Recent trip to UK with Qatar air- A very sad, heartbreaking visit.

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, youreavinalaff said:

It does, I apologise.

 

However, it's still more than 10%, and says rising.

 

The paragraph you quoted is irrelevant.

 

   1 in 5 is 80 %

It was previously 88 % card use and 12 % cash use

 

[youreavinalaff]

6 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   1 in 5 is 80 %

It was previously 88 % card use and 12 % cash use

 

Bearing in mind the article says cash purchases have risen 2 years in a row and the figure of 1 in 5 is correct for year ending December 2024, what year are you talking about?

[samtam]

42 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

There is nothing special about departing from BKK through the e-gates.  I have done it multiple times and never had any issue on return.  It doesn't "read" anything other than your main passport page, but the system knows your status.  I am certain if you would be on overstay then the gate would stay shut.

Ok good. That presumably saves time if there's a queue at IMM. Normally I travel using Fast Track, but last time I didn't and the e-Gate facility wasn't available, except to Thais, (and even that seemed too novel to be of much benefit).

 

I don't suppose the e-Gate works for returning to Thailand.

[nauseus]

3 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

Why would I not tell the truth? There's no point in that, is there? I've merely pointed out I had no issues with potholes on the M5. Journey time same as previous trips.

 

You're not supposed to use the hard shoulder.

[youreavinalaff]

1 minute ago, nauseus said:

 

You're not supposed to use the hard shoulder.

I know. So, I don't.

[Upnotover]

9 minutes ago, samtam said:

Ok good. That presumably saves time if there's a queue at IMM. Normally I travel using Fast Track, but last time I didn't and the e-Gate facility wasn't available, except to Thais, (and even that seemed too novel to be of much benefit).

 

I don't suppose the e-Gate works for returning to Thailand.

No,  on return it's the same process as always. 

[spidermike007]

Good post, thanks. It 9s fascinating to see what is happening in the West. I was recently in the US. Both Southern California and Oregon. Many shops are closing, consumer confidence is way, way down, inflation continues to rage, and most people are having a hard time, and the quality of life continues to drop for the majority, who do not own a house that's free and clear. Homelessness is a huge issue and most people seemed quite joyless, without humor, and it felt as if they simply were not enjoying their lives very much. None of that is going to change, despite the silly rhetoric and insane policies. 

 

Here in Thailand it's such a refreshing contrast, even though there are economic headwinds here, and even though most people are working hard to survive, most maintain a good attitude, are upbeat and very pleasant to be around. 

[Nick Carter icp]

23 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

Bearing in mind the article says cash purchases have risen 2 years in a row and the figure of 1 in 5 is correct for year ending December 2024, what year are you talking about?

 

   My point being that not so many people use cash these days and so they don't give to beggars as much and that's why there aren't so many people begging on the streets these days 

[ikke1959]

I am wondering what it has to do with Qatar Airways.....

[youreavinalaff]

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   My point being that not so many people use cash these days and so they don't give to beggars as much and that's why there aren't so many people begging on the streets these days 

Now it's "not so many". That's down from "all" and post edit "nearly" all. 

 

The article I posted says cash use is rising. What "these days" are you talking about?

[JoseThailand]

19 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

However, Kier Starmer and his millionaire lefties cabinet colleagues are not seeing any of this.

 

They are democratically elected. That's the people's choice.

[Nick Carter icp]

Just now, youreavinalaff said:

Now it's "not so many". That's down from "all" and post edit "nearly" all. 

 

The article I posted says cash use is rising. What "these days" are you talking about?

 

  Today . 

Doesnt matter if cash use is slightly rising , 

As cash isn't used much anymore , less money is given to beggars .

   That's not too difficult to understand 

 

[youreavinalaff]

7 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

As cash isn't used much anymore , less money is given to beggars .

   That's not too difficult to understand 

 

Difficult to prove.

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

Difficult to prove.

 

  Its very noticeable on the streets .

