AlexRich

I'd consider a 3 year Post Office Growth Bond at 5%? It is likely that as inflation falls so will interest rates, so this is a decent return over a 3 year period with the guarantee of return of principal. There are foreign banks that may offer more, but this one feels more secure to me.

Personally, I wouldn't do that. Tenants are a pain to deal with and you may not get decent ones. Thais also like to buy new condos so it might not be as easy to sell if you choose to. You might end up with a property you can't get rid of, or a development that is not well maintained. If you are investing long term then tracker funds are a good option, although they will fluctuate year to year. A medium term bond will provide a guaranteed income and return of capital on expiry. A combination of both might serve your objectives more. If you rent in Thailand you have the option of upping and moving sticks whenever you feel like it.

Lefty? Is that your go-to trope for anyone who highlights how corrupt and criminal Donald Trump is? I'm centre-right politically, but more interested in the truth than blindly supporting a political party. Would you also describe Dick Chaney's daughter as a leftie? I've no love for Clinton either, she's as corrupt as Trump. I don't blame Jane Doe for not going through with the legal action. When the Vice President (Pence) doesn't even trust his own Secret Service detail, no one can really be guaranteed safety.

Was his accuser subject to death threats? It only fails the sniff test because you are a Trump supporter. You probably believe he had nothing to do with the 7 Jan insurrection? Unfortunately, you fail the sniff test.

Harvey Weinstein's accusers left it quite a while ... the rich an powerful have the means to make threats and follow them up. Do you think poor Harvey was wrongly convicted?

The Guardian, 5 November 2016, article by Alan Yuma's: "attorney, Lisa Bloom, cited "numerous threats" against her client" Of course, her lawyer must have made that up, because a guy who salivates over his own daughter would never do something that vile ... ? Or would he?

The "honest as the day is long" Thai story ...

I'd recommend a book called "The Spider" by Barry Levine. There's a few passages about Trump and Epstein. Here's a passage from the book: "According to a 2016 lawsuit, which was later dropped, a woman going by the name Katie Johnson alleged that the future president had raped her at one of numerous parties in Jeffrey Epstein's Manhattan home in 1994 when she was only thirteen" Katie Johnson is a pseudonym. Yet Trump followers will ignore this and focus on organised paedophilia in the basement of a Pizza parlour in Washington DC (a restaurant that doesn't have a basement!).

Stephen Hawking is on that list? Did he interfere with someone's black hole?

Credit to the local studs ... for being able to get wood over an old ugly munter.

If a deposit is meaningless then why not pay it only when you take possession of the property? Why pay one at all before entering the property? The reason is that the deposit secures the property and gives the landlord an incentive not to rent to anyone who comes after you. Unfortunately, if you don't proceed with what you have agreed you risk losing it.

Many red flags, unfortunately. You have already raised a family, why take responsibility for someone else's? You state that you are "not in her league" - you've already put her on a pedestal. That's a mistake. You already acknowledge that a big part of the attraction is financial ... another red flag. By all means go over and see her, but don't leave your brain at home. For the first time in decades you are free from obligations, so why not spend a few years in Thailand and have a bit of fun ... you've earned it?

I think it makes sense to have insurance, and some money on the side for any eventuality. The concern is that you are admitted to hospital unconscious and they cannot find any evidence that you are insured ... so you end up in a public facility, which might result in a poor outcome. I recall a controversial You Tuber in Chiang Rai, who was often accused of being an e-beggar (Graham?). His girlfriend was called Pie. He posted a video about a heart condition and sought to raise some money for treatment and was accused by all and sundry of lying. He ended up on the operating table with a travelling surgeon, and never survived. He stood a better chance in Bangkok, but was uninsured. You really need insurance to ensure the best possible treatment.

Head down to Boyz Town ... you'll get a friendly welcome.

I don't agree. If you gave over a deposit you are implicitly committing that you are renting the property for an agreed period. If you don't go through with that commitment you avoid having to pay the full length off the rental, but you forfeit the deposit. The landlord lost the option of renting to other interested parties, so the deposit compensates him for the inconvenience. Whether he owns the apartment outright or not is irrelevant.

If he signed a rental agreement then you are losing out on 12 month's rent. And as you are now faced with advertising the apartment for the rent you are entitled ... morally and legally ... to keep the deposit.

Why not try a hotel ... a luxury hotel like the Hilton ... they must have a quiet bar where you won't be disturbed by loud music or bar girls?

I loved staying in Chiang Rai. The only issue that I have is pollution ... I really couldn't stay there for a full year. Take that away and it would be my favourite place to stay in Thailand.

I liked Pattaya when I stayed there for a few months. It is famous for sleaze and degeneracy but all of that can be easily avoided. There are plenty of good malls, great restaurants and cinemas. The people are friendly and I've never felt unsafe there. I'm not much for alcohol so I'm hardly ever in bars ... so I managed to steer clear of the more unsavoury expats. The guys at the hotel gym that I used were mostly retired professionals ... not what I was expecting. So better than I thought it would be.

In the UK, yes. You need to file this problem under "This Is Thailand" unfortunately.

It's a pity you're not in Pattaya, because there is around 10,000 + ex SAS guys propping up the bars, who'd have loved to join you.

Someone's been on the Chang? The Russian army have shown themselves to be third rate, and not the first class force that they claimed in their propaganda. The Europeans could ramp up armaments very quickly if required, and Russia would not be a match for them, with or without the US military.

If HMRC don't send you an annual return, you then only have to complete one if you have UK taxable income (presuming you are a tax resident of Thailand?). Unfortunately, they send me one annually, so I have to complete it, even though my UK taxable income is below the tax threshold. If I don't, even though I don't owe tax, they would impose fines and penalties. I mention this because some people might not be aware of it. As for double taxation agreements, they work okay if the UK tax is equal to or higher than the Thai tax. However, if the Thai tax is 30% and the UK tax is 20%, you might find that Thailand is entitled to claim the 10% difference. Again, when this matter is clearly outlined in Thai tax law, this is something that expats need to get advice on.

In the UK if the revenue (HMRC) send you a tax return you have to complete and send it on time irrespective of whether you have a tax liability or not. There have been numerous news articles about people being sent £1,500 fines and penalties for failing to send a return, when they had no tax liability in the first place! One guy was homeless! I'm afraid that expats have plenty to worry about, irrespective of what is said in the op piece above. Perhaps the smartest move for the mobile expat is to live under 180 days in Thailand and the rest of the time in a low tax jurisdiction. For those with families and jobs it is much more difficult.

The actress Kathaleeya McIntosh is half Scottish/half Thai ... she's a very pretty lady but I'd say she looks more Thai than European. Her brother is also an actor and he looks closer to Thai also. Both are attractive people and much loved by Thais.