rawdonlad

Just been to the UK visa centre today to apply for a Settlement Visa for my wife and they explained that our bankers draft was for the wrong amount. Apparently all fees were altered last week 3 September and the settlement fee is now 33,475 baht. The reduction has come about due to the British pound going down in value, they were working on 70 baht to 1 pound and now it is 65 baht to 1 pound (still too much!).

They gave us some options, either get a new cheque from the bank downstairs, go back to our bank in Korat and change it or go into the "Office" next door and they would cash it for 200 baht. Luckily I had sufficient to get some more money out and get a draft in the bank downstairs and will pay the original draft in to my own bank later. The "Office" next door was doing a roaring trade.

Whilst waiting I noticed 50% of the people coming in had the wrong bankers drafts!

All the new fees are on their website

I realise that I am not in your area as I live in Korat but I thought I would let you know about here and what it costs etc.

I went on insulin 2 years ago when I was still in the UK, having been a type 2 for many years and have now moved to Korat permanently 7 months ago. The specialist in the UK was excellent and I trust that you have been told by a doctor that the time for insulin is here. Normally you would go on insulin and they would let you know how much to take and when and you would monitor the sugar levels and report it to them until you get to a level of insulin that is good for you.

There are not many pharmacies that keep insulin as most Thais do not use it because of the price, but I was fortunate to find one that does as the old father is on it and also this is a place that supplies other pharmacies. They get all their insulin from Bangkok, because occasionally they have non in stock I always keep a months reserve at home and it normally takes only a few days to get it back in stock.

In the UK I was on the disposable Novo Mix type pens which you can get here but they cost 1,500 baht for 5. So I use an alternative which my Diabetic consultant in the UK via a phone call said was ok. I bought a Novopen 3 dispenser which I put the phials of insulin in. I bought this for a one off 1,800 baht and the thing is guaranteed for life!!, and then buy Novomixtard 30 at 750 baht for 5 phials. The needles Novofine 31g number 6 which I use are 600 baht for a box of 100. Of course they also stock test strips and testing needles as well but so far my stock from the UK is still lasting out.

I did go an see a doctor at the hospital after I got here but it was not too helpful and the pharmacy there charge double the prices above.

I do keep a tight check on my sugar levels and also my mother in law is a nurse so she checks my blood pressure etc and can arrange blood tests. It was through her I found this place as it is where she gets her supplies from.

Good luck in your search in your area, maybe try and find a pharmacy that supplies the others.

use eithad 30 kilo allowance came back in july with 40 kilos not raised a eyebrow all the way to cnx superb airline and must be cheapest duty free of anywere

Wher does it say Etihad has 30kg allowance in eco???

I will be flying them next week, their website says 20 kg cattle class, 30kg business, which is normal standard practice, silver FF adds 10kg to that I think.

I flown from Manchester to BKK several times over the past year and they allow 30k in Economy and 40k in Business class and they have a sign above the check in desks at Manchester saying these allowances. On their website they do say the lower figures but I believe they do give different allowances in different airports. I came back with the missus via Birmingham last month on Emirates and we had 54k (just 20k each normally) in the two suitcases for the economy trip but the checkin girl didn't bat an eye and also we had two large holdalls to take on board.

Since it is also my surname it has to be Shepherd's Pie

Yes each to his own otherwise life would be so boring

Just doing dinner as us Tykes call it now (or lunch as some call it ), braised steak and onions with OXO, and then Bisto gravy plus mashed spuds, and veg and also homemade spotted dick and custard to finish. For breakfast toast with English marmalade, not sure about tea (dinner) yet. I do eat Thai every other day but never for breakfast

When my Thai wife lost hers last December we went to the Pakchong Ampur that the original birth certificate was registered in. Took the usual ticket for the right counter for Births and waited a few minutes. She produced her ID card and the house book of her mum and paid around 20 baht and a new one was issued. Her mum went with us just in case but this wasn't neccesary. We were in there no more than 30 minutes.

