scorecard

"I believe you are mistaken, you cannot go overseas several times in 2 years as you suggest, and if you are going to quote this, you really should back it up with some link (respectfully). Below is copy from the legislation, plus the link itself. " I'm not mistaken. When in Oz I called the toll free C'link 'older aussies line' and they confirmed it's true. This exact point has been covered many times before on ThaiVisa/AseanNow and many others people have confirmed it's true from their own experience. Anybody can call the C'link International toll free number and ask. But always be careful what you say / reveal. As with many gov't agencies nowadays all calls are recorded.

"So if they come back to Australia say at age 65 I think it's the dole they can only claim for that 2 year period ? " You can apply for the OAP the day you return to Australia. It's now processed by the C'link computers in Canberra. Not processed at local C'link offices and local offices can't interfere with the processing. But local C'link office can tell you what progress is being made. I was lucky I applied at a time when the number of applications was down and I got approved in 17 days. Backpay in the bank next day. However I'm aware of another guy who returned and tried to play games with C'link. Tried to insist local C'link office process his application. Not possible, and he only gave Canberra part answers to their requests for more details, meaning more questions. took 3 months to get final approval. He got 3 months backpay. If you're renting you must give C'link copies of rental agreements etc., as part of the proof that you are 're-establishing a home in Oz'. From these documents C'link automatically calculate if you are entitled to 'Rent Assistance RA'. The RA entitlement kicks in fairly readily and if the RA is approved it starts with the OAP backpay payment. No need to make any separate application for the RA. - Can apply for the OAP on the day you arrive in Oz. Or later. - Building the 2 years starts from the day you physically arrive in OZ. The 2 years doesn't start from the day you apply for the OAP. Don't hesitate to call the toll free C'link international number to ask about other benefits etc. But do note, as with many gov't agencies nowadays all calls are recorded so be careful what you say.

I've used it (not every night) for several years with good result. Last week I ordered a bottle of 80 tabs on LINE Shopping, all paid etc., a few hrs later got a message 'out of stock, no more stock coming', payment fully refunded a few hrs later.

Sure it's inconvenient, but you can return to family in LOS many times during the 2 years and/or family can visit you. My Thai wife had already passed away. I did the 2 years in a very comfortable rented apartment in a war vets village just nth of sydney. 4 or 5 evenings every week I did free video chat with my Thai son, his wife and their 3 kids. They all speak good English. Son kept me informed re family happenings, asked for advice on some things, I helped my grandkids with their english homework. Son showed me many videos of the kids playing sports etc. For me the 2 years flew by and I certainly wouldn't label the time as jail, or hell etc. There was a purpose which was achieved.

"The 2 year jail term is a bummer for anyone wanting it, i.e. 2 years before they depart, or 2 years after they returned as a foreign resident, that said, if one did it right, they could probably re-coupe the 2 years worth of outlay, i.e. what it would cost them to get it, back in 1 -1.5 years at the most, but would have to be frugal during that jail term, so it's still worth it in the long run". Why describe it as a jail term? It's not. It's what you make of it and you can go abroad and return to Oz several times in the 2 years and the time abroad doesn't intereupt building the 2 years period.

Plus seems to me that the dems need to put forward a totally new slate.

Just wondering whether the 2 foreigner workers (from nearby countries) were well informed about the need to have work permits / need to renew them, etc. Some years back a Thai lady from my family met an Australian guy in Pattaya. She brought the Aussie guy to our house to meet the family. The Aussie guy was working as a journalist for a now defunked Pattaya newspaper. The Aussie guy (still very new to LOS) was keen to ask me about what documents he might need. I asked if he had a work permit? His response: "My boss (indian Thai man) had told him that the newspaper held a multi person work permit and the owner was free to record up to 10 foreign employees on the multi person WP document." I also asked the Aussie gut what Visa he had? Response "Entry on arrival" and he continued "Boss says journalists don't need more than tourist documents to work in Thailand".

