Robin

I have tried these in UK, cannot remember the brand, but considered them to be next to useless. Dryer uses a condenser, cooled by water supply, and is not efficient, but uses a lot of water when drying. In UK I use a separate dryer, far quicker and more efficient. In Thailand it is a very rare day when there is not some sun or some way of drying clothes naturally. Waste of money in my opinion. Wife and I manage with top loader, not auto front-loader. What you need is a fast spin speed, hence top loader is better.

To anyone following the news, it is no surprise that UK has put Thailand on the Red List. Maybe, when you are young and care-free, you do not bother with such minor details. I would have thought that any travel during this Covid nonsense was liable to disruption at any time. Easy to be wise after the event, but Covid has turned so much upside-down that not wise to travel anywhere if you can't afford change of plans. I cam to Thailand in Feb. thinking or hoping that all restriction would be over by now. Luckily it is only inconvenient to b stuck in Thailand, not a disaster.

Phayao Immigration always insist on the same day. copies of bank book to show balance also have to have been updated that day. i.e. you need to make a deposit/withdrawal on that day. Otherwise Kasikorn system does not show the balance on the day of extension. Now, to be safe, I get n appointment at Immigration and ask for written list of required documents from bank. Also make appointment at bank for that morning and give them the list from Immigration. Most banks now know what Immigration now want, but best to be certain. This year; into bank at 9;30. Out with docs.t 1;00 and to Immigration. All done before lunch break. I think Kasikorn charge 200Baht for all letters and photocopies

Has anyone on the Forum recent experience of travelling to UK? I am hoping t make visit in Sept or Oct, nd I am confused by travel requirements. I am UK citizen in Thailand on retirement visa. I hope to have had my Thai vaccination before travel, but proposed vacc. is Sinovac plus Astra Zeneca, but UK web-site info seems to suggest that only 2 doses of as ingle type of Vacc. is acceptable. Is this true, and how do I get round this? I have had a single Sinovac at local hospital in Thailand as part of government Vacc. program. Do I need to sign up for another vcc. program with 2 doses as UK require? Buying a ticket; My credit card has been blocked, so I will have to travel to Bangkok and buy ticket for cash at a travel agent. Will his mean a 14 day quarantine in BKK before I can buy a ticket? Normally I would buy ticket on line and then travel to BKK on day of departure and not spend any time in Bangkok city, just at the airport. What proof of Vaccination is required? Anyone experience of what Thai gov program gives? Will I need a certificate in English, and how to get one? After my first jab, I was given several pieces of paper, all in Thai, and none looking very relevant or acceptable to UK immigration. Has Thailand made any suggestions as to how incoming visitors will be treated later in the year. Earlier thsi year was given a CoE without any problems, but I do not want to go through the ASQ program again. Will my Thai vacc. count for anything. Is Prayuth's 're-opening' going to mean anything? Any advice or suggestions, or experiences gladly accepted

Tinted windows on my Vios were given free without my consent. I was away in UK at delivery time, so wife agreed. I have hated it from the start, but do not see any way of removing tints. I would never haver tinted windows again. My tints do not appear to help keeping the car cool in the sun. If you have tinted windows, then you could be stuck with them for ever. probably you could have them tinted after buying if you simply cannot bear the sun.. NB. I never wer sunglasses either. I want to see.

I doubt if you will get much for free in Thailand. Most hospitals should be able to give you a Rabies vaccine if you pay. Not too expensive if I remember. Cheaper than getting Rabies. Most dogs in Thailand that have owners are vaccinated against Rabies as government vets do this cheaply. Dog migh have a sting round its neck with a small blue badge attached. As for Soi Dogs, who knows. Best avoided. I have been told that Rabies vac. as given by hospitals is not complete protection againts Rabies, but will give you longer to get to a hospital and start the proper treatment. Vey unpleasant so I hear. Thai Red Cross centre in Bangkok, near the snake farm, will give most vaccinations as cheaply as anywhere

Looked at UK entry requirements yesterday. Seems they will not accept 'mixed' vaccines. e.g. Sinovac + Astra Zeneca is not accepted. As this is what my local hospital is giving, ( I have had Sinovac and due A-Z on 3 Sept. ) it looks as if any visit to UK is off. Do I have to plead with local (Chun) hospital to give me second Sinovac? Or wait until Phayao private hospital gives me the promised 2-Moderna vaccine?

