two Cambridge colleges, on top of charitable donations and gifts for grandchildren. The couple were shocked when they received a letter in April telling them their account would be closed. Prof Barker said his wife was told by Barclays staff when she travelled to Hertfordshire that they would be able to re-register with their daughter’s UK address. But earlier this week, he received a phone call from the bank explaining that the advice he had been given was wrong and that his account would be closed after all" . . . . . . . . . . "A Barclays spokesman said: “We will no longer be offering personal current or savings accounts to retail customers with addresses registered with us outside of the United Kingdom, subject to limited exceptions. “We are contacting impacted customers to give them advance notice of this decision and explain the next steps they need to take.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/banking/barclays-to-debank-all-british-expats/ I am not with Barclays in the UK but IF my own UK bank a/c was taken away, it would cause a major problem for me - I guess that applies to others. My own 'tactic' on this will be to keep my head down !

My trusty Vigo has done 300,000 km and the gearbox is starting to get a bit notchy, particularly when moving away. Obviously it would be good to replace the gearbox oil, but is there another level of gearbox service to ask for, replacing a bush or something like that ? I don't want to go into the Dealer and get ripped off with something I don't need ! Thanks

That's alarming to see - but DNA isn't all bad. This Company has a DNA based vaccine for Covid that in trials showed NO side effects and gave good protection against new variants - Scancell Ltd and 'Covidity'. Covidity sits on the shelf while the USA/UK/Europe hurtle along the mRNA vaccine route with all it's known drawbacks, including cost ! Scancell is a cancer vaccine specialist achieving good coverage atm by improving the 'standard of care' for melanoma.

BBKO - substance surely !

That's the BIG problem with this Forum - too many brainless 'wisecracks'. IF you can't make a sensible reply, than don't reply at all. I'll nominate ONE - Webfact. Thanks for your efforts . . . .

Chaya an excellent post following my earlier - but check out the assumptions in the forecast carefully. In reply to BrianThai just now, yes the location may look good but that can change in a short period. Laem Sing in Chan province had just one 7/11 a few years ago. Now there's another far bigger 7/11 50 metres away, a BigC Mini opposite, a small Lotus's Fresh AND (the name escapes me), a branch of that new Chinese place I see popping up everywhere, mainly non food. Laem Sing I would describe as a quiet place, except holiday weekends. I don't know how these places all keep going ??

If you are considering investing in a 7/11, be extremely careful. Should you be lucky enough to find a profitable 'hotspot', the usual form is there will be another branch or branches set up very close to you within a year or two. IF your Missis wants to work all hours fair enough but it may not make you rich. As ever, location is the critical factor. The passing 'footfall' and being able to park closeby are crucial too.

Darkside - more about this DNA vax today - "Abstract - Although the efficacy of vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 is apparent now that the approved mRNA and adenovirus vector vaccines are in widespread use, the longevity of the protective immune response and its efficacy against emerging variants remains to be determined. We have therefore designed a DNA vaccine encoding both the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor- binding domain (‘RBD’) and nucleocapsid proteins, the latter of which is highly conserved amongst beta coronaviruses. The vaccine elicits strong pro-inflammatory CD4+ Th1 and CD8+ T-cell responses to both proteins in mice and rats, with responses being significantly enhanced by fusing the nucleocapsid sequence to a modified Fc domain. We have shown that the vaccine also stimulates high titre antibody responses to RBD in mice that efficiently neutralise in pseudotype and live virus neutralisation assays and show cross reactivity with spike proteins from the variants B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta) and B.1.617.2 (Delta). The vaccine also showed good protection in a viral challenge model in ACE2 receptor transgenic mice. This DNA platform can be easily adapted to target variant proteins and we show that a vaccine variant encoding the Beta variant sequence stimulates cross-reactive humoral and T cell responses. These data support the translation of this DNA vaccine platform into the clinic, thereby offering a particular advantage for rapidly targeting emerging SARS- CoV-2 variants." https://www.scancell.co.uk/Data/Sites/1/media/publications/papers/brentville-et-al-2023.pdf

Darkside - lets hope by the time this vax is widely administered, the variants in the vax are still relevant to the variant ruling in the community . . . My other reservation is about vax in mRNA format - after side effects after my 4th it's a NO from me ! I'm hopeful that a daily dose of 5000iu vitamin D3 will help ward off another bout of Covid for me. We need better vax than there have been so far - something better - a 2nd Generation. This is one of many such projects : https://www.scancell.co.uk/a-novel-bivalent-dna-vaccine-encoding-both-spike-protein-receptor-binding-domain-and-nucleocapsid-protein-of-sars-cov-2-to-elicit-t-cell-and-neutralising-antibody-responses-that-cross-react-with-variants-1 I'm hoping for a better alternative to arise.

