George FmplesdaCosteedback

10 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

As far as I can see, the EU want to be as difficult and as spiteful as possible.  They remind me of a small child that's had his ball taken away.

They are willing to over complicate the Irish border issue, and offer no solutions themselves just to make things difficult. They don't care that this raises tensions in Ireland and threatens the peace process. Because we took their ball away.

Have you heard the latest gem?  The EU have decided to disqualify UK cities from becoming European capital of culture. This is despite Turkey and Norway having cities included in recent years. And this is before anybody knows the outcome of negotiations, e.g. the UK could possibly still be in the EEA. 5 UK cities had spent hundreds of thousands preparing for bids. This is just spiteful.

 

All because we took their ball away...

Dead right. But EEA is not an answer, it is being in and abiding by their rules but without a vote.

Efta is what we should rejoin, check the details.

18 hours ago, taipeir said:

Peace in Ireland and UK was also achieved partly because of the EU backed good Friday agreement.Now they want to blow up that agreement by putting a border in.

Shocking ignorance of own country's backyard.

 

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

 

Excellent comment.

The Irish border problem is not easy to solve.

The EU has other borders between none EU and its member "states" that need to be considered as an option or a basis for a realistic situation in Ireland.

I have discussed this before on TV, but I admit I had neglected some major points in my argument, as I had not fully considered the freight traffic that moves between the two countries on the island.

I think it is possible without a physical boarder.

The problem is the EU want to have it settled before any trade deal. A good trade deal would make the transfer of goods between the two parts of Ireland as easy as it is now.

People and passport control should not present a problem within Ireland as those arriving would come under scrutiny when leaving from a different country than they arrived in (Northern/Republic). Passport control has to be changed a little of course, EU citizens arriving/leaving Ulster will have to go through the "foreign nationals" channel as does anyone without a British/Irish (EU) passport do at the moment.

Goods and people arriving in the mainland would also need to be better monitored of course, port of entry/departure etc, but that should create more jobs.

The EU have few good bargaining points, so they are trying to make the best of what they have to screw the UK for "reparations", not a divorce settlement, after the UK has been paying into their coffers for 40 years.

Please comment.

4 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

About combining Thailand and Europe on a good pension.....

Yes I have a high pension as compared to UK citizens.

No I do not have a high pension as compared to Belgian citizens.

Maybe that is an issue that the British people should have taken up with their governments of the last 50 years.

PS. We have net 100.000 baht a month for 2 people to live off. In Belgium that is medium.

 

Yes, so do I... and I have 5 years to wait for a state pension from the UK.

21 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

So you think that the European politicians and bureaucrats have the monopoly on incompetence, scheming and ego?

Also brexit is far more complicated than in or out. Some examples:

If the Polish are no longer welcome in the UK, what with the UK pensioners in Spain or Cyprus?

Is the UK going to be allowed to export to the EU without accepting the European product regulations, that were so often ridiculed by the brexiteers?

Will Europe have to prevent illegals from crossing the Channel?

Who will pay the lavish pension of Farage? (sorry, I couldn't resist)

 

Sorry OH, that's less than weak.

And 3 million EU subjects that live in the UK, the trade deficit where the EU sells the UK more than we sell them. The EU fail under their own laws with people trying to get to the UK as it is.

Trade standard laws and almost all EU laws is being encompassed in the bill now going through the UK parliament.

Pensions, they all get what they are entitled to, after 2019 the Brits should pay for there own, and only their own as a default. Paying up to the end of the current agreed budget in 2020 if fine, but the EU want much more.

2 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

Kingdom of Belgium

Okay, I have friends in London with a similar view.

However you might be happy with that but there is an awful lot that are not.

Happy holiday tripping around Europe and winter in Thailand on a good pension isn't everyone's privilege.

My concern is not for myself, more for the coming generations that will see a growing discontent in the policies of the dictatorial EU.

You want a World Government with everyone equal.

That's just not human nature. Those that govern want to keep power, gain more power and more.

I do wish TV would not post unfinished posts until they are submitted...

5 hours ago, oldhippy said:

As a European I am so glad that we got rid of that fecked up hell hole that you so eloquently describe!  And as true gentlemen, we let you people think that you people wanted brexit 555 - if there ever had been a vote in Europe, even without having read the above, I am sure the brexit majority to give you people the boot would have been 90% - 10%.

 

 

So, what is the problem?

If the vote by the other 27 EU member "states" (not countries) would have been 9 to 1 for the UK to leave, Brexit should be a doddle!

Thanks, stay friends and keep the trade going..?

(see my last post #469)

34 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

Exactly!

 

(Actually, I would prefer to identify as an Earthling in the United States of Earth, but that might be a little over optimistic as yet).

 

Ah, OH, I think you are being a bit more than overoptimistic with that idea.

History is something successive generations do not learn from.

All the great empires have fallen. The last serious attempts in Europe by Russia, Germany and France ultimately failed, for good reason.

The EU is little different in its pursuit of domination over Europe. They work in a way not too far removed from Germany from 1935 to 1939 when it forcibly took Poland; followed by Belgium, Holland and France, but not the big island off the coast.

