Should I return to the UK - difficult decision!

[youreavinalaff]

36 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

There are certainly pro's and con's to either location - I just think sensible balance needs to be applied when making that comparison.

I agree. I could quite easily have pointed out our home in Thailand is a 1.5km walk to the nearest public transport, despite only being 10kms from town. Nothing after 5pm.

 

In UK, buses go past our home, £2 per journey. Buses run until midnight.

 

 

[Furioso]

I was in Heathrow this last February. Uh, are you kidding me?  there were literally thousands of immigrants it is a national catastrophe. Every single day it must be getting worse.

Back here in Thailand I met a bloke that used to drive an ambulance in London. He told me he flew back to London a few years ago, shook his head, and immediately flew back to Thailand the next day. 

I'll be honest I did like visiting London, even now it's a great city and most people really nice. Outside of London in many cities must be even nicer. The problem is the corporations are trying to ruin it all, and they might be succeeding. 

[jori123]

3 minutes ago, transam said:

I just knew you never fiddled your pension.........🤥................

Nor even the state pension,as for you,it/you are a joke. Wot is it just over 2000? Frozen quid a year,should be almost 12 000 a year,hard to see this as nothing but a disaster on a major scale,should make a movie of it all  me?  Shovel it out,cannot spend it fast enough

[BE88]

Difficult decision because there are many components that can arrive and that have not been taken into account, but I think that if you want to return to your country of origin and not to be excluded for anyone but remaining open to a possible return to Thailand if the expectations that you meet in your country of origin after a certain time are not as you thought because many things have changed very quickly in recent years in many cases for the worse> Personally I have decided to stay in Thailand but no one can predict the future.

[transam]

 You never fiddled your pension, just fiddled around with the 180 day thing, you just told us so...........🤥..........🤣

 

Well done.............

[jori123]

4 hours ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

Hi Simon,

 

I recently spent 6 months back home, living with my parents. I was surprised how cheap, and high quality, food was but obviously I wasn't paying the bills which are extortionate.

 

Some per month costs, conservative estimate:

 

Council Tax = £130

Electricity / Gas = £110

Water = £40

TV Licence = £15

Broadband = £40

 

I assume you've done the online calculators so maybe your council tax will be reduced to £3 p/m? 

 

Will your rent exceed the cap and , if so, how much will you have to contribute?

 

Are you entitled to (now reduced) PIP with your health condition?

 

Will you receive enough Pension Credit for it to be a 'gateway' to other benefits like Winter Fuel Payment, Cold Weather Payments, free prescriptions, free eye tests, NHS dentist etc?

 

I'm shocked that you weren't shocked by Blackpool...I was shocked by it 30 years ago 😂

Conservative estimates,you sure.pension credit,get too much..cold weather few hundred...free prescriptions yes  doc /hospital too eye tests/hearing aids free,...dentists not bad ,about 100 a visit ,broadband not 40 quid 25,TV free,electric 70 quid,...council tax? Don't pay it too expensive,water free,its damned cheap to live in UK,blinkered thinking there is TH,one thing will force anyone back is illness,unless you want to die there,no thanks

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

I agree. I could quite easily have pointed out our home in Thailand is a 1.5km walk to the nearest public transport, despite only being 10kms from town. Nothing after 5pm.

 

In UK, buses go past our home, £2 per journey. Buses run until midnight.

 

There's a bus service in our area.... It runs up to 11pm...  Busses every hour up to about 5pm.

They run up to about 8pm I think.

 

We've never used it...    would if we had to, but its just not convenient vs getting in the car and parking in the local town... 

 

Conversely, in the cities - yes - public transport is convenient - trains are getting better... But they you have to pay a fortune to pay for parking at the train station !!

 

But, the night busses in London are full of drunks dripping their Burger-king on your or placing their greasy mitts on your clothes as they steady their drunken heads while walking up the aisle. 

 

[jori123]

12 minutes ago, transam said:

 You never fiddled your pension, just fiddled around with the 180 day thing, you just told us so...........🤥..........🤣

 

Well done.............

Said nothing idiot,time for moderator to sort your mental state out

[transam]

Just now, jori123 said:

Said nothing idiot,time for moderator to sort your mental state out

I have saved your 180 day post for a different thread, thanks a lot....................