Hi Mellow1

Just sent you a PM about my Usufruct and Wills

Just transfered some money in from Isle of Man to Kasikorn today and got 68.88 baht to 1 pound

My Thai wife and I just did wills at a lawyers in Korat yesterday and had them translated into English, at the same time I did a Usufruct on the land and house we are building. The package deal was 15,000 (5,000 for the two wills and 10,000 for the Usufruct including a lawyer meeting us today at the land office and getting the land document changed. Also another 1,000 for an English translation of the two wills. An excellent firm.

In December I came over on holiday to sort out a rented house I went into several banks who would not open an account then I tried Kasikorn as many other farangs have an account there. They wanted to see my passport, copy of the house rent agreement (or a house book or letter from immigration of where I live would also do). No problem whatsoever, I paid some money in and they asked if I wanted a Visa Electron Card which I did so I can use it anywhere, the savings book and card were given to me on the spot. They asked what withdrawal limit I wanted for the card up to 100,000 baht a day. Now I have set up online banking to make things even easier. I have set up my UK/Offshore banks so I can go online with them and transfer money to the Kasikorn account when I want , subject of course to doing it is under $20,000 or there are forms etc to fill in. I moved over permanently to Korat in February and I am now building a house so transfer money as is needed. I know others who have done this with Ayudhaya as well.

My Wife was pregnant and and we refused to have one and waited as the risk are high. They do do internal swabs or something over 3 days which is meant to be uncomfortable but ok.

For her to gain residency in Qatar (March) she had to complete a medical which involved a chest x-ray, we refused because of her pregnancy they then gave her a small injection in her forearm which reacted over a period of three days. When we returned to the clinic three days later she was cleared as being okay.

I've not heard of an internal test?

I too have never heard of an internal test.

What your wife had, I would suggest is probably the Mantoux Test, a needle, or less likely a Heaf test, which is a multi pronged gun needle.

Moss

Yep, thats the one Mossy. I knew it was something a little horrid and they could only do it early on a morning so we passed.

Glad to be of service

Moss

I have just received a reply from the UK Immigration regarding which passport lane you can use which may be useful.

From: "IND UKIS Postbox" <[email protected]>

To: "'[email protected]'" <[email protected]>

Subject: FW: UK Entry

Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:52:28 +0100

Dear Sir,

Your enquiry dated 27th June 2007 refers.

If you accompany your wife you may clear passport control at any UK port of entry together using the UK/EEA channel.

Border and Immigration Agency/Border Control

Customer Focus.

I wanted to relate my very recent (yesterday April 3) experience:

Krung Thai Bank in Khun Han (middle of countryside south of Sisaket in Isaan)

Asked to open a savings account and got the customary 'no can do'

Smiled a lot, wnet back with a Thai friend who lives in the town.

Told the lady again with a lot of smiles that she was my only hope as I wanted to settle there and only Krung Thai Bank has a branch.

Was told that if I was on my friend's Tabien Bann could do. Explained that was not possible for farangs to be included on tabien baan or have their own if not married. Told then that if my friend gave a copy of his tabien bann with the implication that I would be living with him the BINGO could do.

Went back with copy of my passport (no mention of visa, work permit or other such didn't even look at passport itself)

Got bank book ATM card and internet banking but it took the best paert of 90 minutes to complete with a bank full of waiting customers.....

At one time I even sat next to the staff to help her with the input of my name in her computer

TIT with loads of smiles

When I came over from the UK in December to sort a rented house out in Korat I went all round the banks and all said I needed a work permit and my Non O was no good. Then I visited Kasikorn and they could not be more helpful and opened a savings account with just 5,000 baht straight away and they issued an ATM/cash card. They asked if I wanted to be able to withdraw up to 50,000 baht a day on it too. I have been in several of their other banches and all have been helpful. Back in the UK in January just prior to relocating to Korat I asked my English bank to transfer some money but unfortunately I was unaware that you cannot transfer more than $20,000 (or equivalent), without paperwork but this was swiftly sorted out by a friendly guy who phoned me and emailed me from the Bangkok Head office to the UK.

