billd766

According to Chalerm, the government will ensure that officials involved in this corruption case will face legal action.

Ya right... when was the last time that that happened around these parts???

Oh ya... that guy who got convicted of corruption, jumped bail, fled the country, and whom now the current government, led by Chalerm, is trying to pardon on his corruption conviction...depending on what day of the week it is... Great anti-corruption crusaders these guys are...

Re the Transport Minister, if he was taking/receving kickbacks and bribes, he deserves to go to jail..no matter what political party he's affiliated with. But then again, if we were employ that standard across the board, would there be anyone left free to run the government?

PS - Note to self... don't forget to NOT leave my loose 17 million baht in pocket change laying around the house anymore.

I have a very safe place to keep your loose 17 million baht and you can believe that it will be safe with me as I am a retired engineer and have NEVER been a politician, Thai or anywhere else.

A pushbike with an engine. Concept has been around for donkeys years, but never proved popular.

Back in 1960 I had a 1950 something Cyclemaster and the insurance for a 15year old youth was 12 shillings and sixpence or 62 pence in new money.

It worked was all I can say but there were times when I had to pedal uphill as well as having the engine running.

As an attraction for pulling girlfriends it was a resounding no-no.

Been into the haven known as Fairyland today, popped my head round the barriers to see the progress on "your new Tesco" progress is a word someone does not understand, there seems to have been very little over the last couple of weeks and it is not opening in the near future although I am sure they will be open in time for the Christmas rush, whenever that may be, will keep you posted.

Had to take the G/L to the dentist today and they had a Christmas tree with all the goodies in there first one I've seen this year. Had a quick look and not a thing for me, Oh well. It's those bloody pin's again.

So it look's like you'll have to wait a few week's for Tesco's to open then BigC will have to bring their price's down. Not having a go but did you know that it was one of the most expensive BigC I've ever been in.

By the way is it a big Tesco's. And where abouts is it say in relation to the clock tower BigC.

T.T.A. K.P.Phet

If you turn left at the clock tower opposite Big C and keep on that road for maybe 1 km it is on the left after you have entered the one way system. It is not too easy to see at ground level but if you look up and to the left you will see the Tesco sign. The entrance to the car park is just before Fairyland (Tesco is on the ground floor) and if you miss it you need to take the first available right turn, go over a couple of streets, back up towards Big C, turn right and right again to back down the one wat system.

It used to be quite a big place too.

Forgot to return

An "honest" mistake.

To Fred and Bill, PM me when you are next coming down to the fumes and we will arrange a meet for a beer.

I think Bill might be coming in the next few day's as he need's to get some tablet's, You might not get a PM from him as I know he is having electric work done nearby and they keep cutting his electric off. I wont be down for a few week's as I have just done a crap journey nearly 9 hour's from Pattaya. And will need several week's to get over it. But I might feel better when the pin's come out at first haze. Thank's for the offer I will remember when I'm next that way. You are also very welcome to have a pint if you ever come to the town of happiness.

The K.P.Phet Tourist Association. N/B our clock's all work well they did last time I looked, but I won't bet on it.

For 3 or 4 days a week now the power goes off from about 9 am until perhaps 4 pm as the PEA are running new 3 phase cabling over the existing 2 phase so they have to shut the power off.

It was very hot last Thursday and the guys were working flat out in the sun, so being the nice guy that I am I bought 2 big blocks of ice for their coolbox and a case of Chang beer for when they finished for the day.

I always get waved at and saluted now but they do a good job and deserved the beer.

Maybe I will do the same tomorrow.

I will try to get down to NakWan one day next week but I want to look for a motorbike shop in Kao Liao so I won't be going down the route 1 but crossing the river and using the back roads.

I see that Fredob has made it to the national papers too.

Everything depends on what is the nearest and best server for your village, be it AIS, DTAC,True, TOT, TT&T or whoever.

What Ho, Bill.

Sorry didn't get PM, off this morning to Pat's/BKK If it's about Chemist where to get med's, you might have to order but they are spot on. Sorry don't know the name of the soi but if you go from the T/Light's with Big/C on your right turn left at second set of T/L 50mt down on the left just past the small clock tower/market the chemist on the corner they speak a bit of English, but if you take your bit's in with you I'm sure that they'll be able to sort you out. You've got my Phone No: so if you have a problem give me a tinkle. At the same time we can discus the twinning issue with N/S but I think that might be a non starter. All be it that our chum there is a Brit and knows his ale's. With all the T/L mentioned KPP is starting to sound like N/S.

