SpaceKadet

You are sensible, never mix spirits when you are in for heavy drinking. I prefer quality vodka (Absolut) or gin (Blue Sapphire) and stick with it the whole evening. Have been known to empty a whole bottle of frozen vodka in one evening without much ill effects next day. That was a few years ago though.

Just for info to other posters here. Today I received a letter from my Pension Authority. It was dated June 26, that's four weeks ago.

I stopped receiving mails, domestic and external, in October last year. Things like end of year statements from my banks and investments, renewed credit card, and all local invoices never got to me. No mail at all for several months. Eventually I went to the local post office and spoke to the postmaster. She was all apologies and smiles, but said there was no mail for me in the post office. She gave me the phone number for the local postman. I thought it would be pointless to talk to him, and was preparing to complain higher up, when the post started to arrive again. Only external though, no local bills or invoices. Later we found out that they hired a new postman and he didn't deliver to anybody in his area. Many complained and eventually the postman got replaced. Still not getting local bills for internet, satellite subscription and such. Will probably have to call them and let them handle the post office. Edit: In retrospect, the post serviced in Thailand got much worse after covid. Before 2022 all the mail arrived very promptly. Of course, the external mail would take 10-14 days, but it arrived.

But it's convenient. I went there one time to be told that it's full upstairs and I better wait or come back after lunch.

Tanks DrJack. I had that link, but wasn't sure if it was still valid as all the days and times were free to book appointments.

It's for retirement extension. I've been using Hua Hin for 10 years now. Sometimes it can be very crowded. Switched to retirement 2 years ago because the IO's gave us so much hassle doing the yearly married extension. Some times it took us 4 hours, and some other times I had to come back. I made an appointment last year and had my retirement extension and 90 day reporting within 30 minutes. I have 2.5 hour drive to Hua Hin. To be there at 8:15 I would have to start from home before 6am. Not something I would be willing to do. 90 days I do at Dan SingKorn immigration. In and out in 5 minutes with very friendly and smiling IO's. It still takes 45 minutes to drive there though, but I can easily do that before they break for lunch, and we can do our shopping in PKK before driving back home.

We have a cat, and that monster animal is spoiled silly by my wife. He will only eat Japanese tuna in jelly, and Korean kibbles at 90 baht per small pack per day. As an advantage though, he keeps the house free from rodents, squirrels and snakes, and have been known to attack dogs and trespassers. To the point that everybody around is scared <deleted>less to step into our property

You are lucky. I'm a city slick and not a farmer. Even my attempt to grow some Ganja failed, and the plants all died.

Nearest Tops is 2.5 hours drive, one way. Makro is closer and I spend 5000-6000 baht every time we go there. They don't have everything I need though. The well stocked Makro is again 2.5 hours drive. That's the whole day gone, just for shopping.

It's up to their personal liking, but I would not like to live in a 12m2 room with fan and no furniture, and all my computers and guitars and books stacked along the walls. And all my clothes in plastic baskets. I do still have other interests beyond subsiding, and like to maintain them. Besides, I am not very keen on local spirits, except perhaps Sang Som, and local industrial beers make me puke, and not much of a wine drinker. The beer situation is improving recently though. Top shelf vodkas and gin are expensive, and my car/motorbike expenses run to 5000-6000 average per month. The car is needed where I am.

Maybe up in Issan, I'm very far from there. And to be totally honest would never consider moving there. Just rice paddies and buffalos and crap food. 1 million will get you maybe 1 rai of land where I live. And a small house, as you suggest 120m2, maybe another two million. Just for the record, I'm not in any tourist ghettos, but still like to stay close to the beach.

Sorry, brainfart on my part. It was Libya, not Syria.

Yes, living in a one room apartment with fan, eating the local food from the street vendors, and having a few Chang for entertainment. I would not call that living, more like subsiding. I'm spending about twice what I calculated for a family of two. And we have own house. I'm blaming it all on UK politics that made GBP lose over 40% just one year after I retired here.

Obviously you are not aware what JAS stands for. It's Jakt (fighter), Atack (attack) and Spaning (reconnaissance). The role can be changed by the press of a button, more or less. And that's what Thailand needs, a modern multi-role military jet for patrol and defense. After all, I don't think Thailand is posed to attack any neighboring country just yet, AFAIK ... JAS-39 has proven itself over and over again in the reconnaissance role in Syria. Yes, I know, much undocumented but very true. And by 50+ year old airframe, I mean it was designed over 50 years ago. Sweden might as well upgrade and offer SAAB 37 Viggen (contemporary airframe to F16), the only fighter jet that got a lock on SR-71. Far superior to any contemporary Russian design. Swedish war tech is far ahead of that of US. Just like the small diesel Swedish sub that "sunk" Ronald Regan (CVN-76) multiple times without ever being discovered.

Can somebody please provide a recent link for HUA HIN immigration online appointment bookings. I did go the Immigration main site, but it's very confusing, and even after selecting English language most of the site is in Thai. I think that Hua Hin is in Division 3, But clicking on there, there is no online reservation link. Perhaps a suggestion to mods/admins. Could we have a pinned topic with the current links?

It was was not loss of control. That's the official version to save face. It was because the pilot was confused flying inverted at a very low level, pulled the stick up instead of down to ascend (inverted action). And RTAF didn't want to spend the money on SAAB software that would prevent that.

I do understand how the "blocks" work, but it's still 50+ year old airframe. Dinosaur age in technology terms. And with the requirement for proper airport runways, and 1-2 hours turn around time by a bunch of highly trained mechanics, totally outdated. Why do you think Russia is bombing all the airport in Ukraine? Compare that with J39 that can turn around fully fueled and armed in 15 minutes, and can use normal roads as runways. Thailand already have the best fighters in SE Asia. A squadron of Grippens at Surat Thani Airbase.

What is it that makes US pushing this old airframe so hard. Need to get rid of old stock, or just need money for new hardware?

And this is the true reason for US to push this outdated 50+ year old airframe..... It's equivalent to Sweden offering J37 Viggen with updated electronics.

What works for me is a Bloody Mary first thing in the morning, and a lot of protein (meat) for lunch/dinner. Problem is, if you start your day with Bloody Mary, you'll be drinking the whole day. Been there, done that.... No hangover following day though.

So, it's more like Rayong international airport with 3 flights weekly to UAE, Singapore and Malaysia.... Very international. And BKK international is still almost 2 hours away....

Did not know Pattaya had an international airport. Is it just newly constructed?

25 years ago, I would say 1-2 weeks. Now, I must agree with the other posters here. Zero days! Happiest day of my life when I sold my business there and moved out. Been back twice just for a few days, and verified that it's a <deleted>hole place. Go visit Krabi, or Trang. Much nicer and not just a tourist ghetto.

You do know that Julian is not and American citizen, right?

He had little choice in the matter. The US were ready to (and did) force the airplanes down just on a suspicion he was onboard.