dageurreotype

Meanwhile, I know of current pensioners how gets, a baht 1,000 a month and some nothing at all,

what about those retired people that are all out there with means of supporting themselves?

They have the informal Thai plan. Children (mostly the girls) will send money home for their parents my g/f does so faithfully. I have always stated on this forum that these presently retired people desperately need a raise a big raise. Its a disgrace that their "Golden Years" are tied to the generosity of their children. Young people out in the workforce today have a hard enough time to feed, cloth and house themselves if they can even find a job that pays a decent salary. So many come out of the halls of higher learning only to find steep competition for jobs in their chosen field. My g/f a very clever girl speaking good English has a grade 10 education but claims finding a job that pays 8-10 bahts a month is almost impossible especially as she ages.

Or someone like you

And the military could help out by depositing 36 Billion Baht into the fund.

Together with their backers

Wow! 7,000 should keep the cupboards stock with Lao khao...

I see no index linking in this fabulous scheme so the maximum 7000 baht per month may afford them a shot glass, not 'cupboards full'. And, whilst we're on the subject, my 60 year old cleaner is worried that she'll have to go live in a wat when she's too old to push a mop. So, enough with the snide comments on what people born into countries with no welfare system for whatever reason (yes yes we already know what those are), from those who were.

Other members of the Thai royal family are not covered by the law, and neither were the kings of Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Lanna or Lan Xang.

Looking at the present forecast from Windguru, much more reliable than TMD, it looks like the warning is not justified.

Looking out my window (no link) today I believe it was.

Thanks. My trust level has fluctuated over the year of knowing her. Problem is, I care for this girl very much. But you are right. I doubt that I could ever fully trust her, thus, should back away from marriage.

She's not a 'girl', she's a 44 year old hooker looking for yet another sap to support her now she's retirement age. Seriously ..

Not needing to hire an expensive Court translator

A travel writer once wrote 'With it's gaudy temples and sleazy nightlife Bangkok is fast becoming the armpit of Asia'. That was written twenty years ago ..

I do not believe this will go well with the people.

Well the nascent New Democracy Movement appears to have bee effectively bullied into persuaded to keeping their mouths very quickly ..

This report is in direct contrast to what is said by many hotels/restaurants/bars/entertainment venues which is : Chinese are unruly/messy/often just plain dirty/

negotiate the lowest possible hotel rate and spend very, very little in Thailand. I, personally have never seen a Chinese person in any restaurant/bar/ Go-Go

that I frequent - NEVER, not one !

Ah well, silver linings

Let me guess, this report was made in 2012 and posted now to avoid the panic of the Chinese stock market crash.

Not if the swarm of locusts barreling along a main road shoving everyone out of their way here on Phuket this morning is anything to go by.

Thai Junta Govt to Stay Until 2017

Phew. Didn't see that one coming

Since Mr. Obama was elected, the US' relationship with every country on the face of the earth has deteriorated.

Why should Thailand be any different?

Oh yes! It was so very much better under Bush. Both of them

Its a case for Koh Tao RTP team,

even that local RTP already decided it was suicide !

KT RTP have the last will of the victim already in the hand!

RIP !

The initial RTP on Koh Tao quickly identified the real murderers and was then quickly transferred. Not always as straightforward as all BiB are morons, is it.

They will keep on fishing until there is nothing left in the seas and when that day comes they will blame someone else for the empty seas.

Quite. It appears all people have to do to carry on with their selfish practices here is to constantly go crying to which soever government happens to be in power. Tuk tuks/taxis? Don't like competition so go petition the governor and allowed to carry on. Carry on planting rice, firmly refusing to diversify because that's what we've always done? open up your own pumps and defy logic/orders and plant yet another crop, the government'll won't stand in your way. Oh, and we want compensation too. it runs through the entire Thai society from top to bottom, just constantly giving in to this nation of spoiled brats.

It should happen,but won't,even if it was passed,

it would be quickly changed by the next democratic,

but undoubtedly corrupt government.

regards Worgeordie

easy fix for that is to write certain laws into the constitution that need a referendum to change, like a special category, and the rest requiring 2/3 majority in the lower house to pass and must also pass the upper house - pretty simple stuff that would more or less eliminate abuse

Seriously? With their predilection for enforcing the gazillion laws already on the statute if and how they feel like it, what makes you think this would make any difference? It won't.

A dec'd Australian businessman, Kerry Packer said that he died & returned. His observation was that there is NOTHING there

Then who was it that was aware that there was 'NOTHING' there?

This requires critical thinking, I won't hold my breath

Kindle v tablet

Books.

I've recently had Windows 7 installed after my hard drive crashed and am ecstatic about it I'd had XP before and it took so long to log off I'd regularly just put on ten hours of didgeridoo to keep the computer running and avoid the long unnecessary wait. Windows 7 simply shuts down, brilliant, so won't chance mucking about with 'upgrades' that rarely are. On the touchscreen issue, I'd ordered a new monitor with touchscreen which, after having almost chucked the damn thing out the window a couple of times, is now back in it's box and staying there

UK interest rates will not rise until after the Fed raises US interest rates. Going first would be wonderful for holders of GBP, but terrible for British exporters and therefore the British economy (which relies far more heavily on exports for GDP growth than does the US economy).

