pauleddy

The big news 3 months ago was that wine would come down maybe 10pc. Beer also. Fags due to rise.

I buy 4/5 wines a week in Villa. Apart from occasional promotions (which are pushed by the girls who get commission from some wineries)---I have seen no price falls at all, except for Tesco that has one-offs on 6 packs sometimes.

When are we getting these price cuts for wines?

Eddy

I have been done 4 times (long story...)

The papers are stamped and signed.

How to make them good for travel to UK? One nurse told me to take the proof paper to the airport, The vaccine pport has gone now.

The hospitals only gave the vaccne papers. I know a few people stuck on this. Most like me will be returning in 2 or 3 weeks.

Anyone know the procedure?

Eddy

Thanks. After that, can he ask for a further 60? He has met a lover and does not want to leave. Or can he fly out and fly in? I seem to have read that you cannot do 60/60/60 forever. He is of the impression that agents will get more 60s but it will cost 4500b.

Eddy

A filipino friend (single) arrived here 18 months ago and got a job (now quit). His idea was to head back to the Pines, but due to quarantine etc at both ends, he was stuck here and obtained a Covid visa. This runs out tomorrow, it seems!

What are his options? Can he now convert to an 0 visa for 60/90 days? Can he extend the Covid visa? Or will they throw him out now?

Thanks

Eddy

A sample size of 1000 (without ages, location, wealth etc)taken from 60 million (I’ve discounted 3 m farang) is as useless as a chocolate teapot. Does nobody study stats here?

eddy

I was a teacher at CU for many years and went on to work in another part of the government. I've paid social security for 20-odd years, so the stenting was "free".

I know that the Bumr. www always had graphs or charts that show the max and min price for all operations or procedures. You could try looking there. The BKK Ht Hosp which is a wing of the BKK Hosp itself, used to be 350,000 for single stenting I believe. 

If you have a friendly BUPA and heart trouble is covered, they cannot refuse to see your doc's letter... If they know they will have to cough up a lot make sure you have nothing pre-existing (Heart) to find because they will dig. If you have an excess clause that pays 50% or 70% remember that in your maths. Don't go to BNH because they send the stenting to Chula--they dont have a Cath Lab. Some others are the same. For stenting and other difficult stuff the guys are trained to be INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGISTS, not bog standard cardios who train in heart rhythms and drugs (but are still cool guys).

Sometimes the blockage is cleared in angio just with the balloon, which is pumped up to 12 or 14 Newtons (I dont remember) inside the heart vessel to dilate it without leaving a stent in place. This is a lot cheaper, but nothing in the heart is mega cheap. Of course, if you want to pay or use your BUPA at Chula, I recommend Prof. Suphot (who has done 000s of  stents)

Eddy

Cheryl is correct (as usual).

Stenting (if they find clotted artery or two) follows on the spot because they can see the clot on the special TV above you, A titanium spring (maybe 10=20 mm long) opens the clot by using a balloon inside it that is pumped up to huge pressure and then leaves the stent inside the now-open artery snugly.

Mine was done at Chula, and the long tube was pushed into my groin. These days, a lot of the stenting is done at the wrist (the recovery is quicker), and unless you bleed you can normally go home in the evening. Somewhere like Bumrungrad will charge up to 400,000 if you need to have a stent.

Some things to remember:

It can be a life-saving procedure. If you decide to live in the hills near Myanmar (with your angina) check out the hospitals with Cath Labs, and don't live more than one hour away.

You will need to take (and pay for) a fairly pricy anti-clotting drug for a year: Something like a very strong type of Aspirin (which itself is an anti clotting drug but much weaker).

Stents are expensive because they are made from titanium, and also they are usually imported from Canada or USA. They are made in sterile labs and have to be very precise indeed in size and fabrication.

Eddy

I would be quite content with the AZ (free or not). I hadn't realised that Moderna is 4 months away. I'm a pensioner with two of the six medical conditions. My records are with Chula Hospital (my ex-employer).

I am as confused as anybody. Where did you book the AZ?

Eddy

KL (when it's open again) is so much better than attitudinal and MB-infested BKK.

If you are caucasian, the "young generation" or millenials have to be tasered to drive them away and have a nice sleep in your hotel.

There are a few MBs but most are friendly.

I fly there 3-4 times a year. I always get the impression that there are about 500 senior farangs living there (KL) being chased by 10,000 dark or chinese younger men.

