Goinghomesoon

15 hours ago, keithpa said:

My mate, in Oz, all his life,  applied in Jan., still waiting to be processed, nothing unusual about the delay. Those trying to get what they may not be entitled to can expect close scrutiny.

 Yes I suspect there is a backlog. My mother recently retired and was told to apply six weeks before retirement to allow for processing time. She still had a one month gap after her final day at work before it was processed and payments started. Thankfully she had her final holiday payout to live on in the interim. 

Thanks! Gives us a name for kiddo to read about. He was most impressed by the lizard’s behaviors! 

1 hour ago, sceadugenga said:

I can find no reference to this in any Amendment bills since 2013.

 

It can be Google searched through the Parliament of Australia website

Thought it may have been the same Budget Repair amendment that heralded the 6 week overseas rule, but perhaps I’m mistaken (not unheard of!)

My four year old was fascinated by this guy on our farm 45km E of Nong Khai.  There are two and we saw them several times. This bigger one is about 25cm long. It would bob its head, straighten the front elbows to look taller and hiss at us.  Hoping for a name so I can tell our son more about them. 

Thank you Don and JVS, lots of great information to supplement what our garden centre lady told us.  We are not sure of our in-laws capacity to look after young trees and keep them watered in the location we want them. So hubby has temporarily located a couple of 30cm specimens in containers near our water jars so they can be splashed each time anyone washes their feet or hands. We’ll see how they go and transplant them in rainy season. If they look good.  At 50 baht each we can always buy more if that doesn’t work. 

I am sceptical about the quality of the earth as well-digging in the area came upon strata upon strata of yellow clay about a meter underground. This combined with my sister in law’s brown-thumb maybsee our plans doomed, but we will try!

Thank you Don and JVS, lots of great information to supplement what our garden centre lady told us.  We are not sure of our in-laws capacity to look after young trees and keep them watered in the location we want them. So hubby has temporarily located a couple of 30cm specimens in containers near our water jars so they can be splashed each time anyone washes their feet or hands. We’ll see how they go and transplant them in rainy season. If they look good.  At 50 baht each we can always buy more if that doesn’t work. 

I am sceptical about the quality of the earth as well-digging in the area came upon strata upon strata of yellow clay about a meter underground. This combined with my sister in law’s brown-thumb maybsee our plans doomed, but we will try!

On 4/27/2018 at 3:05 AM, halloween said:

Interesting. And just who gives CL the right to determine how long a semi-retired Oz resident's holidays can be?

I believe it was legislated under the Social Services Amendment Bill around 2015 or 2016.  

So the answer to your question is that CL is simply following the law. 

22 minutes ago, Johnniey said:

.......it isn't a difficult procedure.....

Ha! “Not difficult” now that’s a man speaking!   Were you allowed in the room to witness see how difficult birth actually is?  If my husband tried that one on me he’d regret it!

You may need to be a bit clearer about where the village is, sorry.  Edited - ah I see ur other post, nope not near us :)

I had my underarms done at the salon in the street behind the back of Central Silom Complex (Saladaeng Skytrain). The salon is in the complex on the corner of Soi Saladaeng. I don’t recall checking the cost of any other services, sorry.

We have a lovely rural property in Isaan but our house now looks out on an ugly bright purple tin roof (thank you sister in law - could you have built in a less convenient spot?). Consequently we would like a bit of privacy.

There is a wide swathe of cleared land between us - probably 50m wide. We both love the look of chamcha trees for shade as well as rapid growth.  Has anyone planted successfully and how much water/care do they need as youngsters since we will be asking a relative to care for it when we are not there.  

The rules have recently been relaxes so the quarantine enroute in the Group 2/3 countries is now far less (used to be six months in Sing/Malaysia). 

If you have not established contact with AAHL (Aust Animal Health Lab) yet please PM me and I’ll pass on the details.  They will instruct you on how to take the first batch of blood tests in Thailand and send to Australia and will provide the Import Permit for the serum sample. Second set of tests are done in the interim country. 

If if you have time I suggest you take animal to KL or Singapore yourself - much faster and more reasonably priced than a pet agent. Then use an agent for the Sing/Melbourne leg (quarantines in Perth and Sydney have now closed). 

6 minutes ago, KhonKaenKowboy said:

Was that the lady, who went around breast feeding her eight year old, in very public inappropriate places, to dare people to tell her she is disgusting?

Who cares whether the natural act of breastfeeding upset anyone. She's dead so no need to debate it.

Saw this beauty this afternoon in Phuket, from Thai Smskes I suspect it may have been a Red-Necked Keelback?  Probably a juvenile as it was only about 30cm long.  It was so vividly coloured.

Had our daughter at NIST for 3 years until we moved away from Bangkok (grades 5-8).  We are a Thai-Aussie family and there was a good mixture of kids from all different cultures and backgrounds.  Teachers are well qualified, generally have a few years (sometimes more) under their belts and we always felt that they had our daughter's interests at heart.   Our daughter found herself ahead academically when she moved to school in Australia.  

I think something you hear about all the international schools is that the older kids do a lot of clubbing and underage drinking on weekends. NIST is no different and I had friends and colleagues with older teens at other schools such as St Andrews, ISB and Pattana who said it was the same there.

Mut Mee Guesthouse in Nong Khai used to send their boat on short trips as far as Phon Phisai during the Bang Fai Phiyanak festival, they may have some idea.

To be fair the fees had not increased in 16 years and the change was legislated, not imposed unilaterally by the Embassy. They are just doing their jobs. I reckon an Isaan outreach is a great idea! 

On 12/23/2015 at 0:49 AM, CMKiwi said:

Prem is also one of the more expensive schools outside of CM proper. It is not free! There are also a lot of teacher vacancies, and although I cannot say why due to the possible legal implications. I new director/Principal has resulted in a lot of long term/time teachers resigning.

It appears not is all healthy within the teaching fraternity. I am led to believe that those whom oppose giving credit to children that dont make the grade are under undue pressure to reverse their decisions. Money and hierarchy (Perhaps the Thai way) dont always sit well with western teachers.

But that said, there are more schooling avenues to explore in the area.

FWIW as a Prem parent with a child in 12th grade there hasn't been any noticeable change in teaching quality nor any effect on the kids. Mine is an average student and gets excellent support. It's a lovely learning environment. 

What a nightmare for the passengers who probably expected a quick jaunt to the end of the Soi.  Both hubby and I have done just such a trip many times with our toddler.  Regardless of how it happened it's very sad. 

Hope it all worked out. We exported our cat to Australia via 6 months in KL back in 2011. The Thailand-Malaysia leg was pretty easy. 

No idea but sympathy.  It's taken our rescue cat three years to come to terms with our youngest child being added to the family......

On July 1, 2016 at 1:22 PM, Sheryl said:

For cuts I always go to Schwing. Maxim house on Witthayu.

Hi Sheryl!  Desperate for a good cut...loving life in Myanmar but hairdressing is . Is Schwing reasonably priced?  I need grey coverup (thank you stressful workplace plus toddler!) plus a cut.  

Will be visiting soon from the wilds of Myanmar and looking forward to stocking up on food to bring home...anyone seen coconut aminos around?

For anyone else looking, I found a cheap one for about 400 baht from Sports World opposite Central Silom...with a grumpy toddler I just wasn't able to make it to Suk Soi 31 for a proper roller, but it will be on the list for my next trip!

Yay! Off to the gym with The Rascal and Fish Brando it is. Special thanks to @Sledpull... Hubby might be a bit shocked if I pulled out a bit of blue poly pipe one night ha ha .