The big carrot on a stick by the EU to gain the Ukraine's oil (and finally get revenue from someone other than the Brits and Germans) was enough to get the Russian Bear to invade in 2014 to secure their position.

I have a polite question: what passport do you hold?

I ask as the thread is "why you left your home country?"

Cheers G.

On 11/22/2017 at 1:02 PM, Gecko123 said:

Ulysses:

With all due respect, the fact that you have "seen" Joe Cummings interact with Thais and it appeared to you that the interaction was going smoothly, doesn't mean that Joe Cummings doesn't sometimes experience Thais who tense up or simply refuse to even listen to what he is saying because they're experiencing sensory dissonance between what their eyes are telling them (a non-Thai speaker) and the language which is coming out of his mouth (Thai). Countless posters have reported experiencing this (here and on other threads), and I don't think it is fair to write this off as always coming from people who just can't face the reality that their Thai is deficient.

 

If you followed me around with a hidden camera, you would see me interacting fluidly with countless Thais. For example, two weeks ago, I was down at the amphoe office for three successive days explaining a long and involved tabian ban and property rights history to a succession of police officers, and then a succession of district office officials, 90% of whom I had never interacted with before.  During these discussions, there was maybe only one or two times where there was a problem understanding one another.

 

But on the other hand, there is a gal at the local hardware store who refuses to comprehend me even though she has seen me interact smoothly with practically every other employee in the store, and has been told over and over again that I can speak Thai. How do you explain these inconsistencies, if you're going to chalk it up solely to the speaker's language skills?

 

In my opinion, there are virtually no non-native Thai speakers who have progressed beyond an intermediate level who haven't observed this pattern, and while extremely accomplished speakers, (and yes I do consider myself one), obviously encounter this problem less frequently, they still encounter it because the problem isn't always with the speaker, but sometimes with the listener.

Can I use this as a quote please off TV. I think you explain the problem really well.

(The "rabbit in the headlights" from another post I have already made a note of.)

Cheers G

14 hours ago, giddyup said:

The difference might be that the falang gets put in jail until his friends or family can send the 100,000 baht.

Or crowd fund it?

Yes, more checkpoints is always the answer.

17 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

Last year a friend of mine knocked a motorcyclist off who was undertaking him. He was doing a left turn off a main road at the time. There was no video footage of the accident but he was told by the police when he was summoned that motorcyclists always have right of way and it is perfectly legal to undertake a car that is signaling to turn left (or right).

 

I wasn't there at the time of the accident but I went with him to the police station and  was present when the translator explained this to us.

Interesting post and comment by the police translator.

I exchanged a few posts with a western poster about undertaking a couple of months ago, but specifically cars not motorbikes. He was adamant there is NO law against undertaking in Thailand (or weaving I guess).

For bikes it is difficult as you are supposed to stay on the left, but undertaking a car/truck that turns left without indicating will result in the bike coming off worst.

Failing to indicate in most countries will get you a "careless driving" charge at the least.

Is this another case of bad Thai laws?

14 hours ago, MaeJoMTB said:

I'm fairly sure adults that haven't noticed there are 52 weeks in a year can't be considered 'bright'. 

I have worked with some really intelligent Thais over the years. I've met some in lesser positions that are very bright, but I have also met many that are just plain dumb.

Saying all Thais are stupid is not accurate.

However I repeat none have any common sense or logic.

15 hours ago, MrPatrickThai said:

That's brightened up my day, having a stalker called George FmlesdaCosteedback. lol

 

What are you asking me to check btw?

Stalker, no wouldn't waste my time.

I'm not really trying to tell you you are wrong, just that you missed something along the way. Academically correct and practicality are different. You already got the point I think.

Check your profile and post activity. I couldn't find your story about being ignored until your reply to 123 in #post 250 yesterday, but I didn't look through 220 pages on this thread. Fifty two years old and born 1-1-'98, maybe 1-4-'65...  I will sign off. Best wishes & Cheers  G

20 hours ago, JAS21 said:

totaling 106,291,109 million baht  ... that is a lot of money ...

It really is a lot of money even in baht.

I guess he had a good job before politics, or a rich Aunt that died?

Unfortunately I can't help with the OP's question, but I have one in a similar vein.

I've done three 90 day reports and have not used the re-entry permit I got a few months ago with the 2nd 90 day.

Next is another retirement extension of stay renewal, does that invalidate the re-entry permit?

Thanks, any help is appreciated.

1 minute ago, mikebell said:

The Thai police force is a cesspit of corruption.  They stifle business; commandeer produce; skim profits; intimidate the public; ignore crime when it suits.  Thailand will continue on its mediaeval way till someone grasps the nettle.

As long as they don't do a Toxin and shoot everyone including quite a few of the opposition.

Too deeply ingrained in Thai society to make any real change I fear.

Any suggestions as to who could grasp the nettle?

49 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Very very clever.

It would be interesting to know how many actually understand what is probably a pun on a pun. 

Thais love puns, easy in Thai too.

I was just joking.

