sheff_mick

Probably just reflects increased shipping costs - moving large quantities is done invariably by sea - so your probably seeing price increases based on huge increases in container costs due to the fuel cost spike a few months ago. having said that, dont expect anything to come down - Thailand seems to never reduce prices, when conditions change.

Got to disagree there Digger, diesel came down from around 42 Bt / litre to around 19 Bt / litre, always made a mental note that Thailand was much quicker to adjust the pice of fuel than the UK, !!

Yes - your quite right on fuel however its a highly visible item - the same cannot be said for a squeezy import bottle of ketchup.

A genreral observation and not a personal attack.

Yes indeed the fuel has gone down significantly from it,s high, which in turn when it was, called for all the product increases ( not imported ), transporting goods, taxis, samlows ect. ect. by everyone effected by them.

Tesco from my experiences of late seem to be putting prices up continually as against reductions on most of their products W. T. Heck ****

WHY haven,t they reduced their costs accordingly.

??????

Thank you

I,ve followed the advice of Sheryl and others who recommended DR. Thanoo and got an appointment for the end of the month at the Sukhumvit branch.

I am also going for the Spinal Block and something to help me sleep during the operation as i do not fancy lying awake motionless for around 2 hours.

I look forward to posting my observations sometime after ABW that is, hopefully positive ones.

Perhaps it may be more beneficial to post it as a new thread with a reference in the headline on the subject matter, also to include the url for this thread along with it in my post.

Thanks for allowing me to post here O.P. without raising any objections and allowing the thread to expand hospital wise, considering your headline.

Kudos to you all and especially Sheryls reply to my PM

I,ll get a meter taxi to Sukhumvit from D.Maung

Thank you

With reference to my forthcoming op. at the Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital ( ear the new airport )

The urologist they have pencilled in to do the op. is Dr Apichai Thongdornbom.

Does anyone know anything about him please, positive or otherwise.

They list a charge of 500 baht for their van pick up one way at the airport which indicates it,s further than it is shown on the map as it is only that between the 2 airports via taxi meter ?

Thank you

What a load of bollows !!!!!!!

Less well off indeed. ????

Try the other end of ladder if you really want to point the finger.

LOLZ. Sensitive much?

The folks who get to the goods first are typically the masses who are the first in line in the morning, those who are always actively looking to save a few Baht out of absolute necessity, not tradition or good practice/good form. Naturally, there will be some exceptions. I've purchased plenty of 2 for 1 goods.

From many observations at my local Tesco and the one in the next locality to ours with a large store, i again disagree with yours.

When the promotions start ( and everyone knows the dates courtesy of the ending of the previous one ) you get the traders ect. taking their trolleys loaded with the selected bargains and leave them with a third party near the exits or as in our local, next to the cafeteria, go back inside and replicate their purchase, which in some cases continues several times. with yet another party shunting the purchases to their mode of transport.

It is well know among all the security and senior staff that this takes place and yet, no one bothers to stop it.

The less well off, as you should know, assuming you are a Thai National, are hardly able to make similar mega ventures into the store to do the same. due to monetary restrictions, that allegedly make them less well off.

So they are not typically as you quote the main cuplrits

" The folks who get to the goods first are typically the masses who are the first in line in the morning, those who are always actively looking to save a few Baht out of absolute necessity, not tradition or good practice/good form. Naturally, there will be some exceptions. "

I agree their are exceptions, but most are just geting odd bargains and not the bulk of what is on offer.

Your discriptions of the customers as "Less well to do folks" and "typically the masses" says much about your considered self importance, society wise.

The masses and the less well off stand way above you in terms of social acceptance, importance and equality.

Thank you

A rant, maybe, but i have long been amazed at their greedy escapades, only to sell it on to their customers who in many cases have no choice to shop elsewhere when living out of town,

Less well to do folks typically clear out the available stock before you get a chance to. I did incidentally see plenty of Dutch Mill available (in that medium 1 for 1 promotion), so it's not always the case... but certainly nothing accurate about saying there is "never" stock. I passed because I am a CP-Meiji fan.

