jayboy

Thanks for the corrections which I completely accept, and both your points are very well made. So I suppose it's a question of subjective judgement if one is over 65 and without the kind of ailments that would make the decision more straight forward.

Not sure about that.I would have thought for vulnerable groups including the over 65s it would make sense to hold a stock of Paxlovid. I don't think, given the ease of self testing, that anybody would take Paxlovid just in case.I can envisage myself if having tested positive and experiencing Covid symptoms (they would have to be worse than normal) taking Paxlovid.The barrier is not so much the cost but getting hold of the stuff in the first place.

Government is all about compromise and striking a balance between the ideal and what is practical/affordable/fair.In other words politics is the art of the possible.It doesn't matter whether a government is far left or the opposite.In healthcare for example the NHS cannot provide every expensive drug to every person that needs them.Thus some people are going to die before their time because they do not have access to these life saving drugs.Should the government be accused of "killing people"? I don't think so in this case.

Is it correct that foreigners that do not need visa free travel (eg those with Permanent Residence) will still have to obtain an ETA? Logically they shouldn't but I have feeling they will. PRs tend to be forgotten in this kind of policy change. If the process is as easy as Singapore, no problem.

I think you are being a little unfair.Starmer is more than an over promoted middle manager since afte all he was Director of Public Prosecution which has Permanent Secretary rank.He has the necessary intellect, capacity for hard work and human decency for the PM post.The trouble is he doesn't really have anything else, specifically any kind of charisma or the "vision thing". Everything is blamed on the Tories who certainly left the country in a mess, but the "black hole" he constantly talks about is somewhat economical with the truth.Labour knew pretty well what was the country's financial position before the election and the black hole spiel is essentially cover for inevitable tax increases.The British public is not thick and Starmer's terrible personal ratings reflect dislike of his slippery language.Still it's early days. I think a lot of Labour supporters (the James O'Brien/Alistair Campbell syndrome) are going to be caught out if they are totally uncritical of the government.Much better to indicate support -if that's their position - but to comment critically where appropriate.

You don't have much of a handle on British politics, do you? The vast majority of Labour MPs will put their reservations to one side and vote with the government. Tory philosophy which Mrs Thatcher would enthusiastically endorse.Actually I would support it too and extend the principle in many aspects of British economic policy including the NHS.

Some might but most wont and the government will easily win the motion.But it's stupid politics.Contrary to some comments on this thread I think Starmer is genuinely concerned, not only for humanitarian reasons but also because he will have to keep a closer eye on the Chancellor.The policy itself is not foolish - though I don't agree with it - but it should have been packaged as part of the forthcoming budget alongside some goodies.

That is a gross distortion of the reality, the usual selective evidence (George Osborne would approve) - concentrating on the better off segment of pensioners rather than those worse off, if not the absolute poor.Many new Labour MPs are indignant and as mentioned the Prime Minister is displeased with the Chancellor's position.It's early days but it's becoming clear that this administration isn't very clever at the politics of governing.

There are millions of pensioners just above the threshold (about £ 12,000 pa from memory) who will be very badly affected.Some will have to choose between food and heating. Meanwhile the Government i n a telling indication of its priorities has surrendered to public sector wage demands including the absurd ones for £70,000 pa train drivers. A contact of mine in Whitehall tells me No 10 is hopping mad with the Chancellor who has kowtowed to Treasury orthodoxy without considering the terrible political implications.Expect a U turn, maybe in the October budget.

Thanks for all the very useful information which is sincerely appreciated. One final question.I've read several reports that the motor sales industry is having problems and that as a consequence discounts may be available on new cars, Is this actually true and if so does it apply to all major brands? What would a discount amount to on say a Baht 1.4m vehicle? Last time I purchased a new car in Bangkok (quite a few years ago) discounts weren't available.

You are of course correct.However in my experience those who endlessly bang on about Big Pharma and the exorbitant cost of drugs don't understand the implications of the gigantic costs involved in bringing a new drug to market (not to mention expenditure on R and D which leads nowhere), and the necessity to recover those costs and turn a profit.After the patent period (usually 20 years) has expired the others can produce generic drugs - which are reasonably priced.Of course there are instances of bad practice and price gouging but they are the exception rather than the rule.