Will be off line for about a week.

Afternoon Fred

No problem.

It is the same guy that I normally use for some meds but he really didn't want to order anything for me for some reason so I let it go.

I will probably take a wander down to Nakwan next week as I am starting to go a bit stir crazy again.

My wife's niece is up from BKK for a while, 19 and blossoming beautifully but she brought her boyfriend too.

dam_n there goes my plot to get her to be my gik when I am out on the bike. She wants to try to ride my Phantom too.

I fear that I may have to change my drinks from Sang Som Thai rum to Stroh 80 just calm my nerves.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung on Tuesday confirmed the government would enact a legislation to restore justice for "everyone", including former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"He said he believed the legislation to grant amnesty to all parties involved in the political conflict would not be opposed".

How pathetic. First of all he and everyone else know he is lying. Secondly he is insulting the intelligence of every Thai person in this country.

Who are you to speak for the people of Thailand.

Most people still love him.

Most of the Many Very Very Very Very Very Thai's that I known and the few poor ones also love him.

I think the only people who do not love him are Farang bar owners and their Customers

And who are you also to speak for the people of Thailand?

I have been coming to, working in and living in Thailand for 18 years now.

I am neither a bar owner nor a customer whoever I do have a stake in the country through my wife and 7 year old son and I can remember the time back in 2001 when the rules of justice were kicked aside and ignored for his "honest" mistake about knowing where and who held onto "his" money, some billions of baht IIRC.

At least 3 of the judges ignored the facts and the law and allowed him to become Prime Minister.

Oddly enough that same week another member of the TRT party was also brought to justice under the very same laws and gave the very same excuse.

Guess what?

He was found guilty and the election in his constituency was taken again.

Double standards anyone?

If you want to add in the inconvenient part about Thaksin being Prime Minister when the coup was called in 2006 it is simply not true at all.

He called a snap election and when the results came in even though the opposition boycotted the vote the PTP still could not win.

He had a time period to call another election and during this period he was only the acting Prime Minister.

He then publicly went to the King and resigned from being the PM and walked away. 3 weeks later he took back the PM post illegally and was not ratified by HM the King, went off to New York and the rest is history.

As I am sure that you would never believe anything that The Post or The Nation prints I Googled for you and found this link from the UK.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/apr/05/thailand

I am sure that if you really wanted you could do your own research (mine took only a couple of minutes) and learn more about your "hero".

I have had a LloydsTSB offshore account in Jersey for 11 years now.

One card in my name and another in my wife's name.

They have had my mobile number and email address plus home address updated for the same time.

One time I went to Papua New Guinea to work and after 3 days found that I could not withdraw any money.

It cost me over USD $100 to ring the call centre, get put on hold, transferred and put on hold again before somebody with any authority would deign to speak to a mere mortal like me and eventually change my overdraft limit (which they had cancelled without any reference to me)so that I could get some money.

3 or 4 times since then my card has been blocked and the only way to get it unblocked is to ring the call centre.

On one occasion I was unable to take money out so I rang the call center and explained the problem and they put me on hold and eventually transferred me to another department.

They said that they had blocked it as I was trying to take out money for 3 days in a row. Their excuse was that they didn't know it was me withdrawing the money so they blocked the card. I asked if they had looked at where I live and checked back into the account at the drawing records. No was the reply. Did you look at where I live. No. So why did you do it? Well it wasn't me that did it but somebody else. granted that the guy unblocked the account straight away but that was after 3 international calls to the UK.

I have never been given any contact numbers or names so that I can actually speak to a real person in the branch where my money is deposited and withdrawn from.

I tried the call centre one time in the Isle of Man from Thailand and I ended up speaking to a very pleasant lady who apologised and said that she was unable to help me as she had no access to my account details. Just before I hung up I asked where she was and it was in Mumbai, India.

Every time I use my ATM card they charge me around GBP3 plus the 150 baht I have to pay at this end.

For this "service" they charge me GBP 70 per annum.

As I live overseas and do internet banking I asked to stop paper statements but as I live overseas I have to receive them.

However before the end of this month I think I have the cure for the banking problem.

All my pensions are transferred direct to my Thai bank, thus saving 150 baht and GBP 3+ every time and I shall transfer the balance of about GBP 12 to my friends account and close the account and that will be the end of it.

Good riddance.

