tomgreen

7 hours ago, Swiss1960 said:

Since Cigna sold the Thail business to Chubb - which then cacelled all policies by expiration date - Cigna has become... (naming and shaming not allowed), so I recommend everybody who can to stear away from them.

 

@tomgreen: Check reducing the coverage to Thailand / Asia only, that should reduce the premium. If you need to travel, get yourself a cheap travel insurance

Thanks for the comment , when I contacted the Cigna representative I did ask about reducing my insurance coverage area from world wide ( not USA ) to only Asia, the Cigna representative said that they had no expat health insurance that only covers the Asia area, then he commented that I was currently using the only Cigna expat health insurance policy that was available to me , which was hard to believe. 

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I’m now 74 years old and have had a Cigna Global health insurance police for many years and Ive never made a claim .

The Cigna Global insurance policy renewal notice has just arrived and its now 15,490 Baht per month , the policy details are ……...

1. Annual benefit limit: £325,000.00 ( approx. 14,166,750.00 THB )
2. World Wide Excluding USA .
3. Inpatient cover only
4. £1,000.00 deductible I have to pay ( approx.  43,590.00 THB )
5. No out of pocket or cost share .

With the new monthly Cigna cost of 15,490 Baht per month , I’m now finding it a struggle to meet the new monthly cost. I do have some savings in a Thai bank which are primarily used for my 12 month retired visa extension . I do receive a British old age pension , but since I have been permanently living in Thailand for around 20 years , that British pension was frozen back then and has never been increased .

Ive contacted a Cigna representative to see if theres an option where I could downgrade my current Cigna health insurance policy , to a less expensive alternative . The Cigna representative emailed me back and just said that there was no other Cigna private health policy types that can be offered .I was very disappointed the Cigna could not offer me an alternative.

I’m trying to find an option or route to try and reduce the monthly private health insurance payments , but at 74 years old I think I’m going to be out of luck.  

It has crossed my mind about cancelling my current Cigna health insurance altogether and in theory if I do need serious medical attention , then hope that a Thai public hospital may be an option , one other thought has been that if I do need serious medical attention , some how return back to England and seek medical help there , but since I have no friends or address in England or have been back there for 20 years , so I don’t know what sort of reception would await me , health treatment wise. 

Another thought Ive had would be some how temporally return back to England and some how try to convince the government pension department that I’m now living back there and then hopefully get my old age pension amount increased ( which would be a good increase ) and then return back to Thailand and my family .

Another option that may decrease the new Cigna monthly cost would be to increase the deductible I amount I have to pay which is currently approx.  43,590.00 THB , to a much larger amount .

I can just about manage to pay for most non serious day patient medical issues , its the possible more serious medical problems that a 74 year old man like myself could expect in the future .

Ive also racked my brain for ways to try and earn extra money to help in some way , but drawn a blank.  My Thai wife is unable to work due to severe arthritis. 

Sorry for rambling on , but this whole health insurance,  getting old curse is stressing me out. 

Any thoughts, suggestions or recommendations are very welcome. 

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My wife’s widowed cousin recently passed away and she had a dog that she loved dearly.

So we decided to take it back home with us. The dog ( a bitch ) named mare mar looks like its getting on in years and is very loving and friendly. Ive recently noticed that that mare mar is starting to limp a bit on her front right leg . Ive had a look at her leg and it looks like she may be suffering from some form of arthritis ( swelling of a leg joint ) 

In the area where we live there are no vets , the nearest vet is about 175km round trip, and currently my pickup is out of action . So before we make that long journey to the nearest vet , I’m wondering if theres some sort of pain killer that I can give mare mar in the meantime to hopefully ease her pain.

Any advice or suggestions please .

Thanks

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Thanks to every one for your comments , advice and suggestions , its appreciated .🙏.

As pointed out the apps on my old Android mobile ( Android 6 ) may not work correctly if copied over to my new Android phone ( Android 13 ) . So it looks like the best way forward is to down load new apps that are for Android 13,  directly to my new Android phone. 

Again , thanks every one. 👍.

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12 minutes ago, Kildonan said:

I used Samsung "Smart Switch" worked a treat. 

Thanks, both the mobile phone are not Samsung , just wondering if Samsung Smart Switch would still work

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20 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

Firstly, you need to have Google account.

Then when you turn the new phone on for the first time you will be given an option to login to your account and download all your previously installed apps, photos and saved passwords etc.

You are effectively cloning your old phone.

Be aware that to the complete the process can take an hour plus so you need to be patient. 

 

It's all stored in the cloud you know....!

 Cheers - Just a thought , on my old Android mobile phone some of the apps are not originally from the Google Play store , I'm wondering if using the Google account will some how reject non Play store apps and not transfer / clone them .

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30 minutes ago, Pi Tao said:

Google backup.

