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Make whatever you like but do not use sweeteners, they are really bad for your health. Use pure coconut sugar instead. It's full of minerals and doesn't have the same detrimental effect on insulin levels as processed sugar. Fat it not an issue for health, it's carbohydrates, sugars, fructose and processed foods that are. Don't overdo the protein either. Alternatively, make a sorbet with coconut sugar, any form of fruit and mix in whisked egg white to get it smooth. Make sure your eggs are organic. Lots of recipes on the web and delicious on a hot day...

sugar is sugar, no matter from what plant it comes. Egg white gives me some concerns about Salmonella.

Not quite true h90.

Not all sugars are the same and using coconut sugar has certainly improved my fasting insulin and sugar levels.

Fructose is your real problem as are artificial sweeteners.

As for Salmonella, that's why I recommend organic eggs as they're less likely to be a problem.

Make whatever you like but do not use sweeteners, they are really bad for your health. Use pure coconut sugar instead. It's full of minerals and doesn't have the same detrimental effect on insulin levels as processed sugar. Fat it not an issue for health, it's carbohydrates, sugars, fructose and processed foods that are. Don't overdo the protein either. Alternatively, make a sorbet with coconut sugar, any form of fruit and mix in whisked egg white to get it smooth. Make sure your eggs are organic. Lots of recipes on the web and delicious on a hot day...

I shipped a container with my belongings when I came over on a multi-entry O visa. I used a shipping company from the UK with their agent here. My goods were stored until I converted my visa to a retirement one. If you bring over your stuff within 6 months of moving here you should not need to pay duty. I only had to pay for the storage and the shipping agent sorted everything out for me and delivered the container to my house and unloaded everything.

I would not try and do it without an agent here as they know what's required for paperwork etc and saves you a lot of hassle.

The shipping charges were by volume. I don't remember there being any restrictions on the amount you could bring.

Thanks for that info bbko. Very useful, especially the phone number. Was going to look it up on web, but don't need to now. Also useful that can park in Big C!

Thanks ThaiBob.

I had a lot of work done, just before I moved to Thailand and after, at Silom Dental Clinic in Bangkok but it's just not worth going all the way up there if it's for a check up and nothing needs doing. 13000 doesn't sound that excessive, but my Thai partner needs some work doing so will need to check out the cost for that - not as flush these days with the interest and exchange rates. I don't need anything major, just clean, check-up and maybe a crown re-seating.

All really useful info, so am grateful. Thanks again.

Thank you all for your responses. It's much more useful to have the name of a dentist rather than just a clinic. Will have to call and check out both Dr Warin and Dr Tappasit.

I presume when you say, ThaiBob, that Dr Tappasit is at the higher end of the scale, you mean in terms of expense, not just quality?

Petermik, whereabouts on Pattaya Klang is Dr Warin's Dental Health Centre? Or if you can refer to a previous post, would be great. Thanks

Thanks Mrjlh,

Will check out wiki again and see if I can find one of the books you recommend.

Thanks for your input. Noticed that most of the banded pictures don't have the circular bits, just bands.

I live in Banglamung, Pattaya, if that helps. Have also checked out wiki, but not all of them have photos. Don't suppose you know of any really good books on Thai snakes?

Am trying to identify this snake and believe it's a Kukri snake (non-venomous).

Have looked on the web which has many images of Kukri snakes with the same type of markings, but they all have different names.

Would be really grateful for a correct variety of Kukri (latin name too).

FYI this one was released outside the garden unharmed.

Thanks to all for your help.

I've given up with True Visions for the 6 Nations. Don't see why I should pay extra just to get the channels they're screening it on for a few weeks. Downloading instead and will watch full BBC matches. Not live, but at least it will be better quality and I can pause it or re-play if it gets really exciting and I need another beer...

Thanks for the feedback Marieb and Torrens 54.

I got a clue for the ID from a picture on an Australian friend's Facebook page of a female Asian Koel and it looked so similar I guessed it could be one. Prior to that had been looking at Wiki birds and not getting very far.