Haven't you noticed that there's not as many beggars around these days ?

[youreavinalaff]

1 minute ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  Its very noticeable on the streets .

Haven't you noticed that there's not as many beggars around these days ?

Can't say I have. 

 

Even if it's true, there are many reasons it could be so.

[Nick Carter icp]

Just now, youreavinalaff said:

Can't say I have. 

 

Even if it's true, there are many reasons it could be so.

 

  How long have you spent on the UK recently ?

[youreavinalaff]

8 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  How long have you spent on the UK recently ?

More time than I've spent not in UK.

[Nick Carter icp]

7 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

More time than I've spent not in UK.

 

  So,  about six years spent n the UK  in the last ten years  then .

Surprised that you haven't noticed beggars becoming less common

[youreavinalaff]

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  So,  about six years spent n the UK  in the last ten years  then .

Surprised that you haven't noticed beggars becoming less common

Is ten years, even six years, recently?

 

Beggars are not something I look for. Hence, I haven't noticed. 

[Nick Carter icp]

3 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

Is ten years, even six years, recently?

 

Beggars are not something I look for. Hence, I haven't noticed. 

 

  Right, so you have no idea whether there's been a reduction in beggars or not .

  You have no idea what you are talking about 

[youreavinalaff]

3 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  Right, so you have no idea whether there's been a reduction in beggars or not .

  You have no idea what you are talking about 

No, I said I hadn't noticed.

 

However, I've read reports that suggest there's been an increase in recent years.

[samtam]

1 hour ago, JoseThailand said:

 

They are democratically elected. That's the people's choice.

 

Well, 33.4% of the electorate. A bit like the US electorate: the majority didn't vote for either candidate, (Harris or Trump). The lack of interest in voting is indeed a choice, but rather a sad one when the the consequences are there for all to see.

 

Although " [democracy] is the worst form of government" is attributed to Churchill, he said:

 

Quote

Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…

 

[DonniePeverley]

18 hours ago, Kinnock said:

This has to be highly advanced sarcasm or just base trolling.

 

Universities are used just once in a lifetime by less than 1% of the population, the NHS is a crumbling tragedy of endless waiting lists, the frozen pension is near worthless, and we paid into the pension fund with decades of contributions to support British pensioners and their index linked rises and cold weather payouts while we place zero burden on the UK State.

 

 

 

WHen you have children who want to use a university you will realise how lucky uou are to be in the UK. Thai's dream of sending their children to the UK or USA to study, and the expense for them is horrendous - enough to buy a big house. We beech moaners in the UK pay next to nothing, as it's subsidised from taxation and foreign students. 

 

Yet we still moan. 

 

A degree from the UK carries weight. A degree from Thailand might as well be bought from Khao San road. 

[scorecard]

19 hours ago, Cameroni said:

 

Always very informative posts, keep up the good work.

 

I remember in 1995 there were so many beggars in a seaside town in Kent I was genuinely shocked. This has always been a problem in England. 

 

Things have got a lot worse now, when I was in Harlow I genuinely felt like in a dystopian Hollywood film. It was horrific. Good to read that the north of England is still salt of the earth.

 

We'll just have to get crumpets sent to Thailand.

 

No, do a trip to Australia. All the supermarkets have discounted crumpets (still soft and fresh, round or square or fingers) at very discounted prices. I was there 3 years back (near Sydney) a pack of 6, just discounted for about 30Baht. Not too bad.

 

Plus Coles or woolies low cost cheddar cheeses level 5 aging, very tasty, plus fresh plum or apricot jam. What a bargain.

 

Often went (free bus) to the local Coles of woolies giant markets, bought 2 packs of discounted crumpets plus topping (above), home by 10:30am, one pack of 6 crumpets devoured within 30 minutes, the second pack gone by 1:00 pm as a desert after lunch.

 

what a great life.