[freedomnow]

Go for a while to try it out, but I cannot wait to get back to Asia myself.

Only good things ...clean air/NHS/ no humidity.

[Cameroni]

23 hours ago, simon43 said:

I've lived the last 23 or so years full-time in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (mostly in Myanmar).  I'm single, (having divorced 3 times over the years!).  My ex-wife and kids in the UK disowned me yonks ago.  My 2 Thai ex-wives keep in touch, but of course their lives have moved on. I have an elder brother in the UK who does keep in touch.

 

I'm currently just retired at 66 years old, relaxing by the sunny beach in south Thailand, and enjoying a low cost-of-living lifestyle.  Why on Earth would I want to return to the UK?

 

The problem is my health.  As I have mentioned in posts in the health forum, I have an incurable (but manageable) lung condition.  Most days are great, some days are <deleted>e....

 

I know that as I grow older, my illness will certainly not improve.  It may stay the same or it may deteriorate.  I am very concerned about my welfare if I stay in Thailand.

 

I do have private medical insurance.  But that really is intended to cover hospital treatment for serious accidents or diseases such as cancer etc.  It's not intended to pay for long-term medical care.  Will it even pay out if I claim?  Who knows!

 

If I return to the UK, then I will receive my index-linked state pension.  I will also be eligible for state assistance to pay my rent, council tax etc, such that so long as the accommodation monthly rent is not more than 600 or 700 pounds, then I'm doing fine with money for food, heating etc.

 

Some might say that the NHS is in a mess, and that I will get no help from them, but I disagree.  I used the NHS and GP (doctor) services and was treated quickly and politely.  I think it was a novelty for them to treat a professional white male lol!

 

I previously lived in rural areas of the UK and would hope to do the same.  Minehead (Somerset) is somewhere that would be practical for me (by the sea air, local shops, walking etc).  I used to live in nearby Dunster (home to the famous castle which is also known as 'Luttrell Castle').  My ancestors owned it until death duties stuffed that in the 1950's...  Nowadays, a modest studio flat in Minehead would be OK, and a realistic solution.

 

I still have my online teaching income, and I can continue that in the UK (teaching my Chinese students in their timezone is fine).  But at some stage I will no doubt have to end that work and rely on my state pension, but with the housing benefit also (the online calculator informs me that my basic state pension will be about doubled by the benefits that I can legally claim).

 

What to do, and what to consider?

 

You will be absolutely miserable living on benefits in the UK. 

 

You should really investigate the on-going potential medical costs that could occur that are not covered by insurance and make your decision based on that. Nobody can do that for you, as we don't have the intel on the medical condition or the costs.

 

However, if there is any way to avoid it, of course avoid living on benefits in the UK, that would surely kill your spirit and you will die from  depression. Especially if you lived so long in SE Asia.

[Stocky]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Yeah - thats brutal...   Transport costs across Europe are outrageous.

I have a Wrinkly Pass for West Midlands transport, gives me free travel after 9:30am weekdays and all day weekends and bank holidays, on all buses, trains and trams within the West Midlands.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

When it comes to 'emergency care' AT the hospital - the UK is 'generally' excellent (depending upon how busy that hospice is)

Hospice is for untreatable people waiting to die.

No emergency care.

 

Sorry Brit-man...  thats total misinformation...  its so clearly you lack any balance in your observations and only see the optics of extreme bias.

 

 

- Me...  Breathing difficulties - Immediate Blood test and CT Scan. Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosed (life threatening)

 

- Father... Stool Occult test (via post)..  Called in for Colonoscopy. Early stages of Colon Cancer found... Removed - Life Saving.

 

- Father...  Chest Pains...   First responder there in 4mins with heart medication. Life Saved (heart attack).

 

- Father... Snapped Achilles tendon...  (not life threatening)...  treated quickly though.

 

- Father... Breathing difficulties...  fluid on Lungs... Ambulance. Heart valve relapse.. On meds. Life Saved.

 

- Mother...  Mammogram... Lump found... Cut out, radiotherapy. Life saved.

 

 

Those are just personal examples many more from friends in the UK - your comment about emergency care is utter tosh... 

