Horizondave

Finally got in, received an email with a new password. A little surprised but happy to be back online, password also changed.

Had to walk in to Neath to get some pain killers. Didn't want to drink but I got a notification that, Greene King Dark Tide was on pump in the 'Spoon'. Works a bit like a painkiller after 2 pints.

Crazy here in UK. When I saw all the advertising last year, I went to my doctor to get the vaccine; reception tell me that I could have it if I was turning 65, but, as I was now 68, I had to wait until I was 70. So anybody 66/67/68 or 69 can't have the vaccine but a 65 year old can, I really don't understand that. I can still have the jab but that will still be after I turn 70. Suffering today, constant pain across my right chest and back, like a burning sensation. It is bad but I am getting used to it and make myself comfortable, no exercise for a while. When my wife was putting the cream on my rash it was really painful even though she was being really gentle, it's not a nice thing to suffer from. It is the balance issue that has got me worried more, nearly fallen over numerous times over last 2 days. Weird, just can't stay on my pins. Just a symptom of shingles that your balance can be affected. Just have to weather the storm and hope it isn't a long bout.

I also suffer from Psoriasis plus some contributing factors for being prone to Shingles such as being over 60, being stressed, having an injury and being on statins. This all started when I believe I may have damaged a muscle at the gym a couple of weeks ago, I am also over 60, on statins and presently pretty stressed. Just rest and hope the pain doesn't get worse. As it is a virus I can only take pain killers to ward off the pain although rest and a good diet will help.

Tried to get the shingles vaccine when the NHS started putting advertising out. Thing is, you can get it when you turn 65, but if 66 and above you have to wait until you are 70. Crazy system which has probably seen me get it when a vaccine would have prevented it. Can't get my head around that one. I have read many pages on Google today and it appears many countries offering the jab were saying 'get it from 50 years'. Pretty bad pain in my chest presently, doc says it may get worse before it gets better. Just got to rest. Got Zovirax to put on 5 times a day but with Kataleya at school and Porn doing double shifts all week that won't happen as it is all across the right side of my back.

It was very nice but I will now be alcohol free and eating heathier to kick start my immune system which has been compromised. For info, I tried to have the Shingles jab as they were giving it to those who had reached their 65th birthday. I was told that if you are 65 you can have it but as I was 68, I needed to wait till I was 70. Now isn't that Thai logic, crazy and I live in Wales.

I am feeling down with my shingles, but that is nothing compared to thinking it would have been Phil's (Lanzalad) 54th birthday today. Gone way too soon, miss you mate RIP

Just been to the doctor to be told I have Shingles, not happy. Doc says may last up to 6 weeks. Been suffering from severe pain in right side and right chest. Been feeling wobbly on my feet as well. Started with, what my wife told me were, insect bites on my back. Bloody itchy and causing pain. After the chest pain and feeling wobbly, I decided to check with doc who confirms shingles. Bugger Decided to have a Wetherspoon brekky and pint of Moorhouse to celebrate lol Will go home and take it easy for a while.

I still can't log in and no email reply yet.

Bit pissed off at not being able to log in to HDPRIME TV. Appears they had a major database corruption and needed to action back up data. Thing is, they mentioned that if you could not log in then to email them at a given email address. Of course, I was unable to log in and have emailed them, I am hoping that my account gets sorted soon. I did email them years ago over a payment that was taken but did not allow me to get the associated points, but I never heard back. I hope that this email does get a reply, otherwise I may need to re register and start from scratch. Only good thing is that I pay monthly and therefore any loss will be small, maybe a loss of 2 weeks subscription, amounting to around 250 baht.

Apologies, of course you are right, I meant to say 'between 44 and 46' in my post and then to add 45.71, probably because the rate has been above 44 for quite some time I got sidetracked. Would be nice if it moves above 46....

The pound has been hovering between 44 and 45 for months now, so I hope it won't head south any time soon. Of course it would be nice to see it move higher, especially as the UK economy grew 0.2 percent in January. 44.71 is excellent for transfer, which I will be hoping stays when I send some money tomorrow.

