Eastender

Is it connected to both hot and cold supplies, or just cold. I'm guessing the latter. Since I bought a new machine in the UK which only takes in cold water, if I select a cotton wash it takes a lot longer then my previous machine as it has to heat up the water. But even then it's just over an hour. Three hours does sound very excessive!

Hi Aussie,

I guess my degree would be equivalent to 3 years full time. The English subjects are 120 points out of 300 total, not 150 total. And to gain an 'English Degree' with the Open University means also taking English Literature, which I would find very heavy going, and also taking extra humanities subjects at level 1. For now I can use points awarded from previous study (electronics) to cover level 1 for the mixed degree. So I agree with what your saying, but I'm in my 40s now, working full time with a wife and baby so just trying to find a relatively easy option.

I wonder though, I'm sure an 'English Degree' would open up more jobs, but would those jobs pay better, or is it only the International Schools which require proper teaching qualifications that pay better?

Thanks,

Robin.

Thanks for the encouraging replies. My present experience is in supporting my company's own products, but I'm gradually gaining more experience of applications and need to build on this to increase my value. Interesting to know you're both in the same industry, I'll keep that in mind!

Hi,

Yes, your understanding is correct - no major, a mixture of English related subjects, astronomy, statistics and something else yet to be decided! The English subjects make up 120 of the 300 points and also make up the qualification of Diploma in English Language Studies. So I receieve two certificates (diploma and degree) for no extra study!

Thanks for your comments above. I guess that's the bottom line, a potential employer can see the degree transcript and so know that it's English related.

Just to clarify - I will graduate with a Bachelors Degree , though in mixed subjects, i.e. no single discipline but still a real degree + the Diploma in English Language Studies. I'm wondering if this Diploma will give me access to teaching jobs further than just the degree, given that it's in a subject very close to teaching/learning English.

What exam or qualification is best for a Thai national as evidence to a Thai employer of their ability to speak, understand, read and write English. Is it the TOEIC? I'm thinking here of my wife who is now living with me in the UK, not formerly studying English, but becomming more fluent. When, or before, we return to Thailand she would like to gain a qualification to help her find work, perhaps in an office or in tourism.

Thanks,

Robin.

Hi,

I'm presently studying with the O.U. (Open University - well known in the UK, for those who can only study part time from home due to work or other circumstances) to gain a degree in mixed subjects, called an Open Degree, and a diploma in English Language Studies. A diploma = approx. 40% of degree study time. I wonder if any one can tell me if the diploma will be recognised in Thailand? Is it likely to give me access to any more positions/schools than without?

Thanks,

Robin.

I'm curious to know if there are many expats who work permanently in Thailand in the oil, gas or liquid flow industries?

I'm presently working for a UK company which provides measurement instrumentation for liquid and gas density, and viscosity. Typical applications are in refineries, oil and gas distribution, breweries, factories. I'm gradually building up experience in this field, mostly office based but also globally visiting customer sites.

Having lived and worked in Thailand for a number of years as an English teacher, now back in the UK with a Thai partner and daughter, we hope to return to live in Thailand in the future, say 3 to 5 years from now. Previously I thought I could only work in Thailand again as an English teacher, but since becomming more involved in my present job, and also aware that there are a number of refineries in Thailand, I'm now wondering if I could work in this field in Thailand?

Hence I'm interested to know if many others are working in this field, whether they are employed locally, or by overseas companies, or perhaps as self employed specialists/advisors? I'm also looking for any advice to achieving this goal - what direction or experience should I be working on now?

Thanks for any help,

Robin

I was going to make a lame joke about the exchange rate being 1 UK to 60 Thai - but decided not to bother. (Or did I?)

I live in the UK with my Thai wife. She has many Thai friends in our home town, there seems to be a large community here. Of the women in the group a minority met their farang husbands through the sex industry - I don't know the details, my wife's not interested and wouldn't tell me anyway - that's their past. Of this minority I would say all are loving faithful caring wives. And it would be easy to reply that I might not know what they're doing behind their husbands back, but that's not the case as we all see each other so often.

Anyway, you know the girl and can be the only judge here.

I'll be taking my 18 month old daughter for a long holiday in Thailand. Is cow's milk readily available in places like 7-11? If not, what is?

Thanks

While next in Thailand me, my wife and 18 month baby want to fly south for about 4 days and are looking for suggestions of resorts or hotels we could pre-book online. Near a beach, with a pool, less than B1200 per night, easy to reach from an airport. Wouldn't even mind a comfy beach hut in a backpackers resort.

I will google it, but first hand recommendations are nice. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Robin.

Scott. Not sure where you're from. I'm presently studying for a degree with the UK's Open University (distance learning, but very reputable - produce a lot of educational programs on TV, do research etc). Have you ever had any problems verifying people who have studied with the OU?

I don't want to find that after studying hard in the evenings, while working and raising a very young daughter, that my degree is not recognised. Seems to me it should be worth double.

I would like to know what the general practice or custom is for extended family .

I plan on getting married to a Thaii Lady ,which has a couple of younger children. I have no problem in supporting her ,her mother, and the children.

What is the rule on the rest of her family she has 5 brother's and 2 sister's and her mother is seperated or divorced.

Am I expected to support them all ? Her five brother's are all healthy and are all over the age of twenty and except for two of them they all live close to Bangkok.

When we go shopping she expect me to pay the grocery bills for the children that belong to her brother"s and stay with her at her mother's house

I am sure you are aware that Thai family leave there children at Mother;s Place .

