Proffesor

Buying some tooling from Australia. The sellers Portal uses PayPal. I don't have / cant get PayPal, so emailed him to explain. He said give him a call with a card number and he'd process payment ( a little over THB 12k ) that way. So I did. Got a message from the guy to say payment declined. No message from Bangkok Bank. Went to the Bank this morning, explained ( 1 ) the situation. The teller got on the phone to someone and asked me to speak, so explained (2 ) again. She told me to contact Lazada. I asked "Why - it's not a Lazada purchase". She asked how did I buy the tooling ? I said " I saw it featured on a YouTube video, Googled the supplier, got an email address, contacted him, placed an order ( via email ), got an Invoice ( via email ) called him as requested and gave card details" She didn't understand how I could place an order outside of the internet. Told me to buy via Lazada, Shopee or similar. I told her the goods were only available from this supplier in Australia - which she couldn't understand. Passed me on to a supervisor, who asked me to explain ( 3 ). Then the Bank Manager ( I was in Central Festival ) wanted to know why I was keeping her teller busy - so I explained again ( 4 ). Was then told that Bangkok Bank would only allow me to use the Debit Card; the Bank wouldn't accept submission of the card number from a third party, especially a third party abroad. I asked how to overcome the issue. Was offered an International Bank > Bank transfer. "Great" I say, "lets do it" Then the kicker - it would cost THB 1,850 and take 2 > 3 weeks to arrive in the recipients bank account. I managed not to swear. Came home, opened Wise, set-up a "New recipient" under "Send Funds" instigated the transaction., which I'm told took 18 seconds. Sent a copy of the payment confirmation to the recipient, currently waiting to hear if he sees the funds in his account. My impression of the High-street banks "if it ain't simple, they can't do it !"

Click on "Verify Your Email"

O.K. I admit to being a computer illiterate, but . . . . When I go to P.A. I get a banner saying "Change your Passwords via your registered email address ". So I click on that and get a message saying to check my email. Do that and find "Click the link below to verify your email". So I click on that and get "Change your passwords please via your registered email address" How am I supposed to do that ? It's almost as if they're trying to cull the heard by making it so difficult to achieve re-registration.

Wot he said, with bells on !

Time for an update. Firstly, my apologies for the delayed reply; to say we're busy is a bit of an understatement ! Thanks for the advice. I bought a drying cabinet and am keeping the old filament coils in it. I also bought a new coil of PLA filament on Lazada. It arrived in a vacuum packed foil bag, which also contained 2 packets of desiccant. The new filament went through the drive motor without cracking, which was an immediate improvement, but wouldn't go all the way to the print head. After stripping down, cleaning and readjusting the drive motor - it worked. So I loaded the sample Test file supplied with the printer and set it to work. Not the best of images I'm sorry to say. A pair of owls, about 5cm tall, as they came off the printer - phenomenal detail. Now I just need to master the Software to create useable items. If only I had more free time . . . .

I've acquired a ( basic ) 3D printer ( Anycubic Mega 5 ). Allegedly it has never been used. It came with several spools of different plastic filaments I've set it up in my Machine Shop, inside a dust proof enclosure. I can turn it on and everything seems to come to life. Tried threading the filament ( i.a.w. the Manuals instructions ) but can't seem to get beyond that step. The filament appears to be brittle - it keeps snapping; does it age harden ? I really don't have the time to try to research the issues, I'd rather find someone who knows what they're doing, to tell me where I'm going wrong. Not looking for a freebie, happy to buy lunch / dinner and a couple of drinks, if someone could please point me in the right direction . . . . Please reply here, or feel free to P.M. me. Thanks The Proffesor

O.K. So I'm an idiot ! Changed my 'phone. Needed an SD card. Was told it was the small one, so went to TukCom and bought a Micro SD card. Got home - it's small, but still too big ! Google tells me I need a Nano SD card. Back to TukCom - they don't have any ( most shops don't even know what they are ). Lazada, order one. As a result I have an unused 256 Gb / 120 Mb/Sec ScanDisk Micro SD that I don't need, can't use. It has been taken out of the blister on the card, but hasn't been used. Got the receipt from SUN Computer shop ( 990B ). Anyone interested. Don't expect full price, make me a sensible offer . . . . . Regards Proffesor