Thank You 👍

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I'm looking for a way to copy all the apps ( .apk ) on an old phone ( running Android  6 ) over to a new phone ( running Android 13 ) . I don't  really want try and find all the apps that I have installed on my old Android phone and then download them all over again to my new Android phone. So I'm hoping that theres a way ( easy ) to just some how transfer all the apps from my old Android phone over to my new Android phone. 

I'm not that bothered about transferring photographs just the Android apps. 

Just wondering if any one has done this sort of copying over Android apps to another Android phone. 

Any advice / suggestions / recommendations please .

Thanks 🙏

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On 11/5/2023 at 5:30 PM, scubascuba3 said:

I just bought the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G, good phone, went for the 8gb 256gb model, under 9k I think, fits your requirements

Cheers - I'm going to check it out 🙏

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On 11/5/2023 at 3:06 PM, KannikaP said:

Beware if you buy on Lazada or similar. Some vendors advertise Opp0, or Oppo etc. They are fake copies.

Same as Heuwei or Sansumg. 

Thanks, thats some thing I did not know 👍

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On 11/5/2023 at 2:57 PM, bunnydrops said:

I've owned Oppo's in the past. They make good phones. I still use one as a second, must be 7 years old now. Still will hold 70% charge.

Thank you , its good to know 👍

I’m looking to buy a new mobile phone with the general specification of ......

1. Android
2. Lightweight and Slim 
3. Dual Slim ( one slot for a SD memory card )
4. Display - 6 inch or above
5. Decent camera
6 .Budget – 10,000 Baht

I have a problem with my hands holding a heavy mobile phone , so the mobile phones weight and thickness are important to me .

Ive done some quick research and the Oppo Reno 8T (5G) seems to fit my requirements .

Has any one had experience of Oppo mobile phones or can recommend a mobile phone ( any brand ) that has a similar or better specification . 

Thanks .

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask this, but here goes.

I have some friends from England visiting in a few months and they have asked if I could take them to see some elephants at an elephant sanctuary. They are not interested in places where the elephants are used as rides , or chained up. 

They are coming to stay with me at my home in Korat , so locations far off like Chang Mai / Phuket  are due to the distance and time restrictions , not really an option. 

I have thought about taking my friends to Khao Yai National Park , but it could be a hit or miss if we would see any elephants .

So I’m wondering if any one here could suggest an elephant sanctuary .

Thanks

Tom

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2 hours ago, Iron Tongue said:

Find a cannabis store that sells THC in liquid sublingual doses.  You can take the THC in measured drops under the tongue about 1-hour before bedtime, and you'll find yourself sleeping better as the THC works into your system.

Once you figure-out what dosage you need, 5, 10, 15mg etc., you'll be able to control how much and what time before going to sleep. 

Or, you can do the same by eating THC infused gummies, etc.

These are much better methods than smoking the stuff, which I've never really enjoyed.

 

Thanks, the '' Gummies '' sounds ok for a newbie like my self, any recommendations as to make / type / seller .

Tom 

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2 hours ago, Marcous said:

I have insomnia quite bad sometimes, I usually resort to antihistamine tablets but less so since weed has been easily available. 

The problem is weed tends to give me paranoia, so been trying to find the best strain.

Gorilla Glue really works well but recently have found Money Maker, zero paranoia and puts me straight to sleep.

 

You can buy it here, currently out of stock though.

 

https://bkkushhh.com/product/money-maker-m/

 

Many thanks, your link looks interesting , but for a newbie like my self, I would not know what to do with the '' Money Maker '' product once I purchased it.

Tom 

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13 hours ago, jvs said:

I had sleeping problems for many years.

five years ago i tried THC oil and it knocked me out!Great sleep.

Now i nearly use it every night but not in oil form anymore but brownies

or just mixed into melted chocolate.

Now we grow our own plants so i am sure it is organic and healthy.

Like you tomgreen i can not stand smoking it and edibles are just wonderful!

Now i take just enough to make me sleep well and i wake up in the morning without any lingering effects.

It takes awhile before you get your doses right but that does not take long.

 

Thanks, So you just mix the THC oil to make brownies or mix the THC oil into chocolate .

Any chance of recommending a THC Oil that I could buy here in Thailand.

Tom 

I’m having on going problems falling to sleep , Ive already tried some natural supplements like melatonin and  magnesium , but they made no difference  So I thought about trying some form of cannabis to help me sleep better. 

As some one who has never tried any forms of cannabis before , I’m  hoping some one here may be able to suggest , recommend or advise me on the best cannabis option and route to take for a non smoker like my self. 

Thanks , Tom

Thanks every one for your comments and suggestions. I had not thought about covering the ground using plastic sheet , so thats the way I think I’m going to go. I have to now cost the price of clear plastic sheet Vs black plastic , and wondering if using clear plastic sheeting would not show through so much as black plastic sheeting. Then cost putting some sort of stones or slabs on top of the plastic sheeting . I have a feeling with stones the two dogs may start digging and then possibly causing some sort of damage. The other thing I’m wondering about if plastic sheeting is used to cover the ground , would that be a problem when it rains as the area in question is know to flood during heavy rain ,  

Any ideas of other possible things to put on top of the plastic sheeting appreciated. 

