London Boy

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.

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

More to the point -- did you have severe osteoarthritis? As bone spur removal usually nto worthwhile in that instance.

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.

4 minutes ago, dddave said:

Super helpful information: Thank you.  Was the B265K for a single knee?   Did they discuss the possibility of bone spur re-occurrence?  

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.

20 hours ago, dddave said:

Thanks, Sheryl and also thanks for the contributions of others.  I will consult further with my orthopedist but the likelihood of re-occurrence will probably make such a procedure impractical.

 

I have twice been afflicted with life and limb threatening, hospital acquired MSRA post surgical infections.  As I am now 80, my risk factor is high, especially with knee replacement surgery being quite high on the list of surgeries resulting in HIA's. Adding to the risk is that both knees need replacement.  It's unlikely that both could be replaced in one surgery so two separate surgeries would be necessary.

Clearly, I have some difficult risk/lifestyle decisions to make.

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?

33 minutes ago, bignok said:

How did you fund 7 years.?

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

15 hours ago, Negita43 said:

Slightly off topic but might be worth knowing. I have a Smarty sim with  a UK number. When I am in Thailand I divert the number to my UK VOIP landline number (using an app I can recieve the diverted calls to my mobile on this number as long as I have an internet connection (ie does not use the sim) BUT SMS do NOT get diverted (they use a differnt channel I think) so any OTPs that insist on sending to a mobile (not all do - some will send to my VOIP landline with a voice call) actually will arrive on the mobile - However Smarty does charge for recieving an SMS whilst in Thailand (as far as I am aware not included in their "worldwide raoming" offer but only 50p I think)

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

21 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

He wasn't doing it in Asia!  He was stupid enough to overstay in Thailand, which was his downfall.

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.

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.

15 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Precisely

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

11 hours ago, KIngsofisaan said:

Single in your 40's in Thailand and what are you doing for work?

I was fortunate enough to own a few flats in London so I had rental income coming in every month.

I came here in February 2014, whilst going through a divorce and just after being made redundant. Best decsion of my life. Its a great place to be single in your 40's. I left New Zelaland soon after my job finished so rented my house fully furnished and packed all my posessions into 6 tea chests that I left in the garage. Like other people have said you don't mss those possesions, and anything you need, you can just buy here.

After COVID hit the demand for a fully furnished house dissapeared so I had to rent a storage unit for $300NZ a month (which is covered by the rent I get for the house). Wasted money really I should just gave it all away.

Regarding filling your time, if you plan your days out and have a structure, you'll be fine. Sure there's the temptation to drink everyday, especially in the red light districts, but I try to give myself 2 booze free days, ideally back to back.

Just enjoy it...Whenever I need affirmation, I travel back to London (where my family is from) and get on the tube at 8am. Once you see those miserable faces, you know you've done the right thing moving to Thailand

No way. It’s easier being a landlord then an English teacher. Also, given how hard it’ll be for the next generation to buy a property, I want to pass it onto my daughter when she’s older 

The new bar complex on Soi 7 (where a few of the bars have moved to) is a big improvement in my opinion

5 hours ago, chilly07 said:

Firstly don't use an agent. Every Thai thinks they are a realator! Contact owner direct and maintain that contact monthly throughout tenancy. At the end of the tenancy continue to pay the rent or you will get evicted early. Locks changed services terminated. If you maintain a good relationship with the landlord you will have no problem with the deposit. Landlords should always insist on references.

I agree. I had a good relationship with my landlady but when I stopped paying the rent (becasue i had bought my own place and was planning to move out), she cut off the water supply after 18 days. I contacted a lawyer and was told you just rent whats in the condo, but had no rights out of it, where the main water switch was. So after 4 years of being the perfect tenant the landlady turned on me, and did i mention I had a pregnant girlfried living with me at the time.

I like to think I'm a smart bloke and own my own rental properties in London, so i went to a keymaker in a shoping mall and bought a 'star key' which universally opens all water cupboards and turned the water back on.

I got an eviction notice under the door a few days later, by which time i had left the A/C on constantly (and hadn't paid this month or last months bill). I know it was petty, childish and a tad vindictive, but I didnt complain about not getting my two months deposit back, and slept better at night.

I just bought a condo in the Chong Nonsi area. paid 4.2 million for 94 sq meters. Two beds two bath. Spent another 400k refubing it. Current value is 5.5 million. More importantly its our home and as we had a baby girl 4 weeks ago, her home as well. Used Transferwise for the entire sum. As previous posters have mentioned, use the drop down box for 'long term funds' so it appears as a foreign transaction, and I also needed a certificate confirming this from Bangkok Bank to take to the land Registry dept. One other thing...you really dont need a lawyer.

5 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

I got metaphorically shouted down on here when I suggested that this was common occurrence, and it most certainly is.  Many Thai landlords are no better that thieves, out to make easy money for little effort. 

I couldn't agree more. I know the outcome and so took action to protect myself. I still lost 15,000 but better then 30,000 and glad I wasnt a victim of her greed by naively trying to take some moral high ground