billd766

Back in the 80's I had 2 bikes

1980 Kawasaki Z 250 twin

27HP and 368 lbs

Followed by a 1980 Honda CX 500 V twin

50 HP and 476 lbs in weight

The main difference in riding them was that the Honda felt great and the Kawa felt OK.

TYhe other difference was that when I dropped the Honda and picked it up I felt like Popeye before the spinach.

+3

You lot are so mean

Nah not mean.

Just old and crabby

Some thoughts for you to keep in mind.

In Thailand if you are drowning no one is going to throw you a life line.

My wife and children and close relatives certainly would

For the older guys, many young Thai women want to screw you. Not for your bodies but for your cash. Yes, they are lying when they call you a sexy guy or they are not concerned about age only that you are kind and generous.. As far as they`re concerned, kind and generous equals stupid.

I have experience of both types of Thai women, my wife is not in the habit of telling lies but then she does not call me a sexy guy.......I guess every body just knows this

Treat your money the same as your life blood, because without it you`re dead and ready to be thrown away with the trash.

My wife handles our money better than I would

If not sure of anything or have lack of experience, seek advice from those who have been here longer, know the ropes and listen to some of the old hands here on Thai visa.

There appear to be too many old hands that have been burned

Be wary at all times and don`t become a fool guy.

If you have not learnt this is the case everywhere in the world, perhaps you need to travel a bit further

Now, would I lie to you?

Don't have to lie to misrepresent

+1

Thais are generally very compassionate and charitable which is a lot more than I can say for my fellow compatriots.

+2

Eggs at 6 baht each?

I went to the market yesterday and large hens eggs were 34 baht for 10 and went down in 2 baht increments according to size and large duck eggs were 32 baht for 10.

There were plenty of buyers at that price and no complainers that I saw or heard.

I paid the same price as Thais as it was written on a card on the trays.

I live in a small village at Klong Lan 65 km southwest of Khampaeng Phet.

I have about 30,000 km on my 2005 Phantom and I have been using 95 gasohol for a couple of years now and it still runs very well.

It gets a service every 4,000 km and an oil change every 2,000.

No problems for me.

try this link which came courtesy of Thai Visa.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=103123673807285494411.0004624feb401af10e332&ll=18.781887,98.99835&spn=0.004088,0.005493&z=18&iwloc=00046b80ca45a7fbdb4f8

My pleasure.

Disgustingly cheap and if you find a good place stick with them.

Around my village there are 4 Phantoms but only one gets serviced at the dealers.

I can't understand why the other 3 don't.

The only drawback is that due to the low turnover of Phantom only parts sometimes I have to wait a couple of days for things I want.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Don't tell anybody.

Just enjoy it while it is here.

10 days ago the biggest Honda dealer in Khampaeng Phet quoted me 140,000 baht for a 250 with ABS.

This afternoon a smaller dealer in Nakhon Sawan quoted me 120,000 for a 250 with ABS and that included registration and tax etc.

K Phet is 65 km from my house and N Sawan 120 km.

Weird or what?

Hi Rich

Yes you are correct on both counts.

You do have one and it is most probably blown.

Plan A

There are a couple of hex bolts on top of the tank.

Remove them and gently pull the speedo up and you will see the wiring loom and the bulb.

Buy a new bulb, replace the old one and refit everything.

Plan B

Take it to the local Honda shop and ask them to do it for you.

Cost about 30 baht plus the bulb.

Easy peasy and no sweat.

I have had my 2005 Phantom since July 2009 and have clocked about 25,000 km.

I love the bike but for a fat old bastard like me it could do with a bit more ooomph.

Happy riding

It would be great for me living up country but I would have to dump the ballast behind the driver.

When I bought my Ford Ranger back in 2001 I was working in Thailand, paid offshore, had a Thai guarantor and still had to put 50% down.

Hopefully times have changed for the better even though the exchange rate has changed for the (much) worse.

If you ever go to Papua New Guinea pidgin English is a national language.

With something over 800 dialects you need some common ground.

Thais can be just as direct as you found out when you experienced a negative reaction for doing to them what they are doing to you. Stand up for yourself !!

Yeah, right. And the next thing you know your banged up, shot by your wife's "brother" or shown the door because "you no understand Thai way".

All part of the reasons why I will continue to visit the Kingdom, but will not call it home. To many idiots for my peace of mind.

I have to agree with you though. If someone, extended family or not, decided to just help themselves to my belongings, there would be at the least a verbal exchange and warning the first time. After that, it's foot-up-the-azz time. Probably a good thing I don't live in Thailand as I would hate to get shot by an in-law.

Well I have been living in Thailand both in Bangkok and up country for 17 years on and off and I don't know of anybody banged up, shot by the brother in law or shown the door.

Do know anybody or are you you just saying what somebody in a bar once told you?

