Horizondave

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.

8 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

I had the same but it returned after circa 20 hours and i was able to log in. You're right about emails to HDPrime, i sent one but never got a reply.

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.

2 hours ago, Stillearly said:

45.71 .... don't wish it down 😜

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.

1 hour ago, coxyhog said:

Chequers on Nana does excellent & inexpensive farang food.

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

7 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

Lucky you, i don't believe the ''return by courier'' service is available anymore but i could be wrong. I just ain't going to bother traveling down to Bangers when i can use an agent for relatively peanut money, each to their own.  

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.

10 hours ago, Pumpuynarak said:

So you did'nt have to go to the VFS Global office at Trendy building to pick up your daughters passport, how did you manage that ?

Yes VFS Global has moved office.

I've followed the supposed method for completing online whilst resident in Thailand but it just refers you to VFS Global and you have to attend in person to submit your application and then pick it up when ready.

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.

50 minutes ago, Bazle said:

I don't think Dave is referring to the place! 😀

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

1 hour ago, andyajn said:

Thanks. I never really liked Windmill for some reason.

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.

13 hours ago, Siam Addict said:

I recall there used to be a third runway at Heathrow that was on a North South axis for when it was windy. That seems to have disappeared.

The worse landing I had was Easy Jet into Stanstead, the cross wind meant that the plane was coming in at such an angle I was looking out of the window at the runway, no idea what the pilot could see. But on touchdown he manuovered it perfectly onto the runway.

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.

9 hours ago, thegrogmonster said:

Hope they can issue the residence certifcate on the day we go there (26/03/2024). Maybe my wife can offer to buy them lunch.

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 

2 minutes ago, thegrogmonster said:

So we have booked an appointment at the Udon Thani DLT for 27th March 2024 to renew our expired 5 year driver's lincences. This gives us a day and a half to get the medical certificate and resident confirmation certficate from Immigration done. We have both done our online DLT tests.

We pass a doctor on our way to the wife's village house so this will be done on the 25th when we leave the airport. For the resident confirmation certificate is there a form you can pre-fill out and is everything just done at the immigration office.

Any information provided would be appreciated.

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.

6 hours ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

About the same price as flying PE with EVA and Finnair ..

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.

5 hours ago, Nightcrawler said:

Showing £669 LGW to BKK rtn (Economy) in November when I had a look just now on Skyscanner

Those flying times would suit me and I am not far from Gatwick either. 

Hoping I can get cheap Biz class on my mates Staff concessions. Will have to wait and see. 

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.

4 hours ago, Krapow said:

 

Just read an article from Simon Calder in the Independent saying BA won't be offering Biz Class on this route 🤔

As these are from Gatwick, the flights will be operated by a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with BA’s legacy yin-yang Club World product. These aircraft were refurbished in 2018 and 2019. Whilst the old seats were retained, new in-flight entertainment was fitted and soft furnishings were refreshed. They feature 32 seats in Club World, 48 World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and 252 World Traveller (economy).

2 hours ago, Butch said:

LGW seems the right choice for a low frequency BKK flight.

I think it'll be very popular, as people who collect Avios and are loyal to BA will probably return, along with guys who don't mind which airport they leave from, as long as the flight is direct and heading towards BKK. I'll be interested to see the timings as well, which may have a factor.

More competition in the sector is a good thing, as @Horizondave said, how THAI and EVA react is yet to be seen, but they've certainly been making the most of the situation they have had recently with the prices for direct flights on both airlines.

As someone mentioned, it's interesting to see the A380 mentioned, as I thought BA had done / was doing away with them. There was one parked at NAIA for a while on our last trip.

All we need is for them to pull the 747's out of retirement - if they weren't all scrapped that is.

 

Timings Ok and both overnight flights.

Also that route/date is nearer £750 on BA.Com

1 hour ago, Derek Dangleberries said:

About the same price as flying PE with EVA and Finnair ..

Maybe time to head to Skyscanner. I certainly wouldn't pay those prices. I would only go on BA as I would get a great deal on business class through my connections with BA. 

If I had to pay I would be happy to go Finnair or, even, Air China, who I have used before and were excellent (my trip anyway).

48 minutes ago, Horizondave said:

Just looked at some of the lead in prices so don't jump just yet.

£1256 for a return in November back November, or out February back March.

It will have an effect but not yet. Nobody really will want to pay those prices.

Was looking at intro prices on BA.COM, obviously cheaper deals via Skyscanner etc......

27 minutes ago, Bazle said:

Am I right in thinking that it is just one aircraft plying the route between LGW and BKK? 

If so, that might be troublesome. 

Why, it was only 1 flight plying the route before Covid. Of course it could go technical in Bangkok but that applies to so many network routes by airlines. Part of air travel. At least it isn't a 737 Max lol

Only 3 days a week as well.

Just looked at some of the lead in prices so don't jump just yet.

£1256 for a return in November back November, or out February back March.

It will have an effect but not yet. Nobody really will want to pay those prices.

24 minutes ago, boydeste said:

That's great news, hopefully they come in at a price point to put pressure on EVA and Thai Air.

They have chosen Gatwick due to the expectancy that that will get a lower yield per passenger whereas they would have used Heathrow had they believed they could get a premium price per seat. It will be a 3 cabin service as opposed to the 4 cabin service out of Heathrow for the Malaysian flights.  Gatwick suits the demographic that wants (expects) a more economical deal so hopefully that will lead to good competitive prices.

I think EVA and Thai won't necessarily drop their prices dramatically, but it should see good deals ex Gatwick on BA to ensure a good load factor. No point in offering prices that are similar to Thai/EVA out of Heathrow but then again, they will get what they believe the market will pay. The fact that Kuala Lumpur is being added to the mix will also have an effect on prices among the airline offerings.