This is obviously nonsense (particularly the fatuous explanation of the military coup) but it certainly represents a view point shared by some in the Bangkok middle class, though increasingly elderly and irrelevant like Thaksin himself. Being in Thailand does not in itself convey knowledge or wisdom.To be frank although you claim to have been here for 30 years I would with all due respect suggest you actually have no idea what is going on.That would involve getting outside your bubble and starting some serious attempt to reach an understanding.I have been here for much longer than you but that means nothing, and I would never claim it gave me some special insight.I do however understand the significance - which you fail even to mention - that the arrogant and selfish elites and their captive functionaries have deprived the Thai people of their chosen government.These elites hate Thaksin but have also used him and he has willingly betrayed the people who once put their trust in him. As an aside, any report which states "experts say" without being more specific shouldn't be taken too seriously.

I understand this to mean someone could make remittances from their home country to Thailand based on pre-2024 investments and thus free of Thai tax, but keep current income offshore.Surely on the information known now, that would be completely legal and would not even fall into the category of avoiding or circumventing tax. If Thailand moved from a remittance system to taxing world wide income, that would of course change the game.

I was wondering how many people review their home insurance every year.My home insurance (AIG Elite Home) has shown the same amounts insured for about 10 years.I have lazily never bothered to seek an uplift or indeed seriously review the amounts insured.Of the total sum insured 20% is fixture and fittings and the remaining 80% Building (excluding foundations.) Would one expect the actual insured amounts to increase over a 10 year period?

But that's exactly what's important to me. In Thailand nobody comes close to Toyota's servicing capability.(At least that's what everybody tells me)

I don't know that much about buying new cars in Thailand (my former company dealt with that side of things). However I'm in the market to buy a new Toyota (prefer that brand for ease of service among other things) for mainly Bangkok use, taking kids to school, local shopping and the occasional trip upcountry.Looking for robustness and safety rather than performance.FWD not required but OK if comes with right car. 1.Is it courting problems to think of buying a used car in Bangkok? 2.Otherwise assuming new, which Fortuner or similar recommended? Would consider Corolla Cross. 3.Budget Bt 1 mill to 1.6 mill Thoughts gratefully received.

It seems like good advice and I used to think like this but it's wrong. The secret is to eat much less. That's it.Fasting,cutting down carbs, eradicating booze and other methods are ways to achieve the objective. Burning calories through exercise is good and will make you fitter, but it doesn't really make you thinner (often just hungrier)

As someone who has respected your views over the years on this forum, I think you may have underplayed the unhealthy relationship with part of the left with political Islam. Here is just one analysis.I could have chosen from many others. https://unherd.com/2018/04/many-left-wing-progressives-protest-pope-silent-islams-totalitarian-tendencies-victims-cowardice-overwhelmingly-women/

The reality is that the generously built foreigners with tattoos and ugly regional accents one sees trundling around Pattaya are not 99% of the time accompanied by beautiful young women.They tend to be accompanied - often holding hands - by ladies who (let's be chivalrous, no need to elaborate). Suffice it to say not visions of loveliness and youth. There are of course many beautiful young women from poor backgrounds often with intelligence and charm who start off in the bar world.But they never last long because they get snapped up extremely quickly by better prospects than the typical Pattaya client.As a general proposition the exceptionally gifted girl tends to rise rapidly in the social scale and has done in every society and throughout history.Furthermore they very quickly come to understand their worth.

You make some very good points and one would need a heart of stone not to recognize the joy that some of these relationships bring.But self awareness is always useful.

We're talking of clients/prostitutes here, not "happy couples" in the normal sense.

It depends what you and your companion look like together.Everybody likes to see attractive young lovers hand in hand.Nobody wants to see a tubby Pattaya bloke invariably tattooed grasping the hand of a bored young Isaan working girl. On the other hand I rather like seeing the same kind of Pattaya sexpat waddling along with a Thai companion of similar age and weight and indifferent looks.Clearly they have something meaningful going.As Pascal said, “The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of... We know the truth not only by the reason, but by the heart.”

US Ambassadors are not addressed as Excellency by American citizens though foreigners often do because Excellency is a standard address for Ambassadors of every country.Being a Kingdom has nothing to do with it.But you are right the use of Excellency in this instance does seem a bit odd since it's contained in a communication from the American Embassy to American citizens.By the way I don't think the use of the Excellency address is anything to do with self promotion - it's just standard diplomatic etiquette.

Why?

There are still banks in the Channel Islands - and probably the Isle of Man - that specifically cater for expats.However they will still want your overseas tax identification number and will keep on pressing for it.I suppose in extremis they might close your account if you don't provide one (though I have never heard of such a case). Additionally they will sometimes ask why exactly you need an offshore account with the clear implication they will close it if you don't satisfy with your answers.I think they are looking for a minimum balance (I'm guessing about £ 50,000), evidence of activity etc.