Anyone who thinks they can predict timing of rate rises is purely shooting the breeze. 53 is not a bad rate in recent history - may be bettered later but maybe not. I shall probably bring a year or so's forward expenditure from GBP into baht at this rate (ie transfer cash from the UK into baht savings - get better gross rates of interest here anyway and nil tax after claiming Thai tax refund, whereas it's at the 20% standard deduction in the UK. May finally go offshore for some savings. Nationwide International showing 1.45% gross on one-year money - that would be nil taxed if UK non-resident).

The UK actually export something? Like, they manufacture things again? I was under the impression they were just a holding bay for obscenely wealthy overseas tax migrants, who, in turn, are responsible for the British in general and Londoners in particular, not being able to afford a house there.

Amusing thread. There is no right or wrong answer. Foreign relocation works for some people and doesn't for others. An obvious statement right? The outcome selected should be appropriate for the person's income, tax status, employability, social and health demographic.

I used to wonder how some of the pensioners or 20 somethings survived. What was their secret I wondered?

Well, there was no secret. The young ones leave after the money runs out, or they get burnt in love, or become bored. They move on in life. The old pensioners leave Thailand, either in a box, or in some smoke, or on a sad flight to their countries long before they wanted to go.

Look around. How many very old farangs do you see? I offer that the number aged 80 years and older are a distinct minority. The heat, the lifestyle, the lack of specialized geriatric care, the high salt/high saturated/trans fat food, all kills the older people off. Far fewer older pensioners here than one sees in their home countries. Those that do survive, have established families, with a physical and emotional support network, and the money to pay for good health care. Remember, that once you reach 70 years, one of the largest expenses in Thailand will be medical.

Two subjects that have not been well understood in TVF are;

1. The number of 70+ farangs who do not have comprehensive health insurance. Some who are retired civil servants need not worry. However, for most from the private sector, there is nothing. The health insurance available typically excludes pre-existing conditions or ends after a claim or is too expensive. Have a heart attack on a street corner in Brighton, or Perth or Munich or Abilene and you will be in a hospital cath lab within the hour and a survivor. Do that on a street corner in Thailand and your destination will most likely be the morgue. Develop cancer in Thailand and unless wealthy, your survival rate will be significantly less than what it would be if you required treatment in the UK or France etc.

2. The number of farangs with pre-existing chronic conditions is significant. Diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease are all much harder to live with in Thailand. The climate makes it very difficult for some, especially those with heart failure. Adding to that; are medications may not be of the same quality as those available in the developed world, limited medical expertise (despite all the promotions for Thailand as a medical hub), and the difficulty in following a healthy lifestyle in the land of fried high sodium foods.

The question answers itself for the older foreigners who are in Thailand. They either cannot remain or the decision is made for them when they become ill. IMO, foreigners die at a significantly younger age in Thailand than if they had they remained in their home countries. The foreign retirees who do the best are those who live in Thailand during the cold weather periods of their homelands, and return to their homelands for 6+ months of the year. Those who have functional families also have longer life spans,

You've obviously never been to Phuket. A sea of grey

I guess I would swallow my pride, find a nice village in the west country, and go head-to-head with the Albanian refugees in stacking shelves at Tesco.

I recently witnessed some little prick on a motorcycle doing the exact same thing on a busy narrow road near me. He'd been slowing down all traffic flow. I'd have overtaken him and accidentally reversed over his bike. Preferably with him on it. I've given up driving here ..

Probably for the best all round really.

I'm almost sure running someone down is against the law.

Wit sharper than a razor. Oscar must be turning in his grave ..

Interesting article today on BBC website about just how hard it is for the obese to return to a healthy weight.

Over the period of a year 1 in 210 men and 1 in 124 women actually achieved this.

The figures did vary according to type of obesity though so maybe it is possible for children to achieve more.

It's not difficult at all. It's simply that when they've reached their target weight they go back to eating exactly the same as that which made them obese in the first place. Stupidity not the sole preserve of the Thais. They should simply adopt a different diet. I would imagine here would present an uphill struggle as most outlets appear to have copied the American mode of rack after rack of 'snack' 'food' and 'slushies' - coke and ice. Not the drugs. Which would lower their weight dramatically

The BBC article on the research findings would suggest it is difficult to get back to a normal body shape once obesity has been established.

And I've just explained that it isn't if you change your diet You bored?

I recently witnessed some little prick on a motorcycle doing the exact same thing on a busy narrow road near me. He'd been slowing down all traffic flow. I'd have overtaken him and accidentally reversed over his bike. Preferably with him on it. I've given up driving here ..