The disadvantages are:

Blueboy, the "main" bar, was renty and druggy for years but interesting. About 4 years ago, the owner painted it all as grey as a library and sealed off the dark bits. I understand that it's shut during covid.

Moving to Malaysia costs money. You need to bank quite a lot for the residential visa.

I don't know much about Penang, but other towns such as Johor or Klang (largely Chinese) are mainly deadsville. SPore is nice but expensive.

Gay Moslems (or any moslems) seem to be fine, but many are closeted for obvious reasons.

Eddy

I am on Ret Ex but last year could not get the bank papers at 08.30 am because SCB has closed downstairs at CW. Luckily I had a Thai with me and he was able to get a taxi to the SCB in Chulabhorn Hospital--although we were still delayed in the queue.

How late before Visa Day can I go to SCB at, say, Lad Prao? Can I get the letter on the day before? Are there any notable hitches? I know this has been covered somewhere before but I can't plod thru 5000 topics.

Cheers

Eddy

If there is a booze ban will it be in restaurants and cafes? The headlines seem to be saying that.

I have seen no early warnings for beer sales restrictions in Malls, Lotus, 7-11 etc,

Eddy

11 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Scousers

The scallies would pinch all the board markers before the next teacher was due to start.

16 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

Isn't this the annual here we go again thing that happens at the end of every semester?

 

Sure is. Happens at least annually. Round up a few African "teachers" in NaNa, and Bob's your aunty. Seriously, though: it's so bleedin' obviously counterlogical. Nobody wants to come here now and pay 100,000b for Covid hotel and then start earning 30,000pm. How do you attract good teachers? Duh.

I thought that there had been a ban on gouge pricing last year.

Recent shocks: At Paolo I had a non-broken finger on Xray, As a medic of 40 years I knew that simple buddy-strapping (taping to the next finger) is normal, even for finger fractures not needing manipulation/elevation. Price was 3500 + (which included "nurse attendance", tiny XRay and scotch tape plus doctor 2000b fee---for an XRay easily read by myself. They know you have insurance because the card is always scanned onto the arrival paper).

Chula--My heart consultant was 500b Dr fee (pm queue) for at least ten years. Last week it was 900b (no tests, no drugs, no nurse). Not a private hospital.

Samitevej--60 sleeping pills 4500b.  Vichayut 60 pills varies from 1300b to 1800b (same brand, same dose as 4500b pills) depends on cashier's mood. Not paid by BUPA, of course.

Do they really want us to live here?

Eddy

On 2/6/2021 at 12:47 PM, Mike Teavee said:

As has been posted above, the return times are on the same page... 

 

The Bus from Ekkami is 119 THB one way, I always use the 1st Kiosk on the righthand side as you're looking into the bus station, bus departs from Bay 1. 

 

Bolt is showing 1,101 THB from Mohchit BTS to Pattaya for an "Economy" car... or 1,378 for a "Normal" car

 

1 Tip I've read is that it's possible to negotiate a cheap price (< 800 THB) with a Taxi that's returning to Bangkok after dropping somebody off in Pattaya & there's an area (IIRC it's around Soi13/1 but can't find where I saw the post now) where they hang around looking for fares...  

 

I think I paid 1,200 to get back to On Nut from the taxi kiosk near The Sportsman last time  

It's always been the case in my 18 years here that you can pick up a returning cab from Patts for half price because he doesn't want an empty cab for 100km. Eddy.

Please help settle a hypothetical argument:

A Thai guy I know says that 15 is the legal age of consent.

I believe that 18 is the de facto AOC.

Points: Boys cannot prostitute until 20

If any type of rape or coercion or drug is involved, 15 is NOT the AOC

If a man is 40 and sleeps with a boy of 16, the age difference is too wide and, even if they are a loving couple, it is still open to complaint from parent.

If a man of 40 has a 16 y-o boy as BF and everything is happy and harmonious, and even the parents are fine...is this still an offence?

Before any homophobes read this they need to remember that the Age in UK is 16 (even if one man is 60). In Spain and Greece it used to be 13 (not sure now).

I always tell foreigners to play safe and stick to 18 or over. There are too many problems down the road if guys want boys 15-18.

Comments?

Eddy

I've just had an email from MSN (they say) about closing older versions of email from today.

The font is something like Times NR and all the commas look OK (unlike a Nigerian scam)

A link is included whereby you can register to update.