What a load of bollows !!!!!!!

Less well off indeed. ????

Try the other end of ladder if you really want to point the finger.

Well I have not myself undergone spinal anesthesia but as a nurse I've seen it done and taken care of many people who have. All things considered it is safer than general, especially for people with respiratory problems.

Basically it is like the numbing shots you have probably had at the dentist except that it will be injected into your spinal column making you completely numb, and unable to move, from about the waist downward. You won't feel a thing and you will be unable to move your legs until it wears off, which will take several hours. You will be wide awake in the OR, although I think you can request a mild sedative to relax you.

People vary; some find it anxiety-producing tio be awake during surgery, others find it more anxiety-producing to be put to sleep. In addition, the risks associated with different types of anesthesia vary with individuals depending on their overall health and medical history.

If it were me, I'd be fine with having a spinal.

Thanks Sheryl

I have already voiced my concerns about being awake for approx 2 hours ( the estimated time of the op. )

They said i could be given something to make me sleep if i wished to use the S.Block alternative.

Your other comments are spot on and compliment what i was told by my referral Dr. who incidently had it adminstered on 2 occasions when having her chilren.

As is always the case, we tend to look elsewhere for additional re assurance as indeed i have done in this instance via our T.Visa forum.

It was also mentioned on the plus side that i would be pain free for up to 12 hours after the op. before additional medication needed to be administered.

I will post the name of the specialist when the admin. manager emails me as advised late yesterday, hopefully, as she said she would, on Monday, and assuming the specialist can be organised by then.

In her words she said i could use the new airport hospital as i requested and would personal take charge of all arrangements and organising her staff there ect.

Sounds reassuring to me that she responded in such a polite manner, instead of letting other staff take charge of things there, especially as her base is at the Sukhumvit hospital.

Thank you

Due to use the Samitivej in BKK and have the choice of both the one on Sukumvit and the one near the new airport.

Any experience of either would be appreciated.

Having an op. related to the urology dept.

They have suggested a Spinal Block and after research and recomendations from a couple of ladies who used it for giing birth, it seems the best way to go.

Thanks ladies

Again anyone experienced in using this proceedure please ?

Thank you

Much better range of specialists at the Sukhumvit branch

Dr. Thanoo has been recommended by several people, can check his qualificatuions on the website

Can't comment on your procedure since I don't know what it is. If you meant the spinal anesthesia, that is a common approach.

Thanks for the reply Sheryl.

I,ll make a note of the specialist you kindly posted.

I asked the service manager if both hospitals used the same specialists by the way, she replied yes and i have asked for the specialists name at the request of my referral hospitals administration along with researching the background ect. and offering it for our membership for possible observations, positive or otherwise.

The terminology used by the specialist was in the following context.

They were offering me a choice of either General Anaesthesia or a Spinal Block. ( spinal anaethesia )

I did a google and from many offerings, the following url,s i found helpful for anyone interested in them for future reference.

http://www.oyston.com/anaes/local.html

http://www.nda.ox.ac.uk/wfsa/html/u12/u1208_01.htm

I would still appreciate any actual experiences if anyone has them please.

Thank you

Due to use the Samitivej in BKK and have the choice of both the one on Sukumvit and the one near the new airport.

Any experience of either would be appreciated.

Having an op. related to the urology dept.

They have suggested a Spinal Block and after research and recomendations from a couple of ladies who used it for giing birth, it seems the best way to go.

Thanks ladies

Again anyone experienced in using this proceedure please ?

Thank you

I referenced the Maestro / Master ? cash card and was directed to the following, but i,m not sue if it is relevant, but just in case it is.

