samtam

Call +974 41445555 (in Doha). Even if the "Let's Chat" makes you wait, just be patient.

Do you have a membership? If so, log in and go to "chat". Much better than speaking to the local number, (which is answered somewhere else).

Can you help me out with what I'm missing. I'm over 65 and I come to a figure of THB500k non taxable: 60k Personal Care Allowance 100k (up to) Pension Income Allowance 190k Over 65 150k Zero-rated 500k Total ....what's the additional 70k? Thanks.

I'm a farangy, and my lawyer got me a blue book, a yellow book and a pink card, (all pretty colours), from my Amphur (Thungmahamek) in Bangkok. My partner and I jointly own our condo. He too is not Thai, but only the house number appears in the blue book, and in the yellow book the same house number, both our names, me first page and then him on the second page. We both signed Amazonian forests of paper, met the head honchola, and paid the lawyer, (I can't remember how much). So in answer to your question, "yes"; they do make it up. I think we did this all around the time of the reintroduction of the TM.47 hoopla, which then died down, (as in not required for re-entry, or going out of province etc).

As in the title. Are they widely available?

Then we agree. But the correlation between control and kids is a stretch, IMO. I do however think that the initial rollout of the cannabis decriminalisation here was ill-conceived, in that there is no regulation on the strength and measurement of THC content available. That is the bit they needed to get right first. But it would have required planning and a means to test. Just as with alcohol being at a maximum of 40% proof, in the case of cannabis, it's dangerously unregulated. One shop I've bought from would only sell CBD products, another THC, and the gummies were far too strong, even in miniscule quantities. A spliff from another shop that someone brought one evening, had me in the death throes after one drag. I wouldn't go anywhere near it again here.

Bit like the alcohol sales hours then. Close sales window during 2pm to 5pm because kids come out of school, and in every other country in the world, kids automatically head to the off licence for their hooch.

Meanwhile in Germany today.... I guess it's all about planning, discussion, implementation.

The spidermen are still in situ, (well not as I write), but they will have a go tomorrow. They've already had several.

The roof is 38th...I'm not far below it.

Thank you. I have passed the information on. They have certainly tried turps, washed with soap and water, window cleaner etc. This cleaned the window of it's paint, but after rain, streaking marks were left, which never happened previously.

In either situation I need a company in Bangkok that does one of these. I actually like the mirrored effect of the shiny side on the inside, as it's how the other frosted glass pieces are in the kitchen. And as it is sandblasted, the vinyl alternative doesn't arise. Again, if anyone can recommend a window fitter in Bangkok, (even if to remove the pieces and to replace the glass), please let me know.

My kitchen window which was newly installed in 2020 had some paint dripping on it during the repainting of the condo. The outside is sandblasted, and the company cleaned with turpentine, so that now when it rains it leaves streaks. Need to replace glass (and frame). Any replacements company in Bangkok that anyone can recommend? And attempting to clean:

More like Neverland.

I'm sure there's something in that. I flew on them in October 2022 ahead of the World Cup, and there had been a hiatus between that trip and my previous one, due to covid. Even in October 2022, despite trying to impress, they were woefully short of their previous levels of service in Business, which I have enjoyed and previously lauded, over the preceding 10 years. Anyway, they slipped off their perch as the Best Airline to Best in Business, but I guess Skytrax is bought and paid for, so it's all a bit meaningless.

All done. I had an SG VPN on and the JAL website was much for navigable, (than even the Japanese site). Go figure.

@gearbox I am indebted to you for your advice to use the Live Chat facility. Was going along swimmingly yesterday until they had an IT glitch. Then couldn't get back on Live Chat until today, and spent 4 hours booking 2 flights, (using 2 laptops for the two of us), and we successfully managed to book JAL with Avios points (plus the fees) from Qatar. The Live Chat went down in the middle of the process, but everything confirmed, except now I need to check the JAL site for booking, (which is not yet showing), and to select seats. When/if that happens, I will proceed with the unrefundable accommodation bookings. A major palaver, and frankly not one I will undertake again. Only use Avios on Qatar or BA, not any of their partner airlines, as the system is simply not geared to it.

Yes, it is a protracted process to make it as unattractive as possible. To put it bluntly, it is a complete con. If the airlines don't want to give reward miles, just drop it, and stop pretending it's a benefit.

Absolutely agree.

@gearbox Thank you. I managed to get through and thought I was about to book, but they've asked me to come back and try again in 2 hours, as they have an IT glitch🤨 Initially they asked me to do what I have already done....go and make the booking request on their website. Not sure we wont go back to that rigmarole again, which is a complete waste of time and effort. The Avios points (77,500 each) come with a service fee of THB14700 each.

Oops. Found it.

I did chat online yesterday, but cannot find the chat facility today, (just now). I used the search option, but nothing comes up. Maybe it's closed for the weekend. Certainly the booking request doesn't get handled over the weekend, despite Qatar being an international airline, and it's headquarters operating in a country that has it's day off on Friday.

I travelled with my partner, and we had the two centre seats together. On one leg we decided to have dinner, with a pre dinner drink. Everything was served at different times, so would have been better sitting on the same side, and separately. Again the "meal on demand" means that service is haphazard, and even between seats divided by an aisle. Some customers received food and beverages long before others, in that configuration. They really are uncoordinated. After that experience we decided to pass up on the F&B service, as it was just too irritating. The answer is to eat in the lounge before you depart, and at the lounge in Doha, if it's not too crowded. On the first leg there was a queue of 10 or more for each of the shower facilities.

Yes. transferring reward points from Qatar to JAL, (one of their partner airlines), is indeed clunky. Apparently they have to do it "manually". Avios transfers between Qatar and BA can be done by the customer online. Not so with any of their other partners. And weirdly, BA requires 90,000 points plus THB12,500 to transfer to a JAL flight, whereas Qatar requires 77,500 for the exact same flight. I tried doing it from BA too, but their IT systems are worse, and obviously with the variation in point requirements, I was not prepared to fork out for more Avios points. Ergo, best only to use Avios on BA or Qatar, and not with any other of their so-called airline partners. It's a guaranteed exercise in futility and time wasting. I wish they would just be honest about it. But I know now, and so will anyone reading this.