Robin

Thank you for all your advice and comments. I now know , or think I know, more about EV's. My initial thought was that an EV might save me money while saving he planet, but I am not so sure now. Easiest way I can think of saving money is not to replace my Vios until I have to. it is a competent car, if not perfect, and doe what I want of a car. I agree that the EV situation is changing quickly, and may be different in 2-3 years time, like buying a PC was in the earlier days. (next year there will always be a cheaper and better model.) A friend of mine in UK bought a Volvo EV/ Hybrid last year, and has had several expensive repairs already. Not what I would have expected. I have no plans to move house, but also our home would not benefit from going Solar, as we do not have aircon or swimming pool. I remain slightly dubious about the ability of Thais to cope with maintenance/ repairs of EV's unil they have more experience, and I do not want to be one who is paying for their training. So Vios for some time yet, and then might change it for something with a smaller engine, if that exists

At the moment I drive a Vios, bought new 5-6 years ago, and still going well. When i have o replace it, i would like o consider Electric, but do not know if it would suit me. MY car use is for trips with wife to local town or shops, with occasional longer runs, but to 200 Km. My thought are that an EV might be suitable, and to fit my car port with solar panels so that the car ban be charged when not is use, thus saving on running costs. Is this a viable scheme? Are there people who would install the appropriate solar equipment? (and know what they are doing, not the typical Thai wannabe workman) I live in Phayao, and have not noticed any charging points, so should I be considering a Hybrid with ICE as a back-up for longer trips. I doubt if I will be buying a new car this year, but I would like more information so that I can consider for he future, Thanks in advance.

Braking distances given in High way Code are conservative, but still should be followed. All depends on when the driver starts braking, and if his brakes are in good order

Was he dog castrated as a puppy? probably too late to do it now

I do not see the o/p problem. it is easy to enter on a 30 day visa and the apply at I/O to change this to Non Im. O visa for retirement. I assume o/p has the necessary financial qualifications, then the normal Retirement extension... plenty o info on here as to how to do and confirmation that it works.

The more confusing and complicated it becomes to get a long term visa, the more the dubious agencies and I/O will benefit. Legitimate visa holders, for whatever reason who do their own paperwork will suffer. Big rise in Elite Visas? Are there any statistics on how many retirees are caught doing anything criminal?

"Yellow Book" Tambian Baan for farang. I jumped through all the hops to get one, as suggested by my then local I/O (Chiang Rai) who said it was "important" that i get such thing. Since then it has not been the slightest use to me at all. I have tried to show it at SVB Immigration, (not interested,) and at local I/O when doing 90 day report or Retirement extension, also not interested. Unless you know of a reason why you need this thing, why bother? Thai driving license? Many Thais do no bother. You can drive legally in Thailand on an International DL, easily obtained in UK. If you really want a TDL, go to your local DL office with wife and spend a day watching the instructional video and reading the Thai Highway Code, then waste more time with getting a 'medical' and you should be able to convert your UK license to a Thai license. INMHO both Tellow book and TDL are WOFTAM

Strange quirk of Thai BAnking is that passbook update will only show if there has been a change to the account. Tus for Immigration, you need to take out/put in 100B on the day and then get book update Only logical in Thailand ,but TIT, you can't fight it. Immigration know this very well, and sometimes will accept a recent update with the Bank Letter. I managed this year by pointing out to I/O that if there had been any change to my account it would have shown on the update that morning. Very rare to get such an understanding I/O

Says what is wrong with the Thai Education System. I once thought I could help by teaching English, but quickly gave up as I realised that speaking English is not the same as being able to teach ohers to speak English. Secondly, gave up because all students simply wanted their assignments to be easy, and none wanted to work to learn.

When my house was built, without my supervision, builders/wife chose patterned white gloss tiles, mainly, I think because these were cheaper. These have been lethal when wet, like after cleaning, and I have had several near miss slips and falls. Last year I got our patio floor replaced with non-slip, (no idea of R rating) but matt texture and virtually non-slip even when wet. Tiles from our local builders shop, so common Thai brand. Now trying to persuade wife that the cost of replacing all tiles with these nonslip is a good investment compared with potential medical bills if I slip and fall on existing gloss tiles. Local workers did a good job of patio tiles, laid on existing tiles which were 'roughed up' first. Experience is NEVER use shiny tiles on the floor. Always cheapest to do the job properly he first time. In this case, the Thai way is NOT the best way.