Our specially made bird cage has not gone to waste either. A week or two after the Koel flew off a pigeon flew down and settled on the balcony next to us. It didn't move at all so picked it up. It must have been exhausted as it didn't struggle at all. It didn't want to feed so had to wrap it in a towel and open it's beak to get food down it. No problem swallowing, just didn't want to eat. It couldn't fly, so gave it a box at the bottom of the cage to sleep in and eventually after a couple of weeks it got it's strength back and started perching at the top of the cage. A week or so later it was trying to get out, so we released it.

Very happy to have saved two birds as by the time we find them they are usually too far gone and if the dogs get to them first they don't stand a chance.

We sometimes get birds flying into our balcony windows as they reflect the sky. We take care of the ones that are just stunned until they come round, but sadly some hit too hard and break their necks. Only a couple luckily. Did have one hit recently but when we checked it had flown away. Noticed later that evening a dust mark on the window and looking closer it was the bird's image. Am surprised it survived to fly away as it must have hit pretty hard to leave this impression.

My partner brought back from his home up country a shitzu bitch. She was covered in tick and flea bites and had demodectic mange. Not a pretty sight and very underweight (3kgs).

She was treated at the vets for months with very little change to the mange. Can't remember if it was ivermectin, but while she was being treated she had no appetite either. As the mange is usually on all dogs, but they only have problems if their immune systems are compromised, I decided to try a different tack. Stopped treatment and started her on a raw chicken diet, bones, skin, fat and all (+vitamin supplements for a few weeks). She was also spayed, as the stress of a season can depress the immune system. Her appetite improved tremendously once off the meds and on the raw diet and within a few weeks she was putting on weight and no longer scratching.

The problem with standard drug treatments from the vets is that they can be quite toxic to some dogs and they don't address the underlying problem that the dog's immune system is not functioning so well.

If you don't want to feed raw chicken, try cheap frozen minced salmon from Macro and add mashed carrots and garlic. A bit less messy. We changed her diet to that later on as one of our other dogs had skin problems (not mange and never diagnosed) but thought it could be a food allergy. They are all healthy now and the shitzu is now 6kgs and a very happy little dog with lovely long hair and not a bald patch or skin irritation in sight.

Hope this helps and good luck.

We rescued this bird from one of our dogs (luckily the one that licks things to death rather than kills them).

It was exhausted and unable to stand, falling backwards onto it's tail until all it's tail feathers broke off and we had to cut them as they were useless (so it originally had a very long tail). We fed the bird and nurtured it - getting vitamins and calcium from the vets to help it's legs strengthen. Eventually it was able to perch on the chair bar so put it into a large bird cage (built especially). After about a week it was feeding itself (had to feed it by hand before) and then a couple of weeks later was so strong, flying etc that it escaped the cage and flew off. Saw it later in one of the nearby trees so think it was probably fine by then.

It was obviously a youngster as it would open it's mouth to feed, but the only bird I can see that it might be is a young female Asian Koel, though it doesn't have the red eyes.

Would be grateful if anyone can identify it properly for me.

Thanks.

Do all the expats living in Pattaya have perfect teeth? Or is it that none of the dentists are any good so no-one is prepared to recommend.

Thanks guys for all your help!

I know there has been a thread on this, but it's somewhat out of date and things change fairly quickly here.

I need a good all round dentist who can handle crowns as well as the usual cleaning etc.

Not bothered about price if the quality is good, though don't want to pay through the nose, obviously.

Not bothered about area, though north end is closest to me - have car so can travel.

Had a clean at BHP a couple of years ago and wasn't very impressed, though it always seems to depend on the actual dentist, so maybe I was unlucky.

Do need dentist with good English too.

Would be very grateful for recommendations with name of dentist, clinic, address and phone number if possible.

Thanks y'all.

Had one done at BHP too. Can't remember the price as had other stuff done too so was done as inpatient (meant that I was covered by my health insurance). The Gastroenterologist who performed the colonoscopy was Dr Jaruwan and I would definitely recommend her. She speaks pretty good English and explains everything. I also got a DVD but haven't had a chance to watch it yet...

