POMPOOEYMAN

Some further info of my experience in this matter............I have paid NI contributions since I started work in 1966. I left to go work abroad in 1977 and have worked overseas ever since, however I maintained paying voluntary contributions every month to this day.

I am nort due to retire until AFTER April 2010 and last year (Sept 2006) the DHSS actually contacted me and advised me to consider that I may not have to pay any further contributions if the new pensions White paper becomes law. I have attached a copy of this letter:-

I have not received any further correspondence to date from them on this matter.

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To keep fish in your pond do you have to oxygenate the water at all.

Also can you put a pond near your house, what with mosquitoes etc.

REALLY NICE PONDS YOU HAVE.

STAY LUCKY POMPOOEYMAN

Thanks to everyone with the advice.

I have been racing all over the world but never in thailand.

Please do not think i am being fecicious when i ask questions like how do you put a bet on.

If you have never been try placing a bet in dubai without having a mobile phone and a foreign bookmakers account.

I can't wait to get stuck in. Does anyone know the different bets the tote does.

STAY LUCKY !

POMPOOEYMAN

I WONDER IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH SOME INFORMATION.

HOW MANY TRACKS ARE THERE IN BANGKOK.

WHEN DO THEY USUALLY RACE.

AND HOW DO YOU BET IN A COUNTRY THAT OUTLAWS GAMBLING.

I HOPE YOU CAN ANSWER SOME OF MY QUESTIONS AND I AM SORRY THAT I COULD NOT ANSWER YOURS.

THANKS POMPOOEYMAN

To Pompooeyman, it is usual to add something when you reply.....................

Based on his earlier posts, I'm not so sure.

NOW NOW There is no need to get sarky.

There are lots and lots of building projects waiting to start. But that's just it they are shelved and waiting.

If you had the finance in place to build a hotel or a block of condominiums at this precise moment, would you go ahead, bearing in mind you need people to buy or rent these ( AND THERE ISN'T A SHORTAGE OF THESE ALREADY BUILT) or would you hold fire a while and see how things turn out in thailand (ECONOMY, GOVERNMENT)etc. I know what i would do.

GOOD HEALTH TO YOU ALL ! POMPOOEYMAN

The thai economy is walking a tightrope at the moment and the rope they are walking is made up of foreign investment.

But as a stand alone economy the rope looks very threadbare.

Every economy around the world depends on foreign investment. The Thai economy is no more or less stable than any other Pac-rim economy, with the exception of Hong Kong and Singapore. If you think the Thai economy is unstable, try looking at the Japanese or South Korean economies.

IMHO, viewing a country's economy as a stand-alone entity makes no sense, unless one is speaking about some isolated regime like North Korea (whose economic woes are caused by its self-imposed isolation). The only concern that any country's economy ever has is from a government which persists in meddling in free market enterprise. One has to look no further than Hong Kong and Singapore.

To cut the wheat from the chaff.

Any british person travelling or living in thailand must open a NATIONWIDE FLEXI ACCOUNT with at least 2 cards (in case the atm eats one or you lose it)

You can if you want walk all round thailand with travellers cheques and cash trying to beat the nationwide rate, which you might just slightly but is it worth the AGGRAVATION

I whole heartedly agree with most of the postings made here in regards to a weak dollar verses the thai baht.

But in my oppinion it is not quite as bad as it first seems.

The thai economy is walking a tightrope at the moment and the rope they are walking is made up of foreign investment.

But as a stand alone economy the rope looks very threadbare.

FUEL prices in thailand are going up as we speak. My village has never seen so many people in it. All local builders come home because there is no work for them.

Go to any village market and speak to the locals and watch how much money is being spent and you will see what i mean. The squeeze on the thai economy is only now starting to take hold.

There is a lot of ARTY FARTY rubbish talked when it comes to Financial and Economic issues and you can get a much clearer picture of things by keeping your eyes and ears open Locally.

To all our AMERICAN friends just wait and hold your horses for six months and you will see the foreign investment start to lose favour with not just thailand but asia as a whole.

Please don't rush in and do something now that you may regret later. I.E Leave LOS POMPOOEYMAN

Can anyone reccomend a good reliable air freight or shipping company so as i can send about 40 kg of personal effects out to thailand (korat) from london. I am in no rush as long as i can get them there for christmas.

THANKS POMPOOEYMAN

At the moment it is taking me a 14 hour round trip in a minibus to do my visa runs.

Korat airport has been shut for 2 years now.

