Back in the UK after 10 years in Thailand

[faraday]

Some of the usual suspects sparring, I see.

 

 

Anyway Sanemax, I'm sitting on the patio having a lovely cold beer......

 

When it's 18:30 UK time, I guess you'll be thinking about warming drinks. ☕

 

Is it raining there?

 

????

 

[Kadilo]

48 minutes ago, faraday said:

Some of the usual suspects sparring, I see.

 

 

Anyway Sanemax, I'm sitting on the patio having a lovely cold beer......

 

When it's 18:30 UK time, I guess you'll be thinking about warming drinks. ☕

 

Is it raining there?

 

????

 

Yeah but who cares when you have a party bag of penguins and some custard creams for a penny. 

[Matzzon]

1 hour ago, sanemax said:

Thanks for the info, but I would prefer if that kind of thing wasnt discussed in this thread

[sanemax]

17 hours ago, faraday said:

Some of the usual suspects sparring, I see.

 

 

Anyway Sanemax, I'm sitting on the patio having a lovely cold beer......

 

When it's 18:30 UK time, I guess you'll be thinking about warming drinks. ☕

 

Is it raining there?

 

????

 

Nope , given up drinking and nope, not raining here  , a warm 20 degrees .

   Say hello to the mosquitoes , cockroaches and ants  from me 

[Ron jeremy]

12 hours ago, sanemax said:

Those seem to be regular red top headlines  , it always seems to be the hottest/coldest/wettest weather ever coming next week and it never comes  .

   Its easier to get out and about in 15 degrees in the UK , than it is in 40 degrees in Thailand 

I don't understand the people from the UK always bitching about the weather, simply put on another jacket etc. , always a way to stay warm, but going outside in 40 c is simply far too hot for me being from Canada. Perhaps I'm used to the cold, but I find the hot weather in Thailand to be more uncomfortable than the cold in Canada. ( to a certain point of course).  And to breathe fresh air is quite nice. 

[meechai]

3 hours ago, Ron jeremy said:

I don't understand the people from the UK always bitching about the weather, simply put on another jacket etc. , always a way to stay warm, but going outside in 40 c is simply far too hot for me being from Canada. Perhaps I'm used to the cold, but I find the hot weather in Thailand to be more uncomfortable than the cold in Canada. ( to a certain point of course).  And to breathe fresh air is quite nice. 

IMHO True that ????

We can handle both but,

But during scorch season when we lived there I was really melting even after many years of acclimation.

 

My nice temp is 72F/22C

I always said the same as you if could you can dress for it.

But 40c? even if your naked your eyeballs are melting ????

 

Edited October 6, 2019 by meechai

[transam]

8 hours ago, sanemax said:

Nope , given up drinking and nope, not raining here  , a warm 20 degrees .

   Say hello to the mosquitoes , cockroaches and ants  from me 

The UK has all of those too....

[Andrew Dwyer]

Early on in this thread Max said he was only in the uk for a few weeks to “ sort some things out “ . Then he started making noises that maybe he prefers the uk to Thailand.
Then, dramatically ( and I am surprised no one called him out on this ) he started to fill in the online form for a Thai visa, decided it was too much trouble and deleted it.

So what’s the story now Max, never coming back to LOS ? Have you burnt your bridges here ?, did you go to the uk with the intention of staying or was it a few weeks trip as you said before ?

Not having a go Max , but it seems unlikely you went for a few weeks to “ sort some things out “ without already having a view to staying.

As I said, not having a go, just curious as to what your thoughts were when you left here .

[donnacha]

Once the main novelties of life in Thailand have worn off, life in Europe is actually pretty good.

The increasing visa nonsense in Thailand eats up a lot of time and money. Prices for goods are actually pretty expensive. You can get far healthier, fresher, and pesticide-free food at much better prices in supermarkets such as Lidl and Aldi. Alcohol is significantly cheaper in most European countries.

Sure, services are far cheaper but how many massages and haircuts do you really want? The amount you pay for medical and dental services appears to be rising.