It doesn't look pukka. Just a feeling...

Anyone had the same?

Eddy

Thanks to Cheryl and others.

I got hold of a bilingual friend who explained that CU has been full since 2016. Periodically, they ask people to leave in a round robin...but if you are happy with the SQ no need to do anything apart from trash the letter.

Eddy

Good idea, but when I tried, my cheap phone was rather blurry.

It is definitely the "Annual Change of Nursing Home" topic (not Hospital, but it translates as Nursing H).

I have never changed from Chula in 17 years. Is it the case that ignoring the letter will just result in no change required?

It is in my interest to stay there, as the Gastro and Cardio bods know me and my history (and not only via the notes).

Eddy

Yesterday I received a letter in Thai from the SS. Part of it was a BLUE application form. It was printed out, obviously one of thousands.

As a retired university teacher here, I receive free health cover because I pay 436b per month.

I don't read Thai at all, and I live alone. My "chosen" hospital is Chulalongkorn (I taught there). 

I have a gut feeling that this letter is asking me whether I wish to change hospitals. A Thai friend who has moved away received the same thing two years ago (as far as I am able to tell).

Has anybody else received this letter? I don't intend to change my hospital. Should I ignore it? I have tried to phone the numbers given, but they are always engaged.

Eddy

A friend of mine is Thai-Chinese and has a small shop selling Pepsi and also the plastic ducks and <deleted> that they like. He will close his shop soon because the average spend is 20 b per head before the crocodile heads to the next place.

Unfortunately, until this year they landed in vast swarms at DM wearing their pink and green tracksuits and shouting at one another. And worse: spitting and peeing plus the legendary defecation by kids on the nearest carpet. Put me in hell any day.

Eddy

6 hours ago, treetops said:

Every working age Brit should do this if they haven't already.  It lets you see at a glance your state pension forecast, your complete National Insurance records year by year, apply for a tax rebate if applicable, access Self Assessment, and also some benefits services and more.

 

My gripes with it would be it takes too long to update (mine is only showing NI record until April 2019) and the figure they tell you to expect from being Contracted Out is a nonsense.

I worked for the NHS for nearly 20 years which means (I just called the DWP one hour ago) that I was partially contracted out. The DWP man told me that my normal state pension is not affected in any way.  despite working and living here and in other places he checked me very efficiently and advised that, despite having 13 years of gaps in some form or other, I can hit the max OAP by paying back just 4 years. The cost will be 3,000 pounds. Im sending it tonight. It will take about 3 years to be "in profit" but I think it's a very good deal. If I had worked for a Hong Kong bank for 20 years then I would be contracted out, so the amounts could be affected. Not sure.

On 8/31/2020 at 2:57 PM, webcrawler00 said:

Doing it ONLINE - Website or App... what a joke! It had never worked for me trying 3 browsers and AIS and TRUE... Just does not work. Immigration offers just say "Solly try again"!

I did it online from my Mac twice when I mastered the method (at last) in 2019.  I've been trying the same way for about 4 weeks with no joy, and my agent did it for me just before August 31. The price was little more than 2 taxis to MTT.

It seems to me NOW (as some of the gurus on here have suggested) that if you skipped it once in May or June, as we were "encouraged" to...you can't do the online methods UNTIL you or your agent have gone to MTT and done it in person just once.

My next one is in November, and I hope that I will be able to do it online again then.

Eddy

Back to the original gist of this posting:

I MUST go back to Spain before 31 January 2021 (because Boris Brexit). I have property sitting there and I need to renew my old Spanish residency to avoid being an EU ghost.

But I also have a place here. I am on Ret Ext here for years.

I may not be as erudite as some people on here, I agree, but if I fly to Spain in October a) can I take my 800,000 and just go and b) will I not be allowed back in until the "tourists" are allowed back?

I know I will need to start the 800k thing again with an O/A if the delay goes on, but my CW ext is not due until 11 months hence. I could do all my business, come back and not touch my 800k?

I suppose I must consider if Spain requires quarantine (does it?) and, of course, they need to let the retired people back in before (in my case) next July 2021.

Am I missing something? Qatar is already flying, I think. So I guess people CAN leave tomorrow but CANNOT come back unless they quarantine for 80,000 baht (which I could do).

Or am I missing some key piece here? Is Civil Aviation operating? Can I fly to Madrid next week?

Eddy