TroubleandGrumpy

Sounds interesting - thanks.

Interesting - may I ask what work - designing parts for manufacturing? I have looked at 3d printers and they amaze me - a brilliant innovation - never used one though. I worked in IT&T and Computers from 1970s to 2010s - saw a lot of innovations.

I hear you, but I am surmising why they banned his shop's sign and I think it is because he did the first big one without permission and they made him remove it, and then he did the next smaller one again without permission, and was again asked to remove it. The local ordinances had been changed because of whatever reasons all over UK, but I understand long standing signs were given an exemption in some councils/boroughs (and can be 'touched up'). I am surmising - but I think I am right - I doubt the issue is the Union Jack - it is the sign itself. He has tried and lost the 'local channel' - so now he is trying the social media path (smart).

What do you 'print' on that? Genuinely interested. I assume you dont play computer games 24/7 in Thailand.

Allow undesirables into the country for 90 days Visa free in the name of economic recovery - what could possibley go wrong. There is a reason people from certain countries are not easily allowed into the West - and yet Thailand has allowed them to freely enter for 3 months with no questions asked. And guess where they mainly went - to the most corrupt place in the country - Phuket. Good luck getting them to leave later - they will be dug into the corrupted systems like an Alabama tick.

Reputable and Safe - No - and there never will be in our lifetimes. IMO dont install any App with access to your bank account - so many things can and do go wrong.

Dont worry - he will grow up one day and join the real world - hopefully.

Advertising signs are not allowed on walls - I would say that is their issue. If they allow one sign, then they have to allow all the others. Maybe put it on the windows? or door?

It is endemic - Thai females have been caught up in the FB stupidity. But lets face it, if it was not that it would be somehting else. Good thinking to let her buy some crap rice and learn it is all scams - as opposed to a lot that have bought 'diamonds' and found out that they are those 'lab made' moissanite diamonds that look great, but are not real diamonds. Not much in the way of consumer laws here in Thailand - good luck getting money back - seller probably outside the country anyway. Women are extremely silly when it comes to things like that - especially Thai women.

Wise decision - all social media platforms are inherently insecure and the User are prone to being taken advantage off. One of the first things I did was remove all the wife's personal data from her facebook, and then restricted access to who could post what to her. She got all the others in her family to do the same.

Yes - it is OK to 'advertise' on social media - but actually paying using that is just silly. Using one's loaf as you said - not something taught in school for decades.

That is great advice - We are all out on parole - so we do need to 'behave'.

There are things that are in writing and then there are things the saleman says. What any salesman says is not worth the paper it was written on. In this case, any later complaint will be responded with something like - 'I show him how IPTV worked good on TV. I no say they are free.' 🙂

And who was saying many years ago that it was not a good idea to allow Somchai borrow money to buy a new truck? Educated Thais and Expats. But no one listened and those making money were happy, and the Junta Govt said the economy was growing - what the problem? And who is now saying it is not a good idea to allow certain people in for 90 days without a Visa just for short term economic gains? Educated Thais and Expats. But no one is listening and those making money off them are happy, and the Govt is saying the economy is growing - what the problem? And on and on and on it goes - year after year, issue after issue. The inevitable end result is coming. Vietnam and Malaysia are eating Thailand's breakfast and Philippines is moving to get involved - soon they will all move on to the Thai lunch - and when they hit the Thai's dinner, it will be all over. And then it will be - what happenned? And then it will be a revolution. Maybe that is what is needed here.

Looks like they are cracking down on all the fraud committed by 'new arrivals' who claim benefits and have undeclared incomes and assets. There is a reason they are travelling all the way to UK to claim political asylum/refugee, and it aint the weather. I recall the UN complaining when Thailand refused to let a boat load of 'Muslim refugees' land in Thailand. Thailand cost guard told them to eff off and pointed their guns at them - saying there is a Muslim country right next door to where they came from, and there is another one just down there. Thailand apprehends all BS 'refugees' who get through and locks them in UN shelters until their claims are approved or disallowed and the UN takes them away. However, Thailand does a lot to support the genuine refigees that are coming over from Myanmar. How do they tell the difference? Most fleeing Myanmar are mainly women and children and some old men (the men stay and fight) - fake refugees are mainly young and middle aged males.

I would go see a registered financial adviser and get their advice on how to achieve what you want now, and how to achieve what you both want after you 'depart'. Same thing for assets and finances in Thailand - talk to an expert (but do not give any specific details - such as personal details (other than names) and account numbers etc.

