Stevemercer

Thank you for sharing. Best wishes and good luck. I really hope you are able to make it back to Thailand to visit your daughters one day.

Looks like a scratch from something. Definitely not a bite(s). A scratch from a cat, iguana or similar clawed animal often looks like that. I think you just scrapped against something and didn't notice it at the time.

Maybe Big Joke should seek asylum in Australia, like that other policeman who 'named names' in his investigation of people smuggling in southern Thailand.

5 hours ago, connda said:

Oh wow!  Another Red Notice that will be ignored by Interpol.

The inquiries into the Red Bull affair found that the Thai police officer who finally posted the Red Notice was shortly thereafter transferred. The Red Notice was then withdrawn by the Thai police without any public notification. Who was the then Chief of Police on whose watch this all happened?

The dream employee has the energy of old age and the wisdom and experience of youth. Or is it the other way around?

Very dry in our parts (half way between Mahasarakham and Khon Kaen). Rainfall has been well below average for the last 3 years.

Today's storm has put about 20 cm into my ponds, but they are still only about 50% full (normally 100% by the end of the wet season).

I often think that dry-land rice cropping will be finished within 5 years if the trend of drier wet seasons continue. Underground irrigation may keep things gasping along for a few more years.

Maybe in 10 years drought will almost be the norm.

Sh#t. So that means all of us here cannot visit our home countries again? We'll never be able to get back into Thailand again and will have to purchase some useless additional insurance policy (I am covered by my wife's government social security medical insurance, plus have private insurance (but not on any current lists for visa purposes).

I agree with other posters that 3M brand expanding foam earplugs are the only ones that work. And you need the right technique to get them in properly.

But they won't work with a thumping bass that is close or a screaming baby next door.

I only use them when it is noisy when I'm sleeping. I find the sensory deprivation helps one to sleep. But I couldn't wear them during the day. 

I would prefer a 'Citizen of the Universe' passport - valid for any civilised community in the Universe (excepting Earth).

I think Phuket has the best beaches in Thailand. But coming from Australia they are only average.

I guess I am used to good waves, clean water and sand, no crowds and a natural setting. Having said that, Thailand has plenty of other attractions. I can't imagine many Australians come to Thailand for the beaches.

While all the Red Bull hit/run inquiries show promise, nobody seems to be asking the real question: 'Who paid who?'

I would have thought that the then Chief of Police would have some culpability as it happened on his watch. Either he was incompetent (by letting such a high profile investigation be delayed or bungled) or he well knew what was going on.

On another corruption matter, remember Big Joke, the former immigration boss who was forced out of the job. It appears he had a disagreement with his superior. Was it the same Chief of Police? And what about the promised investigation when someone fired 3 shots into Big Joke's car? Was that ever solved?

Oh, for some decent investigative journalism and follow-up in the Thai press.

It's amazing how dimming eye sight can make everything seem dark and hopeless. I had my glasses in my pocket and scuffed up one of the lenses. Now I can barely see out of that lens. I can easily get a new pair of glasses, but I would prefer to wallow in darkness and misery for a few more weeks.

I don't know what eye operation you need, but, as another posted has said, cataract operations are pretty routine these days and will bring back the sunshine.

It also depends on the location of the squat bowl outlet. Simply installing the western toilet on top of this may leave the toilet sitting in the middle of the bathroom, like a sore thumb.

You normally want the cistern nearly against the wall for the most efficient use of space. Our builder installed our (western) toilets in the middle of the floor. I got him to move them  a foot or so back against the wall. I don't know how he sorted the plumbing, but they have been fine.

You might want to buy the toilet first and work out exactly where you want it so the pluming can be done when when they remove the squat.

In all these inquiries, nobody seems to be asking (or answering) the key question:

'Who paid who'

Somebody was paid a huge bribe and it wasn't to the underlings who will be named. Surely the Police Commissioner (or whatever the top cop is called) is responsible since it happened on his watch.

He must have know what was going on. If he didn't, and allowed the case to be investigated in such sloppy and leisurely way, then he doesn't deserve the top job

Where is the true accountability? As usual, those at the top with connections to the current regime will literally get away with murder.

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Thailand is in bed with the biggest threat... China.

And if one sailed up to any Thai interest in the ocean Thailand would turn and run, then try to diplomatically talk around any issue of conflict.

It does not need submarines end of story...

now go iron your trousers you'll be late for parade !

Yes sir! I bow to your superior strategic knowledge about what Thailand needs and doesn't need.

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Please tell what other nation is going to attack Thailand with submarines?

Or you have some inside knowledge of an imminent attack up the Chao Phraya?

Thailand is reliant on exports by sea, has offshore oil rigs, and extensive maritime interests. All of its neighbours have submarines. Of course it needs an anti-submarine warfare capability. The military would be negligent if it didn't develop this. It is not something you can buy off the shelf if a threat develops. It needs at least 10 years to develop and maintain a credible capability.

14 minutes ago, Chivas said:

If you somehow think the Baht will weaken against the USD then think again in relation to any election.

Biden wins and every chance Baht will dip sub 30 again

But if Trump wins, and continues his phony war with China, countries will be increasingly forced to pick between the two. China may eventually be forced off the US standard in world trading. Thailand will go with the Chinese Yuan-weighted trading block. China will pump the Baht up against the US dollar.

Nothing much will happen until after the US elections in November.

Having purchased one submarine they will need to go ahead with the other two. One submarine is pretty useless and will docked for repairs most of the time. The normal rule of thumb is one sub operational, one in for repairs/upgrades, and another in for maintenance.

The submarines will not be such a deterrent, but Thailand needs a credible anti-submarine capability. It can only develop this with its own submarines to practice on.

I did my 90 day in person today at my local office. At long last they have dropped the requirement for the form and passport copies, and just do it with the passport.

I've always just sent medicines bought on the Internet through the normal mail, with no problems. It is always worth checking whether the medication (or an acceptable generic version) can be ordered by your local pharmacy. They are often cheaper, but not always. Sometimes you have have to check a couple of pharmacies to find one that is willing to do the necessary investigations to find a suitable alternative available in Thailand (and to order it for you). A good pharmacy will then keep its stocks up on that medicine for you.

For example, I use Nexium to control acid reflux, but the brand name is expensive. Nexium is readily available in Thailand, but my local chemist has been unable to source an affordable generic alternative. I can buy a generic version for a quarter of the price on the internet and get it posted to me.

Our local land office does not permit an usufruct to be entered on title. A fellow I know got a common law contract drawn up by a solicitor to try and achieve something similar. The contract is between him and his wife (as the owner of the land/house), but I suspect is only valid while she is still alive. The in-laws would certainly toss him out of they could.