 

The UK NHS may be on its knees and struggling - but your comments do it a huge disservice - at least post honestly.

 

 

 

 

[jori123]

1 hour ago, 3NUMBAS said:

Some areas can’t afford MRI scanners some can ,so you need to choose well

and scanners are free to use with maybe a weeks wait 

Where does this crap come from?MRI scanners are all within easy reach CT  too NHS is brilliant. Soon as arrived in UK  free hotel for 3 months,3000 quid taxi fares paid in advance for 3 months of treatment specialised hospital,it goes on and on,  same day gp appointment,bagfuls of medicines,only thing not offered is sex..  IM ok now ,free as a bird,but permanent stay in TH must be a no-no,old age and illness sees to that

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, Stocky said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Yeah - thats brutal...   Transport costs across Europe are outrageous.

I have a Wrinkly Pass for West Midlands transport, gives me free travel after 9:30am weekdays and all day weekends and bank holidays, on all buses, trains and trams within the West Midlands.

 

Great if you live in a 'urbanised area'...   

 

To be fair - the 1hourly bus service in our are (deep in the countryside) into the local town is decent enough... but it only takes people into the local town centre, not the 'garden centres, the Aldi, the builders yards for supplies etc'...   but I suppose all of that stuff can be delivered now anyway..

 

So, there are good options...    some who do not drive take great use out of this bus service.

My mother will use it because she's doesn't like driving on narrow country lanes... 

Father refuses and still drives everywhere !

 

But ultimately - in countryside area's the Bus services serve so few people they are infrequent, and with that comes inconvenience and most still drive... 

 

Busses and Trams etc - excellent for large towns and cities and suburbia...  Not so good for rural communities. 

 

 

 

[TroubleandGrumpy]

On 6/26/2025 at 4:17 PM, simon43 said:

I've lived the last 23 or so years full-time in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (mostly in Myanmar).  I'm single, (having divorced 3 times over the years!).  My ex-wife and kids in the UK disowned me yonks ago.  My 2 Thai ex-wives keep in touch, but of course their lives have moved on. I have an elder brother in the UK who does keep in touch.

 

I'm currently just retired at 66 years old, relaxing by the sunny beach in south Thailand, and enjoying a low cost-of-living lifestyle.  Why on Earth would I want to return to the UK?

 

The problem is my health.  As I have mentioned in posts in the health forum, I have an incurable (but manageable) lung condition.  Most days are great, some days are <deleted>e....

 

I know that as I grow older, my illness will certainly not improve.  It may stay the same or it may deteriorate.  I am very concerned about my welfare if I stay in Thailand.

 

I do have private medical insurance.  But that really is intended to cover hospital treatment for serious accidents or diseases such as cancer etc.  It's not intended to pay for long-term medical care.  Will it even pay out if I claim?  Who knows!

 

If I return to the UK, then I will receive my index-linked state pension.  I will also be eligible for state assistance to pay my rent, council tax etc, such that so long as the accommodation monthly rent is not more than 600 or 700 pounds, then I'm doing fine with money for food, heating etc.

 

Some might say that the NHS is in a mess, and that I will get no help from them, but I disagree.  I used the NHS and GP (doctor) services and was treated quickly and politely.  I think it was a novelty for them to treat a professional white male lol!

 

I previously lived in rural areas of the UK and would hope to do the same.  Minehead (Somerset) is somewhere that would be practical for me (by the sea air, local shops, walking etc).  I used to live in nearby Dunster (home to the famous castle which is also known as 'Luttrell Castle').  My ancestors owned it until death duties stuffed that in the 1950's...  Nowadays, a modest studio flat in Minehead would be OK, and a realistic solution.

 

I still have my online teaching income, and I can continue that in the UK (teaching my Chinese students in their timezone is fine).  But at some stage I will no doubt have to end that work and rely on my state pension, but with the housing benefit also (the online calculator informs me that my basic state pension will be about doubled by the benefits that I can legally claim).

 

What to do, and what to consider?

I dont not give a rat's rear end what you do. 

[ElwoodP]

Topic is about the UK.

Start a new thread if you want to post about other countries.

