The Bullfrog

It is approaching the time of year when my farang family come to empty my fridge of beer and wine.

Many years ago I worked in Umphang and would love to take my Thai and Farang families for a post Songkran holiday there.

So, any recommendations of hotels resorts or websites??..

Thanks

Next week I do visarun from Nakhon Sawan to Mae Sot. Any idea of VIP bus timetable? I know one starts 12.30 but is they any before noon?

I am afraid I don't have this info but would love it if you wrote a quick report on how things went..( If you are doing a reporting visit that is)

Which immigration office You are using while staying in Nakhon Sawan? Which is nearest?

Was just wondering when somebody will respond to this question...

I am on a retirement visa and presumed the only choice for 90 day reporting was Maesot??

I just used the new Thai Immigration Office in Ayutthaya for my 90 day reporting. It took all of 2 minutes only because the officer had difficulty locating one the required stamps. Annual visa renewal can also be done at this office.

If you have Google Earth, the GPS coordinates of the office are 14°20'53.64"N 100°35'52.54"E. It is located within the stadium grounds across the street from a 3 story building on the south side of the stadium field. No signs other than on the building itself.

Bloody excellent information..Thanks..Any idea of office opening times???

Which immigration office You are using while staying in Nakhon Sawan? Which is nearest?

Was just wondering when somebody will respond to this question...

I am on a retirement visa and presumed the only choice for 90 day reporting was Maesot??

How come I never see any of the expats in BigC beer garden?apart from the odd German every now & again ?

I have to drive back to Tamaklueh so tend not to drink in NSN..But the missus has become a better driver so next time I may try it..

Its the same with the WC..Wales always show more promise but mess it up when the going gets tough and England..well...not alot you can say about them that hasn't been said before..

Is there any decent places in NSN to watch rugby..i.e. like getting a satellite feed from South Africa???..The Super 14s should be on during Xmas shouldn't it??..

Could anyone tell me if the Tee Sud Isan Inter Restaurant is still there in Rangnam Road ?? I remember it was run before by an American guy and his Thai wife who was the chef (a great one at that). If it's not there, have they relocated, sold up, moved on?? Any info gratefully received.

Doug and his wife have "retired" from the restaurant business and are playing golf 3 or 4 days a week and spending more time with their 3 sons,,,They had several opportunities to go into other places on RangNam Road, but nothing ever worked out..

Stoneman

I had Sooo Many good afternoons in that place during my "Drunken asshol_e" era.....Good luck to them in their retirement and if anybody sees them say hello from me..."The man who ripped the sink off the wall and walked into the tree"!!!

I have been here for 4 years but before that lived in Issan for 8 years ..with a previous wife..The farangs seem different here..much less willing to strike up a friendly conversation ....

Bloody hel_l Bullfrog NOW look what you have started!!

Mr Ikea or may I call you Hungl?( Is that Welsh or Swedish?), I am also ex Army ... 16 bloody years in the Sigs...I can assure you Flight is always my preference so it wasn't me you bumped into..hahaha..I am also half Welsh ( The good half)..so I get to support two shitty Rugby teams ...but thats not as unlucky as being a Jock of course..

Hope to see you all at Xmas!!!

I luv the place too and so does the missus....One other thing...Good choice of wines at a reasonable price

I just passed the location of the bookshop onto my mate in Pichit so I am sure he will be in soon..and he is a bloody Kiwi too

Thanks very much...All is fine now!!

For a few days now I have been unable to click on "View New posts". It is obscured by adverts..

How do I prevent this??

Good News..Thanks..

Where exactly are you?..My knowledge of NSN is twofold..1. The Larb huts at the Beginning/end of the ringroad and 2. Driving in from the North and doing a U Turn into Big C!!!

BTW you don't drive one of those 4 wheel sand hoppers do you??

In my experience and from information from my UK lawyer and Thai lawyer..The divorce and assets only apply to the country in which you married..i.e. You married in Thailand and divorce is to Thai law.

So she will be entitled to 50% of you assetts...but only Thai assetts...

If you are in LOS contact these:-

http://www.htoosi.com/

Expensive but good..

The new books arrived the other day so we now have new and 2nd hand books available as well as over 800 international magazines available to order so pop in and say hello,we are open 9am-9pm 7 days ,next to the new ECC building on Dawadung rd.

regards

Madyakka

Will you be able to get hold of the UK publication "Private Eye"..??

I do not believe you will need a visa at all.

The shipping agent will handle the paperwork to repatriate your corpse.

Thanks for responding to my lighthearted approach to a serious question..

