Mike Lister

Politicians tell us they will do something about the problem but then never do, this is because that once they come to understand the nature of the problem and its scale and scope, they realise the enormity and complexity of the task. The same is true of posters in this thread! Take a drive down the road from Chiang Mai to Lampang and then onto Phitsanulok, the countryside is fabulous, mountains and jungle for as far as the eye can see. Then look closer at the small dwellings and communities that are tucked away, mostly hidden from view, enforcement and management by the authorities is almost impossible. It's an education thing, that's the only real solution.

Make certain the lab you used is accredited and the operators are certified, if they aren't, you may as well test the sample your self using your Dr Bob Blood Test Kit. Also, fasting before a cholesterol blood test makes only very very small changes to the results, it's not critical.

A tip for the confused amongst us: the hill tribes live in the forests.

We just drove from Central Thailand to the North, there are pockets of burning already started.

"it never gets enforced. No penalties, no nothing." How do you know? Last year the police and fire department were very very busy in Lampang province chasing burners, it seems to me that the problem is the sheer volume of them, along with the terrain. Everyone is Chiang Mai can see the firs on Doi Suthep mountain, getting to them and catching the burners is a completely different matter. There are no roads and no landing spots for helo's, in many cases the burners come from within the forest and remain there.

Then he will know what the story is better than me.

Thailand's population may be 69 million but the work force is only 39 million, children, old people and the sick infirm tend not to wok much. And Thailand is a rapidly ageing society hence that 39 mill will continue to shrink. Also, the tax net spans about 12% of the population but only about 4% pay tax via a PAYE equivalent. The rest may or may not file a tax return but many are under the threshold to pay tax. Self employed workers such as my wife turn over close to a million baht in business each year selling bakery products. But because of the generous tax deduction on the cost side (60% of sales) , she very nearly escapes paying PT.

You're new here, aren't you.

chiang mai, simoh1490, neil forbes....and a few others.

Agreed. Part of this, I think, is big fish in small pond syndrome. Another part is having more money tp spend than most locals hence there's no need to try and fit in, learn Thai and understand culture, all their knowledge comes from the things they see and hear in their farang tourist dominated surroundings.

Without knowing what else is involved with his overall health and medical picture, I can't comment.

I'm 74 and my rotator cuff is just tickety boo, in fact, it's the one part of my body that is.

I was responding to the posters comments about the patients choice of countries for medical treatment, nothing more.

You not Thai, you no understand, shoulder not same.

No, and it is likely to be a while.

No difference really to say the UK expat needing surgery and not trusting Thai medical care and wanting to be treated in their home country.

Not all forum members use English as a first language, nor are all educated to the same level. And since this is a public forum and not a court of law, seemingly insignificant typos are often overlooked and accepted by all but the most picky and pedantic.

Sounds like a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure to repair something in the shoulder joint, rotator cuff or similar, that would require four incisions.

Spelling and grammar nazi's are against the rules, apart from which, I mean really, is that the sum total of what you have to contribute to the discussion?

Absolutely true and correct on both points.

I reached that point years ago, so did most other expats I have known.

Yes, but not Thai.

I've started more meaningful threads on this and its predecessor forum since 2007 than you've ever read on all forums combined throughout your entire life! I don't need to go back and read those old threads, I was there when they were written and wrote many of them myself. Plus, I've lived in Thailand full time for 22 years and part time for a further 11 and speak Thai. I can tell you with absolute certainty that threads such as this serve absolutely no useful purpose for the forum, the visitor, expat or Thai communities, it is designed solely to shock, gain attention, aggravate and annoy. Some poor lost soul is having a difficulty coping with the local population so he posts his feeling here, boo ferkin hoo, man up and deal with it and take your heart off your sleeve.

And the site is wondering why membership and post count is now so low, are you ferkin kidding me!

Get well soon BT......San Sai Hospital rocks.