Keeps

I had a quick look at the below link earlier. I will look at in more depth when I have time. Might be of use to you though. I'm slightly puzzled regarding some of your comment. Do you specifically want to open an account with someone other than Barclays? I have Barclays current account but have just opened an Everyday Saver account with them and no questions whatsoever were asked. https://international.standardbank.com/international/personal

What is 'get over yourself' in Latin?.....

I watch all of the movies I quoted on a fairly regular basis (other than DDD). A Christmas Carol is obviously seasonal but every version from the 1930's onwards will be on TV sometime over the Christmas period in the UK. I have seen each of the movies mentioned well over a dozen times, more likely upwards of twenty times. Does this satisfy your criteria?

Oliver! - Lionel Bart's musical version. Pretty much any version of Dickens A Christmas Carol (Alastair Sim 1951 version probably being the best) To Kill a Mockingbird 300 (Gerard Butler) Die Hard 1 and 2 Home Alone Debbie Does Dallas (fond memories as a young lad) I'm sure others will spring to mind......

I hold all of the first three Stocks you mention and periodically top up when the pricing is attractive. Other high yield Stocks I currently hold are BAT, Imperial Brands, HSBC, Aviva and a large holding in Legal & General. This proportion of my holdings provides the majority of the annual income I need. The larger part of the portfolio is invested in a combination of growth and income funds, both UK and Global along with bond funds and a few speculative 'punts' on individual shares (success and abject failure in this regard but not enough for me to worry about). This portfolio balance seems to work for me and I try and stick by the 4% rule (or X25 rule as I have seen others refer to it). If I take up to 4% of my pot each year then, in theory, there is no chance of the pot ever dwindling over, say, a 5-7 year rolling period. Of course there will be some ups and downs but if you comply with the 4% rule then you really shouldn't go wrong.

Both myself and my Thai GF eat ginger in various forms if we are going on a long car/bus journey or a boat/ferry journey. We both find it alleviates nausea. It may be a ginger supplement, raw, thinly sliced ginger, crystallized ginger (which is particularly effective) or even a ginger biscuit/cookie (if I have remembered to bring some back from a trip back to the UK).

Purely there to add flavour, not to be eaten. I wouldn't want to be chomping on a stick of lemon grass, a lump of galangal/ginger or a kaffir lime leaf etc. Too intense a flavour to eat but all delicious when used to add flavour.

That looks very tasty. What did you cook it in?

Never liked him. Very creepy. He reminds me too much of Zippy from Rainbow to take him seriously.

That's what I am going with. I'm going to email the forms tomorrow and see if Kasikorn request anything further. I've completed the first form only (as UK resident). Page one details as requested and ticked all the 'NO' boxes, included my UK address and NI number on page 2 after ticking 'YES' to question 1, signed and dated page 3. Self-certified the copy of passport by stating it is a true and accurate copy and signed and dated it. Hopefully this will be acceptable to Kasikorn.

If anyone has/is replying to the Kasikorn message by email, are you including your name, DOB and Account Number in the email 'Subject' header? The message they sent and the attached form makes no mention or reference to my specific Account by way of the Account number. I can't see how they could align the email to my Account if I do not include this information. There is a chance (albeit very, very small) that someone could have the same name and DOB who also holds an Account. I'm not currently in Thailand and won't be back before the proposed deadline given of 20th December. I want to at least respond with something and I'll probably follow up with a branch visit early in the New Year.

I have previously had to complete this form to hold US shares via my UK online investment platform (Hargreaves Lansdown). It is regarding a reduction in withholding taxes in respect of US shares. It seems that the form is good for 3 years then needs to be completed again. Below is from a message received from Hargreaves explaining this:- "This form allows Hargreaves Lansdown to claim a reduction in the level of US tax on your dividends and interest from US shares depending on your personal circumstances. Withholding tax rates can currently be reduced from 30% to 15%, or to 0% if the holding is held in a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). Please remember that tax rules change. This form is valid for three calendar years after the year in which it was signed, and Hargreaves Lansdown will inform you before your form expires."

I stay at the jomtien beach penthouses, Soi 9 usually for a week to 10 days twice a year. I find it to be excellent. One bedroom condo apartment with separate lounge, kitchenette and balcony. Daily cleaning if required. I book via Agoda and costs around 1,500 - 1,750 per night. It's a mix of owner occupied and rentals. Nice swimming pool and never had any problems with noise either inside or outside. 2 minutes to beach, 7/11 at top of Soi and the Kiwi restaurant is a couple of shops further down.

Does anyone think there will be repercussions by not responding to the email prior to the deadline given of 20th December? I am not currently in Thailand and unlikely to be back prior to mid February. I would much prefer to go into my Kasikorn branch as, reading some of the previous posts, this seems to be the most hassle free way of addressing the issue.

Hash browns shouldn't be anywhere near a full English (although I do really like them with other meals). It should be bubble 'n' squeak which is made from day old mashed potato with added cabbage/greens. Fried and constantly mashed up so there are plenty of crispy bits. Can be made with leftover roast potatoes and veg from a Sunday roast. Was a Monday night staple when I was growing up served with the leftover cold cuts from the Sunday meat joint and plenty of pickles - onions, red cabbage, Branston etc. Likewise, Boxing Day lunch was always the same and many people prefer it to the main event on Christmas Day. Bubble 'n' squeak on fresh, crusty, buttered bread is one of life's great pleasures.

