I am British but have only lived in England for about 30% of my life.

I lived in Denmark for another 30% and Thailand for the rest. I was seriously thinking of moving back to Denmark soon for various reasons and I have just been there for 14 days.

I soon changed my mind. It was bloody cold. As it was Easter nearly all restaurants and shops were closed. I couldn't even buy a bloody train ticket to get to the center of Copenhagen as all ticket offices were closed. . Eventually found someone who used their credit card on the ticket machine and I paid them cash. Oh about 370 baht for a ride of 14 stations on the equivalent of the BTS.

They have a good lifestyle but pay about 50% in tax and VAT is 25%. Beer is cheaper than Bangkok..... one good thing.

I had forgotten how quiet and peaceful everything was. People drive carefully, stop at Zebra crossings etc. All really boring. I missed the hustle and bustle of Bangkok.

No, I want to stay here despite all the "bad" things people talk about.

Good on you. Personally I think you have been here to long already. It is a big, big world and plenty of places to have fun and make money. I have lived and worked in many countries in this world and each experience added to my life.

And 10 years living in Thailand is AWESOME on a CV or resume. Especially if your area of expertise is in hospitality or tourism.

May I suggest you look into North Africa or perhaps Central America (two of my favorites spots) instead of returning to Manchester.

Good luck!!

Good on you. Personally I think you have been here to long already. It is a big, big world and plenty of places to have fun and make money. I have lived and worked in many countries in this world and each experience added to my life.

And 10 years living in Thailand is AWESOME on a CV or resume. Especially if your area of expertise is in hospitality or tourism.

May I suggest you look into North Africa or perhaps Central America (two of my favorites spots) instead of returning to Manchester.

Good luck!!

We're hypothecating he's from Salford, not Manchester.

Well that is kind of like how I tell people I am originally from Retford but in fact I am from Worksop.....

OP.......contrary to TV opinion, there is still serious money to be made in the UK.

You'll walk in to a job in the hotel and hospitality business. Get your feet back below the table, look around and as long as you have an eye for the opportunity and basic business acumen you'll be fine. You have experience of working in the Byzantine world of Thai business and you won't believe how easy it is to do business in the UK by comparison.

Your prime earning years are coming up, fill your boots up and keep an eye on your long term goals. If you miss Thailand, it's only a £500 flight away for a holiday, but I fear the Thailand you love is now just a memory, there's nothing wrong with that, as it's a good memory. I had 5 cracking years in Germany from age 23-28 and I made unbelievable money for a young guy, and I spent most of it, you better believe I've got happy memories of Germany.

Just come back, fill your boots off, and when you're ready look for the next adventure....that's what life is all about.

ps. To all you moaning faced geriatrics out there, leave him alone, you're just jealous that you didn't arrive in Thailand when you were 20.

I just need to disagree with the comment about being jealous of not arriving here when I was 20 years old.

Frankly, (apart from a couple of weeks mongering) I would not have been ready for Thailand at 20.

I arrived at 50 having virtually retired. At that age you feel that you have done your bit and can enjoy the fruits of this country.

I agree that there is BS to contend with but having had to contend with BS (and banks) in the UK, whilst trying to run businesses, I would NEVER retreat back there.

At 30, you are not retreating. Good luck with developing a career in the UK - it is frakin' freezing, most of the people look miserable as sin and you are more likely to hear Erdu, Bangladeshi or Polish than English in your local High Street. Maybe Salford has always been like that ........

If you are 31 then you have no choice than to seek a higher paying job outside of Thailand.

You will have to self fund your retirement or face working until death.

Your generation...and mine...will not have the luxury of a tax payer funded pension like that received by many of the snoozers here on TV.

By the time you are ready to retire the UK government will have raised the retirement age to 75...maybe 80 as there is not enough tax revenue to meet the needs of the boomers for pensions and medicare.

And here is my tip...

Earning an income in the the coming decades is not nearly as important as ENSURING that you MINIMIZE your tax.

The aging boomers are about to step up and eat the planet and X and Y gen are going to be taxed to the nuts to pay for them.

And as a final thought...why change countries...why not stay in Thailand and change your HABITS...

Profound personal change must come from within...

Embracing discipline would be easier than moving camp...

Good Luck

Sorry I couldn't post this earlier

I don't know about going back to the UK< but this has really put me off time travel

SC

I arrived at 50 having virtually retired. At that age you feel that you have done your bit and can enjoy the fruits of this country.

I felt that way at 23

I arrived at 50 having virtually retired. At that age you feel that you have done your bit and can enjoy the fruits of this country.