Hello Tall Guy - on my EVA flight to LHR last week, in the departure lounge, as we boarded, we were asked to wear masks on entering the aircraft. In the event, I saw only one or two masks on passengers in total, other than the one I was wearing ! If I recall the cabin crew were masked when serving. And this, "There were no COVID related restrictions, or vaccination requirements, anymore for incoming international air travelers" - this was true at both ends, BKK and LHR . . . .

Raz/Des - Skyscanner just now - KLM GBP 640, Eva GBP 750 and Thai GBP 825. My flight was cheaper a few days before I left than in Feb when I booked it.

Spicy no - the LHR route is TPE-BKK-LHR and LHR-BKK-TPE Marin - they might require masking inwards to TPE - I don't know. Going to LHR they certainly asked us to mask up on the aircraft but only a few did !!

Des cheers - yes I was happy enough with Eva last time - 5 years ago. Mr J - re. Thai - a plus is they go direct and are 9 across format I think. Toby - I don't agree - I think it amazing that they can fly you 6,000 x 2 miles with baggage for approx £800, usually in relative comfort. One point in favour of EVA - baggage in the hold - 2 x 23 kg - remarkable. Perhaps I'll go in the hold next time !

Hi Buick - yes there were 10 seats across, 4 in the middle - usually in my experience it's 9 and 3. Unsurprisingly, the aisles seemed very narrow too. In the lounge we were asked to mask up on entering the aircraft - but almost everyone stayed maskless. Andy - yes I'll go Qatar or Thai next time. Sid - NOT 'snowflake' at all as you say. I usually enjoy the flight but this was gruesome. Inaudible announcements in particular, should not be trivialised. And just to add, choice of entertainment was poor and sound quality from earphones not good. Thanks Guys

On the 10th I flew with EVA to London - it was a disappointing experience after flying with Finnair, Qatar and Thai in recent years. 1. the economy seats were the narrowest that I can recall and the legroom tight 2. the flight schedule was brought forward 40 minutes then we boarded and left 1 hour late 3. the safety review before take off was forgotten 4. it was so cold I wanted gloves 5. public announcements - volume too low and couldn't make out what they were saying at all - they should use pre-recorded messages where possible. Taiwan English proved hard to follow. 6. food service was frantic - really really rushed. Coffee arrived amidst the chaos of eating main course. Why? Is it so they can knock off asap ? Staff were almost running up and down the aisles on occasions. 7. as soon as the first meal was cleared they came around and closed the window shutters - it's a daytime flight FGS 8. the interior of the 777-300 ER looked shabby - dust build up around the a/c vents, carpet worn 9. the service was totally impersonal I am booked to fly back later with EVA but I'll be choosing another airline next time.

Thanks for that SM - what a monster !

248. . . I see from one of Campbell's latest that the UK Govt still have material on line suggesting that transmission is prevented by the vaccines and broadly, USA authorities continue to recommend boosters for all including babies 6 months and older. MMmmmmm

I will be in the UK soon and I'm over 75 but I won't be taking up the NHS on this offer. I noticed recently - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11775169/Death-rates-NOT-higher-Covid-vaccinated-Brits.html and https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/02/unvaccinated-more-likely-to-have-heart-attack-stroke-after-covid-study-finds/ However my simple view remains that the current vaccines being offered are poorly targeted at current variants and I am not quite reassured on the issue of possible vaccine damage - (I had unpleasant symptoms after my 4th - 50% Moderna aspirated). My 'faith' is placed now in natural immunity after being infected in 2020 and 2022 and 5000iu of Vitamin D3 daily. And trying to stay fit generally. Anyway, that's until a much improved vaccine becomes available, when I may think again. MMmmmmm

It's very hard to find a beer today on the main street at Kanchanburi. This morning, just for fun, I asked a few cannabis bars if they were 'weeding' today, and yes of course they are. Strange to ban beer and not 'ganja' ? Or not ?