I was given to understand that the UK government put the process of administering payment tof the UK state pensions to overseas recipients out to tender. CitiBank won the bid with a Negative Offer - they would pay the government for the opportunity to administer the payments. So the government paid a lumpsum to Citibank in GBP. Citibank converted it to USD, and split the Lump into individual Payments before distributing them worldwide in multiple local currencies. Obviously, CitiBank controlled the Exchange Rate at every step. So, I found an email address for a nice fella that works in the Newcastle Branch of the UK Pensions office. I contacted him and asked him to reroute my Pension payment direct into my Wise GBP account; which he willingly did. I have a Thai Work Permit, so am taxed here in Thailand. I let the GBP build-up in my Wise GBP account, and when I think the exchange Rate is good, transfer / exchange it into my Wise THB account. As Bazzle said, Funds remitted into Thailand in the year of remittance are subject to Thai taxation. The Thai Tax Year is Jan 01 > Dec 31. I transfer most of my Thai Baht from my Wise THB account direct to my Bangkok or Kasikorn bank accounts in early January - so the ( Thai Tax ) year after they are remitted to me by the UK government -= and hence they are exempt from Thai tax. If I were ever to be desperate for funds, I have the option of transferring THB from Wise at any time, but it would then be subject to Thai tax. If anybody needs it, I believe I still have the email address for the nice geordie fella . . . .

Hi Guys Eventually managed to fight my way through the system, only to find that using funds in your wallet to pay for purchases is only allowed for Thai citizens; so, after much faffing around, managed to get the funds in the wallet transferred to my Kasikorn account. Thanks for the comments / advice. Don't use COD because we're out at work all day. If paid for in advance ( at point of purchase ) our ( Thai ) neighbor ( who stays home looking after her aged father ) accepts the deliveries for us, but I wouldn't want to burden her with having to pay for them as well. Thanks The Proffesor

I accept I'm an internet idiot, so please reply in simple language. I've ordered a number of items for clients; I always pay at point of purchase. Some of the orders have been cancelled by the suppliers ( usually lack of stock ). The payment is then refunded into my Lazada Wallet. All good so far. I now need to order more goods. I can see that I have THB 30k + in my Wallet, but in order to "spend" some of that, I need to "Verify" the Wallet. Have found my Account details page, and then the Wallet page. When I enter my telephone number, it tells me that that number is linked to another account. Have tried calling their so-called Help Line number ( 02 018 0000 ) and am met with multiple options, none of which seem applicable. They offer "further help from a Sales Representative" by pressing "0" - but all I get is continuous ( recorded ) talk in Thai that I can't understand. Can someone please provide me with a telephone number or eMail address that has an English speaking human at the other end ? Thanks in anticipation

It's similar, but in the wrong place.

The I.T guy ( Dan ) that I put you onto, has Sonos in his condo and also had in his previous house. I believe he has also installed a couple of Sonos systems for his clients. Suggest you speak to him as I'm sure he can sort you out. However, I believe there is a potential issue ( but this is not my field of expertise ) with WiFi band width. Having a Smart Home system ( Alexa ) does not require a lot of bandwidth, but a 4k Smart TV ( or projector ) together with a 5.1 sound system does. I would imagine that if you then spec an 11.2 sound system, when you tell Alexa to "close the curtains" or "dim the lights", nothing will happen because the WiFi has no capacity to pass that message through; but what do I know ? As regards cable provision; No, not to my knowledge, but we are a long way from finishing walls and ceilings, so as soon as the requirements are defined, they can be instigated.