I felt that way at 23

He meant age, not Soi

I was here at 21 more than 30 years ago and have made myself wealthier here than I would have been if I had worked in the uk.

Thailand was a fantastic place then..nonsense not ready at 21.

You come here and explored,no preconceptions, no jaded views, no talking of the best pension plans, hospitals etc, it was vivid and exotic and a country you came to after visiting many others on the way.it was full of interesting foreigners people with balls mostly educated or with character and there were opportunities.

Thailand is much better for youngster even today.

There is no way a 50 year old can have the same enjoyment as a 21 year old.

Thailand is a now a country of old aged men who jump on a plane..and bitch about the uk, basically running away, it appears to me the 50 year olds coming here aren't ready for the most part to deal with what Thailand has to offer.

I think it's great that someone of 21 came here and tried...

Good luck..

I've been here since 1990, plenty of skint farangs have had to leave in my time here.

Well that is kind of like how I tell people I am originally from Retford but in fact I am from Worksop.....

Having been to both I would have just kept quiet

OP.......contrary to TV opinion, there is still serious money to be made in the UK.

You'll walk in to a job in the hotel and hospitality business. Get your feet back below the table, look around and as long as you have an eye for the opportunity and basic business acumen you'll be fine. You have experience of working in the Byzantine world of Thai business and you won't believe how easy it is to do business in the UK by comparison.

Your prime earning years are coming up, fill your boots up and keep an eye on your long term goals. If you miss Thailand, it's only a £500 flight away for a holiday, but I fear the Thailand you love is now just a memory, there's nothing wrong with that, as it's a good memory. I had 5 cracking years in Germany from age 23-28 and I made unbelievable money for a young guy, and I spent most of it, you better believe I've got happy memories of Germany.

Just come back, fill your boots off, and when you're ready look for the next adventure....that's what life is all about.

ps. To all you moaning faced geriatrics out there, leave him alone, you're just jealous that you didn't arrive in Thailand when you were 20.

You talk crap blether.

Guy who spends 20-31 in thai bars looking for the next opportunity and advice on TV...

OP.......contrary to TV opinion, there is still serious money to be made in the UK.

You'll walk in to a job in the hotel and hospitality business. Get your feet back below the table, look around and as long as you have an eye for the opportunity and basic business acumen you'll be fine. You have experience of working in the Byzantine world of Thai business and you won't believe how easy it is to do business in the UK by comparison.

Your prime earning years are coming up, fill your boots up and keep an eye on your long term goals. If you miss Thailand, it's only a £500 flight away for a holiday, but I fear the Thailand you love is now just a memory, there's nothing wrong with that, as it's a good memory. I had 5 cracking years in Germany from age 23-28 and I made unbelievable money for a young guy, and I spent most of it, you better believe I've got happy memories of Germany.

Just come back, fill your boots off, and when you're ready look for the next adventure....that's what life is all about.

ps. To all you moaning faced geriatrics out there, leave him alone, you're just jealous that you didn't arrive in Thailand when you were 20.

You talk crap blether.

Guy who spends 20-31 in thai bars looking for the next opportunity and advice on TV...

Not all TV members are as useless and lacking in avuncular capability as you and I; I am sure that there are some amongst us with the wisdom and experience to offer constructive advice rather than being cyinically negative. Surely you could at least stretch to snide sarcasm? We all have to try and better ourselves, because no-one is going to do it for us

SC

11 years is a long time in a thai bar if you start at 20.

The guy is probably a waster.

OF course there is money to be made in the UK, what are you guys sniffing glue ? LOL>.... not for everyone, every second, but all you have to do is work...

My advice to this dude ? To avoid a rut

1. Go back to the UK... MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NICE FRESH CLOTHES AND LOOK GOOD< everyone will judge that new 1st impression... force yourself to be happy and outgoing..

2. Straight away pound the pavement day after day to find any temp job just so you don't get down and out like others are there with the whole ressionson thing

3. No drinking or party for a bit , with old buddies that are down and out, not yet anyways, just a quick hello, i am pretty busy, hang later.

4. take some lessons in what you love (music, sport) , get a gym membership, sign up to ANY free community colledge course part time... this will all provide you with new connections, get caught up on any UK financial crap like taxes and medical coverage crap... get your shit in order, get some new skills, everything leads to something

5. Once your stuff is in order, you like where you live, your days are filled with possitive things... Start to enjoy yourself again... but don't let the negative people from your past work their way back in .. MAKE NEW LIFE...

6. For old time sakes, and to keep it real, book ticket to somewhere you can get to really cheap in Europe to have a little vacation to remember, you are no longer a down and out never been anywhere small minded misrable the gov should take care of me person, you are now a worldly dude that understands things...

