Doctor Tom

Yep. there's nothing like spending double the normal amount on a meal out, just because some bloke, who may or may not (probably not) have been born on that date 2,000 odd years ago. The Calendar was different in those days, so the date is no doubt way off anyway, even if he existed at all. Sounds nuts to me, but there you go, it takes all sorts.

95% of everybody hates it.

One of the great pleasures with living in Thailand is that I can ignore Christmas. I am not religious and neither do I like getting ripped off with Christmas BS and over pricing. It's a normal day for me, no different to any other.

I stopped drinking alcohol over a year ago. No particular reason for that decision, bar I really didn't need it anymore. I don't miss it and hardly think about it any more. I don't say that I will never drink again, but I see no reason to do so at this time.

Yes, and I give this as another old joke about the SA80, not a personal comment: ' this heap of <deleted> is just like a woman, you never know what you're going to get, help, or crapped on'

And there you have the problem in a nutshell. They are not the same, never are the same, and should not be presented as interchangeable, even in speech. When discussing English with my Thai g/f, we often discuss such twin words in detail. She knows that your and you're are not the same, due to the context of the sentence. That's why, to effectively teach any language, you need to be able to both speak and read it. Phonetics is not the art of teaching or learning a language, it's merely a part of the process.

There is a difference in spoken English and it is shown in context and sentence construction. Diction shows the difference. A contraction is just that. If it does not aid understanding, then do not use contractions.

Those of us who are educated, speak clear, correct, King's English, regardless of a regional accent. My accent is clearly Northern England; I have no problem being understood, even in an international forum and I have no problem here In Thailand. It all comes down to education and being exposed to experiences and situations, where clear, unambiguous language skills are essential. Very, very, few English teachers in Thailand meet this criteria and I would suggest next to none outside the International Private Schools.

I once visited a McDonalds in a Food Court about 15 years ago. The guy cleaning my table was an Iraqi legal visa equipped immigrant and a Iraqi trained and qualified Medical Doctor, who was working the cleaning job while he got his English up to par to get his UK Medical Licence. Now he, and people like him, wouldn't get a look in with this new policy.

All the Health Service Sector? Care home staff? Home Helps? Cleaners? Cooks?

It won't be done either by a feckless, lazy, entitled UK workforce. These dumb asses in charge can't see that someone has to do the low paid stuff, its the way of the World. If you want that low paid stuff done and your lazy ass locals will not do it, then bring someone else in who will.

Civil Servants are a big part of this issue, and so many other issues. The Service is institutionally incompetent, staffed by WFH obsessed, grossly inefficient nonentities, at the highest levels, even in the Diplomatic Service They are a disgrace,

People will not be fooled when their local hospital can't find the staff to stay functional.

Not as I read it because the person applying is a UK citizen. There is already a strict financial requirement in the visa process for the Sponsor, that I believe is above the new number, but I could be in error.

This is just one more, of many, examples that the Tories just don't get it. People are not upset about legal immigration, to employment that adds to the UK economy, and in the case of the Heath service, keeps it functioning. A fully trained Nurse from say the Philippines, probably can't now make the cut. And yet, the real problem of illegal immigration that the government over funds with benefits, goes on, unchecked. They are too incompetent to be in Power.

I was born and raised in Yorkshire, UK. Nobody understands us but Yorkshire folk and we don't give a Fxxx

Completely irrelevant to me and the way I live. I make my retired years as trouble and stress free as I can. I no longer do the bidding of others, I do pretty much what I want to do, when I want to do it and, within reason, sod the cost.

For me, the cost is circa 15,000 per year. The cost is irrelevant and doesn't factor into my wish to avoid immigration at all costs. All in my circle of friends use agents, not one of us ever goes near the place.

Agreed. I haven't been near immigration in 4 years. Agent for extension, online for 90 day reports.

Indeed so, why would anyone think otherwise

So they wouldn't fit 90% of the farangs here

Your post made me feel so sad, on so many levels

Report it to the Police as that is illegal and keep reporting it until the lazy authorities do something. Short term party retails have been illegal for quite a time. Try reporting the location to the tax authorities if you don't get any traction from the Brown Jobs.

Commando mate

Cambodia is a corrupt, Chinese inundated, sleazy, peado ridden, sxxt hole, that's my bit said.