See my earlier posts. When I came in to Thailand last Aug I was given 30 day visa exempt. I went straight to my local I/O and asked to change this to a Non O to use for a retirement extension, which I had previously held. No problem, I just needed to show 'proof of funds' in bank and was given a 90 day Non O, which I have since extended for 365 days for retirement. Extension again requires proof of funds and up dated bank book, and has to be done in the last month of the Non O. Very easy and no need to pay an agent if you have money in the bank. My advice, works well at Phayao I/O is to visit in advance and ask for an appointment to do these changes/ extensions. Say you want to visit when convenient for I/O and then ask for a list of documents you need to bring.

"Exactly, you would think they would have multiple cameras covering all of the carousels, showing different angles?" There might be cameras, but is anything recorded?

Tiger Balm is the universal cure for all bites and stings and almost every other superficial injury . Ask any Thai.

Any advance information about Chiang Rai Flower festival this year? Imissed last year becuse of Covid, but I usually try to get there. Is i happening? If so When? In h usual place?

Last Aug. I flew in from UK on THAI and entered visa exempt at SVB, with no questions about onward ticket. Now converted the Visa exempt to Non O and with retirement extension for 365 days. All very easy, had to show 800K in bank both when converting Visa exempt to Non O and when getting Retirement extension. Actually I bought n onward ticket as a precaution, but not asked for

I opened an account with Santander earlier this year. Confirmed when opening that I could live in Thailand 9+ months of the year. Only 'residence' requirement was that I was UK taxpayer, but not checked as far as I know. I used my UK address when opening the account. To change to Thai address I had to show 'proof of address', which I did not have , so will have to wait until next visit to UK.. I was told that when I had Thai address, replacement credit cards, etc. would be sent to Thailand, but that, beware, some cards will not allow this, including, I think, Mastercard. Experience of living in Thailand and keeping UK bank accounts has been that only problems are when you need a new credit/ ATM card, which not all will send to Thailand. I only wish there was a Thai bank that I could use that would give a credit card that I could use anywhere, and make payments/transfers to overseas accounts, and had a working on -line banking. Any suggestions? I have suffered with Kasikorn for years as they are in my local town, and at least their cards work in Thailand.

The problem is not the hours that Alcohol is served, but that Thais and Tourists cannot control their drinking

Local Police really on the ball? Nearly 9 years overstay. Where will they deport him to?

Thailand will never go cashless. Expect vendors to accept the deduction made on credit card payments? NO WAY. Only cashless if you pay the surcharge. Also too many in Thailand like the anomality of paying cash, and being able to launder cash so easily.

This year I entered Thailand at SVB and was given 30 day non-visa entry. Subsequently I went to my local I/O (Phayao) and was given a 90 day Non-Imm O visa, but had to show 800K in my bank (as for Retirement visa). Last week this non O vas given an extension for Retirement for 1 year, as normal (I have held Retirement isa before) but again required to get bank letters confirming 800K I never used an agent but did all the work myself I/O was well aware of procedure to change visa exempt entry to Non O. I was charged 10K baht, 2K for visa and 8K for "Services" (they filled in all the forms for me. Considering how many restrictions/requirements RTE in London were asking for a Non IM visa, I am happy with this and consider it a bargain.

Desperate to talk up some new form of Visa. How many are going to qualify for this, and how many of those will be rushing to Thailand for treatment. I have nothing against Thai medicine, but who want to be in hospital in foreign country? Particularly with on with dubious medical malpractice laws? At one time Thailand did very well with simple 'tourist' visas, or non-visa entry, 1 month, 2 month, 3 months, and ech easy to extend.

Wy not ask Immigration? When I went to check on the window for my 90 day O, they were very helpful and insisted in making an appointment for the extension, and giving me a list of documents I needed to provide.

I did the same as you intend, arriving last August. No problems on arrival, given 30 day non-visa entry. First week here, went to local I/O, Phayao, with wife, to do TM30. There told the I/O I wanted to change my non-visa entry to Non IM O for retirement. Had to return with the standard bank documents for retirement, and pay 2000B visa fee, plus 8,000B for 'Services', and return 1 week later. Non IM O stamped in my passport expiring 3 months after my non-visa 30 days ran out. Told to return in the last month of Non O and apply for usual retirement extension. Now due to go back to I/O on 17 Nov with appointment to extend for retirement. Need to get new copies of usual bank documents and photo, as per normal Retirement extension. All very straightforward, except for the 8000B for Serices, seemingly for filling in the forms o change to Non-Im.. Far less trouble than applying for a Non IM. at RTE in London and for that I did not mind he 8,000 B Services fee All at Phayao Immigration seemed to be aware of the procedures to change no visa entry to NonIM I have previously done 2 Retirement extensions at Phayao, and they have all my details on file there

Because this is Thailand, and Thais do not want long term 'residents, but only short term visitors who will spend lots of money and fall for all the scams. Immigration laws are not expected to make sense or be logical. Just smile and do what i aske of you, and you will find life is much easier.

Window dressing.