Basiclly - Just being overseas for 10 years is a huge thing most of your country men couldn't do, you did it and it was more valuable than colledge, now stop chasing women and wasting your energy on the things you did in your "youth" and become a good man that has what it takes to never be stuck and down..

Peace bro 1

OP.......contrary to TV opinion, there is still serious money to be made in the UK.

You'll walk in to a job in the hotel and hospitality business. Get your feet back below the table, look around and as long as you have an eye for the opportunity and basic business acumen you'll be fine. You have experience of working in the Byzantine world of Thai business and you won't believe how easy it is to do business in the UK by comparison.

Your prime earning years are coming up, fill your boots up and keep an eye on your long term goals. If you miss Thailand, it's only a £500 flight away for a holiday, but I fear the Thailand you love is now just a memory, there's nothing wrong with that, as it's a good memory. I had 5 cracking years in Germany from age 23-28 and I made unbelievable money for a young guy, and I spent most of it, you better believe I've got happy memories of Germany.

Just come back, fill your boots off, and when you're ready look for the next adventure....that's what life is all about.

ps. To all you moaning faced geriatrics out there, leave him alone, you're just jealous that you didn't arrive in Thailand when you were 20.

You talk crap blether.

Guy who spends 20-31 in thai bars looking for the next opportunity and advice on TV...

Not all TV members are as useless and lacking in avuncular capability as you and I; I am sure that there are some amongst us with the wisdom and experience to offer constructive advice rather than being cyinically negative. Surely you could at least stretch to snide sarcasm? We all have to try and better ourselves, because no-one is going to do it for us

SC

Snide sarcasm from a new member with only 25 posts - surely not ?

pss... buy a ticket to glastenberry.... visit stonehindge and Bath... go check out all the things in your homeland people fly from all over the world to check out... England is beautiful place.

I've been here since 1990, plenty of skint farangs have had to leave in my time here.

Now are you my bank manager i'm not skint, Just got to that stage in my life and also looking into the future ...

just back home to watch united get there title back !!!!

Well done to the OP for not simply threatening to leave - puts him head and shoulders above countless TV'ers who talk the talk but are unwilling to walk the walk. Best of luck to the OP.

I've been here since 1990, plenty of skint farangs have had to leave in my time here.

Now are you my bank manager i'm not skint, Just got to that stage in my life and also looking into the future ...

11yrs.away from the uk.your goner be in for a shock,if you havent paid your ni.stamps you had better stop off in poland and get a passport cus you wont get f.all if your british.

I've been here since 1990, plenty of skint farangs have had to leave in my time here.

Now are you my bank manager i'm not skint, Just got to that stage in my life and also looking into the future ...

11yrs.away from the uk.your goner be in for a shock,if you havent paid your ni.stamps you had better stop off in poland and get a passport cus you wont get f.all if your british.

doesn't sound like the lad want F-all from the government. Why would he, he is 30, who wants to beg for peanuts from welfare departments

OF course there is money to be made in the UK, what are you guys sniffing glue ? LOL>.... not for everyone, every second, but all you have to do is work...

My advice to this dude ? To avoid a rut

1. Go back to the UK... MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NICE FRESH CLOTHES AND LOOK GOOD< everyone will judge that new 1st impression... force yourself to be happy and outgoing..

2. Straight away pound the pavement day after day to find any temp job just so you don't get down and out like others are there with the whole ressionson thing

3. No drinking or party for a bit , with old buddies that are down and out, not yet anyways, just a quick hello, i am pretty busy, hang later.

4. take some lessons in what you love (music, sport) , get a gym membership, sign up to ANY free community colledge course part time... this will all provide you with new connections, get caught up on any UK financial crap like taxes and medical coverage crap... get your shit in order, get some new skills, everything leads to something

5. Once your stuff is in order, you like where you live, your days are filled with possitive things... Start to enjoy yourself again... but don't let the negative people from your past work their way back in .. MAKE NEW LIFE...

6. For old time sakes, and to keep it real, book ticket to somewhere you can get to really cheap in Europe to have a little vacation to remember, you are no longer a down and out never been anywhere small minded misrable the gov should take care of me person, you are now a worldly dude that understands things...

Basiclly - Just being overseas for 10 years is a huge thing most of your country men couldn't do, you did it and it was more valuable than colledge, now stop chasing women and wasting your energy on the things you did in your "youth" and become a good man that has what it takes to never be stuck and down..

Peace bro 1

See? That's the sort of kind-hearted and avuncular advice the fellow was looking for.

Don't buy a season ticket.... I'm not sure the Reds will last that long, even with Dr K's pockets behind them. Also, it will tie you down and discourage you from getting on your bike... probably better just to stick with the commentary on this forum.

