DavidOxon

My Thai G/F and I were planning on getting engaged last November on our trip to 'meet the family'

I was feeling pretty good about it all, until my G/F mentioned Sin Sod. She'd thought it was given at the wedding, but her Mum said it was for the engagement. Mother in Law to be was asking for 800.000 BHT (Which G/F said would be returned) Being in the middle of Still sorting out finances after my Divorce, (still am!) this straw broke this camel's back, and I called the engagement off, as I just didn't have access to any spare cash till properties had been divided and sold.

I now suspect (having seen at closer quarters my G/F's 'number sense' I think the figure may have been 80.000, a much more manageble sum!

Family were understanding with my 'not quite ready yet' statement and hoped that we'd getmarried some time. So, that time has come, well next week anyway, for our UK wedding :D

We will get married again in Thailand in our next visit, which i guess will have the 'engagement' with Sin Sod just before. At least I have time now to sort out cashflow and save the money (should it be in fact 800.000!)

OK so far, so good!

My problem is G/F's Dad. her parents have been divorced a long time, and he has remarried

etc, but I know that he is in debt, and 'sponged' money off my G/F on our last trip.

I know she was upset by this, she works hard and saves etc, and she's dissappointed that her

Dad hasn't been able to do the same. NOW . . . guess what I'm thinking's gonna happen when we go to live in Thailand in a couple of years time?,

How can I tactfully get an estimate of his debt so that I can try and help him clear it (if it's not too much) so that my G/F isn't upset by him coming round for money?

Anyone else had this experience?

Answers on a postcard please!

David

If I put £100 in my nationwide account here in the UK

and my MIL takes it out in Thailand through an ATM

How much will she get (based on the above example!)

David

Hi . . . great post, we were looking at that model as a basis too.

Do you have any more completed/uptodate pics yet?

Cheers

David

My Girlfriend say that we can have a very good life in Thailand on 40k, although we will buy (build) somewhere rather than rent which will mean no rent, but other expenses! We currently live in central London, and if you take our rent out of the equasion then we probably live on 40k here. That includes eating out a couple of times a week, a bottle of wine most nights, travel to and from work, running a car etc.

Her sister is a probabtion officer and earns 10k.

I am lucky in that I can work anywhere with an internet connection, so will hopefully be able to work

in Thailand till my 'nest egg' is sufficient to generate the magic 40k figure (5 years I estimate)

An average decent Thai wage is about 15k, so if you can get your rent costs down, you should have plenty.

Some one once sai to me (in Thailand) there UK pensioners in Thailand living the life of Riley, simply on their stae pensions.

So go for it, just cut your cloth according to your budget.

David

Hi there guys n gals . . .went for a look at jasmine Gardens (think it was) Yesterday, the Jasmine Homes Moo Bann. My OH was V impressed and smiled at me all the way home in supplication.

Are you all happy campers there?

david n Jup

My Girllfriend (Thai) has served him and his daughter in harrods a couple of times in the the last few weeks . . she's not impressed as me at that!

D

A lot of people in the tambon know me or known of me and I think the treat me like the village idiot in a nice way. They actually have a village idiot as well so I only get second billing.

But I love it up here.

Sounds a bit like my relationship with the locals in the Fernch village I've been living in,

Just been to the Lamphun evening market . . .lovley, but do they eat the crickets dead or alive?

Well then! I've done it and arrived . . .

and as predicted appear to be the only Fareng in the village! (Lamphun that is!)

Have been wizzed around a bit by g/f and family and seem to have managed to change my time clock enough to cope with being up all night and asleep in the afternoon!

Have located the Red Lion (appears to be a German pub?)

When's a good time to fraternise with the locals? I had a wander around yesterday, but most of the Faengs wouldn't make eye contact with me . . .is this some unpoken local custom, or just holiday makers being snooty? . . .answers on a postcard please!!!!

Well . . .it's looking cloudy today so I guess I'd better put my mind in gear and do some

work!

Cathc you guys later

david

PS is there anything I shouldn't miss while here?

Actually, I meant Chiang Mai! Anywhere good for live music (preferable western modern style - beatles onward etc).

Not just interested in western stuff, but GF n family will know where all teh local thai stuff is happening.

David

Hi guys, I'm arriving Sunday for my first ever visit to LOS - excited but a little nervous too!

Gonna be in Lamphun sting at my GFs mothers house for a couple of weeks before heading down to

Samui for a few days and flying back!