This is good advice, I also noticed the 3 day rule in my visit too. I seem to remember I could only withdraw £500 equivalent per day for three consecutive says, then on the four day no withdrawals were permitted. Then I could make another 3 days of withdrawals. Its all very strange. This did not stop me using MasterCard on my bank card though, that was carte blanch.

I must say using bank cards in Thailand is an expensive bit of business, open a local account and get the funds sent to it from the UK.

Already in the works today.

The problem before was that I worked offshore in a few countries, several of which I am sure had never heard of Thailand.

I play the game by Thai rules and I haven't been out of the country in nearly 2 1/2 years and I have always felt welcome in Thailand.

Perhaps it is the rose coloured spectacles I wear and the fact that I am polite and cause no hassles.

Nahhh it couldn't be that simple now, could it?

I have been living in a small Moo Ban for the last 7 years.

From 2004 until 2009 I used to work offshore anywhere from 3 to 6 months and in 2008/9 I was away for a year until I retired after 50 years of work.

I love it up here and I know a lot of the local Thais but it seems that more know me.

Every time I go to the big village of Klong Lan, a lot of shops, 2 ATM plus the 7/11 most of the kids I see wave and smile as do a lot of the adults.

I know what you mean about the chickens as I am an offender in that but to be fair this is a rural farming area.

Somebody has bypassed the loudspeakers on the lamp post outside so I never hear them.

I sort of keep country hours and Monday to Friday I am usually up at 5 am to get ready to send our son to school 45 km away just after 6. He gets home around 6 pm, he eats, does his homework, has a shower and goes to bed around 8 pm and my wife goes about that time too. I am usually in bed around 9 pm.

At the weekend I generally have a lie in until 6.30 and the wife and son rot in bed until 8 or so.

Most days I spend a couple of hours in the morning cutting down the grass and scrub, shower and eat lunch.

After that I am on line for 2 or 3 hours, have a 30 minute sleep and do any other odd jobs, then shave and shower ready to eat dinner and drink 2 or 3 Sang Soms with ice and soda and its Boinngg said Zebedee, time for bed.

Out here most people are polite and friendly and usually smile at me.

I pay the same price that Thais do in the local markets.

Several times I have walked away and left money behind only to have people chase after me and return it. Once I forgot to pay and the girl reminded me next time I was in there.

Twice I have lost money 10,000 baht but that was on market days and the money never turned up though the second time the money bag, cards and licences were returned a few days later but sadly not the money. Now I just don't take much with me any more.

In my 67 years of life I have lived and worked in 38 countries living i cities, towns and villages. I have lived in military camps, houses, caravans, hotels etc.

Back in 1999 I chose to break with the UK and make Thailand my home and now out here is where I am happiest.

Going back to live in a city! I hope you have a lot of money to pay me because I won't be going voluntarily?

I have had a LloydsTSB offshore account in Jersey for 11 years now.

One card in my name and another in my wife's name.

They have had my mobile number and email address plus home address updated for the same time.

One time I went to Papua New Guinea to work and after 3 days found that I could not withdraw any money.

It cost me over USD $100 to ring the call centre, get put on hold, transferred and put on hold again before somebody with any authority would deign to speak to a mere mortal like me and eventually change my overdraft limit (which they had cancelled without any reference to me)so that I could get some money.

3 or 4 times since then my card has been blocked and the only way to get it unblocked is to ring the call centre.

On one occasion I was unable to take money out so I rang the call center and explained the problem and they put me on hold and eventually transferred me to another department.

They said that they had blocked it as I was trying to take out money for 3 days in a row. Their excuse was that they didn't know it was me withdrawing the money so they blocked the card. I asked if they had looked at where I live and checked back into the account at the drawing records. No was the reply. Did you look at where I live. No. So why did you do it? Well it wasn't me that did it but somebody else. granted that the guy unblocked the account straight away but that was after 3 international calls to the UK.

I have never been given any contact numbers or names so that I can actually speak to a real person in the branch where my money is deposited and withdrawn from.

I tried the call centre one time in the Isle of Man from Thailand and I ended up speaking to a very pleasant lady who apologised and said that she was unable to help me as she had no access to my account details. Just before I hung up I asked where she was and it was in Mumbai, India.

Every time I use my ATM card they charge me around GBP3 plus the 150 baht I have to pay at this end.

For this "service" they charge me GBP 70 per annum.

As I live overseas and do internet banking I asked to stop paper statements but as I live overseas I have to receive them.