Do you want someone with the legal authority to marry you in Thailand, or are you looking for someone who may have a minister's license in their home country (not legal authority to marry you in Thailand), but could take you through the usual ceremony and vows?

Just to take us through the usual ceremony vows. Minister's Licence would be a bonus, otherwise, someone that has a superb command of English (Native would be great !). The vows have been pre written. This really should be a simple task. Any help here would be gladly received !! Thanks.

Hi Hearn

Could I ask when you intend to have the wedding blessing (ceremony) ?, I just ask because I am an ordained UK minister and I am moving over but not till next year.

Cheers

Keith

Hi johnb, am testing 4 times a day on the advice of the consultant, my own practuce nurse gave me the same info as you & I am going for the blood test in 3 months. She wants me to do a fasting BG test when I wake up & to test 2 hrs after food a couple of times a week but I am under this consultants care at present so am testing for now 4 times daily but will see next month if I am getting any benefit as the last appointment told me nothing. (it's private through insurance so if he's crap will drop him & stick with the diabetic nurse at the gp)

I really hope your adjustment to insulin is an easy one. It can't be easy taking all those pills & although the idea of the jabs isn't great it may be a better option in the long run

Boo

Thanks for the kind words and unfortunately its inevatable that i'll need to inject - just putting it off as lomg as poss.

If of interest lots of info at www.diabetes.org.uk i joined up and get news letter etc.

Boo all the best with your diabets control in the future

Johnb

Hi Johnb

As I said earlier I went onto insulin after years on tablets because I could not control the diabetes well enough and what a difference my sugars are absolutely spot on and the three month checks the same and the best bit is I have never felt as good. So don't worry about the needles, yes it may be a bit strange at first but you get so used to it you will soon not notice anything - HONEST!!

The only down side in the UK is having to swop your driving licence for a maximum of a 3 year one, but when I move to Thailand at the end of the year hopefully that will not be a problem there.

Good Luck

Hi Boo, well at least you now know what was causing the problem, what medication have they put you on to start with diet only or medication or both?. As others have said try and cut out as much sugar as you can but not all of it, cut down on carbs but most of all until you know how you are doing test your blood regularly to see what foods are doing to your sugar levels. I guess the doctor will want to see you to check on how you are doing. If you are in the UK you will now get access to regular checks, free eye tests and if you go on medication free prescriptions for everything.

I started on diet only, 8 years ago, then did the medication starting low and then the maximum and I have been on insulin injections for a couple of years and it has been great, my blood sugar levels are spot on and I feel so much better.

Once you manage to get the sugar levels down you will feel so much better.

Good Luck

I am actually going in tonight for this overnight screening as apposed to tomorrow morning so they will chek this but I am unconvinced it is diebetes as I had extensive gynie surgery at the end of last year & it wasn't an issue then. Just wanted confirmation that it could be the food.

Cheers

Hi There and good luck!

I have been a diabetic on insulin for many years and I would guess from what you say it probably was the food. I take it you have no other symptoms such as being very thirsty, weight loss, and at a reading of 20 very irratable. At least after the screening they should be able to advise you.

Cheers

I tried the Nationwide last time I was in the UK and it seems they may have changed their tune and charge for transfers.

Yes there is a set charge of £20 (could be £25 now) if you want to to transfer from a nationwide account to a Thai bank, but they all charge for this...some banks a lot more!

To transfer between accounts at nationwide is instant and free..

To give some idea of the rate you get at the machine in Thailand, i took out 20,000bt on 1st of june and exactly £280.39 left my nationwide account and on june 8th took out 4,000bt and it took exactly £56.38...both work out over 70bt..

There is no other charges for these withdrawls..

The charge for a transfer is still £20, they are working the exchange rate out at 70baht = £1 today, the current account pays interest of 4.25% if you have £1,000 or more a month paid in, or 1.25% if £500 or more a month or 0.25% if less than £500 a month paid in. An authorised overdraft is 7.75% and you can take out £300 a day from the ATM's.

If you use the credit card all transactions are free of charge and no extra is added on for the currency conversion.