I suppose, yes, sex is the ultimate service, I don't suppose anywhere in Europe provides such easy access to sex, but I have to admit that clean air strikes me as more important these days.

 

 

[donnacha]

33 minutes ago, FredGallaher said:

Thailand is over run by farang complainers anyway. A few less would make it nicer for those of us who like being in Thailand.

Well, if farang complainers are so distasteful to you, why spend your precious time, here, on a forum for farangs, on a thread about someone returning to his home country after many years in Thailand?

Were you perhaps hoping, before you read 43 pages, that the thread would not discuss the differences between those countries? Were you hoping for 43 pages of people telling him that Thailand is perfect and that he is a fool for considering other options?

I do not mean to criticize you specifically, I am generally surprised at how many people on this forum seem to get triggered by discussion, the one thing that forums are for. I don't see how anyone getting into the real details of this subject could avoid being labeled a "complainer" by you.

I feel the same thing when I see people on the Chiang Mai Facebook groups attacking as "whiners" anyone who mentions how bad the burning season is there. I suspect they are either heavily invested in Chiang Mai and trying to hide anything that might discourage newbies from staying in their Airbnb condo or whatever, or that they are retired guys who are defensive about their decision to live in Chiang Mai because they no longer have the financial option to live anywhere else.

Forum discussions such as this one have, over the years, informed and encouraged me to design a life that suits me. I spend each year living in 3 very different countries, one of which is Thailand. I remain aware of my options and continue to grow my investments so that I never end up trapped like so many of the bitter older guys who haunt these threads.

 

Edited October 6, 2019 by donnacha

[englishoak]

37 minutes ago, donnacha said:

Well, if farang complainers are so distasteful to you, why spend your precious time, here, on a forum for farangs, on a thread about someone returning to his home country after many years in Thailand.

Were you perhaps hoping, before you read 43 pages, that the thread would not discuss the differences between those countries? Were you hoping for 43 pages of people telling him that Thailand is perfect and that he is a fool for considering his options?

I do not mean to criticize you specifically, I am generally surprised at how many people on forums seem to get triggered by discussion, the one thing that forums are for. I don't see how anyone getting into the real details could avoid being labeled a "complainer" by you.

I feel the same thing when I see people on the Chiang Mai Facebook groups attacking as "whiners" anyone who mentions how bad the burning season is there. I suspect they are either heavily invested in Chiang Mai and trying to hide anything that might discourage newbies from staying in the Airbnb or whatever, or that they are retired guys who are defensive about their decision to live in Chiang Mai because they no longer have the financial option to live anywhere else.

Forum discussions such as this one have, over the years, informed and encouraged me to design a life that suits me. I spend each year living in 3 very different countries, one of which is Thailand. I remain aware of my options and continue to grow my investments so that I never end up trapped like so many of the bitter older guys.

 

 

It is human nature to be tribal, as such an observation, new priority or even opinion of another some will always take as personal. 

 

What one likes or wants today tomorrow might become boring or shine wears off or it even turns out to not be as first supposed, especially over time. This is how personal relationships end and no less changes in lifestyle, priorities or tastes, not even taking circumstance that change into account it inevitably happens to everyone that move around especially around countries. 

 

Trapped is an interesting term, its mostly a mindset but.... It might be an event that stops flexibility, relationship, responsibilities or change in laws, eg 30 years ago spending time in 3 different countries year after year was not a common thing and for most not possible, probably wont be in the future either,  youll age like everyone and priorities will change, country demographics will change along with economies and laws. I hope you continue to enjoy life as suits you, it did me for many a decade until it didnt any longer. Those places wont be the same in the future any more than you will be either so enjoy them all while its possible. 

 

The UK whilst expensive and not great for some things is very cheap and great for others, it depends on needs and priority, no one is wrong in their personal requirements or preferences, personally i think the UK is one of the best countries in the world to live in, Thailand is another but there are plenty of others too. It all depends on the person, mindset and priorities.  However some do like to badger or argue when others change their opinions or lifestyles and voice it, they take it personal for some reason, there are also plenty of people who are not content with life themselves so resort to judging others by their standards for want of something to do or make themselves feel better if only for a moment. 