However before the end of this month I think I have the cure for the banking problem.

All my pensions are transferred direct to my Thai bank, thus saving 150 baht and GBP 3+ every time and I shall transfer the balance of about GBP 12 to my friends account and close the account and that will be the end of it.

Good riddance.

"Asked if it is now safe for residents of inner Bangkok to remove their flood defences, Verwey said it was up to individuals. He added, however, that since there are so many sandbags in Bangkok and surrounding areas at the moment, the selling price would be low, while holding on to them a little longer might fetch a better price."

- The Dutch guy doesn't answer the question - he determines it's a question about the value of the sandbags. What is his expertise - water management and flood prevention or sandbag marketing?

..what is the current value of a second-hand, water-logged sand bag?

About 50 satang I should think AND the buyer removes them together with the sand.

Before the floods, up in the countryside where I live they used to be 80 baht for 10, new and unused.

-snip-

Arming? You mean versus using?

Anyone out there who remembers the indiscriminate grenade attacks on any non-red-shirts? By 'peaceful protesters' under the leadership of those lovable guys like Nattawut, Dr. weng, Jatuporn and renegade general Seh Daeng. Anyone out there who remembers similar attacks by PAD on non-yellow-shirts?

The 'vicious circle' as you name it started that very day January 2006 as a law change got into effect and the Shinawatra family sold their Shinawatra Holdings stake to Temasek and through a dubious loophole in the legal framework managed to avoid paying taxes. Maybe legally so, as only the 'amply rich' manage to do. That's when things started

And don't forget that father of a yellow shirt beaten dead in Chang Mai and Abhisits driver (don't know dead or not).

Nothing similar was ever done by the yellows.

Nothing? H90 - that is too far from reality to be believed. The PAD is violent, too. They have shot people, ambushed people, and just plain beaten people to death as well as a full out attack on an entire police station.

And the PAD had/has the advantage of military leadership support. The military refused direct orders from the government to remove the PAD from the Government House as well as from the airports. On the other hand, Abhisit asked the army to use lethal force last year and the army were there with guns loaded.

I don't advocate violence. I don't advocate arson. But there are many hypocrites on this forum - and I find it disgusting - who never hesitate to call out one side for burning Central World, but never, never, never mention the 91 dead - 7 non-civilians so 84 killed by the government / army in the same conflict.

Ask me to chose between burning buildings & closing airports or killing one person, much less 91, then I say close the airports and break out your matches. There is no comparison between arson and murder.

As for this round of protests, I hope for peaceful protests.

Do you personally have any actual, factual proof that could be taken to court of what you allege?

I have 26 concrete water tanks (concrete jars or ongs) of about 40,000 litres and most of the heavy dirt settles in the bottom of the ong.

They feed a water pump and following the pump are 2 filters so most of the dirt is filtered at those points.

This is because 4 of the 7 years we have lived up here at some point in Feb/Mar/Apr the government water stopped as there was not enough water to supply everybody.

This water is only used as household supplies as we have 2 x 3,000 litre rainwater tanks for drinking.

We have never used any chemicals in either supply at all.

There is a promotion going around but it is a wireless link giving supposedly 7Mb and if you are in the right place the installation will cost 3,390 baht, a dual port modem 390 baht or a wireless modem for 890 baht.

My next door neighbour got one and for the first few days the speed (at the right time of day was great), however it has tailed off lately and has been down completely since Tuesday.

I have been sharing it and it is better than EDGE but not as reliable so far.

It is on their website www.tothispeed.com/th/ should you wish to look but it is all in Thai.

What I did was to make a small drawing of 2 batteries clearly marked + and - and showed that.

A simple alternative and one I find the easiest is to Google what I want and print a photo and also go to Google Translate and print that on the other side.

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words and sometimes in Thailand it is true.

Did the handlers of the Dems and Abhisit allow them to impeach Theera the CTP minister and possibly upset flood em all except my fiefdom Banharn who the elite rely on to change sides for a bunch of lucre?

Hmm add the selected and not elected senators to the southern elected ones and you probably have close to 60%. Still if it happens lets await utter chaos as the pro democracy groups resist it. Dems guarantee they wont win the next election with yet another maneuver like this. Not that they care as they owe their allegiance to mighty ones and not the people, which is really sad considering the country needs a democratic opposition

Did you mean much as the PTP owes its allegiance to its mighty ones as well and not to the people, which is really sad considering that the country needs a democratic government and leadership?

