elena edwards

I'm seriously thinking of selling up my Sansai pool villa and either transferring to another Chiang Mai area closer to town, or even giving up entirely and returning to the good old UK. Have investigating several CM-based websites, but not strongly taken by any. As this is certain to be the last move of my life, any experience might well help me not to make a mess of it!

Thanks for this - all this is driving me up several walls....certain I didn't even get a birth certificate as I was born the year before WW2 ended...and also was adopted by the girl who lived next door!!!! I believe, according to my 'mum' - my father was a US serviceman based at Northolt Airport - close by to our home!

I'm desperate to get authorisation of my date of birth - no actual records from the UK except for date of birth on passport - the UK Pensions Authority is trying everything it can to make things difficult or almost impossible. I'm applying for a widow's pension - but don't have an official birth certificate as I was UK-born in March 2044 whilst these were not issued until after World War 2 had officially ended. My husband died here a few years ago but I didn't ask for a pension until recently. The Brit pension lot based in Wolverhampton are being very obstructive and obviously have no intention of paying out - even although I'd satisfied its requirements - sent a large brown envelope containing my expired passport with it's clearly shown birth date as well as photos showing me holding the thing up for identification. I sent the package via DHL - would you believe this - it then got 'lost' and has not been seen since...in spite of successful tracking details, delivery to correct address etc. Any hints on how or where to go right now would be hugely appreciated as I'm now in poor health and have no teeth in my lower jaw!!!!!!

Thanks - I'll give him a call after the darn holiday is ended.

A good while ago I had an under sink water purifier installed by a guy who visited regularly to check all is well. The guy disappeared over a year or so ago - now I need to get the set-up made operative again but haven't yet found a replacement for his services. I live in Sannameng Sansai and would be very grateful for a replacement contact number and details . Right now, my small, narrow kitchen's stuffed with small plastic bottles - not exactly environmentally great!

He's my IT guru - affordable, reliable and all a very old,non-IT female expat needs! As regards his associates, I haven't tried one yet, but am getting a list of jobs needing doing in my home. Khun Suchart is ane example, a similar service should help females such as myself to get household help when needed and at a suitable price.

For expats in Chiang Mai, especially those who're new arrivals or older home owners, one of the toughest tasks seems to be getting professional help as regards repairs and suchlike. Even for those used to 'do-it-yourself' in their home country, the lack of fluent Thai or a Thai friend or helper can be frustrating, to say the least, as shown by the high number of posts requesting positive experiences rather than no-shows or other unsuccessful expat attempts to get a reliable craftsman. One of the most important issues, especially for older expats with family back home as well as non-mega computer-literate new arrivals, is keeping their online services up-to-date and functioning correctly. Contact with a bi-lingual expert is all-important. In this, with those in need are well served by Khun Suchart. I've used this English-fluent IT whizkid for some years - but didn't realise until yesterday that he heads a large group of readily available, affordable Thai experts ready and willing to provide for almost all home-based expat needs! The list is long, covering almost all aspects of home repairs, renewals etc, and can be contacted at: *Phone number edited out*. Wish I'd known this recently- only found out when i called Khun Suchart about an IT issue!

I'm having hell from the Suzuki mob - don't even know where my Suzuki Vitara has been taken - without my permission or any conversation concerning last week's drastic overheating issue. I'd called my usual mechanic - who failed to turn up two days running - knew enough not to drive it so called Suzuki for a visit. Couple of guys turned up, I showed them the symptoms, described etc etc - no information was given to me , BUT - to my horror I saw my car being driven away fast - without my permission-to an unknown destination!!!! It's been four days now - with the exception of an email exchange - I have no idea where the car is, no information as to the cause of the overheat and no info as to what they'd do about it, cost, timeframe etc. Due to the holiday, it's impossible to get in touch with anyone and I had stuff I needed in the disappeared car. A friend drove me down to their 118 place - coudn't see my car anywhere on the lot and am now getting very concerned. Warning to other troubled Suzuki owners - watch out for this lot and don't leave your keys in the dash if you've requested a visit.

I've been trying to locate a branch of the Samaritans here in CM - if anyone knows of such, contact details would be appreciated.

Spent half the morning attempting to make sense of Food Panda's total unhelpfullness as regarding registration and delivery of an online order of dog food via Big C. Filled everything required, first requesting of cash on delivery was banned , then giving my Bangkok Bank card when cash was also refused. Still refused - went on to the chat facility offered by the online delivery page - total waste of time and no result - also refusal to calm my fears of my requested use of my card details. I'd also wanted to use the service for evening meal delivery - I'm not a great cook! Has anyone else had this issue - I live a good drive from my nearest Big C - fed up with the traffic and don't have local stores which supply my three furballs' favourite meals!!

Thanks so much for all the helpful replies - the entire car, except for the faded roof - is as on manufacture - the same original colour and with two small rust areas and two recently acquired four-inch long scratches on the drivers' door. Decided it's a scam, especially since my vet's car is same make, model and age and seriously needs a TOTAL respray but has no issues at all with renewing its road tax. I've been here for 16 years now - but seriously considering a move to another SE Asia destination.....

I'm being charged 40,000 baht for a supposedly required full repaint of my older car in order to renew its road tax. Strange, I thought the tax was connected with exhaust emissions and have never had this issue on 15 years' past tax renewals. Mechanically, the car is fine and regularly serviced by an affordable and very competent local guy, but the roof has been sun-bleached, there are two very small rust areas, two small scratches and some very minor fade on the front o f the bonnet and the bumpers need repainting. When I inquired several years ago, I was quoted 10,000 for a complete respray as I wanted to change the color - apparently not allowed - now it's 40,000 for just the above. I live in Sannameng - Sansai, and the local car tax guy has never made the above an issue before. Don't know where to go from here - first time a local has attempted an obvious overcharge......now I'm scared to use the car, even for essential journeys into town.

My 20-year old Suzuki Vitara has a few rust spots and both bumpers need attention and filling before painting - I was quoted 40,000 late last year by the local guy - the only issue was the roof which had been bleached almost white by the sun over the years. I decided to give it a darn good clean up instead! Five years ago the quote was 10,000 - wish i'd gone for it then but my husband was on the last stages of his illness and I didn't want to be car-less at that time.