What would be my proper position. All comments from someone that is in a simaliar situation or can advise what would be best Thanks

The general rule amongst Thais is that whoever has the better job / income / status will help the others - help, not support them.

As you mentioned food shopping, that's pretty cheap really, not like buying gold etc, when staying with the in-laws I will happily pay for the food shoping, for extended family too. My wife's family are very good to me and I would gladly help them out.

My situation is a little different. I live in the UK, my wife (Thai) works too in the UK so when we visit Thailand we have a little more money (compared to them) to splash about - and like someone mentioned above it's for show too, my wife doesn't want to appear a looser. But what I've found is that since she's been here she has a much better understanding of UK cost of living vs Thailand. We are not well off, but do help some members of her family mainly by paying for education... college for a nephew and teacher training for a sister. Sometimes it's me who is trying to convince my wife to give the money!!!

I've heard stories of extended family becoming lazy sods but haven't experienced it yet. When I was last in Thailand my mother in law was laid up with metal pins coming out of her leg after a motorbike accident. Now she's back farning rice though my wife and her sisters are trying to tell her to stop. Her son is working on building sites in BKK.

Make a judgement from what you know of her family. It's not all bad, don't fear the worst.

By the way - can you not say 'Thai lady' - I hate that expression . Why Thai lady but Dutch, American, Brazilian woman? In my opinion it demeans them and creates even more east/west seperation. Let's try and stop the perception that they are some third human species.

What's wrong with you all, so many assumptions, give him a break.

My advice is, if you want to marry, just ask her. In recent years, and as she's previously been married, it's not so important to follow tradition in asking her parents - in my view at least.

Good luck.

Thanks for the replies. I'm likely to be staying in east Bangkok, near the Mall Bangkapi. They probably have reels in the dept. store there as I remember they have a large sports section, but are there any specialist fishing shops near that area? Does the reel need to match the rod or are they all interchangeable?

Thanks again,

Robin

My (Thai) sister in law enjoys river fishing and has hinted that she would like a new reel. I will be visisitng soon from the UK. Is there anything to gain by buying one in the UK for her? Are the better brands cheaper in the UK? Whether I buy in UK or Thailand, what is a good brand cause I know nothing about fishing?

Thanks,

Robin.

Will be spending 3 weeks in Thailand with our 18 month year old daughter from UK. Any advice for her, e.g. mozzy protection etc?

Thanks,

Robin

I've found, after wasting much time in shops and departure louges, that the more expensive watchs are the least attractive. When in Asia I like buying cheap copies and always check out the market stalls but, for example, have never seen a Rolex (copy) I would want to wear.

It's been about 5 years since I was travelling Thailand. Now returning with (Thai) wife and 18 month old daughter. Besides staying witht her family we'll have 4 of 5 days during which time we want to head south to a resort or island. I've been to Krabi, Ko Lanta and Ko Pang Ngan, but that was as a budget traveller.

First, any suggestions of a convenient suitable destination - was thinking of Krabi or Ko Lanta, ideally a beach bungalow or small resort - not into big hotels and still don't have a big budget. Need to consider we're travelling with an infant.

Secondly, though it would be nice to have flexibility I guess we need to book internal flights well before, especially as we're going over xmas. Any advice there?

Thanks for your help and sorry if it's so general.

Robin.

My wife, Thai, is now living and working in the UK and has taken my surname. We would like to open bank accounts when next in Thailand on holiday.

Are there any restrictions on her opening an account in her married name? Would having a bank account with her British surname cause any restrictions on her buying land and/or property in the future? If so, should she use I.D. with her maiden name and pretend to be living in Thailand?

As I can't open a bank account in my name, could we open a second joint account in both names? What advantages would this give us?

Thanks for any help.

Apologies for being off topic here, but I want to repsond to some earlier posts. I'm presently studying English with the Open University and part of the course discussed the 'me and my boyfriend' vs 'my boyfriend and I' issue, and state both are perfectly acceptable (course U210). In fact this course left me realising that grammar and spelling are not as important as we like to think, though of course there should be a standard so we can agree what to teach.

My understanding is, and please someone correct me if I'm wrong, that long haul flights are usually fully booked and thereofre don't have doiscounted seats and unlike European flights can't lay on an extra flight. Therefore the last minute deals dont apply - but like I say, I could be wrong. Suggest you start a new thread asking that same question.

Hi,

I'm trying to book a ticket for my Thai sister-in-law flying BKK to London return. I'm trying to book and pay from the UK.

Dates: depart BKK June 27th, depart London July 19th or 20th.

Firstly I'm surprised at cost, best price found was on Eva air's own website, 44,700 Baht. Another problem is that EVA and Thai airways own websites state that the person paying by credit card must also be travelling - as their UK offices are closed I can't discuss this until Monday.

Many good companies such as West East travel don't sell tickets in the UK for people starting in BKK. They told me it was cheaper to book from Thailand so contacted STA in Bangkok, cheapest was still 48,000 and I couldn't book from UK with credit card.

Seems the only way will be to transfer funds to sister-in-law and she book direct with Thai/EVA or through STA.

Any better suggestions?

My wife had the same visa with 'no recourse to public funds'. She's registered with the NHS, has used this (doctors and hospital) many times, we've had a kid here in the UK, she's had maternity pay, and now we get child benefit and famlily tax credits. Some done in my name and some in hers, not sure if that mattered but I explained her visa situation to the relevent offices on the phone and they advised us. So, no probs. In some cases what matters is that at least one of the partners is a UK citizen, not both.

After re-reading your original post - not sure about library, but I would expect it's free, but I'm sure you will have to pay council tax. There's no escape!!!