SC

11 years is a long time in a thai bar if you start at 20.

The guy is probably a waster.

I do note that you brought a new low to the Maggie Thatcher is Dead thread.........it takes wits, intelligence and imagination to be a troll and in these areas you are quite obviously lacking.

I apologize to the mods for calling out a new member as a troll so quickly however check his brief posting history and I think you'll tend to agree.

OP.......contrary to TV opinion, there is still serious money to be made in the UK.

You'll walk in to a job in the hotel and hospitality business. Get your feet back below the table, look around and as long as you have an eye for the opportunity and basic business acumen you'll be fine. You have experience of working in the Byzantine world of Thai business and you won't believe how easy it is to do business in the UK by comparison.

Your prime earning years are coming up, fill your boots up and keep an eye on your long term goals. If you miss Thailand, it's only a £500 flight away for a holiday, but I fear the Thailand you love is now just a memory, there's nothing wrong with that, as it's a good memory. I had 5 cracking years in Germany from age 23-28 and I made unbelievable money for a young guy, and I spent most of it, you better believe I've got happy memories of Germany.

Just come back, fill your boots off, and when you're ready look for the next adventure....that's what life is all about.

ps. To all you moaning faced geriatrics out there, leave him alone, you're just jealous that you didn't arrive in Thailand when you were 20.

I just need to disagree with the comment about being jealous of not arriving here when I was 20 years old.

Frankly, (apart from a couple of weeks mongering) I would not have been ready for Thailand at 20.

I arrived at 50 having virtually retired. At that age you feel that you have done your bit and can enjoy the fruits of this country.

I agree that there is BS to contend with but having had to contend with BS (and banks) in the UK, whilst trying to run businesses, I would NEVER retreat back there.

At 30, you are not retreating. Good luck with developing a career in the UK - it is frakin' freezing, most of the people look miserable as sin and you are more likely to hear Erdu, Bangladeshi or Polish than English in your local High Street. Maybe Salford has always been like that ........

I encourage every young person from the UK to get out of the country for a year or two while they are young, I believe most Australian youngsters do that as a matter of course.

It's a great life experience and it makes people far more self reliant and open to new cultures and challenges for the rest of their lives. I would suggest that a lot of ( certainly not all ) the members that come to Thailand later in life find living in a new country, especially one as alien in culture as Thailand is to the UK, find it too hard to take.

By this point a lot of them have poured their life savings into the country and are effectively trapped on a sea of misery. It's some gamble to take with your life's work.

The OP will never experience that in his entire life now, you can't undo what he has learned already. It doesn't matter where he ends up, he'll have picked up some amount of life experience in the last 11 years, both good and bad. As log as he remembers to apply that experience with intelligence, he'll be fine.

11 years is a long time in a thai bar if you start at 20.

The guy is probably a waster.

I do note that you brought a new low to the Maggie Thatcher is Dead thread.........it takes wits, intelligence and imagination to be a troll and in these areas you are quite obviously lacking.

I apologize to the mods for calling out a new member as a troll so quickly however check his brief posting history and I think you'll tend to agree.

I shouldn't digress, but a good troll would've offended more people, and would've tried to tap a well-known vein of spleen - he could've gone for the scroungers, or immigrants; he could've gone for the barlady girlfriends. Really, Blether, you should've tried to be more helpful, rather than focussing on the negatives.

Did I mention I was thinking about bringing the family back to the Old Country; I'll need to be quick though, while it still is.

SC

I moved back 2 years ago with my Thai wife and our son, it's the best move I've made, after 8 years in Thailand and not getting anywhere, we moved to the UK, our son is doing great at school and we own a pub debt free, business is good and getting better so we are all happy.

We plan on ending up in Thailand again once we have made our money and our son is educated.

I am sure you won't regret the move.

It is freezing SC....it was like living in an Arctic wind tunnel for two months before I left

It is freezing SC....it was like living in an Arctic wind tunnel for two months before I left

Should've worn your gloves/.

OP: Remember to buy a decent pair of smart leather gloves, so that you can smugly clap your little paws together on the way to Barton on Irwell. You'll be glad they've moved to Summer rugby...

I'm quite jealous - though as others have said, the UK has changed since we've been away. But to see the sun setting over the Ship Canal behind the chemical works; to zip past the old lard refinery on a comfortable, if pricey, train...the flashy new offices down by the old docks, the canalside cycle paths.... the romantic nostalgia for times gone by, when you're on the wrong end of a pitiful drubbing by Widnes...

Anyway, things are looking up with Dr K; best of luck when you go back!

SC