 

Sounds to me that the OPs priorities have changed along with Thailand and circumstances  thats fine and all perfectly natural, more power to the OP for doing whats best for them. Its no less of a bad thing to go home than it is to leave it, life is a ride and its good to sample life to the max while here. Only when forced to leave and go someplace you dont want to or forced to stay somewhere you dont wish to be its a problem. 

 

One mans meat is another mans poison, its just some dont like what others eat ????

 

 

Edited October 6, 2019 by englishoak

[faraday]

11 hours ago, sanemax said:

Nope , given up drinking and nope, not raining here  , a warm 20 degrees .

   Say hello to the mosquitoes , cockroaches and ants  from me 

Few posts ago didn't you say you were going to have a drink when your mum goes on a cruise...?

 

[transam]

1 minute ago, FredGallaher said:

What a lot of wind. Hope you have either left or will go soon.  Thailand isn't for everybody and you for sure. 

Some farang are well grounded and happy. Others like you seem to blow a cork if someone doesn't agree with your views. 

Especially if the word "farang" is in ear shot......????

[donnacha]

6 minutes ago, englishoak said:

Trapped is an interesting term, its mostly a mindset but....

By trapped, I was not referring to people who have settled down in one place and are at peace with that decision. In that case, it does not matter if they do or do not have the option to move elsewhere, they are satisfied with their situation.

The ones who are "trapped" are those who harbor deep doubts or even regrets about the situation they have ended up in, but no longer have realistic alternatives. The unsolvable angst gets poured into an incessant campaign of posts bitterly attacking anyone whose plans threaten to undermine their fragile, defensive reasoning for their own existence.

I get it, I really do. I get into arguments sometimes on this forum, and can be quite scathing in what I write, but I actually have real sympathy for the pain these guys are clearly in.
 

 

16 minutes ago, englishoak said:

It might be an event that stops flexibility, relationship, responsibilities or change in laws, eg 30 years ago spending time in 3 different countries year after year was not a common thing and for most not possible, probably wont be in the future either,  youll age like everyone and priorities will change, country demographics will change along with economies and laws. I hope you continue to enjoy life as suits you, it did me for many a decade until it didnt any longer. Those places wont be the same in the future any more than you will be either so enjoy them all while its possible. 

Thank you for those kind wishes.

Yes, my priorities have already shifted significantly as I age. Now, in my mid-40s, I have little interest in visiting tourist attractions, wild parties, or cities in general.

I like to land in one place for at least three months and have a very settled existence, involving lots of reading and writing, interspersed with long walks in the Irish mountains or along the Spanish coast. I eat simply and drink rarely. I find that a change of scene and weather a few times per year is sufficient novelty to keep life interesting.

Strangely, I find this migratory pattern actually helps my relationship. She gets to spend long months surrounded by her family but is also pleased that she will also get away from them for long stretches. She likes to work a lot too, so, really, the continuous strand that connects our year is the work we do online, which remains the same regardless of where we are. It works well.

At one stage I did consider the option of buying an Elite visa, and living in Thailand all year round. The money wasn't a problem, but I don't like feeling scammed. It was a lucky break really because it forced us to try other options and, now, I don't think either of us would drop the migratory pattern unless we are knocked out of it by medical needs. I reasonably confident that, if we want to keep doing this, it will remain possible for decades to come. International travel will continue to drop in cost, more people will live like this, and even Thailand will eventually get past the current anti-Western hysteria.

 

[Kadilo]

I always find it fascinating that people who up roots and return home feel the need to come onto a Thai forum and tell everyone how great it is and how happy they are they made the move. Then go onto slag just about everything about the country of the forum they can’t leave alone. 

 

Im calling BS on every one of them. They are missing the place like <deleted>, bored as hell and need constant reminders of what they are missing. 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2019 by Kadilo

[transam]

10 minutes ago, donnacha said:

By trapped, I was not referring to people who have settled down in one place and are at peace with that decision. In that case, it does not matter if they do or do not have the option to move elsewhere, they are satisfied with their situation.

