The Fugitive

Went to; National Science and Media Museum (as it is now called) in Bradford, UK when they opened the first IMAX cinema in Europe in 1983. Saw two films; one about atoms and the other about the Space Shuttle. Apparently 70mm film running horizontally. Very impressive.

If not used for 15 years then you obviously don't need it. However, if any of your other accounts were closed would the Nationwide one become of use again? I would be inclined to transfer some money in/out on a monthly basis to avoid the unlikely possibility of it being closed.

Is it too late for you to save the bank account referred to? Santander UK wrote to my UK address and, as I wasn't there to respond, suspended my on-line access. The next stage, so I'm told, would have been to close my account. I explained by telephone that I was only temporarily abroad, albeit for an extended period. They asked for my future intentions of how I would use the account and then agreed to reinstate my on-line access.

Fantastic outcome!

Thanks for the up-date!

Go regularly and stay at LK President or LK The Empress with Mrs and various family. 17 year old neice was impressed with LK Metro and took photos of several establishments. Must admit I don't like it as much now that the Golf Club (cafe/restaurant) has been remodelled.

Thanks for the info. My Mrs deals with our local ThaiLife agent. Up to now, as far as I know, she only has two Life Insurance plans with them (for her Uncle and myself). ThaiLife paid out without difficulty when her Mother died last year.

Thanks for taking the trouble to report!

Great scheme!

I was used to having cereal for breakfast in UK. Since being an adult haven't put milk in tea or coffee. Don't buy cereal in Thailand hence no need for milk. None of Thai family consume it either.

In UK a child of a neighbour was told by her own dentist she needed nine fillings. Her mother took her to my dentist for a second opinion. No treatment was necessary. That is typical in my experience. My Thai dentist suggested he could replace my front tooth fillings which are many years old and discoloured. I asked him if they were still 'sound'. He admitted they are, the only benefit would be cosmetic. Of course, I declined.

UK NHS dentists have been ripping-off patients (& NHS of course) since it's creation. I personally have had many unnecessary fillings with shoddy workmanship and read of horror stories of children's jaws being premanently damaged. I too have had good experiences with my Thai dentist. Treatment has been professional, painless and most economical.

Thanks for your information. The extensive medical cover plus 1,000 per day whilst a hospital in-patient is an extremely attractive feature!

Exactly! If I died during year 3 it's maximum gain. If during year 19 it's maximum loss. Best to hold on in case of the latter until 20 and get premiums back plus bonus. You have to laugh!

I'm definitely way over the top here at 2,800 baht per month. However, with pay-out of 300,000 upon death maybe it isn't so bad?

Unbelievable! Both how a plan like that operates and why people take them out? My Mrs was worried because several of her friends have been left in debt when their falang husbands died from alcoholic poisoning. They had spent all their savings and ended up living (or rather boozing) from day to day on their pensions. I worked out that according to the policy she has taken out on me, if I die in year 0 or 1 it's a total loss. Between year's 2 and 9 she would make a profit. Between 10 and 19 it would be a loss. The plan ends (matures?) at year 20. However, the refunded premiums plus bonus would be a loss.

Good idea! The other day I was looking into organ donation. Signed up in UK with no problem. However, Thailand has a cut-off age of 65.

Same as at home. Paupers funeral paid out of public funds. I've read somewhere that a hospital mortuary gets cleared out after 30 days if bodies remain unclaimed.

Thanks for this. Maybe something lost in translation with me. I've never looked into a 'Funeral Plan' as they seem to be termed in the UK. The three policies my Mrs took out appear to all be the same, with a twenty-year term. Does that mean they can't be funeral plans? Surprisingly, the insurance agent said that my medical history was irrelevant. Or maybe she just said that to sell the policy? My Mrs got paid out without any difficulty when her Mum died.

My Mrs had three (now down to two) life insurance policies with; www.ThaiLife.com Policies taken out with a local insurance agent who also collects the monthly premiums.

My brother-in-law died last year, total cost £3,500 GBP. Mother-in-law died a few weeks later, total cost £4,800 GBP. My Mrs had taken out life insurance to provide for her Mum. My brother-in-law's wife was unable to find the money so I paid for his.

Many thanks for mentioning the life insurance! My Mrs took it out upon her mother, her uncle and myself. 20 year term, annual premiums £760. Pay out on death £7,142. I'm aiming to survive the twenty year term, after which you get all your premiums returned plus a bonus of £1,428 totalling £16,628. If you die within the first two years you get nothing. I'll have you know she got a free continental quilt and an umbrella for each policy!

I think they call them 'columns'. We had two deaths (my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law) within a few weeks last year. Mother-in-law was keeping four cremation urns in her house so we bought a column which was installed at our nearest temple and now all six have been placed inside it.

First time I went to a dentist in Thailand I was asked if everything was OK at my last annual medical? At the age of 66 I'd never had one. I answered "yes". I assumed it was an American thing and my dentist believed all falangs had them. I suppose it depends upon your age, medical history, whether you need to take regular medication etc. From reading your most informative report it does sound as though it's a money making racket. No doubt there is (eventual) benefit for some in an annual 'MOT' but I don't consider myself at the stage where it's warranted. Maybe better safe than sorry though. Are there any suitable high street clinics locally that offer thorough health checks (vitals, full blood count analysis and physical examination?).

a) Pleasant beaches and islands easily accessible and affordable b) Coffee and cheese/ham toasties from 7/11 c) Economical and reliable water and electricity supply (ass pistols are wonderful) d) Great value internal flights, rail and coach services. e) Warm weather (sometimes a little too hot but you can’t have everything).