The Fugitive

Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to post this! You do have to laugh! Our best chance of being accepted would be to die of a heart attack whilst under the age of 80 of course. 'Extremely obese' could be open to interpretation. What is of concern could be how long it takes for our own Embassy to authorise release of our bodies. Recently, a friend of my Mrs's Norwegian husband passed away aged in his forties. His Embassy took eighteen days to issue the paperwork. I suspect that, by then, his cadaver would have been unsuitable for donation?

I haven't used my Smarty SIM outside UK so can't really advise. However, under charges for Thailand it clearly states that receiving SMS is free. I know that receiving SMS is a major hurdle for VOIP services. The only VOIP service that I have found that provides a virtual UK mobile number at very low cost (£12 per annum) and that also receives SMS is 'VYKE'. I've used them for two years without any problems.

Many thanks for your explanation. Most useful information!

'Smarty' SIM (UK) purchased in advance of my departure from Thailand. I use it whilst in the UK hence no roaming required for me. Apparently, it allows unlimited calls and texts to UK from the EU. Data is restricted to 12GB per month however.

Bangkok Bank have my True pre-paid mobile number. I haven't noticed any reduction in my credit balance when they send OTP's whilst I'm abroad. However, I will now keep an eye on that. Thank you.

I move my Thai SIM(s) into my back-up mobile and use an unlimited data, unlimited calls and unlimited texts SIM in my main mobile. I can then use it as a hotspot to run my back-up mobile and laptop whilst abroad.

There is no charge for receiving SMS. Ensure roaming is activated before you depart Thailand. If your Thai number rings, don't answer it. Works perfectly for me from Bangkok Bank to UK.

Last year I paid 150,000 baht for my Thai brother-in-law's funeral. This was out in the sticks, five days of food (cooked by the family), visitors from all over including Bangkok. Then his casket in the refrigeration unit went on the back of an ancient pick-up truck to the nearest temple.

Good point you have raised. Those of us who live alone (whilst in Thailand and maybe also when visiting our home Countries), need to give thought about how to promptly raise the alarm when we pass. I for one wouldn't wish to inflict the usual scenario of a horrible smell and a house full of bluebottles upon those required to break in, report my death and perform an 'extreme' clean up.

When my Mum died 10 years ago in UK, the undertaker asked me if she had a pacemaker fitted? I told him she had. He said that as she had died in hospital the mortuary may have already removed it, however, if they hadn't, he would do so. He told me that they are recycled and used for animals. It crossed my mind that he might have been joking!

Acceptance of your cadaver is 'subject to available space'. If the medical school already have a full freezer your kind offer would be declined. Also, there are time limits for obvious reasons.

Might be helpful; https://chulalongkornhospital.go.th/kcmh/en/body-and-organ-donations/

A friend's daughter wore a blue uniform once per week at her school. It was a 'medics' outfit though.

Always wanted a Lambretta Jet 200 but never owned one! Both the old and new Vespa's look great IMHO. In your opinion, could the smaller wheel size of 'traditional' scooters have been a contributory factor?

Do you remember the news item about cremating fat people in the West? Apparently, molten fat leaks out of the cremators and floods the crematoria operators room. Absolutely a health and safety hazzard!

No need to pay in advance. Recent thread about economical cremations. Apparently, temple will cremate (only) for 10,000 baht. What puts the price up is the number of guests, number of days and amount of food and drink you provide beforehand. However, that's up to you (or your Mrs) as they say.

Who knows? Just been reading that cremation became legal in UK in 1884. Apparently, alkaline hydrolysis is presently legal in UK although, so far, has only been used for the purposes of testing if the resulting solution is safe to discharge into the public sewerage system.

Apparently, the very best use for a human body would be to make fertiliser pellets. It's done with animals. However, I understand that ethical reasons prevent humans being processed in this way.

Pleased that it's actually going ahead. Unfortunately, many of us won't be around to benefit.

Just checked their website. They have a Thailand customer service number and an email address; 02-118-8888 or [email protected] . If you're sure they can't/won't allow you to buy extra luggage weight via email then you should sign up for a free trial with Skype; 200 minutes of free calls to both mobiles and landlines in Thailand; https://www.skype.com/en/international-calls/Thailand

Bought all my air conditioners in-store at Big C. As they are next door to Global we naturally compare both. Big C have always included delivery and installation. Global delivery only, installation extra. On all occasions Big C, when asked, had units on special offer that weren't on display. When we offered to buy two at once we negotiated a further discount.

Absolutely! In most cases the remainder of the charred bone fragments go into an earthernware pot and buried at a strategic point in the grounds of the temple. We were keeping four cremation urns at home but have now purchased a column at our nearest temple where they now reside.

Try this; https://chulalongkornhospital.go.th/kcmh/en/body-and-organ-donations/

Exactly! My Thai Mrs will not agree to my bequeathing my corpse. She has two uncles who are monks which also influences how I will be despatched. She's taken out www.ThaiLife.com life insurance polices upon myself and another uncle. She also had one for her mother who died last year.

Thanks for this. It's going on all the time so the locals are well versed and like to be prepared. The biggest variable seems to be the duration and number of guests. A couple of friends of my Mrs were recently bereaved. Their alcoholic farang husbands left no money for their funerals and they had to find in the region of 150,000 baht each.