isaanistical

1 hour ago, roo860 said:

I would rather suggest "I belong to Glasgow"

41 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Yes they do.

Only people with a UK address are allowed UK driving licences

I said proof of address. I use a friend's address as somewhere to mail DL to and DVLC requires no proof beyond that.

Point being, if the issuing authority is satisfied, what business is it of a commercial company to demand more?

14 hours ago, Woof999 said:

I was in the UK a couple of months ago. Hired a car, presented my UK driving license. Was asked for proof of UK address

I am completely baffled by this, and alarmed (not doubting you). Where in $$$ is the logic in requiring UK address to drive in UK? And why might it be the business of Hertz, etc, to prove where you live?  DVLC does not require that proof!

If they asked it for the credit card, I might regard it as pertinent, but can anyone explain the DL bit? I have a UK licence, no UK proof of address (thankfully) and no problems using it anywhere - yet.

hardly needs a caption.........

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Not so recent however excellent OP in this thread below. 

OP you post it that thread.

What changes have occured..

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1224751-marriage-visa-extension-guide-chiang-mai/

thanks here too - just thinking about preparing for next week's annual battle.

One tip: don't use Google Maps for the house map - they much prefer freehand.

Can I ask one question I can never get answered by IOs: is the date on which one is ordered to return (usually 30 days after application) flexible? That is, if they tell me to come on September 20 and I am out of town that day, can I come on 21 or 22, or would they throw a fit and make me start again?

15 hours ago, LaosLover said:

It was like if Oscar Wilde had a band.

I hardly think Ray Davies is a noofter.

Kinks were largely "his" band and I always respected the music and the satires, but not really the singles.

Sad that one of the band dies yesterday, I believe.

1 minute ago, StreetCowboy said:

I've never seen anyone posting their bottom, and I would be happy if that remained the case 

ok, bottom 4. Better, pedant!? You could be the fourth.....

2 hours ago, bob smith said:

ive had nothing but bad experiences in Thai hospitals.

Pleased to hear that, as will be many others here. I have had mainly good experiences both here and in other countries; bit like life itself.

reaction to an earlier post from one of these .

I suggest ravip and scottiejohn.

One more to come?

You are surprised it made UK media but also surprised it didn't make local?

I'm surprised you give a 4x, which is much more than I or any other self-respecting local would.

Haven't read the link. Haven't read the Daily Mail for about 40 years (since I learned to read, in fact).

24 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

PS; I am not a US citizen!

you sure?

43 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

Dulwich College takes me back after seventy years: My Mum must have written one hell of a sick note!

Dulwich College may be unfamiliar to some of you but it educated (among many others) Raymond Chandler, PG Wodehouse, BBC's Jonathan Head, Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music), Ernest Shackleton (Antarctic), former Thai PM Anand, Lord Shawcross (Nuremberg trials).

Incidentally,it was founded by Shakespeare's personal impresario Edward Alleyn.

Oh, and Bob Monkhouse and Nigel Farage were also allowed in………………….

2 hours ago, Lucky Bones said:

OK. Chatty is good.

I will recall that next trip.

Just hope the guy I get isn't a tad gay and follows me home.????????

well my background also says you traditionally don't give any authority your real address, but that didn't used to be about f**gg*ts following one!

1 hour ago, Lucky Bones said:

So, did "Cheers" get you over the line?????????

yds, always. It's the precise opposite of most places I have been, where chatting to an IO gets you in jail. That's why it took me so long to cotton on. They are conversing and they expect some reply, not just 'yes' or 'no'.

Same goes for NZ, by the way, in my experience.

6 minutes ago, Lucky Bones said:

Agreed. I reckon Immigration Officers seem to have a ticket on themselves.

and yet, and yet.......

Years ago when I started going to Oz, I used to have endless trouble at Immigration; hassles, searches etc.

Turned out that by being stuffed-shirt English reserved and no chat, I made them suspicious. I relaxed. When the IO says "g'day, how are you", I now start a conversation that always ends with me saying "cheers, mate".

Name me anywhere, ANYWHERE else in the world where you say to an IO: "cheers, mate."

None of which helps the OP get his wife there. How about getting others (maybe in the company? Or friends) who live there fulltime to act as sponsor/guarantors? Certainly the first time I applied in TH for a visitor visa for my lot, it seemed to smooth the process considerably to have someone in Sydney promising to look after us!

at Lacessit:

Clearly Oz is far from perfect. It's expensive, for one thing (especially Sydney), and 'elf 'n' safety has gone mad (I will NOT wear a hat to ride a bike!).

But what always amazes me is that despite all the wokes and loonies, everyone you actually meet/interact with is really NORMAL (as a compliment) I just don't know or care where the nutters hang out!

My local there is working class, with tradies, workers at the fish market, a sprinkling of Abbos, etc as regulars. Good as gold and the craic is great. I take posh, cool clients there for a good lunch; never any problem.

"who you calling a pig?"

52 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The people at the top want to keep the lid on a simmering pot.

Thais don't understand how different life is in other countries when they are insulated inside Thailand. The whole education system is geared towards that end.

Every time a Thai goes overseas, especially when accompanied by a foreigner, there is the potential for the person to come back to Thailand, questioning the status quo.

The xenophobia at the top arises from the fear of consequences, if enough Thais realize how they are being dudded.

not to hijack the thread, but travel, plus the internet, have opened a lot of eyes in TH, hence the current snafu.

My wife's first trip outside Thailand was to NZ back when she didn't need a visa (soon after, visas became necessary because too many Thais were taking the proverbial...) and to say her eyes were opened is a major understatement.

My comment about Vietnamese or Indian was meant regarding Immigration officials during my never-ending battle (I was in Sydney for five years) to get family members with me. As a genuinely multicultural place, sure there are lots whose first language is not English, but the politeness and friendliness of people in general has always bowled me over. I love Oz.

37 minutes ago, Lucky Bones said:

No doubt these Immigration cowboys have not ventured far from Oz.

In my experience in AU, they all seemed to be Vietnamese or Indian (origin, though of course now AU citizens) and maybe making it as difficult as possible per their own experience.

Used to be the same when UK still had an embassy in BKK - staffed by Indians who would be obstructive for the sake of it (revenge for the Raj?).

Attendance at a China zoo has boomed since rumours started that the animals in its bears enclosure were actually humans in disguise.

Tottenham are expected to copy this in the new season.