My home address I have given to my new insurance company (BUPA - It is a new contract I have just started) is in Kamphaengphet..but like most I am on a Retirement visa so I don't know if "Repatriation" means UK or Thailand in this case..

When I get details back from BUPA I will check the definitions and report back..

I wonder how it would work for those un insured??

Is there any other player who could claim this award,

Alan Smith..Say no more!!

I live near Kamphaengphet but work away...currently in Africa with the missus...If I die abroad my insurance covers me for my flight back ( business class I hope)...but what happens at immigration...or should I say customs !!!

My intention is to get cremated in the village temple rather than cremated wherever I may be at the time and carried back in an urn as hand baggage......

Anybody done this before ?...for somebody else I mean...

If you are going later in the year Blankets for the old and jumpers for the kids will be very appreciated in any poor village. You can buy in bulk cheaply in Bo Bae tower in BKK..but it depends on your method of transport North of course.

Regarding buying supplies for the school..why not use your local contact to find out if the school needs something more permanent built,,,toilets. a new classroom..fans...general refurbishement..goal posts!!!

Then you can employ villagers to do the work ( 100 to 130 Baht a day) and purchase the materials for them...Everybody wins and you can stick a plaque on the wall if you like!!

But don't just donate money..it will dissapear and the Head teacher will suddenly have a new swimming pool in his garden!!

If you have your own house and car already paid for, 40K is plenty for a reasonable lifestyle in a small village..My UK Army and state pensions will give me this but I also have 2 studio apts in Naklua which I will rent out to give me those extra luxuries that makes the twilight years more comfortable...

Kilimanjaro Lager...Bloody excellent!!!

I have read through most of the Best Burger threads and can't believe that Doug's place on Soi Rangnam has never been mentioned.

Trink used to report regularly on the place, normally during one of the American annual festival periods. A small Issan restuarent owned by Doug and Yim,( Many moons ago Yim ran the English place on Soi 4) it was a place of boisterous conversation and excellent food..including burgers that were by far the best in town...

I had heard that it is now closed...If anybody knows where they have moved to..you will surely find a good burger waiting for you.......let me know!!

can you not transfer the pension?

To What..??....

I received the following reply to my questions...in case anybody else needs it....

1. There is no need for you to do anything to nominate your wife for a widow’s pension. When you die, your widow or personal representative (for example a solicitor or relative acting on her behalf) should tell the Pensions Division that you have died. To do this they will need to either contact Pensions section in writing or by contacting the Enquiry Centre (please see details below). They will be sent a letter of condolence, together with application forms inviting them to claim any pension benefits or lump sum benefit due to them or your estate. The person claiming will need to make sure that the application forms are signed, witnessed and fully filled in before they are returned to the Pensions Division. The reason for this is that the administrators cannot take further action until these forms are properly filled in and they have received the relevant death, birth and marriage certificates, or unmarried partner documentation. We will photocopy the certificates and return the originals to the person claiming. Eligibility will then be considered. If benefits are awarded they will be backdated to the day after your death.

2. Her nationality will not affect her pension benefits however please be aware that as you married after leaving the Armed Forces only service given on or after the 6 April 1978 will count towards her widow’s pension. If you would like a forecast of her pension benefits please apply in writing to Pensions (please see details below) with your service number, dates of service, national insurance number and date of marriage. Please also supply any details of a pension sharing order that may be applied to your pension due to your previous marriage.

3. You are entitled to a preserved pension and a terminal grant which is three times the value of your annual pension. I have attached a PDF booklet to this email which explains what benefits you are entitled to. To claim your preserved pension please complete the attached application form (AFPS Pension Form 8) and return it to the Pensions Division no later than three months before your 60th Birthday.

4. Unfortunately I am unable to release monetary information via email however; you can apply for a forecast of your pension benefits. To do so (as with your wife’s pension forecast) please apply in writing to pensions with your service number, national insurance number and dates of service. Please be aware that this process can take up to 20 working days.

Pension address:

Tri Service Pensions

SPVA

Mailpoint 480

Kentigern House

65 Brown Street

Glasgow

G2 8EX

Fax: 0141 224 2571

The JPAC Enquiry Centre can be contacted via one of the following numbers:

JPAC EC (Civilian): 0141 224 3600

JPAC EC (Free): 0800 085 3600

JPAC EC (Overseas): +44 141 224 3600

I hope this information has been of some assistance and if you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Many Thanks,

Sarah

Sarah Williams

JPAC EC Agent (HR)

* (Mil) JPACEnquiryCentre

* (Civ) [email protected]

( (Mil) 94560 3600

( (Civ) 0141 224 3600

( (Freephone) 0800 085 3600

Bloody Excellent info..Thanks..