[simon43]

6 hours ago, proton said:

 

Mate anywhere is better than the UK. Went back to Leicester in April, Church gate looks like an African slum, even Stoney Gate has gone downhill from when we lived there. Thought you would have been paying into a private pension. UK is just depressing, expensive, cold and damp. They all have those smart meters telling you how much electricity you have used, went to look a flat  on sale there a while ago. The monthly water bill was more than I pay in a year in Thailand. Better to stick it out in Asia I reckon.

I lived in Stoneygate!  Maybe we went to school together 🙂

[Magictoad]

Yes. Just go. You can always come back here if you don't like it.

[sidjameson]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

UK 15 miles to my nearest town, no bus service, 40 quid in a taxi.

Thailand, 12Km to Chiang Mai moat, 20bht on a Songtaw.

 

I'm not sure why you're all bigging up the UK, it was never that great.

Just work and quiet desperation.

Couldn't even go cycling, cos it rained nearly every day and I was only 3Km from the Camel trail.

What time is the last songtaw back? How much does it cost if taking other means?

[Magictoad]

I was in the UK in 2022 in November had a siezure woke up in hospital received excellent treatment.  Was in a week - small room- 3 other men- so 4 sharing. I was out after a week.  Very good treatment. They told me I'd developed epilepsy as a result of all the cancer medication I'd been taking in Thailand.

It was my second siezure in my life but I've had more since here in Thailand.

[transam]

16 minutes ago, jori123 said:

Yes you can,no applying thru IPC,as some buffoons have done and crying about it later,have to pay thru the nose for medical treatment in TH, stay unfrozen ,it'll save u a fortune later,guaranteed

Riiiiiiiiiiiiight.................😂

 

Enjoy Scunthorpe........

[sidjameson]

Simon you said Turkey was too cold for your lungs. UK will be worse.

On the other hand a self contained life of an older man doesn't differ that much wherever one is.

[phetphet]

Minehead, or a rural location might be different, but when I return to London now, even after only nine years the area I last lived is very different. new buildings, new shops and businesses, friends moved on to other places, and foreign faces, beggars, homeless and druggies everywhere.

 

Why not try a holiday to the area you prefer to see what it is like?  It would be horrible to go to all the trouble of packing everything up, getting back and finding you now hate the place.

 

[Felton Jarvis]

3 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

So, in reality, what you are saying is "where you are now is better than some parts of Leicester"?

 

You've not read the neysayers comments on MSN and Social media about smart meters, obviously. Its certainly noy "they all"

 

Water bills include many services not offered in Thailand.

 

There are some lovely parts of UK. SW and West country is great with some areas very good value too.

UK is among the most civilized countries in the world with the best healthcare system. Only a fool would leave. Every Yank envies you, including me.

[youreavinalaff]

2 hours ago, Furioso said:

I was in Heathrow this last February. Uh, are you kidding me?  there were literally thousands of immigrants it is a national catastrophe. Every single day it must be getting worse.

Back here in Thailand I met a bloke that used to drive an ambulance in London. He told me he flew back to London a few years ago, shook his head, and immediately flew back to Thailand the next day. 

I'll be honest I did like visiting London, even now it's a great city and most people really nice. Outside of London in many cities must be even nicer. The problem is the corporations are trying to ruin it all, and they might be succeeding. 

It's just as well there are those who immigrated to UK, or whose ancestors did,  at Heathrow. Otherwise, the place would be closed due to lack of staff.

[zyphodb]

8 hours ago, simon43 said:

Well, I certainly won't have to live rough/on the streets 🙂  But I prefer to spend my retirement in a reasonable location in the UK, rather than some squalid Muslim-infested place  (I was born/brought up in Leicester, so you can maybe understand my take on this).

 

So, if you're a Luttrell, how come you were raised in a S*%#8hole like Leicester then? I thought the family home is at East Quantoxhead?

I'm from Watchet BTW...

[GarryP]

On 6/26/2025 at 5:49 PM, richard_smith237 said:

I know of two families who are returning to the UK this year solely for health purposes of their children.

 

They both suffer lung difficulties aggravated by the Air Quality in Thailand.

 

 

I think humidity here could be an issue too. When I visited our family doctor before coming to Thailand, he warned me that while the humidity should greatly improve my eczema, it may adversely impact my asthma (luckily it didn't in my case).