But I have little trust that the labels are correct. There's been many cases in the LOS where product labels incorrectly state ingredients, protein, sugar, calory levels etc., etc. Even falsely stating that products have been tested/approved by the Thai FDA equivalent, none of which is true.

Great comment, spot on, well said. Further, nobody seems to be challenging the ministerial appointment of the guy who did 5 years in jail in Australia for drug offences. It's also clear that this guy is ruthless and powerful and therefore nobody game enough to challenge him. How sad for Thailand...

And in jail for a long time.

An agent for my house in Pattaya gave me a new key. She said the tenant wanted the main door lock changed because she was concerned that several previous tenants still had old keys to open the door. Therefore she wanted the lock changed. Fair enough. The agent used a known locksmith to replace the lock then the agent gave me a key to the new lock. Given past issues and problems I've experienced as a landlord* I want to always have a key so that I can, if needed, do an inspection of my property. Unless there is serious cause for concern I would always advise the tenant that I was coming (date/time) to do an inspection. * I have no hesitation to comment; there's good and bad tenants and there's good and bad landlords. If I had serious concerns and the tenant was unresonsive I would go to the property with the agent and let myself in.

I asked at one stage if a person in the middle of the 2 years and in ill health and needs to return to family abroad could appeal for an early release from the full 2 years. I got a quick courteous reply, 'not possible, 2 years is not flexible under any circumstances'. The mail did mention (as already well known) that a pensioner could take several trips aboard during the 2 years, perhaps for 3 or 4 weeks out Oz per year. Pensioners travelling aboard are expected to advise C'link about their travel plans but many don't. In reality C'link know because they have 24/7 online link to passport records. In any event pensioners are NOT required to tell C'link what country they are travelling to.

The kitchen cupboard 'boxes' are in OK condition but all the doors need to be replaced. Original doors poor quality and are deteriorating. Want to replacement with good quality door that won't deteriorate. About 14 doors, overall about 10 different sizes. I've tried a couple of 'good' quality places (Homikitch etc). but most want around 2,500Baht per door. Seems a little expensive but maybe I'm out of touch. Plus needs proper measurement and made to different sizes. Any suggestions of local tradesmen who does this tye of work much appreciated, thanks.

I've often wondered how many young xxxx joined believing they were joining an organization devoted to honesty and professionalism and which doesn't engage in corruption?

Seems strange to me why such a large % of a total population loves guns and has no hesitation to allow the public to walk in and buy a gun and ammo. Plenty of countries where the number of folks who own guns or want to own a gun is a tiny % of the population. To me that's enlighten rational thinking.

Idon't understand why anybody would say that. Please enlighten me.

Or is the OP believing that after issue it just automatically repeats without any further paperwork? Heard of this before.

My Son has a very typical Thai first name (chua) and a very obviously western family name, as does his wife (since they married) and their 4 kids.

Over 30+ years I've seen maybe 10 different Thai news in English start ups, none have lasted, I guess the number of viewers isn't enough to bring advertsing to support the operational costs. Any commercialenterprise will have serious continuous focus on 'where's the revenue / how much revenue / operating costs.' My guess is that under it's old ownership The Nation English News channel lasted the longest, and it was well done.

But was it 30,000Baht for the bed and basic nursing or did that include some surgery, advanced technical analysis equipment etc?

Tokyo Marine, PA available as a health insurance add on. Son had it, WP never mentioned.

Yawn...

Reality is that way too many folks can't think past everything fitting into neat boxes (all cultures / societies). I taught a 'Think Outside the BOX' course in an MBA program at 2 Thai prestigious unis. By the end of the couse 99% of the students had realized their thinking was totally confined to the inside of a very small box, and they had changed. They were given numerous case studies / exercises and the challenge was to submit ideas / solutions etc., which encompassed totally new / innovative appraoches. Many students progressively submitted Some very wild but wonderful ideas / solutions.

Also note quite a few German refugee children (German names) came to Australian just after the 2nd WW to be resettled. One guy in this group that I'm aware of became the senior economics advisor to several state premiums of one Aussie state, overall about 12 years. His first name and family name were never changed (why should they be?).

Disagree on all points.