The Fugitive

The best driver I know is a lady schoolteacher friend of my Mrs. She's only 4 feet 4 inches tall! The other day she reversed her Toyoto Vios into the space we'd left outside my Mrs's shop in one manoeuvre. I couldn't believe how she could judge that the space was big enough let alone reverse into it in one go. I had to find a six inch ruler to measure the gaps. There were 5 inches at the front and 7 inches at the rear.

That is my greatest fear. We only have the basic 600 baht motor insurance. If I or my wife caused a moto rider to suffer a brain injury requiring treatment and care for the remainder of their life we would really be in trouble. Plus, I'd never forgive myself.

People become totally switched off from reality when driving. That seems to be an unfortunate fact wherever you are.

Couldn't agree more!

True. I was totally thinking heart attack or hypo glycaemic episode.

I haven't driven for 10 years. I only have a U.K. driving licence. No interest in obtaining a Thai one. Lack confidence and fear the repercussions should I injure or kill anyone.

Thanks for reminding me. My Mrs chooses her glasses from market stalls. I doubt she has ever had an eye examination involving testing pressure and taking photographs of the eyeball.

Think you are correct. The guy was well to the left, sort of emerging from between parked vehicles.

To be fair, my Mrs can spot a parking space where I can't see one. Then manoeuvre into it when I wouldn't even attempt it. Sounds as if you can expect a vet's bill and to gain another pet. At least the bill will be less than back home! Good on your Mrs for taking responsibility.

Good to know for buying reconditioned. Many thanks!

Thanks for that. Good to know before I start fiddling!

The other evening with my Thai Mrs driving (as always) I said to her; "At least you didn't run him over". She replied "who, what are you talking about?". I told her there was a guy crawling across the road. She said she hadn't seen him. I asked her if she wasn't going to stop so we could offer assistance if necessary? However, 'the lady wasn't for turning'. Two points; if she wasn't watching the road ahead what was she watching? She must have assumed that the guy was 'under the influence' and/or someone else would notice and stop. The road was well lit and there were several vehicles behind us. I'll admit I'm hopeless in emergencies but if I could speak Thai I would have called the First Responders. Definite lack of concern IMHO.

Something has definitely changed, at least at my IO. A different squad leader this year for sure. Previously, I've elected for the VIP service where you rang for an appointment, gave them your photocopies and sat on the chair for 5 seconds only for the deskcam photo. They did the TM7 completion for you and there was no nonsense about signing every photostat page or finding extra things to make you run about.

They like to keep us 'on our toes'. Did mine yesterday too. Although I had removed the last 90 day report confirmation (I've been home so it didn't apply) the squad leader didn't query it nor did she request a bank statement on this or on future occasions. What she did do was unstaple both my 'Receipts of Notification Of Address Changes' dated 2017 and 2018 and told me to go get photocopies of these. Something never previously requested. I can't think of any valid reason why these photocopies would be relevant to today's application for retirement extension?

Thanks for the most relevant and helpful info. Maybe that will be what I'm due to get next but who knows!

All depends upon what you are used to and your expectations. When I was working in U.K. I went to work and worried about what I would find when I got home i.e. theft, burglaries and vandalism. I gave up my car because of the stress of finding access to my house blocked and having to seek out and argue/plead with neighbours and their visitors to please allow me to get to my house. Then there were the roaming gangs of teenagers out until the early hours plus drunks and other strange people causing trouble, looking for fights etc. Now, I can sit inside or outside without worries, nobody bothers me. True, I have had a moto stolen and things disappear occasionally from outside but I put it down to very poor people and it doesn't bother me much.

Agree it's very good!

I like to get my money's worth out of my devices too! My Huawei GR5 2017 mobile 'phone will only update to Android version 7. Several apps won't now instal on it. My Mrs likes to 'treat me' by buying reconditioned technology from her friend who has a mobile 'phone shop. In June she bought me an iPhone 8 Plus. Fortunately, at present, it seems to do everything I need although, of course, it's single SIM. I would have chosen an Android dual SIM 'phone for myself.

Too true unfortunately. I prefer to use Windows/Linux laptops (14 inch seems a good compromise on size to me) to tablets. Neo banks don't seem to like web functionality though, offering their services via mobile app only.

The fact the girl was counting upon her fingers made me think that he was 'on the cusp' and his ban was due to expire in a matter of a day or two?

If he was denied entry I doubt he'd give up!

We were going to share a taxi because it was 9pm and the Pattaya buses stop at 8pm. I waited outside the area where I could see him seated with several others. He saw me and waved me on. Hence I never found out if they let him in or not. Suspect he must have got his arithmetic wrong?

Returning to Thailand after spending 3 months in U.K. I got talking to a guy on the plane who had been banned for 5 years for overstay. He said he wanted nothing more in the whole World than to be back in Thailand. He mentioned he had found an apartment in Pattaya for 5,000 baht per month, same price as previously. When we got to immigration at Suvarnabhumi I let him go ahead of me. The officer stared at her screen for some time before counting on her fingers. She then called another officer who led the poor guy away. You just have to feel sorry for some people.

Helpful information thank you. Very recently there was a thread running about Roojai Motor Insurance being unbelievably economical but the consensus of opinion was that the company is OK. With your information in mind, I just checked their criteria for Personal Accident Insurance. Unfortunately, it only goes up to age 65. Their Cancer Insurance is open to new customers up to 60 and renewable until you reach 65.

Nobody should have to suffer toothache. Hope you soon get sorted. I was experiencing pain from a previously crowned tooth. X-Ray revealed infection. My dentist gave me the choice of a root canal or extraction. She did state that a lot of work had already been done on the tooth and I remembered that the crown had been fitted over 40 years previously. I decided upon extraction. No further problem.