bojo

Couldn't agree more............................seriously depressing thread and I thought I 'thought too mut'! Just keep your options back home open and go with the flow...simps............

Fairly good choice of international schools on Samui (No sixth form to speak of though) and even more in Phuket of course. However we often holidayed at Birds and Bees resort (unreal place for kids) in Pattaya in half terms as there was so much to do and many attractions for young kids in and around Patts........Samui had a real nice friendly vibe at the schools IMO, even had inter school swimming galas.This was in the noughties BTW.................However if you ever want to consider a non beach city for a really great all round education experience and lifestyle, you can't beat Chiang Mai IMO. A fantastic choice of decent international schools there. Either way, you'll have great fun bringing up a young child in their early years in Thailand................................

Just go out and sit kerbside/eat al fresco/be amongst others/walk or cycle around town............... anywhere where you can watch the world go by/chew the fat with passers by or fellow customers, never a dull moment when you're out and about.................................................human interaction, just the best........................................................

Successful 21st Century shabeen operators fly below the radar.........try; keep on moving/pay your dues/decent soundproofing for starters.............................

I'd say that your assumptions post covid are correct. I have a close pal who works for a large real estate company in Patts and most of his clients/agents he deals with are Chinese, or at least have been the last few years pre covid. They are still getting loads of enquiries regarding the condo projects they have on their books and customers in China are just waiting for proper freedom of travel and so forth............................................................Western expats will continue to be diluted by the Chinese, nothing changing there.............................................

Can it wait till Monday? My daughter spoke to them by phone recently with a C of E query and they were very helpful............

Some might argue that those who purchased iphones were savvy investing in infrastructure to make money down the line eg livestreams/keeping in contact with potential sponsors and all the other benefits a mobile phone offers. Gold also favoured by those looking to diversify their assets, and it also stops them frittering/wasting their cash..................... lottery tickets..........nothing wrong with an occasional flutter, but as Mr. Sneer highlights, we all know that's not the case ....................

If you already know that about yourself and your situation isn't great, then you already know the answer. Seeking advice on the forum is a good move; hopefully it will galvanize you. Follow the truth, it might hurt for a while, but your life will be better for it...............

Or maybe they don't give a jot as they have their own haunts and prefer to keep away from the madding crowd.......................

Never takes long for wrong uns to show their true colours.....................

It's a good poll.................I would have ticked a multiple choice box of 'not yet, but will be in a few years, dears' .....................It's too prime an area really for the flesh trade with the big plans for the city and the street is soooh 20th Century anyway.....time to move on (plenty of other zones anyways) and I think the 'in your face' nightlife as we know Pattaya for will slowly but surely go behind closed doors with alot less emphasis on the scantily clad parading their wares 'n all out front...............not so great for the old timers, but corporate business and the big plans for the city and the Eastern Seaboard in general will win over any attempt by locals with influence to cling on to their fiefdoms.......................

If you believe your land needs to be filled/raised to build on; I would advise doing so as soon as you buy the land giving it as much time as possible to settle properly. The longer the better.......................