AussieBob

So you think they are listening?😁 You know it always amazes me how xenophobic most of the Thailand people in authority are (I do understand why). They will seek help and advice from the Chinese and Japanese about road and railway constructions etc etc. But they would never think to ask the current 'good' Expats what they think about the issues in Thailand for good Expats and how to bring more of the good ones into the country. They think that the Chinese have the Thai people's best interests at heart (wrong) and that all Expats who live in Thailand are just 'dirty sexpats' and only want to take advantage of Thai people (also wrong). Maybe one day they will 'listen' - maybe.

We watched the full replay of the weekend all day yesterday and last night - every minute - awesome (and sad). Great win by Matty - and an even better reaction and celebration with family and mates. On a course that needed nerves and a great short game (especially putting), Matty and Will stood out and they both deserved to have a chance on the last green. I will forgive Matty for putting out before Will putted, but what a finish. Zalatoris looks to me like a very good golfer who knows the game and more importantly knows his own game - and I love how he takes it on the chin and accepts the blame for mistakes (so unlike Rahm) - surely he aint far away from a big one. Rory as usual finishes in top 10 and could easily have been in contention (as usual) - and Rahm imploded when things didnt go his way, as is also usual. Rory Rory Rory - I used to say that his main problem is the lack of a pro caddy (to control him), and I still think that. But now I look behind that and see the fact that Rory doesnt want one, but worse - he thinks he doesnt need one - despite all the evidence to the contrary. The reason is IMO because Rory has big problems between the ears. I love the guy - he is so positive and open and honest about things - and he is the best player I have seen since Norman and Tiger - but he sure is a dingbat at times (like Norman was at times). Watching Rory on Saturday at the US Open was like seeing someone else - where was the guy who played for the last 2 days - what sort of idiot coms out and attacks a US Open course on day 3 when it is always tricked up to uber-punish wayward shots (only 7 of the world's best players finished under par). Everyone was saying on Thurs/Friday how much more controlled and mature Rory was - who the pharrk was it that came out in Rory's body on Saturday. IMO Rory's biggest problem is between the ears and when I think about it - it is so obvious. The things he did and said about the Olympics and cancelling the wedding with Wozniacki in 2014 (year of his last major) immediately come to mind as 'biggy' implosions. Rory's recent statements about Norman and LIV are a little 'harsh', but what he said about his fellow Ryder Cup mates - Poulter, McDowell, Westwood, Kaymer, and Garcia - are just unacceptable and stupid. Lets face it, Rory is a dingbat. Greatest player I have ever seen when 'on', and a nice guy too, but he is an effin dingbat - he is his own worse enemy. I coached a bit of cricket and saw this a few times- some seriously talented blokes just dont know how to get out of their own way. If you gave Rory's talent to someone with a golfing mind like Zalatoris, we would be watching another Tiger - probably even better.

I dont normally have much of a breakfast, but the best breakfast we ever had was the buffet in the Marriot Hotel It is open to non-guest (well it was) and it wasnt cheap - but it was fantastic - we didnt eat much for the rest of that day. Best value decent breakfast was at the Chiang Mai Expats club. If I recall 40 baht once a month and not bad - only problem being the wanker yank members. Find a table with some Aussies Kiwis or even Poms and all is good - but stay away from the 'Amway like' Yanks - always effin selling something, someone or themselves.

I disagree 100% with the current 'Expat insurance scam' mentality that pervades Government and Bureaucracy thunking (and I do mean thunking) in Thailand. What IMO Thailand should offer, is a basic hospital-only medical insurance plan that provides Expats with coverage in all Government hospitals (not in Privates). That the only medical insurance options available to Expats is for coverage in basically private hospitals is shortsighted. The Thai Govt does not include the 'universal' Government coverage for all people living long-term in Thailand (more than 12 months). Certainly for tourists (one off Visas that are less than 12 months), then the private insurance for private hospitals is the correct way to go. If the Thai Govt created/approved a Govt Hospital insurance coverage option, that would mean Expats have a cost effective option, plus the private insurance is available for those that wish to take up that additional option. However, the legal and bureaucratic complications of making such a rational change, gets to the heart of 'the problem' for all Expats living long term in Thailand - they/we are technically all tourists. Whether for retirement, work, business or marriage - all long term 12 month Visas and their extensions of Permission (including the Elite Visas and all the proposed new long term Visas) are tourist Visas. Thailand does not offer immigrant Visas to non-citizens - technically all people living in Thailand are either Thai Citizens or Tourists. Those Expats that take up the option of becoming a 'permanent resident' are still technically a tourist under Thai laws and regulations. Only by becoming a citizen can any Expat change their legal status. That is why so many things are so 'complicated' for Expats living in Thailand - like medical insurance - we are all tourists. On a personal note, I plan to have a basic hospital-only accident insurance plan with a huge excess at minimal costs. While I have that in place, I will also be placing money each year into an 'insurance fund' that will build up over the years. That 'fund' will be used for the annual Visa/Permission extensions - and will be available for any medical costs not covered - and over the years that will grow and remain our money. I calculated that having decent hospital insurance in Thailand for over 20 years (65 to 85) will cost me over 3.5 million baht - because the premiums increase significantly as each age point is reached (70, 75, 80). Plus if I ever did make a claim, the subsequent premiums would be much higher, and there are basically no legal provisions that I could call upon if any claim is not paid, or if the insurance company decides to decline further coverage. I used to complain about the cost of medical insurance in Aust because it was 'controlled' so that older people did not have to pay exorbitant premiums - but having seen what happens without Government controls in Thailand, I now understand why Aust has taken that approach to insurance premiums. Any thoughts and corrections are welcome. I plan to take the above approach - has anyone done that, or see any flaw in that approach.