I'd like to get a feel for the place, and this includes the ex-pat side of life.

Where's a good place to meet Brit's out and about . . Pub porbably, but which

one is popular and when's a good time to go? (I'm a young 40 something)

I'd also like to get a feel for a Moo Bahn where there's a mix of Farangs and Thais,

is an estate agent the best for this?

We haven't made any definite plans yet (as I've never been to LOS before) but

are thinking we might want to settle in the area, so any places that are on the

'must see-do' list would be gratefully received.

Many thanks . . .

David (and Jup)

Thanks everyone for your helpful posts.

I'm guessing then that with 50k it is easily possible to live within ones means.

Ajarn . . .are you getting 5.5% from a Thai Bank?

David

bittorrents.

Thanks for that info

What are bittorents?

Hi guys, me again!!!

I was just wondering on how you all make a living in the LOS,

I'm guessing, but not sure, that you're all living on income based in your home countries?

eg rent or pension or investment?

Please don't shoot me down in flames, but how much does 'normal' life cost

out there, average home and average tastes etc?

Thanks

David

Hi, I'm guessing there is, but does anyone know of

a music shop in CM area?

I'd be intrested in pricing up the cost of buying a piano

there vis a vis the cost of shipping one of mine here out there.

Any other musos?

play Piano, guitar, accordion, Northumbrian small pipe, orchestral/brass band percussion, sing and conduct a bit.

Any Am Dram societies or amateur orchestras or choirs?

Is there any kind of Thai bagpipe?

Thanks again (sorry, I know, weird questions!)

David

Thankyou, that's very helpful advice.

Having never been to Asia, I'm trying to get my 'dream' into some

kind of realistic perspective. The less I have to spend on a house, the better!

I quite fancy the old paddy field idea though as I love growing veggies

(Have an allotment here and veggie garden in France) and there's a ready

water supply from the canal.

My GF also says there are lots of edible crabs out there too!

I suppose once I get out there I can get a better feel for

cost of living and whether or not I have enough provision for it!

I'd really like to live by the sea, but that's something that's been compromised out

by the promise of cheap flights to Phuket from CM. or until Burma

becomes a free and open border and safe to go to the beach on!

BTW are there 'nice' (sorry, can't think of a suitable adjective) brits out there,

or just the one's that are there for the bargirls?

David

David

Hi people,

and thanks for your prompt answers

The reasons for my questions are that my lovely fiance is from Lamphun

and we've been mulling over moving out there to see how we get on after we're married.

I'm not a big fan of the UK and have been livin half and half, UK and France for the last 6 years.

It had been my intention to move to France after my divorce until I re-met my G after about a

10 year gap!

After weighing up the pros and cons, there doesn't seem to be much in France for her,

her English is very good, but no French, and no Thai people in the vivinity to help her out

with a bit of 'mother tongue comfort'

So! Thailand it seems it might be.

I work freelance as a music arranger/typesetter which I should be able

to continue doing there with a decent internet connection, as I have been doing in the UK and France

which should give me at least 70,000 baht/month

and I should be able to raise around 40,000 bht/month by renting my UK flat

or selling it and investing the money.

My G/F was ground crew supervisor at Koh Samui airport before she came to the UK

for her 'adventure' and is keen to work again at CM airport if we do move out there.

I'm thinking that this should be plenty for a family to live on, we have fairly modest taste in most things.

Her mother has an unused paddyfield that we could build a house on if we wanted.

How far would 2m baht go for a 'self build' . . .any ideas how much to get electricity, water and phone comnected, I know these things can be extremely expensive in the UK?

Also . . .are cesspits the norm in rural LOS as in France?

sorry . . .a few more questions!

David

PS we're coming over in November to visit the potential outlaws . . .aaaaaaaargh!

Hi there, forum newbie here so please be gentle with me . . .I've spent a few days browsing the site and using the search facility to try and glean info that I'd like, so, if I ask a question you've heard before, Please don't tell me that it's been asked a million times before and to go look in the search etc, as I have, and haven't found whant I need! (opps a bit bossy but been 'jumped' before!)

There seems little about Lamphun generally on the internet . . . is it a 'nice' place?

Are the locals friendly? Are there many Brits living there?

What would be the cost of a modest family sized (3 bedroom) house be?

Does it have all the mod cons that are associated with city life?

Does it have a special something that might sell it?

Sorry . vague esoteric type questions, asking for opinions here really rather more

than facts.

Many thanks

David