The ones who are "trapped" are those who harbor deep doubts or even regrets about the situation they have ended up in, but no longer have realistic alternatives. The unsolvable angst gets poured into an incessant campaign of posts bitterly attacking anyone whose plans threaten to undermine their fragile, defensive reasoning for their own existence.

I get it, I really do. I get into arguments sometimes on this forum, and can be quite scathing in what I write, but I actually have real sympathy for the pain these guys are clearly in.
 

 

Thank you for those kind wishes.

Yes, my priorities have already shifted significantly as I age. Now, in my mid-40s, I have little interest in visiting tourist attractions, wild parties, or cities in general.

I like to land in one place for at least three months and have a very settled existence, involving lots of reading and writing, interspersed with long walks in the Irish mountains or along the Spanish coast. I eat simply and drink rarely. I find that a change of scene and weather a few times per year is sufficient novelty to keep life interesting.

Strangely, I find this migratory pattern actually helps my relationship. She gets to spend long months surrounded by her family but is also pleased that she will also get away from them for long stretches. She likes to work a lot too, so, really, the continuous strand that connects our year is the work we do online, which remains the same regardless of where we are. It works well.

At one stage I did consider the option of buying an Elite visa, and living in Thailand all year round. The money wasn't a problem, but I don't like feeling scammed. It was a lucky break really because it forced us to try other options and, now, I don't think either of us would drop the migratory pattern unless we are knocked out of it by medical needs. I reasonably confident that, if we want to keep doing this, it will remain possible for decades to come. International travel will continue to drop in cost, more people will live like this, and even Thailand will eventually get past the current anti-Western hysteria.

 

I thought you were about 80.....????

[donnacha]

9 minutes ago, FredGallaher said:

What a lot of wind. Hope you have either left or will go soon.  Thailand isn't for everybody and you for sure. 

Some farang are well grounded and happy. Others like you seem to blow a cork if someone doesn't agree with your views. 

Well, Fred, based on what you usually post, which mainly consists of attacking other people while assuming a position of moral superiority because they drink imported alcohol while you drink Thai moonshine sold in plastic bags, I can only say that your Thailand is very different place from mine. I don't know whether to feel more sorry for you or for your liver.

Before you decide to present yourself as "well grounded and happy", and me as being somehow negative towards others, it is worth noting that roughly one third of the 1,159 reactions you have given to the posts of other members here have been negative. Just as a convenient comparison, of the 798 reactions I have given, all have been positive. I don't even understand why anyone would waste their precious time spraying so much bad will towards other members here. It is so senseless.

 

[donnacha]

17 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

I always find it fascinating that people who up roots and return home feel the need to come onto a Thai forum and tell everyone how great it is and how happy they are they made the move.

Well, are they forcing you to leave Thailand?

Clearly, we all have different interests, some people find this subject interesting, why even bother with this thread if the decisions of others are so threatening to your own reality?

I mean, there are quite a few other threads you could be reading instead.

 

[Jip99]

11 minutes ago, transam said:

I thought you were about 80.....????

 

 

That was because he said he preferred fresh air to sex...????

 

 

In fairness, his points in that post are totally valid. It highlights some key things about being ‘trapped’. IMO these are invariably for financial reasons and having burned bridges in your home country.

 

I also admire people have settled here for a better life, often on a limited budget. I have seen many who have adapted well and they know that life would not be better in their home country- in most cases that is not an option anyway, they are ‘all in’ with Thailand.

 

Others almost have to defend their existence and glorify the cultural benefits of eating 30 Baht rice meals and 40 Baht kwitiow offerings from the local market vendors. When that is the only economic choice then fine.

 

The reality is that many of those who have the financial means to do so, will spend some time away from Thailand - I agree that it can also be beneficial for wives/partners to experience other countries. 

[James Tilley]

I  trust if you are back in the UK for a short while that you have applied for your UK pension to be uprated while there, even if it falls back when you return to Thailand? 

