Haydn

I remember standing at attention with all my school friends on a very wet morning while the headmaster read out a list of all those ex pupils killed or injured. He the announce that Siam had declared war on Britain and that when we were victorious those responsible would be tried and executed.

This morning I boarded a bart bus at the bottom os South Pattaya rd with its Junction to Second Road for Jontiem -- There were already 8 people on the bus then another came and was standing on the back. The Bart bus driver insisted that the load was not complete - proper load he insisted was 6 sitting each side and three standing at the rear making a total of 15 passengers.

Is this the authorised load for a bart Bus as I feel especially those standing at the rear could be in danger if he has to break sharply.The driver insisted that this was the load agreed between his organisation and Pattaya town hall and nothing to do with the police.

This morning I arrived at Jontiem at 0945 to do my 90 day reporting -- I was handed ticket 388 and was suprised when i looked at the board that I was to go to the desk straight away. - All my paper was quickly looked at then I was told that next time just to bring my passport as my details were all barcoded and a slip with the barcode was stapled into my passport.Two minutes it took that was all -- My grateful thanks and congratulations to the Jontiem staff for a job well done

Thank you all

Renewed my retirement visa yesterday at Jomtien -- Arrived at 0845 -- number 3 in list -- out at 0900 everything ok except I had photocopied one page of my bank book on the reverse side of the other -- must be sepatate pages but the very helpful police officer re photocopied that for me -- used combination method -- extra money in bank for just a few days -- no problems -- have to collect my passport today at 10am

I am 78 years old and my hobby is writing books on the History of Pembrokeshire, Wales - Not a subject of interest to the majority of Thai people -- The books are available on Amazon kindle but sales are very slow to put it mildly. I have been told I need a work Permit at approximately 3000 bh per year -- my income from sales (which I have yet to receive) would probably be £50 per annum. Do I need a Work permit?

May he rest in peace -- My thoughts are with his family and friends

I have 40 years of research on my computers -- XP can read it all -- MS 8 will not -- I have tried Linux and it will do all I want and read it all with no problems -- except -- I have not found a way yet of printing out the forms for the 90 day and renewal of Retirement Visa in a correct format yet

Bye Bye Microsoft Hello Ubuntu

For Brits

George Osborne has announced "More British pensioners living abroad will be forced to prove they are alive in order to keep their state pension".

Question ? Is it possible and would it be valid for Immigration Officers to sign this form and stamp it.

Last year I was advised to get a lawyer to do it and it cost me 3500bt! a lot out of a monthly state pension which has not gone up for 14 years.

I was caned every morning for two years starting when I was eight years old on my left hand till it swelled up. I was left handed and dyslexic. Later I had to learn to spell ten words a day and it I misspelled any of then I was given six of the best for each misspelled word. I cursed that teacher and spate on his grave after he was run over. I know we should forgive and forget but I cannot and never will and I still have problem's spelling and cannot write with my left hand or my right as my right hand has now got the shakes. I am writing this using a computer touch typing with my left hand but can only type with my forefinger on my right hand

A while back I remember seeing a building in South Pattaya Rd which appeared to be derelict and due to be demolished ---- Now it has a sign outside saying IT shopping mall -- I was told at the time it was haunted

I can only say that I am not a pet but that I take a tablespoon full with a tablespoon of honey in a pint of water every morning. For thirty five years I have had high blood pressure problems. I do not now -- before 190/100 today 124/65. but read up about it as there is plenty of info on Google.

I used to teach English as an unpaid volunteer but was reported three times by falanges to the police for teaching without a work permit. One had been a headmaster of a boy's school but there had been questions so he came to Pattaya, another had taken a TEFL course but was usually found in a Bar finishing off the night at 8am. Fortunately my Thai friends supported me with the police but it cost me a bottle of black label each time.

Recent research

Rice imported from some countries contains high levels of lead that could pose a health risk to children, researchers have claimed.