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I’m not sure if this is the correct place to post this .

My Thai wife’s retired widowed mother lives alone in a small house that has an enclosed walled back garden and due to her advanced age she is finding it increasing difficult to look after this back garden . The mother is adamant that she does not want any locals coming to her house to help look after her garden . I and my wife live too far away to make regular visits to help out with the garden maintenance.

So I’m looking for ideas to help help the mother out with her garden area. I was thinking that if the garden area was cleared of its existing weeds /  bushes , at first that would make the garden area look a lot better , but in time due to the mother not being able to physically do any work on the garden , the weeds / bushes would then just return and the cycle of having to keep clearing the garden area , would start all over once more.

I’m trying to come up with an option where by the garden area can first be cleared of the existing weeds / bushes , then do some thing to the now cleared garden area that keeps it free of weeds / bushes and looking neat and tidy.

Concreting the whole garden area would be expensive.

Covering the area with some sort of decorative stones , would not stop the weeds/ bushes from returning.

Applying weed killer would kill the existing weeds , but the now dead weeds would still need to be removed on a regular basis .

So basically I’m looking for an idea that will remove the existing weeds / bushes , then keep the garden area maintenance free along with looking neat and tidy.

The garden area is approximately 14 X 15 M 

One other factor is that the mother has 2 Thai dogs who stay out side the house and of course roam around the walled garden area and do their business .

Any ideas, thoughts or suggestions please .

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28 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Save on buying a watch, get married the wife will tell that's for sure.

My darling wife does too much for me already 

I’m not sure if this the right place to ask this . ( moderators please move if necessary ) .

I have been to see a doctor about my bed time sleeping issues and the doctor suggested that I buy and sleep while wearing a Smart Watch .

Has any one had or is currently using a Smart Watch that can track night time sleeping patterns and if so could you please comment on that Smart Watch .

I have an old Android mobile phone that I don’t want to change it , so having that old mobile phone limits me to Smart Watches that can run their apps on Android version 6 . Ive had a look and so far the only brand of Smart Watch that requires Android 7 and above seem to be the range of Fitbit Smart Watches.

Any advice or suggestions very welcome .

.
 

On 2/24/2023 at 12:49 PM, Mickeymaus said:

Perhaps someone has a better idea. But I would create a normal GMAIL account and move all contacts to this. Send the information to your friends but also update all banks and others that have your problem email address. I would pay the 55.50 Baht for a while and also set up mail forwarding to the new email address at the problem email address.

 

I have the same problem with a normal PO Box that I want to cancel after very many years. 

Many Thanks , its appreciated .

3 hours ago, clokwise said:

Do you have access to the Google Workspace admin account for this domain name?

 

If yes, you can login there and migrate your Google Workspace to the Free Edition. This free version is grandfathered to older accounts which signed up years ago under legacy GSuite or GAFYD. I can't 100% tell from your screenshot, but it's very possible your personal account is also the Workspace admin account, which, if that's the case, is a good thing - see my link to Reddit below to find out how to do the migration.

 

If no, you could sign up for an alternate e-mail service provider, such as Microsoft 365. Do you have access to your domain's name server? If yes, then you will be able to migrate, you just need to modify the MX records.

 

If no, then your options may be severely limited. You mentioned the person who setup your account is now deceased. Does that mean you do not own and fully control your domain name? If that's the case, you are probably never getting your email back unless you pay Google at this point.

 

But regardless of the above, if you don't fully control your domain name, and pay for its renewal every year, eventually that domain name is going to expire and your email will stop working entirely - unless you are on top of it and also extremely lucky and can snap it up before a domain name trader does.

 

If what I just wrote is incomprehensible, then I suggest you just move to a regular gmail account now, tell everyone you have a new email asap, and cut your losses and move on.

 

There is an entire reddit sub dealing with this issue. Check out other people's experiences there, or try posting this question over there: /r/gsuitelegacymigration

Hi 

In the 2 screen shots I've attached it looks like I currently have access Google Workspace admin account for my domain.

But I'm not sure where to go to follow your advice ..... ( If yes, you can login there and migrate your Google Workspace to the Free Edition)

Thanks . 

I have a Gmail email account that uses a domain name ( xxxxxx.org ) . This email address was originally set up for me by a now deceased close friend .  I just logged into that Gmail account and its now telling me this …

Your 14 day free trial has ended. Set up billing to continue using Google Workspace Business Starter click here .

When I click the link , it takes me to this …. ( screen shot G1 )

I only use this Gmail email account for personal contacts ( Friends & Relatives ) So if possible I don’t want to subscribe to the yearly Google Workspace Business plan. So Ive not entered any details on the Google Workspace Business Starter form.

But  now I can’t seem to gain access to my normal email tab , where I can read and send emails , it seems to have disappeared .

I'm not sure what to do next , any help appreciated.

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