Taken from the online web site this morning. 27-02-2009

You are allowed to upgrade to a cash card under the following re qualification

Last updated: 10/02/2009 13:41:31

Upgrade to a FlexAccount debit card

You may be eligible to upgrade your FlexAccount cash card to a debit card if your account is well conducted.

To apply, please visit your local branch with your current FlexAccount card.

However, there are circumstances where we would not be able to consider upgrading your cash card to a debit card, which include:

If you are under age 18

Your existing account has been open for less than 7 months

You have applied for an upgrade within the last 4 months

Your account has recently been overdrawn without authorisation

Other Nationwide products you hold have been in arrears

Your account has not been used in the last 3 months

Loan, mortgage, or credit card you hold with other providers have been in arrears

You are currently bankrupt or subject to an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

If none of these circumstances apply to you, you may be eligible for an debit card upgrade.

I,ve messaged them via personal Online log in and will post any reply i get from them that is related and useful.

Thank you

When does it become more favourable to use swift in relation to charges please, ( debit card ) if any ?

Convenience wise it is of course easier to make use of the ATM facilities relating to time, i reckon.

Thank you

Depends where you are doing personal business ect., but i appreciate the new and the old.

There used to be a few morning regulars in situ at the Au Bon Pain R.G. who where good for a yarn, does anyone know which location they are now using ?

Also any recommendations for a decent cup of tea in the new establishment, without having to order a full breakfast

Thanks

Is there an updated list of the current regulations for visa,s as of 10-07-04 please

that i can print off and pass around, thank you. sheff -mick

Many thanks to all who responded to my enquiry.

The following are the procedures I finished up taking to get my licence.

A letter from my local Immigration office ( Udornthani ) confirming my non immigant ‘O’ Status and address.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED:

A) house papers used to provide proof of residency on application for your ‘O’ visa.

passport

They where very helpful at Immigration as they always have been to me. NO FEE was asked for this service. Well done.

A letter confirming my health being o.k. to drive from my local clinic FEE: 50 baht.

Took these 2 documents along with my U.K driving licence, 2 passport photos and passport to Nongkhai Vehicle Registration Office as i was staying there temp. at a friends.

Also two photo copies of driving licence ( both sides ), main page and lastest stamp of ‘O’visa from your passport and 2 each of Immigration letter and Medical certification also needed.

Obviously different offices could vary so check first.

I went to Nongkhai as it was convenient and was advised I should have gone to the office where my address was registered as per Immigration letter of confirmation.

However they still kindly agreed to process my application and forward it to Udornthani for me, again well done, this time to Nongkhai.

As I only held a U.K. licence I had to take the highway code test ( In English ) and needed 23 out of 30 to pass.

Using common sense it was achievable and not to difficult.

They put all the documents I provided along with a letter confirming I had passed and sealed it in an envelope which I took to Udornthani. ( This allows same day issue. )

Udornthani processed everything and I got my licence within 1 hour. ( Get there at 8.30 to avoid the rush. ) FEE 105 baht.

Again no hassle and very helpful, well done.

Advice offered:

Go to the Transport Office nearest to the address on your letter from Immigration

Take your wife or someone who can translate for you as English is limited and as all sensible members will tell you. Dress reasonable, be polite and have patience and understanding and it will help you to get positive results.

If you get attitude stay cool as doing otherwise will not help you, remember this is our guest home of abode.

Total Charges 155 Baht sheff_ mick

What are the documents and proceedures for applying for a Thai driving licence

please ?

I have a current U.K. driving licence.

I am living in rented property and have a 1 year o visa ( marriage )

Many thanks

Could someone advise me on myself legally purchasing a car/pick up in my name

Is it possible and are there any other rights i may have with a one year temp.stay "o"visa ( married to a Thai. )

Is the new english driving licence o.k. to use or do i have to get a Thai one ?

many thanks Sheff Mick

Can i get an exit visa to go outside the country during renewal processing for another year ?

my first application took 3 months to be ok,d and issued, will it be a similar period this time ? thank you