US experts detected concentrations of lead ranging from six to 12 milligrams per kilogram in rice from several sources.

The highest amounts were seen in rice originating from China and Taiwan. Significantly high levels were also found in samples from the Czech Republic, Bhutan, Italy, India and Thailand.

Infants and children consuming the rice would be exposed to lead levels 30 to 60 times higher than the tolerable safety limits set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said the study authors.

For Asian children, who consume more rice, exposures could be up to 120 times higher. For adults, daily exposure levels were 20 to 40 times higher than the FDA guidelines.

Next time I go to do 90 day reporting I am going to take a camera --Last week I saw a farange police volunteer take a passport with 500 bt in it from a farange at the door ,---jump the queue of about 40 people waiting for the 90 day reporting at Soi 5 Immigration Pattaya and get that passport checked and paper stamped straight away

Rest In Peace

Today 4 Feb the rate quoted Bangkok Bank is 45.95 --- I receive a pension from UK and when I looked up the rate of exchange -- I read the following message --

To limit currency speculation the Thai Government has put restrictions on Currency Trading with other countries. A Bank outside Thailand cannot exchange THB with foreign currency they must exchange for the Thai Offshore Baht THO. This THO is taxed by the Thai Government

Therefore My pension is being taxed a second time Is this Right ?

When I changed to Internet Banking I was assured by the Bank that it would be ok with Immigration but have since been told otherwise.

I shall be applying for a marriage visa this year instead of the retirement visa as there seems to be some problems reported about seasoning and combo -- Do Immigration accept a bank statement giving all the transactions as per internet Banking or do they require to see the bank book with all the years transactions. 9 years ago I know they refused a bank statement but when they looked at my pensions and Bank book insisted I could not have a marriage visa but it must be a combo retirement visa ( That of course was in the Pattaya Soi 8 days)

HJ

I have my pensions paid direct Bangkok Bank London and credited to my Pattaya Account (Bangkok Bank) ----

Transfer of Funds in THB - Bangkok Bank will deduct a transfer fee of GBP 15 - The funds will then be converted into Thai Baht using Bangkok Bank London Branch daily exchange rate . There is no additional fee taken by Bangkok Bank Thailand -- funds will received in Thailand the next working day after funds have been received by Bangkok Bank in London --- Sort Code 609398 additional number reguired by Bangkok Bank London 92 00 10 00 both the sort code and the additional number are required by the Bank or Pension group transferring the funds to Bangkok Bank

NB I did it all through Bangkok Bank London via e-mail

Hope this is a help

Is the Business Visa automatically cancelled when the Business is closed and the work permit cancelled?

Thank you again Gentlemen -- I have looked at Kompozer and Wordpress- Joomla I could not download. I have a huge web site on local history but am working on a list of names of people who lived in Pembrokeshire from 1086 onwards -- about 50,000 entries - I was going to include it a separate page in the present site but think it will have to be a separate Web site linked to the original.

I was given the wrong idea about PHP -- I thought I was going to have to learn another coding language -- but after decoding some PHP sites I was very pleased to see my old favourite HTML language.

Thank you gentlemen for your advise -- They say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks well this old dog who first used computers in 1968 -- cards and paper tape input then graduated to ICL 1300's with my first home computers being Sinclair -- I actually installed a 32k had drive in one of those,- and then Amstrad 1512's and OU. Well this old Dog has got to learn new tricks- I had never heard of PHP till yesterday. I have gone right off MS as many of my earlier research file are in MS Works which the new versions of Office will not read But I am able to read them using Open Office. Anyway I will stop rambling about the old days - You have given me a new interest and a new project and many more programs to investigate. Thank you very much

Previously I have always used Dreamweaver or Frontpage under MS but now having been running Ubuntu very happily for some time , find that my Web site and pages need renewing -- Is there suitable software to replace my use of Dreamweaver on Ubuntu -- I have tried Blue fish and am not happy with it nor PHP edit.

No they are not always blacklisted -- I was not

May they rest in peace