£150 is unfair for the emergency exit seat but the airlines know somebody will pay it for the extra comfort. I'm quite lucky in that I usually know my travel plans well in advance so can plan ahead carefully. I book the fare class that suits me best considering the circumstances of the upcoming trip. For instance, for a trip next February I paid an extra £100 for the fare class on the return leg from Bangkok but that allowed me to redeem points to upgrade to Royal Laurel. The cheaper option did not. On a separate note, the last time I used points to upgrade from economy to premium economy on the London to Bangkok leg I was hit with an additional charge of £104 when checking in. This was the long haul tax that the UK government imposes. As I was no longer flying economy I had to pay the difference which would have already been priced into the premium economy ticket. I was not happy but not much I could do. As I've mentioned previously, happy to fly economy now on the London to Bangkok leg in the front row emergency exit seat.

My friend tends to get to Schipol mid morning on the day of his flight which departs around 9pm. He travels light so is not bothered about carting luggage around although there are storage lockers at the airport. He then gets the train from the airport into Amsterdam Central station, has a mooch about and a few Heineken's, a bite to eat then heads back to the airport early evening to check-in for the Eva flight. I'm with you. I would need that safety margin in case the UK to Schipol leg has problems. He stays near the airport on the return leg from Bangkok then usually gets a flight back to the UK around 7am next morning. I know he did pay £729 for his last return flight in premium economy both ways but he did have some Eva reward miles to redeem against the cost. That's another reason to sign up to the Eva rewards program. Can use cash+miles to book or redeem miles for an upgrade.

I got the bid email from EVA on my trip out here last month. It is done on a 'swingometer' basis (low bid, fair, strong etc). To upgrade from economy to premium economy the starting offer was around 500 Euros which showed as 'poor'. I think you need to be in the 'fair' zone to even stand a chance of them accepting it which was around 700 Euro. To upgrade my return leg (this coming Sunday) from premium economy to Royal Laurel 1,100 Euros was shown as 'poor' and 1,450 Euro crept into the 'fair' zone. Ridiculous prices - almost as much again as the original flight ticket. Needless to say I didn't take up their kind offer. As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I did get a free upgrade from economy to premium economy about 10 minutes before boarding on the outbound leg from LHR. Happens rarely these days.

A friend of mine has flown the last three times with EVA Air from Schipol, Amsterdam despite living in the UK. He is paying around £850 return in premium economy. For the similar flight from LHR it is around £1,700+. There are of course additional costs involved getting to/from Amsterdam but he still makes a significant saving. The flight times are not dissimilar to the EVA flights from LHR. This does involve staying a night in a hotel near the airport on the return leg as there are no suitable flights from Schipol back to the UK at that time in the evening. He did say Schipol airport itself is a bit chaotic and the EVA lounge is crap but the savings are worth it in his opinion. I always used to do premium economy both ways (paying around £880-£950) but have now started flying LHR to BKK economy (I am guaranteed emergency exit window seat at front of economy as I book well in advance combined with the Gold card). I am happy to do this as the flight departs around 9.30pm. I'll have a few drinks in the lounge, get the emergency exit talk from the stewardess out of the way, pop a pill and sleep most of the journey. I then return premium economy and every second or third flight upgrade to Royal Laurel using points. Even the economy outbound/premium inbound is still costing around £1,400. EVA are not the 'bargain' they once were but I continue to use them as I like a direct flight, the times both ways suit me and the rewards program I find useful.

You need to be Silver or above membership status to get free seat selection on EVA flights. Otherwise, I don't think you have any option other than to pay the fee or hope for the best at check-in. I would sign up to the membership program before your flight even if you do not plan on using EVA again in the future. I assume you booked directly with EVA online or using the APP? If you sign up prior to the flight your upcoming journey should be linked to your profile. It won't mean much at this stage but you MAY get a sympathetic response when checking in if they see that you are a member. I actually got a free upgrade flying from LHR to BKK last month. The flight was full and I was a lone traveller with EVA Gold card. Doesn't happen often at all these days but was a welcome surprise. Tier membership details on link below:- https://www.evaair.com/en-gb/infinity-mileagelands/about-infinity-mileagelands/tiers-and-privileges/membership-benefit/

Weren't they more than half way there after two and a half hours? Why return to Phuket taking another two and half hours? Not sure if there was a body of water to cross for the remaining part of the flight?

I have just noticed that your post got 46 positive reactions of various types and not one negative reaction. I think the masses have spoken....

Please excuse my ignorance but what is the latest situation regarding Aung San Suu Kyi? How is she now regarded by the general masses? Is she under house arrest? Is she still 'active'? I can only assume with your background, you are probably best placed to comment.

Isn't a blank gun similar to that used to start athletic events for example? I very much doubt they can fire live rounds. Would certainly make the 110 meter hurdles more exciting though....

Probably tried to sell her a rug first.....