Thanks @Toy Boy @Horizondave @tommy dee - much appreciated. Looks like driving around the area and taking a look inside is the best way to go. We have a few names - now we have a few more. Looks like I will need to make a large map and plan out a route. We will be looking for well maintained houses and gardens, high walls, CCTV, no roaming dogs, and guards who are awake at night or remote gates.

Thanks mate - excellent.

May I ask - did you get that direct or through a broker? Seems that the prices vary a lot in Thailand depending on where you get them from (not much Govt control).

Can anyone recommend a decent hotel in/near Yasothon city. We will be visiting the family soon, now that the pass etc is gone, but are experiences are hit and miss in thyat location. Green Park is OK - but does anyone know if JP Emerald is finished refurbishment yet? Any others you would recommend? We have tried a few, but the ones we try are all khrapp, and Green Park charges heaps whenever they are busy.

We are looking into renting a property in one of the many gated communities in Chonburi/East Pattaya. Can anyone post advice of those communities that are OK (walls, guards, etc) and those that are not. I understand that because of the '5 year rule' it is common for all the 'services' to be stopped being provided by the property developer, and that the owners in many gated communities do not keep those services going. Our experiences in Chiang Mai was that 'good' developers like Land & Houses encourage/keep those services going well after the 5 years have passed. We are hoping for advice and tips about which gated communities are well maintained in Chonburi/East Pattaya . It does not appear that Land & Houses have built many gated communities in those areas. Can anyone advise the 'good' ones? and the bad ones?

TO ALL PEOPLE IN USA In light of your immediate failure to financially manage yourselves and also in recent years your tendency to elect incompetent Presidents of the USA and therefore not able to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.) Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas , which she does not fancy). Your new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated sometime next year to determine whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect: 1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,' 'favour,' 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.'Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary'). 2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.' ' 3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday. 4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse. 5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public. 6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour. 7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it. 8.You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with tomato sauce (ketchup), but with vinegar. 9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. New Zealand beer is also acceptable, as New Zealand is pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion. 10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater. 11. You will cease playing American football. There are only two kinds of proper football; one you call soccer, and rugby (dominated by the New Zealanders). Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies). 12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America . Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the Australians (World dominators) first to take the sting out of their deliveries. 13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad. 14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776). 15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

The mother-in-law came round last week. It was absolutely pouring down. So I opened the door and I saw her there and I said, 'Mother, don't just stand there in the rain. Go home.' I saw six men kicking and punching the mother-in-law. My neighbour said 'Are you going to help?' I said 'No, six should be enough.' I can always tell when the mother in law's coming to stay; the mice throw themselves on the traps. My mother-in-law fell down a wishing well. I was amazed; I never knew they worked. I've just had some bad news. Tomorrow is the mother in law's funeral. And she's cancelled it.

A young, rich Scottish lawyer had a very bad car crash. His Porsche was a write-off but even worse, the lawyer's arm had been severed. When the paramedics arrived, they heard him whimpering, "My Porsche, oh my poor Porsche." "Sir," said one of the helpers, "I think you should be more concerned about your arm." The lawyer looked down and saw his arm missing from the elbow down. "Oh no, my Rolex, my Rolex."

So a job recruiter I've been working with, a gorgeous young blonde, called me up and said "Great news! I've got 2 openings for you!" I immediately answered in my most salacious voice "I know... 😉 " There was a pause for a minute, then she just sighed and said "sheite" I said 'Actually - I prefer the other one"

A man went along to a 'spooks' evening at the local Town Hall to hear guest speakers talk about their strange experiences with the after-life. Sitting at the back, he couldn't hear all that was being said and he began to doze off when suddenly one of the speakers asked loudly, "Now come on, don't be shy, there must be someone here whose had a recent close relationship with a ghost?" Without thinking, the man put his hand up - he was the only one and he was asked to come down to the front. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this gentlemen here has kindly volunteered to tell us about his intimate relationship with a ghost. Please give him a warm hand." "Ghost!" he exclaimed. "I thought you said goat."