The danger is that citizens killing generals and royalists do not respect the wish of a government that represents more than 2/3 of the Thai electorate. Anymore comprehensive cannot be possible.

Please excuse me for being somewhat slow but it is probably due to may age.

When I went to school over 50 years ago I was taught in Mathematics that 48% is smaller than 2/3 which is 66.6%

Maybe you did Maths differently to me but IIRC only 48% of the electorate voted for the PTP and not necessarily all of them voted for Thaksin.

Can you explain in simple terms how you have arrived at 2/3ds of the Thai electorate are in favour of this?

Thank you for your enlightenment.

So because the UK pays me such a niggardly State pension I personally will be allowed into the UK as would my son who has dual nationality, however my wife and my son's mother will not be allowed into the country.

And before anybody shouts off I paid all my taxes for 44 years, served my country in the military for 25, have never claimed benefits and I am still paying taxes.

Boy am I glad I left in 1999 when that "nice" new labour government were in charge.

And it is just the right amount to fill the tank on your motorbike.

If I remember correctly any PTP minister had to resign his parliamentary seat and sign a letter for Thaksin that if he lost his job or resigned he was no longer an MP.

If a PTP party list MP were to resign then an election would not be required as there are others waiting in the wings.

If Thaksin were to return how long do you think it might be before an MP "resigns" and a party list vacancy appears?

After all the current PM is only a party list MP.

I sent an EMS package from Klong Lan near Khampaeng Phet to Ayuttha on Friday lunchtime and the package was delivered on Monday after lunch.

Thanks for your thoughts but selling and buying property in Thailand is not that is easy so I guess we are stuck here! Luckily where we live in NS Tok we had no flooding within a mile and we can both swim big time, taught her that free when we met, free!

Been up into the metropolis this morning, a lot more rubbish has been cleared, things slowly returning to normal.

Fairyland has been completely retiled but Tesco is still closed they have some small posters which says "your new store is coming soon." A quick look round the barrier showed no fixtures and fittings, look at least a week away from openeing so maybe the 25th was right. Over at Vitteethep they have no tiles on the floor at all but do have a thank you sale on! The fridges have a little stock in now.

The market at the end of Kosi Road was 80% open today but footfall not like as usual. Went to the market at the other end of town on the road to Krok Phra and it was noticeable that prices had gone up dramatically.

We will open, well Nong will open, for sales in Sawanvittee 9 tomorrow, so if you want some pineapple we would be glad to see you, although I will probably have gone back to bed!

Last thing the 2 7-11 near the market one in Sawanvittee and the one in Kosi Road near Kasikorn/Ayudyha are both closed and dont look like they open soon.

Metropolis so that's what you call the smoke, traffic, diesel fumed, and now flooded ridden place, well I never. One learn's something new every day.

Yep forgot about the selling bit who the hell want's to buy anything in N/S. Now in KPP if you put anything it up for sale it's gone in a trice, and at top price.

Bill if you want to know were to get any tablet's ect in KPP just ask. And by the way what's the road between the to got to do with it. If you want dodgy road's just try the bypass at N/S it was crap before the water got at it.

Now Bill you should know about the shop closures during the flood's in KPP now let me see ALL the bank's shop's post office's 7/11 were all open. Ya Ya I know some were closed on Sunday's forgot about that.

Then there's the immigration as we only have to go once a year thank Buddha there's no problem good job we didn't have to go in the last week or two as we would have been in the sh/t big time.

And how many shop's do you want Big/C Tesco's Makro's two post office's +++ there all in KPP. Oh and open. And the price's still the same, IE no increase. I must point out I was in N/S on the 7th and you should have seen it plastic bag's rubbish crap of all sort's, if anyone try's to tell me it's a nice place to be within 20 mile's of I'll will laugh, the pit's is a word that fit's the bill more appropriately. Sorry if I offend anyone but I speak as I find.

I don't know if anyone knows but KPP has won the cleanest city in Thailand award 8 time's in 15 year's. Just a bit of trivia.

I just sent you a PM about meds.

I am keeping out of this other than saying where I live there is no pollution, no traffic jams, the roads are good as there is not much traffic.

KhamPhet is about 45 minutes one way and NakWan about 1 1/2 hours the other way.

On Saturday afternoon I was 15 minutes up the road from my house sitting in a clean fresh (and bloody cold) river with friends and the kids.