herfiehandbag

Almost too good to be true isn't it!

Oh I don't forget, that is my point; normally they are in a state of beaurocratic stasis, but when it suits their masters they can and will move rapidly

Ah, but there is a complex bureaucratic process involved in setting up a new party, and I believe a deadline for registering candidates. Much wiser to wait until that deadline is passed, and it is too late to set up a new party ( I suspect it already is). Then, well, I would bet ( were it allowed) that the electoral commission can move pretty swiftly when they have to!

Looks like a heavy night on the Saki the night before!

Perhaps I should have said bringing an end to an era before it has a chance to become established.

Obviously, he needs to be given more time. These are noble goals which he has selflessly taken upon himself to complete. 8 years has proved to not be enough, he must resign himself to taking more time. And of course, the pending limitation on his time in office, well they can hardly be applied in the face of the democratic desire, so eloquently expressed by the Senate, to renew his tenure!

Or possibly an attempt to assist in bringing an end to an era? In terms of existential threats to the existing way that things "are done" Move Forward is at the forefront.

The key word to take away is "conditioned". Various "circles" dislike the more uninhibited Songkran celebrations, especially the partying and indiscipline. Songkran had over generations moved from being a symbolic cultural activity, performed/directed by, and largely existing to reinforce a traditional social hegemony to being a popular festival enjoyed largely by younger people. The conditioning has been part of a determined attempt to reverse that. As s with a number of other attempts to modify national behaviour and control the population COVID provided a jolly handy excuse.

How many used the flight? Perhaps they "consolidated" the route to Amsterdam - Bangkok. High value/low bulk cargo is an important consideration in deciding route viability - I suspect for that, Amsterdam is a more attractive option.

Was she wearing her "White witch of Narnia" costume from "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"?

Unfortunately Bill the "there is more to this than meets the eye" brigade, and those who seize on it as an opportunity to mock the Thai's religious beliefs, cannot wait.

Now been replaced by some old biddy in a straw hat. Seriously, the videos constantly running in the bottom quarter of the screen are making it increasingly difficult to use the site. Many have complained, no notice seems to be taken. Ultimately I suppose it is all about ????

Without the invasion of Western Europe, a massive undertaking by the USA, the UK and Canada, and the massive damage to German manufacturing caused by the Allied air campaign, both of which consumed huge resources, it is likely that the Germans would have fought the Russians to a stalemate on the Eastern front.

True, but then neither would anyone else. It would be empty, except for a few nomadic herders living in tents. No oil, no money, no interest.

The delays in implementing the scheme are likely due to continuing negotiations over the details of the distribution!

I am not sure that "subsist" is quite the right word - if they are in the circles which attend committees, carry out studies and influence decisions they do very much better than "subsist". It would indeed be fascinating to know just how many there are, and to what extent their formal salaries are supplemented by various "benefits"!

Glad you're better.

The Thai lady may have been (probably was) enrolled by one of a variety of social security, workplace related or private healthcare schemes. Her B300 was very likely the co-payment for which she was liable. Your bill reflected the true cost. As far as the B10,000 I was asked for upfront to treat my daughter, that demand was made by a civil servant rather than the hospital, and the hospital put a stop to it right away.

So I understand. I presume the charges are set by the main provincial hospital - here in Chiang Rai the Prachanukroh Hospital of "Wild Boar" fame, and these charges are followed by the small rural hospitals such as the one I use. When I first settled here I was going to a private hospital in Chiang Rai for my diabetes treatment. I went to my local hospital for a minor cut which required a couple of stitches and a tetanus jab. When I mentioned I was diabetic they sent for the head nurse, who asked how much I was paying, shook her head, and arranged registration ( a hospital number and the inevitable photocopy of my passport ) and an appointment with their diabetes clinic. The cost of the clinic was less than half I had been paying at the private hospital, and I have been going every 3 months for 6 years now. The visit, blood test, consultancy with a specialist nurse, a few minutes with a doctor and 3 months medication including insulin comes to B2500. Every now and then (once a year) teeth are checked, eyes are tested and feet looked at. I get an annual check with tests for liver, kidney and chest X ray. That costs an extra B1000, and comes with a free telling off about weight and my ( moderate) drinking from the delightful nurse! The point of this ramble is that the prices are reasonable - set to cover costs, not to make a profit. The bill shows the cost of each item, and the medicines are cheaper than at the pharmacy in town. I don't think we should complain about the pricing tiers you describe - perhaps a case could be made for expats and retirees being in a lower tier than tourists but it's not something to die in a ditch for. I have said before, and will say again, the care and treatment we as expats get from the Thai government health system is good, and I think fairly priced, a view borne out by your experience and that of "billd766". You know that I am a trenchant critic of some aspects of Thai "officialdom" but certainly not the government hospitals. P.S. the hospital food is awful!

Nor in Chiang Rai. I am 18 months into treatment for a badly poisoned foot caused by a puncture wound (rebar wire sticking out of the ground) 2 weeks in hospital and 2 operations to remove infected tissue cost B32000. I stumped up B20k on discharge, the balance paid in installments over several months. Amicably and easily arranged. Currently my twice weekly visit for "dressing wound" costs me B50 a time - a Thai would pay B30. The wound is slow to heal, as I am diabetic. For that reason my health insurance declined to pay. The treatment is good, the facilities in my local hospital are adequate. Decor a bit tatty but so what. Thais are covered by a range of schemes, ranging from the B30 basic through various degrees of work related social security up to full blown private insurance. Most treatments require some sort of co-payment. As a foreigner you are charged the "cost price" for treatment and medications. I haven't experienced any "gouging". When my daughter had COVID, and I was waiting outside as she was treated before admission, a civil servant from the local Ministry of Public Health office approached me and demanded B10,000 up front (cash, a nice round figure!) as she "was a foreigner". I challenged that, pointing out that she was Thai (she has an English name). A senior nurse (who knows us) spoke to him, he beat a hasty retreat, and was not seen again. Whether that demand was "officially sanctioned" I very much doubt - no one from the hospital ever mentioned money whilst she was treated.

You seem a bit confused.

It is one of those rare occasions when "couldn't happen to a better person" applies both ways!????

Must be a lot of American supplied kit needs fixing!

You are preaching to the converted with me, as I am sure you know. However there are those who see this country through a prism, a prism which concentrates on their interests, and excludes any consideration of what is actually happening in the country, and to it's people.

"Anatomy of the regular visit": arrive, a few days in Bangkok, check out Nana and Soi Cowboy, then down to Jomtien for some weeks. "Home visit" to Roi Et including trip to friendly immigration office to extend 30 day entry stamp by a couple of weeks, back to Jomtien for a week or so, then Bangkok for a couple of days and fly out. Repeat every six months or so.