Speedhump

Some immigration offices expect an updated TM30 in your passport. In my town I've had the same TM30 in my passport for 8 years, the one I was given when I took my longstay visa, they are quite happy even though I've been overseas a few times.

I never use tuk tuks as I can't stand the often abrasive attitude of their drivers at the rank. I'd probably be the same if I had to deal with tourists all day long. I'll pay the same for a Grab taxi anyway, as tuk tuk drivers 'negotiating skills' are too often 'get as much as this mug will pay' and I can't be arsed with them.

Really? That's good. It means how a person believes they are perceived by others. It may mean not backing down in a confrontation, it may mean honouring debts, or even keeping one's high status, it may even involve lying to avoid being exposed in some weakness or mistake, although being exposed in a lie would probably mean loss of face anyway. But 'face' does not simply mean lying.

I've had the same TM30 slip stapled in my passport since 2017. I've flown outside Thailand three times since then and once internally, and neither Suvarnabhumi nor Don Mueang immigration have questioned it. Hua Hin immigration either when I extend my O/A visa every year or do 90 day reports. Doesn't seem a thing. I have a blue house book but have never been asked to produce it, ever, for anything. I never had an I/O house visit either, I feel ignored. 😅

That is not the meaning of the Asian concept of 'face' at all. 😕

What a weird thing to post in a 'Thailand newsletter'.

I disagree. Refunds just about always credited to my Thai bank within 2-5 days after I send the goods back via Post Office.

A good point. A friend's daughter worked there for a week or two and decided it wasn't for her, . I do sometimes, depends on the change I get. Not always though. At least they have aircon! 🤣 I give Grab food delivery bikes 40 baht because I live 8kms outside of town. And I try not to order in wet weather too. It must be a grim trip. Merry Christmas.

I completely disagree with your meanspiritedness. Punishing poor people is the only outcome of your view. Merry Christmas, goodwill to all.

Oh dear. You really are absurd.

As I mentioned to another reply, they earn tiny money for working all day in hot sun. 20 or 30 Baht is nothing to me once or occasionally twice a week. In the 1960s my dad, a lowly London bus driver, used to tip petrol station attendants too. I learned compassion from him. Try it.

They earn tiny money for working all day in hot sun. 20 Baht is nothing to me once or occasionally twice a week.

Because I always tip? Ok I admit I don't tip for bad service. Other than that I believe the word applies to you, unless you can expound on your very silly comment....

What rubbish you talk. I actually always tip, massage, petrol stations, everywhere. My POINT which you entirely missed in your rush to spew invective was that the tip is not to hope you get better service next time, it's to show appreciation for the service you received. Idiot.

Eurovision has always been very kitchy, maybe we're just following thr trend this year. He's a useful idiot on Palestine for sure though. Wife and I sat in front of Years and Years on a long flight ages ago. Very nice bunch.

Don't lose an acrylic. :)

Pay generously for more than one hour to get one hour? Every time? That's your answer?...

He fired three shots into the ground? So he was angry but not homicidal. The problem isn't the anger, which many of us often feel, it's the terrifying availability of sidearms in Thailand. Close the story.

A 17 year old Thai probably looked like a 14 year old European. Not a good man.

My friend was a tomboy in her 20s but grew out of it. She still admires a female form though, I'm sure she could be tempted. She's very feminine with a very pretty face. Some will be bi, some lesbian. Takes all sorts in this world.

I use an old version of the PC program YNAB (You Need a Budget). Later versions have followed the trend of subscription, but the program is much simpler than Quicken and tne version I have does not need any updating. You could trawl the Internet for the last pre-subscription version (it went sub only from version 3), but I can't find it on any websites. I know a simple workaround to use ver.3 without subscription, but obvs I can't tell you by posting on the forum....

Pattaya I can't speak for, but I moved to Thailand with my English wife 7 years ago because we saw how good the life was living just a few kilometers outside a decent sized town; a step-down in luxury from our 13 years in Dubai, but a great place to retire peacefully. Red tape is nothing new to me as a longtime expat, people who consider it a major hurdle to a peaceful life are blinkered. Thailand is quite wide open as far as law/regulations go, I understand, but that can work both for and against you if you understand that and are prepared to use it. What's not to like, the Thais I know fairly well are all very nice too, open, I'm pretty sure I judge character well as I rarely if ever got taken for a fool my whole life and still have close friends from my schooldays who've never let each other down. Anyone I don't trust will stay forever on my watchlist. 😁

Of course it's a thing. People are stupid. The queers joining a pro ceasefire (pro Hamas) rally in London were attacked by the Muslims at the protest.

By sheer weight of numbers reckless Thai food delivery bikes hold the most danger for potential road accidents. Enough said.

My wife of 45 years died this year and my dog a year before that. I'm not interested in rebuilding a different life. Death holds no fear.