What date did Prayuth give for Thailand re-opening to everyone?

I think this depends on your I/O. many offices shut for lunch. At my office, Phayao, I get the impression that during quiet times the senior I/O's, who are needed to sign off things, go home nd leave the minions to staff the counters. They will make an excuse as o why you cannot do your report and give you an appointment fro another day. Only my impression and could be imagination. if you have made an appointment, then 90 day should only take 20 mins. Isn't there a set tiem fro Immigration to do these standard procedures?

How will be being vaccinated affect international travel? I am due my second shot next month. Presumably I will then get a vaccine cert? thought nothing is ever certain in Thailand. I presume that this will be in Thai and will need to be translated for use in the rest of the world. Will I then be free to travel about Thailand without quarantine, nd will I be allowed to visit UK without more quarantine?

When my g/f , now wife, first visited UK with me, we were told specifically that visit visa did not allow us to marry while in UK. That would require her to return to Thailand to get a marriage visa. I cannot remember how long visa was for, but it was possible to extend visa while in UK. At that time I was self -employed with no contracts, but had sufficient money in the bank and house in UK for us o stay. Different times when visa was issued by Br. Embassy, not outsourced. Words of I/O " If you tell the truth you will get a visa if you qualify. If you tell lies, I will find out and you will not get a visa."

Worth considering an exit strategy; if the worst happens, could you sell and recoup your investment? My experience of rural land is that it is not a liquid asset. You might have to find a buyer yourself and them wait while he finds the money to pay for it.

It seems to me that you have a highs resistance path to the mains voltage (220V) This would give a slight shock that your wife has experienced, but show a low voltage on your probe. If you could measure with a high input impedance meter, you might get a different, higher voltage reading. I had this with my toaster, which gave a mild shock when the metalwork was touched. I got a 50 VAC reading on my meter. Final diagnosis was that there was leakage in mins wire. Getting proper earth to the toaster metal work cure this without any wiring catching fire. never expect anything to be logical in Thailand, and never ever trust anyone else's wiring. If you earth the suspect 'live' part, do you get any indication that it has a voltage on it? ( spark to blown fuse,) If not is must be a high resistance path to the live, like a leakage in the wiring.

Received first dose of Sinovac at Chun, Phayao hospital on 4 Aug. All vey efficient and organised, but many nurses taking information struggled with a farang not speaking much Thai, but all in good humour and they tried hard o speak English. Arrived a vac. centre, local government hospital at 13;00 and jabbed at 16;30. had to wait 30 mins before release. Second appointment for Astra-Zeneca on 3rd Sept. Booked by wife using Line App and help from nurses at local clinic in our village. I was only farang at hospital, but no charge. it appeared that most appointments need Thai ID card to check in. I had to use my Tambian baan, (yellow book,) Blood pressure and general health history checks carried out. I am over 60 and in reasonable health. Wife also given Sinovac Jab, and similar appointment fro second A-Z jab in Sept. So far, no adverse reactions from vaccine. I am told that local Private hospital (Phayao Ram) is taking booking for Moderna vac. in Oct and asking for payment, 6000B, in advance, when booking. Hoping that this will be the start or a return to sanity and freedom to travel

Working in Singapore in the 80's. The famous 'yellow book' got me around Malaysia and Thailand for the first time and I have never thought of living anywhere else since then. met JC once in Bangkok and had the chance to congratulate him on his book. LP are the best value travel guides ever written, nd nothing that follows will ever be better.