[Cameroni]

1 minute ago, scorecard said:

 

No, do a trip to Australia. All the supermarkets have discounted crumpets (still soft and fresh, round or square or fingers) at very discounted prices. I was there 3 years back (near Sydney) a pack of 6, just discounted for about 30Baht. Not too bad.

 

Plus Coles or woolies low cost cheddar cheeses level 5 aging, very tasty, plus fresh plum or apricot jam. What a bargain.

 

Often went (free bus) to the local Coles of woolies giant markets, bought 2 packs of discounted crumpets plus topping (above), home by 10:30am, one pack of 6 crumpets devoured within 30 minutes, the second pack gone by 1:00 pm as a desert after lunch.

 

what a great life.

 

I had a terrible experience with Australian products, I'm sorry to say. Apart from the beef which is excellent. But I tried an Australian chicken pie. Cole's bagels. And I don't know how such inferior products get sold there. It was terrible. I will stick with the English product, I can't even buy Australian bagels. 

[scorecard]

4 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

I had a terrible experience with Australian products, I'm sorry to say. Apart from the beef which is excellent. But I tried an Australian chicken pie. Cole's bagels. And I don't know how such inferior products get sold there. It was terrible. I will stick with the English product, I can't even buy Australian bagels. 

 

Ohh so sad, now please don't cry.

 

There's many different brands / styles / tastes of Chicken pies baked / sold across Australia. 

 

Bagels have never been a big item for Australians.

 

"... a terrible experience with Australian products".  never mind, I suspect you will survive. 

 

 

 

[Cameroni]

4 minutes ago, scorecard said:

There's many different brands / styles / tastes of Chicken pies baked / sold across Australia. 

 

I know, but this one looked so good, so luxuriously packed, and it was so terrible. It completely put me off.

4 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Bagels have never been a big item for Australians.

 

I can well believe that, those bagels were, I don't want to be unkind, but they were really really bad.

 

The butter, again, I have to say the French and Danish options are better.

[ronnie50]

21 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

The trip was heartbreaking.

 

However, Kier Starmer and his millionaire lefties cabinet colleagues are not seeing any of this. They are living far away in leafy suburbs, driving around in police convoys with armed bodyguards, oblivious as to what is going on

Sorry to hear that. It doesn't really surprise me though. As some others have pointed out, most of 'ol blighty has been on the decline for 20-30 years - so you can't really blame it all on the current Labour government. The rot started long ago and has been ignored by both Tory and Labour governments. While I can understand refugees fleeing some countries, I don't really understand what drives economic migrants to bleak, grey and cold UK - because you're right that so many areas of the UK are just complete sh!tholes now.  Migrants end up in these places because the places are cheaper. But (usually) they didn't create the sh!tholes, but maybe contributed to the decline. I also don't understand why they choose UK over places like Germany or France - both of which are in the EU and have similar if not better benefits than the UK. Or Sweden which seems to be the best place for State freebies.

[Scouse123]

3 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

That's not what you said. 

 

You're splitting hairs, I think it was fairly obvious what I meant.

 

I obviously didn't mean the whole of the UK

[stuandjulie]

19 hours ago, Kinnock said:

This has to be highly advanced sarcasm or just base trolling.

 

Universities are used just once in a lifetime by less than 1% of the population, the NHS is a crumbling tragedy of endless waiting lists, the frozen pension is near worthless, and we paid into the pension fund with decades of contributions to support British pensioners and their index linked rises and cold weather payouts while we place zero burden on the UK State.

 

Well that is bull, the UK is the 6th largest in the world for further education. I had a heart issue, into hospital straight away, sorted and on my way a week later, excellent aftercare as well, all free. As to the pension, I presume you did your homework before leaving the UK so it was no surprise to find it frozen, it is general knowledge, seems you want your cake (see LBFM) and eat it. I live in both Countries and there are good points and bad for both.

As an aside I find it amusing that all these expats bang on about immigration to the UK whilst having the same status in Thailand. I am sure of course all European, British and American expats are models of good behaviour!