Drumbuie

At Chaeng Wattana last month I had to sign two extra forms. My understanding is that these authorise Immigration to carry out further background checks to validate the information on the application and acknowledge that such checks may be made. I assume that such checks could include e.g. criminal record databases in other countries.

You could contact the excellent charity https://friendsofthaidaughters.org/ who operate in the north.

" With age comes wisdom". The number of irresponsible young male farangs who get into newsworthy trouble here is quite high.

Go to a Health Deliver clinic who will compare rates at different hospitals for you and can deal direct with some insurers too.

You've all gone chasing after the wrong rabbit. The question to ask is "Why woukd Musk be doing that?" Musk is definitely not a philanthropist.

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be" was my grandpa's phrase. He wasn't wrong.

..." Showing the total amount of not less than 800,000". Here, "total" means not the cumulative total of the transfers, but the minimum total in the account for at least the previous two months.

Use Wise to convert your money then transfer it in Baht, and it should be instantaneous especially if it's within banking hours at both ends. Especially if you're with K Bank. Their app often says it's arrived before Wise confirms it's been sent.

Starring? I found him way down the credits on the second film listed. He's an armourer. That's not acting, it's being in the film crew. #LostInTranslation

I'd definitely try another branch. Maybe somewhere near Phrom Pong where they're more used to foreigners? There's a K Bank in Emquartier, for example.

All they want at CW is an entry on the account for the day of application for the extension; it can be a deposit *or* a withdrawal. I transfer the fee for the extension into my 800k account a few days before my appointment, withdraw it from the ATM on arrival at CW, update my bank book at the ATM, and walk round the corner to get it photocopied. I only go into the BBL branch for the letter. Hope they don't close their CW branch!

No. Make a will today. If you *handwrite* it yourself, date it and sign it, it's a valid will in Thailand. If you need advice about your will, it's free to all who live in Thailand from the Office of the Attorney General. People dying without a will leave a huge headache for everyone - don't be one of them.

Increasing VAT hits poor people harder. Privatising utilities is disastrous - look at the UK where private water companies have siphoned billions meant for infrastructure improvements into directors ' salaries and dividends. Tax the billionaires instead - but I suspect that will never happen.

One way to use the satellites could be to have receivers /relayers (whatever they're called) in communities without mobile coverage, creating a local cell ? I'm pretty sure that's what they do in remote communities in the Scottish Highlands. No need to change phones.

I've occasionally wondered what kind of saddo watches beauty pageants.

I have accounts with BBL, KrungSri and KBank. KBank is way ahead of the others, great banking app and ( in my branch at least) helpful, well trained staff.

Isn't her maiden name on your marriage certificate? If she has that, and her birth certificate, that would provide proof that she is the same person .

Tai chi is excellent for older people. Try it.

"Customers with positive financial histories remain unaffected, and those needing higher limits can request upgrades."

I think you'll find that the "data lake" will be filled with information from all the Thai government agencies - including car registration and driving licences - banks, mobile phone companies and possibly retailers too ( I've just had to give everything short of a DNA sample to Lazada to get a refund). No data protection laws here.

Actually, many criminals aren't even in this country - they acquire loads of SIMs and set up bot farms. Hence this move to prove "liveness". https://wakeup.sg/phone-bot-farms-social-media-fame/

In June, I visited a friend who's moved to a quiet village in the Cotswolds and this doesn't surprise me. They have a strong community, with a co-operatively run village hall and cafe. Where you gave community - something that Reagan and Thatcher started to destroy, their work carried on by their successors - people are less afraid. And when people are less afraid, they can be kind to others. Which is what some of you call " socialism" or " leftism". It's a shame you have never experienced it. Yes, under the FPTP system, the Witney constituency voted Tory , but that doesn't mean everyone's right wing.

Oooh, that's a nice bunch of pre-packed prejudices you've got there!

Orange Line opening in 2027? Not according to the excellent and usually 100% reliable BKK Rail app.

https://open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/p/how-to-be-a-man-4ae?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=78g6l PS Ian Dunt absolutely nails it. A long read but seriously, do yourself a favour and read it.