Brigante7

Police trunchon across his/her head.

Brigante7.

Ride it there? Just a thought.

Brigante7.

Thais most definately are buddist and they would still kill it and then eat it!

Agreed, if they will eat bbq'ed spiders then they'll eat snakes.

Brigante7.

Just let anybody in the UK know who didn't already, that the Thai embassy in London will be doing a passport tour in the following parts of the Uk (might save a trip to London for some). More details are available on the Thai embassy website.

Dublin : 12-13 June 2010, Scotland(Glasgow and Edinburgh) : 19-20 June 2010, Manchester : 17-18 July 2010

Brigante7.

Is the ILR being issued reliant on the husband being convicted of abuse or can the wife withdraw the claim after she recieves her ILR?

Brigante7.

There around 5 hotels in Nakhon Phanom and the River View is by far the biggest and it's the only one that is ever advertised on websites and the like, there is another hotel next door to the River view but I haven't stayed in it so can't comment, there are, if my memory serves me correctly, 3 more smaller hotels in NP town centre but again haven't stayed in any of those. The River View is a nice hotel and perfect for exploring NP town centre and is based right by the Mekhon River and I have stayed in it several times and it is perfect for my needs.

Brigante7.

Update: The wife just recieved her passport back this morning with Schengen visa (2 day turn around), visa is a multy entry valid for 30 days (We only asked for 30 days), the whole process very easy and straight forward.

Brigante7.

Yes a farang can buy property in Thailand, unfortunatley you can't own the land it's built on.

Brigante7.

I guess it's back down to London then, thanks for the info Samran.

Brigante7.

I'm about to apply for a Schengen visa for my wife through the Spanish consulate in Edinburgh and the application is straightforward. The visa is free but there is an application processing fee of 60 euros although this fee is at the discretion of the person handling the application at the consulate, we're applying on Tuesday and will update with result and any obstacles.

Brigante7.

Update, applied for the wifes visa today and was told her passport would be returned in 2 weeks with visa, visa was free (we knew that would be the case) and there was no proccessing fee (didn't know that). The applicatrion was very straight forward and the man handling the application at the consulate was very helpful.

Required documents were as follows.

Application form + 1 photocopy.

Wifes passport + photocopy of her UK ILR visa + photocopy of her details page.

My passport + photocopy of my details page.

Marriage certificate + photocopy.

Travel insurance document + photocopy.

Holiday details (Name and address of hotel, dates of travel) + photocopy.

Wifes bank statement + copy.

2 passport photos.

Not sure about other embassy and consulates but with the Spanish consulate in Edinburgh you have to apply in person and it's first come first served so no expensive phone numbers to call.

Hope this helps others.

Brigante7.

I'm about to apply for a Schengen visa for my wife through the Spanish consulate in Edinburgh and the application is straightforward. The visa is free but there is an application processing fee of 60 euros although this fee is at the discretion of the person handling the application at the consulate, we're applying on Tuesday and will update with result and any obstacles.

Brigante7.

My understanding is that your son can only obtain his Thai passport in the country of his birth, i.e. the UK. You apply for his birth certificate and passport at the same time. You have to travel to the Thai embassy in London with your wife and son and it takes about 6 weeks for your son's passport to arrive. It's very straightforward and easy to do.

Brigante7.

No, the Thai birth certificate can only be obtained in the country of birth, the passport can be obtained at any embassy or Thai passport office.

I stand corrected. Can the birth certificate be obtained by post or does the applicant have to travel to the Thai embassy? I ask because I obtained my son's Thai b/c and passport from the Thai embassy in London and we are planning on going down again next month for my daughters b/c and passport but if we could apply for her b/c by post then get her Thai passport when we next go to Thailnd that would save both time and money, many thanks.

Brigante7.

My understanding is that your son can only obtain his Thai passport in the country of his birth, i.e. the UK. You apply for his birth certificate and passport at the same time. You have to travel to the Thai embassy in London with your wife and son and it takes about 6 weeks for your son's passport to arrive. It's very straightforward and easy to do.

Brigante7.

How gullible some people can be, or am I just being cynical?

Brigante7.

The best ladyboy test is to stick your hand down their pants.

Brigante7.

Yeah, the front looks ok to me but think they messed up the rear end. Noddy would love it though!

Nissan is always having great royal, modern and classic designs...

March.. is tooooo classic reminding me old VW.... not modern

Maybe they are trying to attract the wanna be Mini crowd?

The front has some cuteness to it but the back end reminds me of one of those pointless London cabs you might catch from the airport.

Looks too much like a cheap chinese car to me.. just my thoughts. Mazda 2 a lot better looking.

Looks like a micra.

Brigante7.

When I watch Top Gear the race track is always wet! Does it rain everyday in the UK. No wonder all you brits want to live in Thailand.