I’ve had 2 vacinations ( AstraZeneca ) at Med Park. Today I walked in to Royal; Garden Plazza to get a Moderna booster. I was asked did I have the Mor Prom App on my phone and I said that I’d tried to install it, but couldn’t. I was directed to a lady paramedic who was overseeing the recovery area. She made 3 attempts to install the app and get it working, but couldn’t; she did say that the WiFi there was not very good and that it would work when I got home. It doesn’t. When I got my first shot ( at MedPark ) the receptionist’s computer didn’t recognize my registration. The manager tried, and failed. He sent for an I.T. Tech, who, after about 40 minutes of pounding the keyboard solved ( or by-passed ) the issue, whatever it was. Again, when getting the second shot, there was some confusion about the registration, but it was resolved in about 10 minutes. Don’t know if this has anything to do with the current situation. The helpful paramedic today, used her phone to scan the QR code on my paper certificate, and showed me that on her phone, it displayed my certificate of vaccinations, so, she says “I’m in the system”. But why can’t I, my wife, or the trained staff at the vaccination center, get the app to install and work on my phone ? – O.K. to answer the first part of that question, I’m old and stupid when it comes to I.T related issues. My question, “Where in Pattaya can I go, where there will be somebody capable of sorting this out for me ?” I’m not looking to meet well meaning B.M’s at a coffee shop to have them try; I’m looking for an Authority who has competent staff, qualified to resolve this issue, please. I would appreciate any advice. Incidentally, I walked into Royal Garden Plazza just after 14.00, was vaccinated less than 20 minutes later – all very efficient, then spent at least another 30 minutes in the recovery area, with the overseeing paramedic trying to help with this issue.

Key shop on the North side Thepprasit. Look for the yellow "Yale" sign outside. THey do dongles and security cards. Reasonable prices.

Pucker afternoon tea ! Where can I get, please ?

Happy Birthday Danny - I believe today is the day !

"There is a ton more to SE Asia than the beach, and having a simple rig like that to explore gives someone great options to enjoy the splendors of Thailand, Cambodia and even Laos, and do so affordably. " Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm told its virtually impossible to take a Thai registered vehicle across the border to neighboring countries . . .

We have a lady who supplies curtains, blinds and wallpaper. We can bring her to you with samples, provide a quote, have them made, then deliver and fit them. Full transparency:- She is a trusted sub-contractor of ours ( Engineering & Property Services Co Ltd ). We can arrange, oversee and guarantee the work, but we apply a 20% mark-up to whatever she charges us, to do your job. Please P.M. me if this is of interest.

Whilst there is considerably more room on the modern boats ( submarines ) they are no way as spacious as portrayed here. I believe this ( "submarine life under the waves" - available via EZTV ) was actually filmed in a nuclear attack boat and is far more representative, though the "story-line" is more representative of a Drama as opposed to a Documentary. It should be understood that my direct involvement with submarines ended in 1981, so my knowledge is somewhat dated.

Hi Have seen it reported that the time has changed. 1pm for the funeral, 2pm for the cremation. Is anyone able to confirm, please ?

By way of clarification, I'm told that the funeral service starts at 14.00, it is the cremation that is scheduled for 15.00

So, with a Samsung Smart Tv and a connection to TMN, how do I now watch the F1 live ? Bear in mind that I'm limited in technical ability when it comes to these issues. Thanks in anticipation

I'm told that Callum Mackie's funeral will take place on Tuesday 14th September, starting at 15:00. All in Thailand who knew him are welcome and there are no restriction in place on attending funerals in Thailand (to the best of my knowledge). Location is as follows: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UHtFyJ3kwpEHdyhx7

Have just seen it reported ( on another board ) that Callum Mackie ( Solar Golf ) has passed away after a long battle with cancer. I was introduced to Callum by a group of guys who enjoyed a decent curry; he was a great "teller of tales" and an all round "decent bloke". He will be missed. Condolences to his friends & family. May he Rest In Peace.

I'm hearing disturbing reports from a few farangs who've fought their way through the process, that more than one hotel, in cahoots with their partnership hospitals, are reporting positive test outcomes on the initial test, resulting in hospitalization, x-rays, lung biopsies etc and a THB 200,000 > 300,000 insurance bill, before deducing that the test must have reported a false positive. Is anyone else here hearing similar ?