London Boy

I was wondering if the experienced minds here I can help me? I left Auckland, New Zealand for Bangkok all the way back in February 2014. I left in a bit of a rush and was unsure of my long term plans back then. (I'm originally from London, U.K, but was living and working in NZ between 2007-2014) Over 10 years on, I'm still in Bangkok. I rented my house in Auckland fully furnished and left all my personal in Tea Chests in the garage. During COVID the demand for fully furnished rented accommodation dried up (unfurnished is the norm in Auckland) and had to move everything into storage (which was costing me $300 NZ a month). I've recently managed to sell all the furniture and household items and just have 5 tea chests and a box full of personal documents left. I want to ship those over to Bangkok and get rid of the cost of storage in Auckland. Can anyone recommend a reliable, cost effective shipping company from NZ to Thailand. There's no rush for these items, so sea mail is fine. I'm not going to ever live in Auckland again, although I'm keeping the house in case my daughter ever wants to attend Auckland Uni. Thanks in advance.

The Thai bird in the white shorts looked decent, I hope they weren't fighting over her.

I agree with OntheLash. Having a child, and paying international school fees, dramatically increases costs. I spend around 200k a month atm and that's just with one child.

So may footballers have tattoos. I particularly like the arm sleeve. Since most of them are multi millionaires, perhaps the Thai women are just following the trend.

I used them them every month between 2014 and 2018 to transfer my monthly living expenses from UK to Thailand. Then I discovered TrasferWise which was much easier to use, and slightly better rates. I too have got the email with with the same closure date. Don't think its scam, maybe they have just fallen foul of some financial rule and being shut down?

I renewed my driving license just two weeks ago. I got a letter from the New Zealand, embassy confirming my address, for ฿1700, which was posted the next day. I know I could have got the resident certificate for ฿500 from CW, but once I factored in the time to go up there, cost of tolls, two week wait to be posted to me, I decided it was worth the convenience.

I posted my 90 day report on the 30th January (was due on the 16th February) and received it back on the 16th March. So that was 45 days!!

Don't worry about it mate. I missed mine back in May, left the country in July, came back in August. I did my 12 month extension at CW last week, and no one noticed.

It was grade 2/3. Even after trimming the meniscus I had 80% left, so in those circumstances well worth while. But more importantly, they way it has felt since I've recovered has definitely been the right choice.

Yes just one knee, but I'd add another 20k onto the costs for all the follow up, physio etc. It may reoccur or it may not, depending on lifestyle. I think mine occurred from playing football on hard surfaces for many, many years, so If I give that up, less chance of it reoccurring. I also had a friend in New Zealand have the same surgery, after years of running. Shes recovered and has gone back to running daily at 62. Everyone's knees are different, but remember a knee replacement is the end game, if you can delay that as long as possible, that would be my preference.

I actually had that exact surgery in June this year, 3 bone spurs removed in my right Knee as well as the medial and lateral meniscus trimmed. Surgery took an hour, and I was on crutches for 20 days. I would say the surgery was a complete success. My knee feels the best it has in at least 3 years. The pain I got going down the stairs is gone as well as the stiffness after sitting for long periods. Cost ฿265,000 at Bangkok hospital (Phetchaburi 47), worth every penny to the difference it made to me physically (and mentally). Much less involved then a knee replacement and a quicker recovery time. I would add adhering to the physio regime post surgery accounts for 40% of the overall success. They have worked me incorrectly hard in each hour long session but I've seen the benefits every week. Feel free to DM me for more details

Could it be...they just prefer the lifestyle here. And because their money goes further, does that make them smart rather then losers?

I own a lot of property in London, so rental income comes in every month

When I was in my 40's I did two Ed visas. 1 to learn the language, and 1 learning Muay Thai (but not back to back) in between there were various tourist visas, new passports etc. I eked out an existence for 7 years before COVID got me over the line, and I turned 50. Well worth it in my opinion, to continue living here.

Could you let us know the name of the app please?

This happens a lot in the UK, with scammers often targeting elderly divorced/widowed, lonely women. Their losses would run into tens of thousands of pounds. There a BBC series dedicated to it to warn others from falling for it. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000b1px

Why didn't he use his ill gotten gains to buy an Elite Card? He probably would have got away with it!

RIP Joe. You were very generous with your time and invaluable advice which helped so many people.

I stayed for week in October 2021 when it was under the sand box scheme, and I had to do quarantine after returning from England. I loved it, hired a Scooter for ฿200 a day to get round the island. Hardly any tourists, and everything was dirt cheap. In reflection, I didn't realize what a unique time it was to be there

Back in 2019/2020 before the pandemic, I would go to Sukhmuvit soi 4, to have the breakfast at Hanrahans (now Fitzgearlds) and take my laptop to do a bit of work. Id walk through the soi around 9.45/10am and all the bars (Stumble Inn, Hilary 4, etc.) would all be open with a good amount of expats sitting facing the soi and drinking. By the time I left around around 12.30pm, the soi would be very busy with both working girls and blurry eyes expats (I'm assuming they weren't tourists due to their age). I'd say each to their own, but the expats didn't look that happy.

I was able to move here at a relativley young age (43) just by having rental income from property I owned in London. It also gives me just enough to do without being bored, but not the hassles of a fulltime job.. Plus you have the added bnus of capital growth. However, a word of warning, We've had the benefits of very low interest rates since 2009, but I think those good times are rapidly coming to an end