Seems it's got little to do with the price of fuel, but more to do with the shitty weather.

100% correct, and the shower running the country isn't helping either.

Brigante7.

Guess that every few years I will go back for an extended visit of 6 months to visit what family I have back in the UK and get an increase to my pension.

Or just do what some ex-pats do and keep an adress in the UK be it a friend or relative and have the money paid in to a UK bank.

Brigante7.

Reminds me of the time I was travelling along a 2 lane stretch, up ahead on the right hand (fast) lane was a slower moving vehicle. So I pulled out of the left hand lane and into the right lane, with the idea he would move over for me to overtake. Fat chance! - But I was adamant that I would not lower myself to the same moronic driving antics of the natives - I would not undertake!

Instead I followed at a safe distance behind for about a half km. The road started to curve around a slight bend, and then low and behold, up ahead I spot the unmistakable maroon flavoured BiB vehicle - Parked on the fast lane! On a bend!

A lone BiB steps out and waves down the vehicle in front of me. Ha-Ha thats him sorted I thought. But he didnt stop. Kept going right past the BiB, and carried on his merry way.

So mr policeman, aware that he wasnt getting any change from that guy, and more proabably to save face, immediately waves me down.

He directs me to park behind his police car. On the outside fast lane! On a bend!

I have been stopped so many times now, I understand it doesnt matter if you are right or wrong, its tea-money time.

Suffice to say, I am now one of those morons performing undertaking manouvres - albeit only with extreme caution!

A bit of free advice, it's only undertaking if you change lane to do it, in the situation you described, if you had just stayed in your lane and continued past the said vehicle then you would have been fine, it's what I do in the UK with all the half-wits who insist on driving in lane 2 on the motorway's here, just continue on in lane 1. A very good friend of my dad's was a traffic policeman and it was him who told me to do that and it works, I've been pulled twice for it and each time pointed out that I didn't change lane to pass the vehicle on the left and that I was just staying in the correct lane and I happen to pass a vehicle who wasn't.

Brigante7.

The Focus TDCi is a 2ltr 136bhp with a 6 speed manual gearbox but rises to 160bhp when chipped and believe me is a flying machine. while not able to keep up with a Scooby or Evo on a country road, for most people it's more than enough and the focus has always been a drivers car. I've got a Bluefin installed which is a diy chip which can be installed and removed in 15 minutes so in the event of a warranty claim you can remove the chip and the reinstall later.

Brigante7.

couple of questions: did your fuel economy chage at all? what fc are you getting? Would it work ok with the new model with the twin clutch auto? I've got a civic but really dont want to buy a new focus due to the depreciation. haven't seen a second hand auto for sale yet though..

It will affect your MPG or KPL if you abuse the power to much. The biggest benefit is having more power and torque and thus less need to change down gear, on a long run I get around 60mpg. Not sure about it working with the twin clutch model, I bought it from

superchips.co.uk

Brigante7.

My wifes ESOL course started in September 2008 and finished in June 2009, she started at level 1 and had reached level 3 at the end of the course as had everybody in the class. The course only reached level 3.

Brigante7.

My wife recieved hers in 2 weeks.

Brigante7.

The WRX is the best of what is avaialble here. The GTI is next (200 bhp & front wheel drive, paddles), but I would be far less confident in their after sales and spare parts as teh volume of sales will be low and it does not appear to be distributed by VW direct (needs checking as I may be wrong), whereas scooby has an amazing facilty with a mini test track and excellent service, spare sparts etc.

The Focus here is probably only available as auto (not 100% sure though) and 160 bhp is quite far off 220 bhp and it is front wheel drive only, no recaro seats, no brembos etc. Chipping it will void the warranty. If you plan on having the car for a long time, go with the scooby - I did and love it!

Resale values for wrx's & sti's are suprisingly high, partly as real sports cars are so rare here that there is always demand.

I am only tempted by the new sti, but at THB 4m / GPB 70k sterling!! it is just too much, equivalent to 3 new sti's in the UK! i will stick with my WRX and just slowly tune it.

The Focus TDCi is a 2ltr 136bhp with a 6 speed manual gearbox but rises to 160bhp when chipped and believe me is a flying machine. while not able to keep up with a Scooby or Evo on a country road, for most people it's more than enough and the focus has always been a drivers car. I've got a Bluefin installed which is a diy chip which can be installed and removed in 15 minutes so in the event of a warranty claim you can remove the chip and the reinstall later.

Brigante7.

OP

Is it customary in your country to pay your gf to live with you? I know it isn't in mine.

Most husbands pay their wife, one way or another, maybe most husbands just don't realise it.

Brigante7.

Focus TDCi then chipped to 160bhp?

Brigante7.