If anybody in my family wanted any of my stuff they would ask first and if I don't use it why ever not.

Probably a good idea that you don't live in Thailand then.

7by7

said

Your question is answered in the Maintenance and accommodation guidance linked to earlier; have you not read it?

The part relevant to your question is MAA4 Maintenance: General requirements

Yes I have read it but there is no information as to the actual amount of income required only general vague requirements.

This is because, as the guidance says, there is no minimum figure. Each case is judged on it's own merits.

Which is right and proper. For example; property prices and rents in London and the Home Counties are much higher than the rest of the UK. It would be unfair to refuse an applicant who intended to live in Newcastle because they couldn't afford a property in London.

Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights says

1.Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.

2.There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

The immigration law of a signatory state falls under the exceptions in Para 2.

Of course, that law must be applied fairly, and in the UK settlement applicants, among others, have the right of appeal up to and including the European Court.

Thanks for that.

I never thought about the difference in rental prices.

There was a bit on BBC Live news about some families were getting income support because they lived in an area of London where they received 2,000 GBP per week to live there.

That's much more than I receive in a month of state pensions.

^ What PDF reader are you using?

Two popular applications are Adobe Acrobat and Foxit.

I am using Adobe Reader 9.

Just tried again and I still can't download them.

Good question BillD. Like you I have no immediate wish to go back but I am really just thinking of a worst case scenario. I think we have a great life here, especially with a baby son, which we would struggle to match anywhere in the UK in the absence of significant funds. Just one more point: if we were to return as a family group with no job and no home, what amount of money would we likely need to have in savings to satisfy the immigration people in terms of granting my wife entry.. In real terms I have family who can provide a place to stay in the short term but in the longer term it would be a no-goer. So if we applied on the basis of setting up home, finding work etc, apart from indicating where we are likely to settle, and giving details of our potential employability, work history etc, is there any official guidance on what funds you would need to have to get set up?

In my case I am 66 and retired with no chance of further income.

It seems as though my son and I would be allowed to stay but my wife would not.

Does this not breach the UK governments promises of not breaking up families? It would certainly cause a problem with the EU rules and regulations.

I remember seeing something on a BBC news website a while ago which describes people of my age living solely on pensions as officially poor.

However as I have no intention of returning it was a passing thought.

7by7

said

Your question is answered in the Maintenance and accommodation guidance linked to earlier; have you not read it?

The part relevant to your question is MAA4 Maintenance: General requirements

Yes I have read it but there is no information as to the actual amount of income required only general vague requirements.

Tried again but it still won't open for me in either FireFox or IE8.

I don't normally use IE but it will get to the webpage and I still cannot open it.

Sorry

They only want to interest the men that THEY are interested in... Jeez you would think anyone who has met a few thousand women would pick up on this faster ... They are no longer interested in men at all ... that's why so many of the TG knock-outs have become DEE lesbians... and let's not go there about Gary Grant... I doubt with your Euell Gibbons routine and hanging out in farang oriented establishments you would get to meet many of them anyway ...

BTW The sitcom star (Charlie Sheen) lands on Maxim magazine's Top 10 "Living Sex Legends" list having allegedly done the deed with 5,000 women... so you've still got some catching up to do.

5,000 girls is 1 every day for 13.7 years with no days off for good or bad behaviour.

Give me strength and 5 gross of those little blue pills

An interesting thought more or less on topic.

What would happen if I were to take my family back to the UK.

Me English

Son Dual nationality

Wife Thai.

When I divorced back in 1999 my wife got the house and everything except my pensions.

Would I have to apply to a local authority for somewhere to life for the 3 of us and would that count.

I am 66 and retired with no intention of returning to live there but just asking the question.

"wonder who around here can have their butler flip over the cushions and get that out of the sofa?"

I for one can not as 'SHE' has already found any loose change and put it in 'HER' money pot

Ah a minesweeper.

Not a problem for me as I already have my spot for begging planned.

Now about a work permit??

Bill,

at least you remember the pre 1997/98 days, which is more than can be said for the Johnny come lately 2 week millionaires.

The following links will give an indication of pre the above mentioned years,

http://www.x-rates.com/d/THB/GBP/hist1993.html

http://www.x-rates.com/d/THB/GBP/hist1994.html

http://www.x-rates.com/d/THB/GBP/hist1995.htm

http://www.x-rates.com/d/THB/GBP/hist1996.htm

I haven't bothered with links for 1997 and beyond, we all know the story of from then until now.

Many have been caught with their pants down, I would hate to be here and relying solely on a UK married mans pension, no longer economically viable would be one way of describing it.

This post is aimed more at those considering retiring here, be aware of where the £'s true level was, it may well be an indication of its future level, I personally believe we are more likely to see 38 to the baht than 58, but that's only my own personal point of view.

