Lazy Sod

Are we sure that a health certificate is required for 5 year renewal at Prakanong Area 3? I've renewed there multiple times over the last 25 years, about 10 years ago they told me that health certificate is not required for renewal, so I haven't bothered with it since. My renewal is next month.

Renewing my 5 year in BKK soon. I read somewhere last year we can watch the video online so we don't have to sit through at the licensing office, but I can't find the link. Is it still available?

6 minutes ago, Lazy Sod said:

Is my UK pension annuity (with UK pension provider) subject to UK income tax?

I'm a British Citizen living permanently in Thailand for 30 years, coming up to retirement (in Thailand).

Non-resident in the UK for tax purposes, no question about that.

 

Question: is my UK pension annuity income subject to UK income tax?

 

I ask because there is conflicting information.

HMRC website appears to say no as below, but I've found other websites, particularly financial advisors which say yes. Totally confused!!!

 https://www.gov.uk/tax-on-pension/tax-when-you-live-abroad#:~:text=If you live abroad but,the country you live in.

"If you’re not a UK resident, you don’t usually pay UK tax on your pension. But you might have to pay tax in the country you live in. There are a few exceptions - for example, UK civil service pensions will always be taxed in the UK."

Is my UK pension annuity (with UK pension provider) subject to UK income tax?

I'm a British Citizen living permanently in Thailand for 30 years, coming up to retirement (in Thailand).

Non-resident in the UK for tax purposes, no question about that.

Question: is my UK pension annuity income subject to UK income tax?

On 1/19/2023 at 1:48 PM, Lazy Sod said:

I had a similar concern but there’s a Q&A on one of the Singrix websites, Boots I think, asking what to do if the gap is longer than 6 months, it says just get the 2nd shot when you can. It also says there is no need to “start again” with another 1st shot. 

from CDC

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/hcp/shingrix/administering-vaccine.html

"If more than 6 months have elapsed since the first dose of Shingrix, you should administer the second dose as soon as possible. However, you do not need to restart the vaccine series"

I hada similar concern but there’s a Q&A on one of the Singrix websites, Boots I think, asking what to do if the gap is longer than 6 months, it says just get the 2nd shot when you can. It also says there is no need to “start again” with another 1st shot. 

29 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

Only available on the NHS for 70-79 year olds. So 50-69 year olds and over 80s have to pay the 450 quid for themselves. I guess they think at 80+ it's not worth bothering with patients as they are going to die soon anyway. At least that's what my mother used to say about the NHS treatment she got in her 80s and 90s. Partly an excuse to avoid going to see the doctor and partly true I suspect.  Anyway lucky that the NHS provides Shingrix at all.  It has been progessively gutted since I left the UK when it was still possible to see an NHS doctor without an appointment as a walk-in patient and get elective surgery in less than two years.

 

 

Agreed. The US government recommends everyone over 50 gets the Shinglix vaccine. 

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/hcp/shingrix/recommendations.html

For the Brits with money to spare…

Shingrix is available from Boots in the UK. Not cheap, GBP225 per shot (x2), but I think most people with experience of shingles will say it’s worth every penny. 

https://www.boots.com/online/pharmacy-services/shingles-vaccination-service

Not available free on the NHS until 70 years old. 

Anyone know?

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Have you had a full cardiac assessment? (Inc. stress test)? As presence/an]bsence of carduac disease is a factor in selecting best approach to managing hypertension.

 

Assuming no cardiac issue, the most common first line drugs for someone with no special other conditions and assuming not of African descent would be an ACE inhibitor or an Angiotensisin II Receptor Blocker.

 

Least expensive forms of these in Thailand are Enalapril and Losartan respectively. ARBs (Losaratan) as less likely to cause dry cought than ACE inhibitor (though sometimes do).

 

People of of African descent respond better to calcium channel blockers.

 

With any drug, you want the lowest dose that achieves good control so need to monitor at home.

 

Be sure to read up on contraindications, side effects and interactions.

 

 

Good info

Slightly off topic, but it might help someone. I’ve no option but to take statins as my LDL is 230. Was suffering side effects, especially aches, but this local brand of CoQ10 has made a big difference. 
 