After reading an earlier post, I thought you may have been advising that nobody should eat in Hemingways in Jomtien lol

I agree, that if you are willing to pay an agent for a competitive price, then it is a good option. If I was living in the boonies, then I might consider it as well. Certainly, when I lived in Khon Kaen, an agent would have been a good move. I did like a few trips to Bangkok though, so not a major issue when needing a document etc. Quite liked the area around the Trendy building for a drink or a feed. I used an agent when I got married but that was more to help move around the different offices and not get lost, there was a lot of paperwork and having an agent to guide you was a bonus.

A couple of nice beers in Neath Wetherspoon. A Chocolate Ale and a Moorhouse.

You have the option of having the passport returned by courier, well at least I did in 2017. Things may have changed, but I believe they appreciate the need to attend for application is essential but the need to return the passport is served better for many by offering a courier service. The passport may have been returned to the Trendy building from UK but it was sent on to me in Hua Hin.

Ha ha, maybe the place does have a smell but it probably doesn't get that smell from the furnishings but more the removable fixtures lol

I am totally with you on that, I would always avoid after having visited once with mates. The sights and smells have stayed with me. Made my mates wash their hands afterwards as well.

It's a normal maneuver called 'crabbing' to keep the nose aligned with the centerline of the runway, then using rudder when flaring to put the plane on the ground in the proper landing position to continue straight down the runway. Used to do it myself, a hell of a lot, when flying smaller aircraft such as Cessna 172's and Piper Warriors in Fort Worth Texas. It's just the same principle in bigger planes. Slipping a small plane to the runway was far more interesting, although maybe quite scary to the passenger.

I got a passport for my daughter (we lived in Hua Hin) but did need to go to the Trendy building with all the docs etc., we received the passport back at home in Hua Hin, 8 days after we applied in Bangkok. The passport was received from a UK passport office which I thought was a bloody good service. Thought I read here or somewhere else that the VFS was moving from the Trendy Building, I may be wrong. Still certainly showing as the correct location presently. You should be able to get a new passport online, without the need to visit Bangkok, if it is a renewal: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renew-your-passport-online-in-3-easy-steps/renew-your-passport-online-in-3-easy-steps-accessible

Pretty sure this old chestnut comes up every few years. I owned property with my British wife in Pattaya between 2004-2013. It was in a company name with nominee Thai directors, as well as myself and wife. I believed it was just a legal loophole used by many, and it was only a pain once a year when I had to pay fees and sign about 60 pieces of paper.. Quite a few times over those years there were stories about dodgy foreigners owning land and businesses and the authorities were going to clamp down; nothing every really happened, especially not to owners of houses.

Maybe it works differently in Udon. In Hua Hin they ask you to come back in 48 hours, but when I used Immigration in Khon Kaen, I got the residence certificate the same day

In terms of Residence Certificate, that was the easy part for me. I went to the Immigration Office in Hua Hin with a passport offering a 30 day visa exempt entry and an Agoda Hotel Booking screenshot saying I was booked for 10 days. Didn't seem to faze the young immigration officer. Took 5 minutes to fill in the form at the office, leave my passport and return in two days. No charge, no problem. I was given the form when I arrived at the immigration office, but would be easy to pick one up and return with it filled in. Personally, my immigration officer was very helpful; I went there to ask whether I could get a residence certificate and 5 minutes later I was out of there after being told to return in 2 days. Just need to say what you want the residence certificate is for; in my (your case), renewal of driving licence.

Flight prices coming down, obviously only went on sale today. The 7 hour turn around in Bangkok also should ensure no obvious delays that appear to have been a negative for EVA with the short turn around at Heathrow. In fact I like the timings. I stay in Hua Hin and the timings allow a good bus connection.

My wife will be traveling with my BA friend (Trisha) in February, Some have met my friend, she has 45 years service although now retired, gets two business class firm bookings a year.. Yes the fares are looking more competitive, a non stop flight for less than £700 can't be bad. Timings good, it is just an option, but all options can only be good for the customer.