BritManToo

Nope, easiest thing in the world ....... Plug kindle into pc usb port. Open calibre, right click mouse on the book you want to transfer, choose "save to main memory" Calibre will then convert to AZW format and load on kindle. I'm currently reading SF the Archimedes Engine by Peter F Hamilton, and the mystery series Alex McKnight omnibus by Steve Hamilton. Always use my Kindle as it's easy on my old eyes.

Me too, when it was 45-47 I built up a 6 month reserve.

In Siem Reap or Bangkok?

Next thing you know, visiting Pattaya will be a sacking offense. Even if you only came to see the beaches and temples!

Not really, I just don't find the locals interesting. But as you say, no worries, not long now ...............

Normal western LTR IMHO.

The AIS net marathon 1 year SIMs tend to self renew if you have enough credit in your account. 1,600bht (ish), taken the day your last year expires. Strangely enough I have the same deal, from AIS, also started in October 2022. Think I'll dump AIS this October as the data has become very iffy for phone banking. DTaC Turbo100 next time.

Of topic, We both chose Chiang Mai to live out of all the places on the earth, so can we really be that different?

If the first trivial case was before vaccination, and the second serious case was after vaccination, I'd be tempted to come to a different conclusion.

Sorry we're dragging off topic, I'm retired no bosses, my internet is blazingly fast, and the rest doesn't bother me. If she cheats, you can cheat too.

I thought that too, foreign guys, Thai bar girls. They could title the movie 'f#£& f#£& in tuk tuk'

Incorrect, ........ a woman marries a man for what (she thinks) he can give her. As for the locals, never had any urge to mix with any outside my bedroom. I only mix with fellow Brits from the South of England

Or you could just disregard it as irrelevant.

If you have enough food to eat and a place to live then happiness becomes a choice for you to make for yourself. It's not really a loser/winner situation.

I used to work for Waheed Alli (minor contractor for Planet 24) in the days when he financed New Labour and Tony Blair. Great guy, very generous with free drinks, even used to greet me by name (even though I was a nobody). Can't see any reason why he shouldn't get a security pass, after all, he's financed the Labour party for the past 30 years.

Being president of the USA for 4 years and a billionaire doesn't exactly fit with my idea of a loser.

So you spend your life doing what other people want ...... OK, your life, your choice, but that's not for me, especially if I'm the one financing it all. My life is all about me ..... me, me, me, me, me! Same as the girl featured in the OP.

Why would I compromise on what I want?

I thought she was quite attractive, and would certainly have given her a go, (in my younger days) if she'd been charging the right price. Sadly, I think she'd have been out of my price range, as a retired person. As for losers, everyone loses in the end, the only way to avoid losing is to never play.

That's just not true .......... Less than 20% of Thai nationals have ever paid income tax. Bangkok Post says currently only 14% of the Thai population pay income tax. "Thailand has a population of almost 70 million people. Out of 9.55 million taxpayers,................" https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2020179/revenue-department-plan-intends-to-add-some-500-000-taxpayers.

Thread title ..........Thai Benefits vs Taxation.

Same as the NHS then. But they ain't gonna tax us, just another 'sky is falling' crazy idea perpetrated by a bunch of old white guys living in fear of everything.

But this is only your 5th post?

Western currency losses are due to Japan raising interest rates. Previously with Japan charging under 3%, the big big boys were borrowing billions of Yen at 0-3% then buying western currencies to short term invest at 5-7%. This devalues the Yen and boosts the price of the western currencies. Then Japan raised their interest rates, so they sell their western investments, sell the western currency and buy Yen. Cashing in their profits and reversing the flow. Nobody in their right mind borrows money to invest in Thailand. So the Baht is not affected by this seesaw of buying and selling.

Not worthwhile to have ALL connected as that would mean costs x3, and lets face it you can have a cold shower or wait until the grid's back without that much effort. Leave pump, water heaters, oven on the grid. Have sockets and lights on the solar inverter, no need for solar panels. 6K MrPower hybrid inverter (12kbht) + 48v100ah battery (25kbht) should do it. Little bit of rewiring in the fuse panel and a couple of extra breakers and you're good for up to 12hrs of grid loss. If you're happy with 3hrs backup you could use a 48v45ah battery (8kbht) using 31240 Lifepo4 cells. Really easy to install, 2-4hrs work at most, any electrician that can't do it is an idiot. Around 40kbht inc. (or 20kbht with a 45ah battery) Then you can add solar panels later if you feel like it. I did the same for my house, but with solar panels, works brilliantly (2.5 years now), no more dark nights, internet router loss or computer switching off. We did have a few knocks on the door from neighbours at the start ...... "Why are your lights still working?"