On 6/13/2020 at 8:30 PM, Sheryl said:

Rutnin is tops for eye diseases but would not be my first choice for refractive surgery

 

TRSC are by far the best in Thailand for refractive surgery. That's all they do, it is their specialty.

 

You might consider standard Lasik at TRSC (assuming after consultation they feel you are suitable for it). 

 

The advantages if Relex over Lasik havw been overstated. Looking at actual studies not connected to a facility which performs it or has orher vested interest the results are pretty much the same. A tiny minority of patients have dry eye after Lasik,  and that is even rarer with Relex,  is about it.

 

I had standard Lasik at TRSC 20 years ago and my vision remains great.

 

 

 

I’m with Sheryl. 100% TSRC. Pay the extra, this is your vision for life and not about saving money. 

Hi, anyone found a Doctor in BKK experienced for this, it seems quite specific in this video so I’m looking for someone who knows what they are doing

Lots of posters prefer US stocks over UK,  which i understand, I was thinking about Blackrock North American Income Trust. Looks pretty good to me and can buy through UK stockbroker account. 

https://www.hl.co.uk/shares/shares-search-results/b/blackrock-north-american-income-trust-ord

Every few years I’d get my warts/tags laser zapped In a mega session at one of the big hospitals like Bumrungrad, under arms, face, scalp. etc. Expensive!

But I’ve found that taking a zinc supplement every day, like Blackmores bio zinc, reduces the quantity/size/duration of my warts/tags by about 90%. Takes a few months to work.

There’s lots of stuff online about this, it seems to work for me. 

2 minutes ago, jayboy said:

I don't think there's any question of entry being refused.

Not the point, ”seemingly” being refused is enough to leave a bad taste for some, especially with young kids in tow. 

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Rubbish. Read all the posts above. I get asked regularly. Once asked at Singapore. Many times DMK. Many times Saigon airport. 

Post fact.

Rubbish? Read the posts above. Many people saying they have never been asked for their boarding pass when entering Thailand. Oh, and you rate Saigon as the benchmark do you?

4 hours ago, nightfox said:

Nothing new, Singapore immigration always asked me to see a boarding pass upon entry. They have a sign right above the Thai immigration booth going back 15 years to have your boarding pass on hand but they never enforced it till now.

Sorry but this is incorrect. I fly to Singapore regularly and have never been asked for the boarding pass when entering. Perhaps you are mixing it up with the Immigration Form, or perhaps you didn’t write the flight number on the form, or perhaps you are confusing going out to going in. 

1 minute ago, phuketrichard said:

never been asked for my boarding pass at dm, swampy or Phuket

Thank you!

31 minutes ago, jayboy said:

Sure it did.

 

I would think most people whether they read Thai Visa or not hang on to their boarding passes.The point is that it takes no effort.

A “boarding pass” is by definition something you need to “board” the plane at the point of embarkation.  It has absolutely nothing to do with disembarking or immigration on arrival, unless happen to arrive in Thailand. And to those of you who say this has been happening for years, I say to you I have been flying in and out of BKK once or twice a month for the last 20+ years and I’ve never been asked to produce my boarding pass. This is lazy, incompetent, unnecessary and ridiculous. 

59 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Good reply.

I already posted that no one would every be denied entry for not having boarding pass. Don't know how many I have seen left in seats on planes. 

Fact is it's simple process to keep it on you. Then all the expert frequent flyers state they have never been asked. Yippi.

I get asked on enough occasions to recommend "keep it in pocket" . Is that hard 

Yes it’s a “simple process” to keep it on you for those of us who now know of this silly rule. But how about the millions of first time European tourists who left the boarding pass on the plane and are then welcomed to Thailand by a rude IO. First impressions last. 

2 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

I usually hang on to boarding pass, at least until I have my bags, as it got reference numbers for your cargo baggage.

Never had immigration ask for it

I’ve noticed many countries tend to stick the bag receipts to the back of my passport nowadays, especially in the more modern countries that encourage e-boarding passes on your smartphone (rather than paper ones).

Anyone know a shop in BKK with stock of wallpaper rolls for DIY hanging? Homepro sell wallpaper but only with installation service (no stock is held in the store, only the sample books).