mfd101

Yes, too shy. Rather like my Thai.

I got new long-distance (ie non-reading) specs a year ago at Bangkok Vision Center, Wattana (near Benjakiti Park). Couldn't be better. Up steep stairs, small, friendly, spoke English, tested my eyes, discussion, laughed at my jokes, chose my frames (Essilor) from limited samples, glasses ready later that day, careful fitting, 7000฿. One year later couldn't be happier with them.

I assume that this HUGE increase (My goodness! How am I going to cope?) will be included in our air fares ... so we won't actually notice it. Which means we have nothing to worry about. Those who continue to worry about it are presumably too poor even to eat on a regular basis.

Looking forward to the next 50 years of economic & social revolution in LOS, led by the country's forward-looking politicians and it's well-educated, tech-savvy and enterprising capitalist class.

Depopulate or perish.

Forgive my ignorance, but I take it that government Ministers don't have to be members of Parliament? The current PM is not, for instance. What about the others? Effect of a military-designed 'Constitution'?

Mmmm, might check them out next time in BKK.

Yes, we'll have 2 of those. Um, and 3 of the Swedish. And golly, um, 5 of the American. Should look lovely drawn up at the end of the golf course I mean runway.

Of my small investments, the main part is indeed in an account-based pension (as it is the remains of the lump sum part of my payout when I retired from the Australian Public Service in 2004). Apart from that the remains of my Canberra sellup when we left Oz in late 2015 to build & live here in Surin are now vanishingly small so barely worth worrying about. But I thank you for your comments. They are invaluable to me as I'm far from being expert in all these matters.

Noted, thanks. The bank & the manager of my small investments will both continue without difficulty. The Findex accountants will be the interesting ones as they're the people who will have to take the appropriate measures vis-à-vis the ATO. Once all business concluded, I would assume I won't need them any more. We shall see.

Yes, thanks for that. I plan to live in Thailand for the rest of my life (currently age 74 & healthy) so the sooner I get rid of the Oz tax burden the better. I'll start by consulting with Findex in Canberra (who prepare my annual tax return) and point out what they should have been advising me on before now (!).

Everyone generalizes about everyone else, and particularly about people they don't like. Get used to it.

Trained at the Putin School of Studies in International Relations.

In Australia the Federal Opposition (Liberal Party) is steadily moving towards SMRs to take over from coal-burning, and using the same sites. Policy being formulated for use at the next Federal general election (by May 2025). The current government (Labor Party) is having a nervous breakdown at the very thought. EVERYONE KNOWS that a largish modern economy can exist on renewables alone ... At this stage the next election is up for grabs, mostly about the economy & inflation (in other words Me Me Me! as usual) But the 'going nuclear' issue will focus people's minds. Current polls suggest that young voters don't share the anti-nuclear prejudices of older Labor voters ...

On 2 or 3 occasions in the last 2 years I have received queries from my various Oz financial institutions (including NAB) as to my tax status in Thailand. In (then) total ignorance of the Thai proposals & decisions to follow, I replied in each case (truthfully) that I don't have a TIN & I have no income sourced in Thailand ie all my income comes from Oz. At the time I thought that was an end of the matter. In addition, for the last 4 or 5 years, without consultation the ATO has treated me as non-resident for tax purposes. Fair enough I guess, and it means I now have to pay additional tax (AUD8 or 9K) at the end of each FY as I have no 32% tax-free threshold. My income is entirely Federal government public service superannuation (CSC/CSS - long-since closed). Question: What happens when, later this year, I take out a TIN and prepare my first tax statement for Thailand starting 1Jan24? Noting the DTA, will that mean I cease to pay any Oz tax? And can I get refunded on the Oz tax I will already have paid from January this year? (Without knowing the likely Thai taxes I will have to pay it's hard to decide whether I'll be better off taxwise here, but I think with the ATO now swiping 32% of my total income I'm likely to be better off paying ONLY Thai tax.)

Yes, certainly doesn't look like "piles of debris". What idiot thought that one up? And if they were tanks knocked out of action, the Israeli soldier would scarcely be posing in front of them.

A brick wall at dawn ...

Status.

Yes, I thought Canadians were like the north American version of Kiwis: quiet, sweet, law-abiding.

Maybe. But not certain. In any case there's no going back now to the old monarchy.

A nice example of how mediaeval barbarism outlasts fitful Western attempts to bring modernity and freedom ... Though of course it was (at least in part) the Soviet invasion of late 1979 that set off the current round of endless horrors.

Only in Thailand. I AM the police!!!

Perhaps it could be exposed - and in suitable detail - OUTSIDE Thailand. That could still be quite effective over time.

And where did I mention Oz building nuclear power stations? Get your reading up to scratch. Lies don't help.

My heart bleeds.