chas39

I spent time with a Nun recently.First time for everything..

In my post (#2) on this thread I mentioned my experience with COPD.

But the wheezing started in Pattaya before COPD was diagnosed. I thought I had a chest infection, saw a Doc at a Thai clinic - prescribed antibiotics and, of course, the standard Thai cure all of witamins. No better. Went to the more expensive farang Doc on Soi Day/Night.

Antibiotics that would kill a horse. No better.

Dragged myself to the Bangkok/Pattaya Hospital. Lung department. Blood test, x-ray.I could by now barely keep up with the Nurse walking me between test places. Doc says "You have liquid on your lungs, not an infection".The liquid and resultant wheezing were the result of a heart problem. It was not in good enough shape to circulate blood to get rid of excessive liquid and it was settling in the lungs.

Yipes!

He wanted me to stay in over night, but I said it was too costly. Ok, He got me to sit on a bid and said hold the nurse's hands while I insert a needle from your back to draw the liquid from your lungs.Just my((bad) luck the Nurse was a Ladyboy. Liquid drawn off, up to the Heart Doc. He did ultrasound test, saw x-rays. Wanted to to do an op. where a dye is inserted into the bloodstream to check for bad heart valves/clots.

I couldn't afford that. I asked" "What are the chances of me falling off the branch?" He said with pills about 30% while I retreated to the UK and the dear old NHS. So, I took my time, departed LOS and made it back, had a triple bypass, and I'm now fit as a butcher's dog.

Sorry about the long tale, but the message I wanted to get across was the lung problem can be heart/COPD combined and complicated and the two intertwined..

The other message is that my BUPA didn't cover expensive surgery and treatment. Be warned.

When I got back to the UK I was told I would have to pay for treatment as I was not a Resident.So I became a resident again.But that's another story.

Bangkok/Pattaya gave me a copy of a CD/DVD (?) which shows, in vivid technicolour, my heart beating away and the blood flow. I look at it sometimes. Macabre I know.But my mother always said "He enjoys bad health you know..."

On Pattaya Tai, travelling towards 3rd Road, right hand side, just before the Frame Cafe and Friendship.

Certainly some banks/credit card companies will require notification of travel to,say, Thailand. But Barclays for example do not require prior notification on debit cards. Normally this is ok, but a couple of times they have blocked the card and have asked me to phone them to check security.

Glad they're checking but it can be disconcerting when you're sweating at an atm.

The Tuesday/Friday market at the Pattaya Tai end of Soi Buakow.

What about Friendship supermarket Pattaya Tai?

Here is a cyclist's view of Songkran in Nong Khai.

More of a fun time than warefare.

Go to Nong Khai anyway - it's lovely. Have a good time.

I waited for 2 weeks before ringing them to check progress. This was about a week before I travel - tomorrow.

I saw on line that the money had gone from my account.

It took a while, but I got through on the phone, the lady checked my application and said yes it would be done that day.

It arrived ok the next day.

She said they are busy and doing them with the main eye on your day of departure.

But I would think it is always worth a call to check.

I had the same problem with Chrome and Youtube a while ago. My skills in this area are limited and my memory of it a bit vague.

However. It maybe a conflict between the flash add on(?) or plug-in already built into Chrome, and the separate and downloadable flash player you may already have got separately. The two beasts fight.

The answer is to look at your add ons - or plug ins in the settings, and disable one of these. In the tick box. So they do not have a little conflict.

There, To me that sounds as if I know what I am talking about, but I have probably initiated mass hysteria amongst computer experts.

If you can look at youtube videos on your or another's computer and put in a begging query about chrome and downloading videos on you tube you will get loads of clips showing how to rectify the problem.

The clips always come at you a bit quickly, but persevere.

I hope this answer doesn't break anything.

Friendship Supermarket, Pattaya Tai. I think.

Here's a trailer:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-oikrsZcEo

Four years ago I was looking for the Banglamung Administrative Office - where people get married, get other licences and so on.

By mistake I went into a building nearby and noticed it was the children's protection office - maybe for women as well.

It was near Naklua and just off Sukhumvit Road. It was on the left side of the road on the way towards the north/Bangkok.

There was a police building nearby.

Hope this is helpful.

I see that Iran has now declared that their constitution doesn't allow female candidates for the Presidency.

Some democracy.

Come on. Be fair. The company did have glossy brochures.

Ahhhhh!

That feels nice after Sotsira's reply.

Maybe he should listen to his own signature at the bottom of his post

"

Sometimes to keep it together,

we've got to leave it alone."

There's a stall that sells Second hand(?) remotes in the Tuesday/Friday Market on the Pattaya Tai end of Soi Bukhow.

It's in the part with a roof on rather than the tented bit.

The end nearest the Wat.

Hope you find something.

What are the chances of a second hand remote in a market to work.

Then try and ask for a refund when it doesn't work.

thanks to Chas, i went there today

very helpful chap, i got a pioneer DVD remote and a LG DVD remote

said ''you hab problum, bring back''

no need, both work ok

paid 600 baht for the two

so the chances of them working appear to be 2 out of 2 in this case........

thanks again Chas

There's a stall that sells Second hand(?) remotes in the Tuesday/Friday Market on the Pattaya Tai end of Soi Bukhow.

It's in the part with a roof on rather than the tented bit.

The end nearest the Wat.

Hope you find something.

Thanks Lopburi

It looks as if I just have to make up my mind!

May I just broaden this thread a bit?

I plan to get a Tourist Visa from the Hull Consulate, UK. For 60 days which I understand I can extend for 30 more days by applying in Thailand for 1900 baht.

If I want to spend a few days in Laos -within the time limits of the visa plus extension, do I need to apply for a re-entry stamp in Thailand before I go to Laos or apply when getting back into Thailand?

Or can I just go no problem.

Tanks for any help.

May I just clarify the situation with regard to eligibility for NHS treatment.

If you are in the UK and need accident or emergency treatment you will get it free. Whatever your status.

Other treatment is free if you are normally resident in the UK. It has nothing to do with payment, or not, of NI contributions nor taxes.

The Citizens Advice Bureau website has details of this - as do many other sites.

You need to check the definition of 'Residency'.

Technically, more than 3 months outside the UK means you are not eligible for free treatment. I think, with some exceptions for UK Pensioners who live in the EU.

You will hear 'Well I got this treatment ..' .etc, but these are tales, or by luck or by 'careful management' shall we say.

So you need to be careful not to automatically assume you'll get free treatment on return based on ' I've paid my taxes or NI contributions'.

Please don't shoot the messanger