Has anyone any ideas or suggestions as to make these runs quicker and more pleasureable.

Thanks POMPOOEYMAN

THANKS to everyone for the advice and information.

Don't let that leg of lamb burn and when i get back it will be cakes for everyone and perhaps some scones.

THANKS TO YOU ALL a Very Very POMPOOEYMAN

Could someone please help me as next time i go back home to my village i want to bake some cakes for my kids.

thanks POMPOOEYMAN

Can you buy Bicarbinate of soda in tesco lotus or big c.

Yes

And can you buy flour in these supermarkets and if so which types can you buy eg self raising cornflour etc etc.

Both and more , also yeast if you want to make bread and different types of sugar.

Cheers

THANKS from some very happy children and an even more POMPOOEYMAN

What about plain flour.

Could someone please help me as next time i go back home to my village i want to bake some cakes for my kids.

thanks POMPOOEYMAN

Can you buy Bicarbinate of soda in tesco lotus or big c.

Yes

And can you buy flour in these supermarkets and if so which types can you buy eg self raising cornflour etc etc.

Both and more , also yeast if you want to make bread and different types of sugar.

Cheers

THANKS from some very happy children and an even more POMPOOEYMAN

I've been wondering the same thing, but on a very brief initial research of internet sites, it didn't seem to be worth it.

Given that far less hot water is required for showers and washing than, say, the UK, I can't see that there's any role for a solar water heating system. As far as I could see the range of kit on offer in Thailand for electric panels is quite limited and not cheap, so I doubt whether it would pay for itself. But I have to admit I haven't done any detailed costing.

I'd be glad to hear from anyone who has. I'm thinking of packing a small panel or two in my luggage next time I go out there to charge up stuff in the garden like lights or a small fountain.

I have looked into this in some detail and believe me it is not worth it.

It costs far too much to set up and far too long to recoup outlay and guarantee runs out before you reach this.

It appears that the solar panel projects that do take place in thailand are very small and fitted by neccessity in some remote villages and are fully susidised by the past government.

I was very dissappointed to find this out after attending two demonstrations by two different companies. I had my heart set on fitting solar panels to my new house even if it was slightly not cost effective.Unfortunately it was well off the scale.

I cannot say i have ever seen solar panels fitted to any modern hotel / office /building in thailand.

Perhaps when this happens then things might become more cost effective.

Hope this helps

POMPOOEYMAN

Could someone please help me as next time i go back home to my village i want to bake some cakes for my kids.

Can you buy Bicarbinate of soda in tesco lotus or big c.

And can you buy flour in these supermarkets and if so which types can you buy eg self raising cornflour etc etc.

thanks POMPOOEYMAN

Dear Dr Pat Pong

Thank you very much for your reply.

I am a one year multiple entry O visa.

When you say a decent medical certificate,do you mean one issued in thailand or one issued in the uk. In the uk i am under two harley street specialists.

I am registered disabled in the uk.

so what is the exact documentation that i need.

how much of it do i need.

who do i present it to and what will it entitle me to do in relation to visa runs.

Any advice greatly received.

thanks POMPOOEYMAN

I am a british citizen 46 years old and registered disabled.

I stay in thailand 9 months of the year.

I am finding it increasingly difficult to do the visa run every 90 days.

Are they're any exemptions made to registered disabled people so they can report to local immigration office instead.

Any help or advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

What is your present visa status ? You will need a DECENT medical certificate for ongoing treatment and you can acquire the status you require. By decent I mean something much better than a local clinic certificate. A senior physician from a respectable hospital is the way to go.

I am a british citizen 46 years old and registered disabled.

I stay in thailand 9 months of the year.

I am finding it increasingly difficult to do the visa run every 90 days.

Are they're any exemptions made to registered disabled people so they can report to local immigration office instead.

Any help or advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Hi there just to let you know having spent a month in my wifes village NongSuan (about 5km outside Udon Thani)

Iwould like to recommend you eat at Harrys Bar and restaurant

Harry's can be found on the by pass to the east of the city, (about 3km north of the Airport heading towards Nongkhai)

Im sure regulars know this place,however ive been going to Udon for nearly 3 years now and only just found this fine establishment.Great Beer Clean kitchen,and FARRANG FOOD, Also great Thai food

I dont think he has his own web site but can be accessed through Udon Map wewb site'

see:

www.udonmap.com/harrysbar

I agree. A superb restaurant,great atmosphere. No Dom Perignon 76 Though.