It astounds me that Thais use Facebook and Line for commercial transactions and dont have a clue about the dangers. What are they teaching them in schools ......... never mind, silly question.

TTL ............................ Third Time Lucky

Yes indeed there are several extremely wealthy Thainese families pulling strings behind the scenes. But what you are talking about is Politics and how the political game is played in Thailand - here it is very obvious and very naive. In the West there are political 'experts' who are employed by wannabe politicians and their Parties. Those experts know all the rules, regs and the ropes - they are given everything about a politician and his/her family and they are the ones who would have said to Pita 'you better sell off those shares now'. In Asia those advisers/experts tend to be inside the families - and in Thai families the only ones I see with such advisers and expertise are the Shinawatras. They are building a dynasty of political power and wealth - and at the moment they are the only ones that I can see doing it. Like the Bushes and Kennedys - but unlike in the West where the political systems do not favour dynasties, here in the East it generally does. Yes I also think MFP will be back if dissolved, but their 'IP' will be lost if they are disbanded - and PT (guided by Thaksin) will be seeking to pick off a lot of their seats that they won at the last election. Thaksin is back for 2 reasons - to see his family and die in Thailand, and to guide/influence the future of the Party he created and to put them back into power. There are many seats MFP won in the North that MFP won and they will be targetted by PT. The thing you raise regarding the wealthy wanting more is related to their families. Here in Thailand, and most Asian countries, they are building generational wealth for their future generations. In the West it tends to be a man who make all the wealth, and then the following generations spend it. In the East they are building wealth for the future generations based on the past wealth that they received.

Thaksin is doing everything he can to prepare PT to win the next election, which will be after the new Senate is appointed and in place, and their views/requirements found out (2025?). MFP will be the PT's junior partner in a coalition if they dont win enough seats by themselves. PT will by then have Thaksin's Sister/Daughter as their leader and next PM.

Exactly - and that many Expats are not planning for that astounds me. And those guys are the ones who caused/gave excuse for the Thai Govt to enforce mandatory medical insurance for some Visas for everyone (and maybe more Visas in future).

The system is what it is - to change it (including military involvement) means getting inside the sytem and changing it. I agree with your points - but just because the system did not do want you wanted it to do, does not mean you are right or wrong. Politics is a dirty game - and MFP were very naive - they were taken down by their political opponents. Pita has ascaped (unlike Thanathorn before him) but the MFP Party is in serious danger of being dissolved - all because of the tactics of their political opponents. It does not matter that how that was done is unfair - politics is unfair. Demanding a change and criticising the current system setup, aint gonna make things change - MFP did not know how to 'move forward' and they were played by politically smart opponents. Example of what they should have done - Pita agrees to stand down as leader and PM of MFP/PT coalition - separately deals with the case about being excluded for 'owning' shares. They nominate a leader/PM from the MFP/PT coalition that is acceptable to the Senate. Then after the Senate elections in May/June 2024, the MFP challenges for the position of PM with Pita as the nominee (given he wins his case). PT either agrees of they have to form a coalition with the Military Parties. Doing that this year was obviously needed in the powerr vacuum created with MFP refusing to back down. But doing that in 2024 would be electoral suicide for PT. Another Example of how to do things in Politics - The return of Thaksin. Smart clever and achieved with a minimum of problems to Thaksin himself - slowly slowly while planning ahead. This current trip to Chiang Mai is part of that. That is how smart clever politicians plan ahead and get things done. Sister next year - maybe even later this year.

I was told recently that there is 500K Expats living long term in Thailand and each spends on average around 1 million baht (some much more). That totals 500 billion baht per year, every year after year. At the going rate of 50K per tourist spend in Thailand, that equates to 10 million tourists. Maybe they should spend a little time and money trying to both keep the Expats living here now staying here, and to encourage more to come and live in Thailand??

Buy from a reputable dealer near you (service/repairs etc.) Avoid tents and other 'stack and pack' type dealers (all cars, no room to move). Toyota has a certified used car offering - same as BMW - but they are over priced. Negotiate the price hard - it is a buyers market right now. One2car is very useful to ascertain the market prices - use them to pick an exact car and model and year that you want (sedan, SUV, hatch, etc Honda, Toyota, Mercedes, etc) - before you start looking. Then try to find that car nearby at a dealer. If/when you do take it for a test run - some places will advertise cars that were sold last year just to get you in there and then offer other cars - walk away from those ones. Take your time - low kms - service history - 1-2 owners only.

One of the downsides of living on an island or in a remote location - the availability of high level medical services. Something all Expats should take into account when getting towards the later years (60+).