I juice, but not as regularly as I ought to and I have a grater style juicer, so probably not the best. I drink what I make straight away and then make soup from the pulp. Just boil it up with some chicken stock, run it through the blender and add a dollop of cream at the end. Makes a great pottage style soup and you can add extra stuff to spice it up or down as required. My Thai partner says it looks like poo and won't touch it, being that the colour is nearly always brownish, but it certainly doesn't taste like it!

Since everyone here is obviously into healthy stuff. I have spare Water Kefir grains if anyone is interested. You can use to brew plain water kefir or for making old fashioned ginger beer.

PM me if you want some grains.

Try taking Magnesium supplements and eating lots of nuts (which contain magnesium). It helps increase the levels of serotonin in the brain which helps for depression. There is a questionnaire which is used in the UK to assess the level of depression. If you can find it on the internet, have a look. It may give you an insight into your true level of depression of which anxiety attacks are a part. It's not always possible to put a finger on the cause, but attempting lifestyle changes could help. If all else fails, suggest SSRIs rather than Benzodiazepines though they will take at least 4 weeks before they kick in.

Good luck.

I use Lloyds TSB Offshore. Free transfer to my account in Thailand in Sterling then just pay the fee this end which is around £9 depending on the exchange rate. Not really worth transferring small amounts. Better to do what you will need for the month.

If you need extra for emergencies you can use a Debit card at an SCB bank with your passport and you will be charged at your UK bank as if it was a purchase overseas, not a money exchange. That varies from bank to bank in the UK. You can take out as much as you like providing you have the funds of course. Only the larger branches of SCB do the transactions, but there is an exchange booth on Naklua near the roundabout that does it too.

Hope that helps.

I buy my coconut oil from Tops. A little more expensive than Big C at about 550 baht for 1 litre. You will also find it at Foodland where in general it looks solid, but that's only because it's close to the vegetable coolers and their air con is cold. As Sichonsteve says, coconut oil is only solid at low temperatures, so here it very rarely is. If you need it solid to use for pastry, you could try putting it in the fridge and it will solidify, but it won't take long for it to liquify once you remove it. Much like butter...

I make my own French dressing and since starting to use coconut oil I use 1 part coconut oil with 1 part olive oil and 1 part vinegar, plus the extras of course. I make a jam jar full at a time and keep it in the fridge which means that it has to be 'thawed' out for use as both the coconut and olive oils solidify.

I too have been looking for coconut flour as an alternative to wheat in baking, or alternatively almond flour, but haven't found either. The closest I can find is ground almonds which isn't fine enough to be used as flour. If you have any luck tracing coconut flour, do let me know.

Have thought about paleo myself, but am too fond of my dairy products... Good luck.

No problem about the gender error QJAS. Get it all the time and not just on-line!

Made it up to Jomtien Immigration and the Consular office today and the upshot is:

Immigration says there is no time limit on the validity of the letter from the Embassy for proof of income. This was from the Thai officer who sits at the front desk, so I am hoping he is correct. I can now sort out my POI letter next week and keep fingers crossed it will be fine for January. Though I think when I go up next week I will check again.

With regards to transferring visas into new passports. The Brit consul gave me a form to fill in, checked both my passports and stamped it there on the spot. No charge. Wow! I was also told that there should be no charge from Immigration for visa transfers and also that it depends on who you see at the desk as to whether or not you need the letter. So I suppose it's always worth a try to get it done without first, but would go late on in the day with all your photocopies as it's possible the uniformed officer (who insisted on the letter) will have gone home by then and they will do it without.

By the way, thanks to whoever it was who posted the Word document for the Immigration Visa transfer form, however, I cannot get Thai to come up in Word (just get boxes). I can only use pdf documents as the Thai fonts are embedded. Did get a form from Immigration though, so not a problem.

Hope this helps you all.

PS. I'm female not male

I think the only explanation is that the service we Brit ex-pats get abroad is crap...

I don't think it has anything to do with passport renewal as such, more the fact that the new E passports can only be printed in certain places. But it still begs the question that if British passports can only be printed in the UK, why can't the renewals be done from there directly and not have to go to HK first and why do they cost almost double what you would pay if you were still resident in the UK. Surely, if passports were all processed in the same place the only extra you should pay for living outside the UK is the postage...