58 minutes ago, transam said:

Out of curiosity, is there something written in Buddhist stuff about not drinking beer on specific days or is it the big stick from others....?

34 minutes ago, stephen tracy said:

Good question... not sure.

Did Buddha like a beer under the banyan tree?

Wow!

I think we have song, anyone got a guitar?

Seriously, I have no idea but I expect alcohol laws have nothing to do with Buddhism.

Please someone, enlighten us!

18 hours ago, MrPatrickThai said:

Someone has a chip on their shoulder about something. 

I never said I hadn't experienced the same as the OP,  in fact I have many times. 

I have no idea what you're trying to say, apart from there are different transliteration systems.

You've chosen to argue with the wrong person regarding the Thai language and translation/transliteration of. I guess we all get hurt egos on different matters.

 

Just a PS.

"There are different transliteration systems",  you won a prize! Bottom shelf.

That means not just the one you learned from, and Thailand being Thailand don't take any notice of rules anyway.

I looked at your profile a few days ago (check, it is recorded), which includes all your TV activity.

Catch up with you on another thread sometime.

50 minutes ago, MaeJoMTB said:

Ask any Thai to point to England on a map, or Cambodia, ask them about dark matter? Ask them how many weeks in a year? 

That's uneducated not stupid.

I was in a sub-post office last week and the girl asked me where was I sending the letter to.

I said: The letters UK at the end of the address mean it should be going to England.

Stupid people you find everywhere (on TV too you might have noticed), here you find bright people with no education, and the stupid with an expensive education.

What is missing, clever or dumb, rich and poor, is a complete lack of common sense and logic.

Amazing Thailand!

Somebody said what we have all known for decades.

23 minutes ago, JLCrab said:

Maybe the reason that some Thais pretend not to understand a farang who speaks good Thai is that the Thai person intuitively senses that the farang has such a low opinion of them and their level of intelligence and self-confidence that it is easier for the Thai to pretend that they do not understand rather than having to deal one-on-one with such an obnoxious person.

True, but IMHO it is lack of self confidence and as you say "the easy way out" that prevails to avoid a loss of face.

I don't find Thais to be unintelligent, just have a lack of decent education and an insular prospective.

3 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

I dislike the bureaucratic, hugely wasteful and semi democratic aspects of the EU as much as you do.

But I differ about the direction we should go in: I am in favour of a different EU: better AND stronger.

 

As for peace in Europe:

Do you think peace between France and Germany (after centuries of wars) was the result of actions by NATO and UN?

I think it was a matter of economics, starting with the ECSC, later the EC and now the EU.

Ah! If only!

The EU will not reform without a serious threat to the established programme.

This might shake them up, but look at Mugabe etc (historically a very big etc), they will blindly charge on hanging on to power until the brink of destruction.

The political situation in Germany as the only money supply, and the rejection of EU policies by other states will come into play later in the talks.

The EU is well known for "brinkmanship" so it will go to the wire if not beyond.

There has been wars between France and the UK, and between all parts of Europe for a 1000+ years.

The EU "detente" has been nothing other than a bit player in the last 50 years.

The big stick was Nato and the UN.

Thanks, I enjoy a message from you as you always have a good point.

G.

13 hours ago, MrPatrickThai said:

Someone has a chip on their shoulder about something. 

I never said I hadn't experienced the same as the OP,  in fact I have many times. 

I have no idea what you're trying to say, apart from there are different transliteration systems.

You've chosen to argue with the wrong person regarding the Thai language and translation/transliteration of. I guess we all get hurt egos on different matters.

 

Well, I'm fine thanks, I hope it didn't hurt too much for you.

I think you need a bit more time here to understand the culture and people.

Best wishes for the future.

10 hours ago, oldhippy said:

Don't despair.

Brexit will fix all that.

Soon the UK will be back to milk & honey & ruling the waves.

And Rees-Mogg, Boris, David will be the new Monty Python. I am particularly looking forward to their version of the Upperclass Twit of the Year sketch.

 

I love Python, thanks for that.

However leaving the EU is essential for the future of the UK.

Nobody in the UK that voted Leave had any expectations that it would be easy.

I have studied the progress from the very start of the UK's reluctance to join in the 60s, the attempts to join and being refused, to the day we joined without a vote under Ted Heath and Wilson having a referendum.

Back then we thought we had joined a free trade agreement. I voted "stay".

Things have changed.

Supporting an expansionist, bureaucratic, hugely wasteful and semi democratic ideal of European domination isn't what we signed up for.

Only Germany and the UK are net contributors.

I expect the US, China, India etc will be very happy to make a trade deal making a bigger opportunity for export than the "Single Market" of the EU.

Don't forget, the EU are not happy (oh dear, where's the money going to come from) so will make leaving as difficult as possible. The German business leaders know they don't want tax on imports as they sell more to the UK than vice versa. (Check the latest on the political situation in Germany.)

Belgium can still sell us chocolates, but how many with 30% tax on top?

I have lots more to say, but I think you might have got my drift.

G

PS. Please don't confuse "peace in Europe" with the EU, it has been secured by Nato and the UN.