5davidhen1

Hi, My Thai girlfriend is in possession of a Thai DL (not her first one) which she acquired about 23 years ago. She is adamant that it is "for life." She points to a word in Thai language on the license which, allegedly confirms this. I'm aware that Thai safety rules can be somewhat lax, but surely a license cannot run forever, at least not without some safeguards, can it? My UK license needs renewing post age 70 every 3 years --- I'm on my second renewal. Admittedly, I only need to affirm that I am still medically fit and competent to drive at each renewal, but at least it is a check of a sort, albeit a "weak one."

Many thanks to all respondents. My friend was adamant that there was no subscription package required. He DOES put monthly money on his phone, but said it was for calls (not data). Perhaps I misunderstood him or, perhaps he doesn't even realise the difference between calls and data himself? I looked at some adverts for MiFi devices. They mentioned that they included a SIM card, but didn't say that there would still need to be a subscription/contract in order for them to work. As I have said, I am not particularly tech minded and thought I had discovered a cheaper or even free alternative to my current plan. I should have realised that there is no such thing as a free lunch, and that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is! Again, thanks to all for the comments and explanations --- I'm going to stick with the status quo.

First of all, let me affirm that I am not particularly tech minded. I pay an annual subscription of THB2,500 to AIS for data. I use the data so that I can make/receive calls via Line/skype/WhatsApp etc. when out and about. I AM aware of the use of hotspots in bars/cafes etc. but prefer not to rely on them. I also use my phone as a hotspot at home which enables me to operate my laptop for banking/browsing etc. This works fine. When I renewed with AIS earlier this year, I asked them to put THB50 on my phone for normal phone calls. As far as I am aware, that THB50 still exists as I hardly ever make "normal" phone calls, but I felt that it was good insurance in case I needed it. A friend has a mobile Wi-Fi (MiFi) device and has suggested that I should buy one --- for just a few hundred baht with no subscriptions payable. I am a little sceptical about doing this, hence the reason for the question in the title of this thread. My friend said that "some" data is still available on his phone even when he leaves home without the Mi-Fi device, but I can't see how this is possible. Coming back to the question in the thread title: Would the answer be this? If I don't renew my AIS subscription, saving THB2,500pa, but instead, buy a MiFi device to use my laptop at home, I can still access the internet when out and about provided that I TAKE MY MOBILE MiFi DEVICE WITH ME.

Thank you to all respondents.

My Thai girlfriend, whose home address is in Ubon Ratchathani, needs to renew her I.D. card. Can anyone tell me what time Pattaya City Hall opens for such business? Also, she tells me that years ago, she would have needed to return home to perform such an act --- surely this cannot be true, can it???

Thank you for clarifying.

"I say, I say, I say, my dog has no nose." "Really, how does he smell?" "Awful!"

Hi Sandyf, I too have my daughter put the most recent GP prescription just inside the package, lest customs decides to open it. And, like you, my packages have never noticeably been tampered with. Regarding my Betamethasone nasal DROPS: Do you get that actual drug (drops, not spray) from the government hospital pharmacy, and what des it cost? My nearest government hospital is Pattaya City.

As far as the authorities are concerned, I am "on holiday" and reside permanently with my daughter. Indeed, if I needed major, (expensive) but not urgent care, I would return home --- I have after all, been paying into "the system" for my entire life. For various reasons discussed on this forum, pensions being one of them, I am of the opinion that UK authorities should only be told what they absolutely need to know --- Why should my state pension not receive the annual uprating received by UK nationals who have chosen to remain in the UK --- and who are continuing to be a far greater burden on resources than expats???

Thank you to Puccini, and The Fugitive. I intend to continue allowing my daughter to send me the packages, which amount to 1 or less per annum, with my phone number being appended at the end of my address. Regarding a "plan B": My UK GP prescriptions are free, my being 73 yrs old. I can, and have in the past, bought my Simvastatin from local pharmacies, Boots being the cheapest. My other drug is a steroidal-based nasal drops medication named Betamethasone which I have (so far) been unable to find here. Fascino's told me that they may be able to "order it" but at the time of my enquiry (maybe 3 years or so ago) they suggested quite an expensive price. At the end of the day, the Betamethasone is not a "life or death drug", and I can always pick up some supplies when returning to the UK for holidays.

I always ask my daughter to put the truth on the customs declaration. She's sent my drugs to me 3 times now declaring such. Not once has my package been interfered with.

No, they are for my personal use, and the contents of the package is not what I sought clarification on.

I'm sorry, Puccini, but my hands are too shaky to take a pic which is clear enough to read. It was an A4 sheet of paper --- looks quite genuine with the THB35 clearly stated. The customs declaration on the package averred that the package contained prescription drugs with a zero value.

Because I hadn't heard or read anything about it and the last package I received was over a year ago.

Today, I retrieved a package by visiting Chaiyaphruek Post Office. Apparently, if my phone number had been on the package, the postman/woman would have phoned me to agree the fee prior to delivery. I'm not quibbling about the charge, but I've never had to pay it with previous identical packages. The post office informed me that the fee represented "7%." If my maths is correct, then 100% would equate to THB500, which I think was the gram weight of the package. Is this fee something new?