jayboy

38 minutes ago, James105 said:

Starmer is out of his depth.  He is an over promoted middle manager which is why he jumps on nonsense like the price of Oasis tickets rather than concern himself with the realities of being in government and the real and difficult problems facing the UK.   

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.

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

As I said earlier, Labour MP’s May well defeat this proposal when it comes to a vote.

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.

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

In the meantime ‘means testing benefits’ for all its faults is a means of ensure resources are directed to those in need and away from those who don’t need.

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.

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Maybe they’ll vote otherwise.

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.

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You perhaps aren’t aware of the range of benefits pensioners receive.

Regardless, there are also large numbers of pensioners in receipt of personal and work place pensions, many with incomes above the average national wage income, taxing workers to give these people extra benefits they don’t need is clearly not tenable. 

 

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.

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The only pensioners not getting the winter fuel allowance are those with incomes above the threshold to receive all other benefits. 
 

With over 100,000 asylum seekers left as a gift by the previous government, Labour have certainly inherited assisted costs.

 

Foreign aid, that thing even the Tories understood was means to positively influence other nations in the UK’s best interests.

 

There was already a prison over crowding crisis months before the election of this Labour Government, I only yesterday provided you a link to a report on the matter, so a bit of studied ignorance on your part.

 

 

 

 

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.

On 6/22/2024 at 9:12 AM, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Unless you know how many hundreds of millions of dollars are spent researching and developing the drugs then you have no right to say that the companies charge an extortionate price for their product. These drugs are not produced overnight out of nothing. It takes great skill and highly trained scientists to produce these products. That all costs money.

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.

2 hours ago, jacob29 said:

I could spend the rest of my life repatriating capital (from pre 2024), while generating foreign income into a separate account. I don't think that would wash. I know some people are going to try this, and maybe it will work, but it seems far too easy to circumvent tax this way.

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?

37 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

While Toyota retains the reliability cachet

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.

1 hour ago, Photoguy21 said:

It isnt about what you eat but more about how many calories you burn. Eat what you like but get into a regular exercise routine. Sign up to a gym and go regularly to work out.

 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)

14 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

The left is more tolerant on religion contrasting with the right conservatism in preserving tradition and culture. That does not translate to supporting Islam. It is your lazy way of thinking. The left support humanity and do not judge others based on their religion. When a person, culture and a race of any group of people is demonized, it bothers them. Hence the outcry on the coninuing suffering of Hamas people. 

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/

1 hour ago, Bundooman said:

 

Don't be so intimidated by beautiful young women, whatever their profession, nor underestimate the desires or needs of men

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.

40 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

 

Lots of guys get no attention and no tender touch at all from any female back home.

When they arrive here, and sit in a bar, and a smiling girl pours them a beer and maybe touches him a little, that is already so much more than what he got at home. He is happy, even without any sex (at least for a while).

 

What's wrong with that? He gets the girlfriend experience. And that is a lot more than sex. He feels loved.

Is it true love? Probably not. Does it still feel good. Yes, it does!

 

And it's not only the guys who just arrived. I am almost 30 years in Thailand. And obviously I am not so young and handsome anymore. Do I like it when girls smile at me? Sure. Do I like it when a cute girl in a bar comes to me, tells me she is happy to see me, and ask me for a drink? Yes, I do.

Obviously, I could think about that maybe she doesn't do this only because I am such a great guy. But why should I? I just enjoy the moment with a nice girl who makes me feel good.

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.

7 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Something meaningful. Wow.

Why is it so difficult for some people to accept that there are also happy couples with a big age difference? 

Only because you can't comprehend it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. 

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.”

16 minutes ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

This just magnifies the elites and their self promotion.  I wasn't aware that the US Ambassadors get to carry a title of "Excellency".  I was sure that only referred to 'kingdoms'.

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.

On 8/16/2024 at 1:02 PM, Letseng said:

Ignore Donna Robinson.

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.

8 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

140/95?

That's not too bad ,do you even need Blood Medication????

I've had a few discussions with doctors in the UK on the subject of BP numbers during annual physicals, one with a rather grand Harley Street specialist.

I think I can say they were unanimous that we should aim for 120/80 or lower, and interestingly - because contrary to received wisdom - there should be no particular reason this target should be changed for older people.

So  on the above basis, 140/95 isn't really good enough. I accept my information is second hand and  am perfectly happy to be corrected.

On 8/8/2024 at 9:38 AM, chiang mai said:

Isn't this what Por 162 makes clear?

Not that I can see

9 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Many people (including me) take losartsn with no problem, no fatigue.

 

But if it has that effect for you then certainly take something else.

 

Enalapril is still widely used. No reason to switch from it if it is working and no side effects.  It is also readily available at pharmacies at very, very low cost.

 

I think you need to be more assertive with these various doctors and not agree to change medication unless there is a reason. 

 

 

I have never fully understood what criteria doctors use to prescribe different kinds of blood pressure medicine.

There are so many types of BP drugs working in different ways.Obviously doctors will consider overall health, possible side effects, any underlying conditions etc etc

But my question is whether if a drug/combination of drugs combined with healthy personal habits (little alcohol.no smoking, appropriate weight, lots of exercise etc) achieves acceptable BP readings, does it much matter which of the infinite drug possibilities is followed?

I ask because for various reasons I consulted two excellent doctors in a six month period and they came up with two totally different prescriptions.I had mildly elevated BP but now 120/80 or thereabouts.