RayWright

Can't confirm on PER, but flew SYD in March with Thai Airways, highly recommend the Lorrent Perrier and the wee bags of peanuts, don't eat the open food on Airlines having worked at Heathrow years ago. Pre departure lounge was okay, bit dirty, saw a long tail scurrying about, so kept my bags up on an adjacent chair. Hate to think what Aussi customs would have done if I brought in 'livestock'. Business class has multi-pin 220V power sockets, so great for laptop working. Always try and fly direct, Quantas had a deal, but couldn't get a window seat, so flew Thai instead. Flew Thai cattle on the way back, got the front of section aisle seat, so happy, saved a few Baht, plus working the next day, so no drinking.

With this year's TT week starting Saturday, practice week is nearly over. This from 2011 comes close to catching the magic of the event. Been track side on a couple of occasions, unbelievable the speeds these guys pull on the open road. In terms of Best Real Motorcycle Chase Ever, was there in 2010 for Hutchinson vs Dunlop in the Supersport race 2, both set new lap records during the 3 lap race, with 1.45 seconds separating the two at the end, Guy Martin came 4th, absolute magic.

Michael Gambon teaching Daniel Craig a fact of life...

Just watched "Mysteries of the Pyramids with Dara Ó Briain", 2 parter, 90 mins all in. With the BBC axing Mock The Week with no explanation, Dara is branching on on Ch5 presenting documentaries. Him being a bit of a nerd his style works as he discusses the academic solutions and theories as well as some of the far fetch 'Alien' ideas. Programme mostly covers Egypt, however makes reference to some of the other 5,000 pyramids across the planet. Could easily be expanded into a longer series to cover more of the South Amercian, Chinese, SEA etc constructions. Found it on TG, just aired in the UK.

Just watch it. Great popcorn flick. Always watch the credits, which on this movie copies the Jackie Chan end credits showing the stunts from behind the camera. Recognised the name Hannah Waddingham but couldn't place her (old age creeping in), then clicked, Tonya Dyke from Benidorm.

Use to bump into Mike and a few others of the Moody Blues in The Victoria in Oxshot, as it was their local back in the late 70's / early 80's. In fact John Lodge still lives down the road in Cobham. RIP Mike.

Dicky Betts, the writer of the world's most played factually entertainment show theme song in TV history, Jessica. Originally written as a tribute to his 1 year old daughter. Original from 1973, off the "Brothers and Sisters" album :- And the more popularly recognised version by Christian Henson :- If you've got a spare 15 minutes, then highly recommend watching this:-

Depends on your diplomatic skills. Had to quote the law to my landlord, who agreed in principle, so valid TM30 issued with fine of 1600 THB born by the landlord, so valid documentation now in hand for requesting of TM90 early next month. This despite a 'clerk' at Soi 5 saying to my Landlord the TM30 originally issued when I was out of the country as being "okay". For clarification this was my first TM30 at a new address.

Bit of conspiracy theory. Is Sunak banking on Vlad kicking off into Europe, so in light of this weeks Government recommendation of everyone become Preppers there won't be an election, so nothing to loose.

As @IvorBiggun2 said above, it is the responsibility of your Landlord to submit the TM30 to the local Immigration Office of the property you're staying / residing in. See link from Immigration website, in English and Thai. https://tm30.immigration.go.th/TM30/Foreigner/TM30EN/index.html So if your Agent is proposing this action then it's a scam, unless your Landlord has outsourced this action to the agent in question, if so you should have been made aware in your Lease Agreement.

Telegram, all being well looking forward to mine from William. 34 years and counting.

Or install a covert CCTV, if you have WiFi then £20:00 or change of 1,000THB. Else SIM CCTV cameras are £100:00ish. Going back to the OP, " ...suggested a recent departure...", sounds like a bit of a tip-off.

First photo I took as an expat was the Electric meter when I moved into my first Condo down in Na Jomtien. Going through some old photos of my dad's, found this from 1951, so most likely his first Expat photo when he was posted to Bangkok. No scooters or hanging network cables. Those were the days.

Get where you coming from. Was in Casino in March and being "The Beef Capital of Australia", really looking forward to an eye of Augus fillet. However the local Gen-Zeeders had kicked off big time at the wake of four of their own who were killed in a Police car chase over a major drugs bust. Local BiB closed all the pubs / Hotels / Resturants in order to contain the ruckus. Missed my steak I've been pining for all year. Turns out Casino is a major drugs town in NSW. Who'd have thought. Times change.

Très simple, il est Inspector Clouseau of the Sûreté.

Dual pricing, or "Discount for locals" exists the world over. In the UK, a number of the non metropolitan tourist sites offer a locals discount, turn up at start of the year, show your Council Tax Bill or a Utility Bill and photo ID and you'll pay the full entrance price or with an additional slight percentage charge and get full access for the rest of the year without paying again.

Using a Windows 10 & 11 Laptop, have activated the Hotspot on my Thai mobile and activated Android based VPN from the phone. Anyone see an issue with this simple work-around?

Not sure if the UK office of Bangkok Bank has access to the Retail system, i.e. every day bank Accounts. Use to work for a High-Street Bank, and despite having Offices / Branches across Europe and the Middle East, short of the ATM (i.e. Visa or Mastercard) this was the only way to conduct business not having an International Bank Account in those jurisdictions. Suggest a phone call to 33 St. Mary Axe before making any trip. Your comment "No online banking, no card, no book.", how will your daughter access the funds on her return to Thailand?

I know Hamster likes a Black Cock.

This is Albino... Always found this a good aide memoir:- Facts correct as to release date in 1976. Facts spoken by Keith Spencer-Allen, who was the recording engineer on the album. Looking at a November 2023 report from ControlGlobal.com, then current figures are:- So a change of 10% in 48 years! Yikes!!!! Maybe the Mediterranean countries have always had the right idea, paint everything white.

End of last year 100+ London Metropolitan Firearms Offices handed their permits in due to the pending prosecution of on officer in the shooting of a speeding unarmed civilian. Interesting, year on year there have been less Firearms Officers since 2018 (2841 Pemits), as of April 2023 there are only 2595. This Year's figures will be even less. Looking at last year's stats, (April to April), there were 18,395 Firearms operations across England and Wales, or which 20% were within the Met. Out of that, only 10 incidents recorded of an officer discharging their weapon. Would be interesting to know the USA/AUS & Thailand stats for the same. Is the UK safer than other countries, properly not, but good to know statistically if you go out, the chance of getting shot are close to zero.

Good point. Get Red Bull to sponsor it, that'll give it wiiings! If it's going in 3 years time, job for Boss as the Maitre D'.

Being Russian getting parts and local maintenance would be an issue. Maybe @GinBoy2's idea of a Russian themed restaurant could have legs.

Just pulled this (https://www.thousandeyes.com/outages/) So issues via Singapore to Europe / UK. Pink = Hardware, Blue = Application Servers. The Red Sea incident is currently effecting 4 submarine cables out of the 16. The Red Sea usually covers 17% of the worlds Internet traffic. However these 4 cables account for 25% of the Red Sea traffic.

On 3BB (1000/1000) down in Na Jomtien on a nailed up router based VPN to Coventry in the UK, currently getting:- Yikes! Just switched over to Telehouse in Docklands, and getting:- Performance definitely effected.