Nat Seniors; Frozen British expat pensioners urged to.docx

Edited October 6, 2019 by CharlieH
email removed as per forum rules

[mike787]

On 8/10/2019 at 5:02 AM, Puchaiyank said:

Has even 1 person said: "Welcome, handsome man?"

I seriously doubt it....no happy endings in the UK or at least that break the bank account...don't get started on the weather topic...LOL

[sanemax]

5 hours ago, faraday said:

Few posts ago didn't you say you were going to have a drink when your mum goes on a cruise...?

 

Yes, I have given up drinking since I ve been back, over two months now , and I had been getting a bit thirsty recently and thought that I'd have a drink when I had the house to myself . 

   But then again, I was around my own place last night and ASDA had four Holsten Pils for £3 50 and I just didnt feel like drinking beer, so, I may continue my sobriety for the foreseeable future 

[sanemax]

8 hours ago, transam said:

The UK has all of those too....

Yes, but in the UK they don't come and start eating you alive when you are sitting down outside .

  

[transam]

10 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Yes, but in the UK they don't come and start eating you alive when you are sitting down outside .

  

I can assure you they can and do. I had an ornate stocked fishpond at the end of my house garden in London, had a wooden Tikky bar too, all with very nice lighting for after dark. Mosquitoes and ants were a pest there, but like here one soon learns how to deal with them....????‍????

[simon43]

Come back and tell us what it is like in January...

 

Dr Google tells me that the temperature in January is typically between 14-28 degrees C, with very little rain.  Sounds very nice, because I've got tired of Thailand and Myanmar 'hot and hotter'.  I miss cooler days.

 

But I'll report back in a few months from now ????

[Kadilo]

2 hours ago, sanemax said:

Yes, but in the UK they don't come and start eating you alive when you are sitting down outside .

  

Your talking about Thai Prostitutes again ?

Edited October 6, 2019 by Kadilo

[sanemax]

On 10/5/2019 at 11:22 AM, Matzzon said:

Can only be two things. Can´t take a joke, or just sad to be in UK.

Could be the 3 rd thing .

I didnt know that you were making a joke 

Laughing at your own jokes doesnt make them funny jokes 

[sanemax]

13 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Early on in this thread Max said he was only in the uk for a few weeks to “ sort some things out “ . Then he started making noises that maybe he prefers the uk to Thailand.
Then, dramatically ( and I am surprised no one called him out on this ) he started to fill in the online form for a Thai visa, decided it was too much trouble and deleted it.

So what’s the story now Max, never coming back to LOS ? Have you burnt your bridges here ?, did you go to the uk with the intention of staying or was it a few weeks trip as you said before ?

Not having a go Max , but it seems unlikely you went for a few weeks to “ sort some things out “ without already having a view to staying.

As I said, not having a go, just curious as to what your thoughts were when you left here .

I did initially go to the UK for just a few weeks and stayed longer than intended for the reason that I liked the UK more than I thought that I would and didnt miss Thailand as much as I thought I would .

  The visa application is quite vague about what is required and its quite a chore to complete if you dont have a scanner and printer attached to your computer , like you have to download and print the declaration page, sign it and then scan it and upload it.......making sure that its the right size and various other tasks and I didnt want to return to Thailand that much .

   A Thai Female friend in Thailand has been talking with my Mum today on FB and my Mum felt a bit sorry for her and suggested that I go back to visit , so , been looking a flights today and the return fare is cheaper than the one way fare I paid to the UK .

   So, I think that I shall be going to visit my friend for Hallowen  until after Christmas  , just going to visit her , just a coincidence that she lives in Thailand 

[Matzzon]

21 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Could be the 3 rd thing .

I didnt know that you were making a joke 

Laughing at your own jokes doesnt make them funny jokes 

No, It was the second.

[sanemax]

9 hours ago, James Tilley said:

I  trust if you are back in the UK for a short while that you have applied for your UK pension to be uprated while there, even if it falls back when you return to Thailand? 

Nat Seniors; Frozen British expat pensioners urged to.docx 129.38 kB · 4 downloads

Not old enough to receive a pension  , but made sure my ten years of contributing is up top date, so I can receive a pension when I get old enough