GanDoonToonPet

Totally agree with your first point but got to quibble with the second. The whole purpose of National Socialism was to create a hierarchical, militaristic, unequal class-based society.

Authoritarian behaviour, suppression of freedom of speech / expression and the right to assembly, obsession with equality of outcome (equity) at all costs, imprisonment of political dissidents...

Exactly! To add to my previous post. The term 'right' was generally used to mean conservative. Even then, does it mean economically, socially, or culturally conservative? 🤔 'Far right' is meaningless now and is simply a stick that the new 'progressive liberals' use to beat their enemies over the head with.

I've been to Craft in Bangkok a couple of times. Interesting craft beers there and only B500+ a pint. Only ever had 1 or 2 each visit before switching to the B99 Chang. 🤪

Far-right isn't what it used to be. It used to be the Ku Klux Klan, Neo-nazis, National Front, Combat 18 etc. Now it just seems to refer to anyone who doesn't believe in 100% of the new 'progressive liberal' ideology. Ironically, this includes the majority of liberals. 🙃

Nothing to do with Starmer or his government. The decision was made by the judiciary (Supreme Court).

Exactly! People talk as if this is a one-way thing, as if the EU are giving us a present. I agree that a trade deal that creates a level playing across the whole of Europe is a good thing. What this has to do with fishing rights is beyond me.

Unlikely but they could still demand to see 10k THB, or equivalent, at the immigration desk.

Labour have been trying to reverse Brexit from day 1, including the disasterous misreading of public opinion which lost them the 2019 general election. Since Labour came to power, Starmer has: 1. Had his political enemies arrested, jailed, denied bail, fast-tracked their trials before they had time to mount a defence, and publicly announced that he's expecting 'harsh sentences' 2. Given away pensioners' winter fuel allowance to pay the hotel bills of economic migrants 3. Introduced inheritance tax for farmers, priming them for re-entry into the CAP due to the need for subsidies 4. Re-introduced freedom of movement for EU workers 5. Sold the fisherman down the river (again) When did the UK become a banana republic? 🤔

I think we're witnessing the end of the forum...

The conversation has evolved. Clearly this policy, in conjuction with the reduction of VE to 30 days, will force people to start using TR visas again (and in turn increase revenue) while deterring some people from coming at all.

Embassies / Consulates make money from visa fees. An increase in revenue will be the only outcome of this policy, except maybe deterring a small amount of the kind of tourists they want.

Somehow I don't think those 'snowbirds' are going to give up the familiar surroundings of Hua Hin and flock to an unfamiliar country just because they have to apply for a tourist visa (as they probably did during previous years anyway).

Here we go again! 🙃 I got caught up in the changes last year, before my third entry. Booked 8 days in Phnom Penh so I'd have enough time to get a TR visa then they changed the VE to 60 days; good job hotels are cheap in Cambodia. 🤪 EDIT: To top it off, when I got back I got pulled aside at immigration and asked why I didn't have a TR visa.

Amazing. This still works 😊

For the workers For the shirkers Quite an achievement. Even if you take that as US$, isn't that around 150% of current federal funding for Medicaid? 🤔

Likely this is the reason they did it. When I worked in China there was always a 500 RMB (2500 THB) deduction from the deposit when leaving an apartment. Always cries of 'Why so dirty' or 'Have you ever cleaned?' This was true if you'd never cleaned, cleaned it yourself, paid a maid 300 RMB or hired a team of professional cleaners for 1000 RMB on exit!

Agree! Probably not much further insight to be gained by this. If anyone wants some further insight, I highly recommend the book 'The Jigsaw Man' by the criminal psychologist Paul Britton. He advised the police on this case and the Jamie Bulger one.

More good news...for me. I just found out that China is now a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so I'll save some cash and it's faster too. 😊 EDIT: Just saw the date of the OP 🙃

The good news is that Mexico is a signatory / member of the Hague Apostille Convention so your apostilled UK documents will be accepted. https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41 I used this service in the UK for my Chinese Z visa application, around 7 years ago. I'll be using them again soon for my new Z visa as I need to get my DBS check done again. https://www.apostille.org.uk/apostille-prices Here's the final bill from last time. More good news is you shouldn't need the embassy attestation which is the most expensive part.

Ridiculous headline! Anyway, even Enoch Powell didn't echo what Enoch Powell said. The current policy of allowing mass immigration of people with vastly different cultures, encouraging them to live separately in their own 'communities', and teaching different 'communities' to hate each other is a recipe for disaster.

Lazada is a minefield. I now only buy small items from official Lazmall shops. Ordered a set of 7 magnetic screwdrivers, the most useful one was missing. Ordered an 'upgrade' mosquito zapper, they sent the basic model. Both times they offered a partial refund, I only needed to send them my bank account number and phone number...I declined and just wrote it off.

I think I've tracked Emilio down...

The Supreme court beat them to it. Laughable to expect the current 'progressive' Labour gov to do anything about it. Isn't it strange that they back down when these things go viral. It's almost like they know they are doing something wrong and try to hide it.

Just sent 500 GBP to my SCB account a few hours ago. Completed in 10 minutes 😊