I planned for an exchange rate of 40 and anything above as a bonus.

While exchange rates are relevant, two other factors not mentioned are inflation and non existent interest rates.

From a personal point of view, the house the mrs bought in 2004 would now cost over 100% more in £ to buy, a car bought 3 years ago would now be over 60% more expensive.

We are 15,000 baht per month in bills before we even get out of bed and put food on the table, and these aren't going to get any cheaper in the coming years.

It wasn't so long back petrol was 15 baht per litre, now its over 30, and I could go on and on.

This isn't only affecting us farang, many Thais are in the same boat inflation is catching up on them.

From a personal point of view I work on the assumption that what we have to day will cost 100% more in 10 years time allowing for inflation, this takes no account of future exchange rates.

As I mentioned earlier Thailand is no longer the cheap destination it once was, and I would urge many to think long and hard before coming here, if I was to rely on only a UK pension this country wouldn't even come into the equation as a destination.

Ask yourself, can I afford to retire in the UK, if not I don't know how it can even be possible in Thailand which has none of the safety nets available in the UK, a prime example being the frozen UK pension and no NHS to take care of medical problems.

This topic has been discussed more than once in the business forum, many would do well to read and then re-read before rushing over here.

Bring back January 1998 when it was 86 something I say.

I suppose that my monthly bills are not far from yours and I give my wife about 8,000 baht a month for food which isn't too bad as there are wife and son, mother in law, 2 dogs, 3 cats, 3 ducks and a varying number of chickens as well. Not much food gets wasted as it ends up in something along the line somewhere.

We have a 2002 Ford Ranger 4x4 pickup and when we bought (about 675,000 I think) it I paid 160 baht to add to the 500 baht that Ford gave to fill the 70 litre tank as diesel was about 9 baht a litre then.

The price of a comparable new Ford Ranger oddly enough is not that much more. Just looked at the Ford site and it is 862,000 but that is for a 3.0 litre as they don't make the 2.5 that I have anymore.

I would say that any British pensioner coming here to live only on a pension can probably do it if he wants to have not a good standard of living and if like me he has no house or assets in the UK he will find himself with a problem in a year or two.

Fortunately I am married and my wife has a house and land up country where we live and we live comfortably though imported foods are of the menu now.

I know that the price of land around here has more than doubled in the last few years but for some reason the creator forgot to make any more.

I am learning how to make my own food such as bacon, sausages, bread etc as it saves a little and fills in some time as well. My first load turned out to be a 1 kg brick but the second was better.

Life could be a lot worse but it could be a bit better and I am an optimist rather than a pessimist.

Legs with long hair, you must be from the med

Nah

Perfidious Albion

No one bothers me here, apart from girls young enough to be my daughter trying to get me into bed.

What a burden that is.

If you cannot cope then send a couple over to me.

Pretty please.

If you have been here as long as you say you will well remember the exchange rates pre 1997/98.

The £ would fluctuate around 40 to the baht, rates from 38-42 were not uncommon.

The $ was also pegged at around 25 baht.

What I think is irrelevant its not me you need to convince its immigration that sets the rules not me.

Its simple, you either meet the yearly visa requirements or you don't.

If you don't, cut your cloth accordingly, I wonder how much many have tied up in property.

There was a poster on here a few years ago who wondered why immigration wouldn't take into consideration the land he had purchased for his wife.

The simple fact is there is no need to purchase land, property or cars, the only thing you need to show is the money in the bank.

Yes many are struggling and many more will continue to struggle, however personal financial responsibility also plays a part.

Thailand is no longer the land of cheap living it was a few years ago, however that was based on an exchange rate anomaly that is unsustainable.

Personally I know guys who will have to work longer to accumulate the capital required, I also no others for whom Thailand is now out the equation.

Others have no pension plans whatsoever, its called reality, all we can do is deal with it and have options available to us, how many have options plans a, b and c in place.

And yes I am affected by exchange rates like many others, but those are beyond my control, all I can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

I was here working from 1994 to 1997 when the baht crashed and AFAIR the GBP was around 44 or just below the bottom last point year. It cost me my job in Thailand but my company moved me on to pastures new.

Long gone are the heady days of per diem, salary, overtime etc and 4,000 baht bar bills.

The immigration office I go to is in Nakhon Sawan and they are a nice bunch of people. I still have enough pension to qualify for a retirement visa extension but should it go much lower I would have to change to a married visa extension.

Unfortunately work is no longer an option for me as I am too old and past my best by date.

I still have a couple of options available and of course there is always the "fall off the radar" option as a last resort.

Happily so far this year the GBP has been verrrrrry slowly creeping up and is over the 47 mark which makes life a bit easier. I would like to see it back up around 54 where it was a year ago though 50 would be nice by the middle of the year.

Here's hoping.