Horizondave

It is because of all of the reasons above that I wish I was living again in Thailand. Only reason to be in UK is for my daughter's education, but even that is starting to concern me and the wife, not sure the curriculum is everything I thought it was going to be. Add to that the debacle that is NHS dentistry; only today my wife has received a letter telling her that her dental care is changing. It seems the dentist who last treated her is going private and contacting all her previous patients. Can't believe she is being told she is off the NHS list but trying to get through to them to find out what it is all about is almost impossible. If only the lotto ticket would come up, I would be out of here. In Thailand, I felt comfortable, I felt it was my home. In the UK, I feel more of an outsider and I can't see it getting any better.

Last Sunday, my mate flew Thai. He landed at 5.08 am for a 6.15 am arrival. In fact I checked his flight arrivals for the previous week and everyday it landed before 6.15am. I checked only to allay his fears of missing his 7.30 am bus to Hua Hin. Seems Thai have a pretty good departure regime presently and therefore a good option for booking with them. He paid £717 through an agent for cattle class.

On the way back from London to Neath today we were heading on the M4 through Cardiff and saw the Manchester United Team Coaches (2) traveling on the other side having come from the airport slip road. Found out that they did fly into Cardiff from Manchester. Kataleya was very excited, they were being escorted by 3 police motorbike outriders. Now if it had been Chelsea, I might have been excited as well lol.

You mentioned ditching the air fryer, I would rather ditch the wife. The air fryer is totally 'Ronseal', does what it says on the box. The wife forgot that promise years ago lol

He is happy, his flight left only 10 minutes late and is expected to arrive in Bangkok over 30 mins early, plenty of time to catch his bus to Hua Hin at 7.30.

Everything I do is Ok as it it is for the benefit of my daughter's future. The wish would have been to be much younger, say in my 50s which would then give me many years back overseas to enjoy my later pension years in comfort doing what I want. Probably will start to have longer stays overseas once my daughter gets the keys to the door with the wife home at night but that will still be about 4 to 5 years. I think it is this wish to be overseas but unable to fulfil my desire, caught in limbo really but I have my health and that is a bonus.

A nice pint of Nessie Monster Mash. In Neath Wetherspoon, with Kataleya, awaiting Porn finishing Zumba. It's Burn's week in the pub which finishes Sunday. Will be in Hounslow Wetherspoon tomorrow for a mate's 70th birthday meal. They have about 6 ruby and dark beers so looking forward to that. Just the one tonight as driving to London at 6.30am.

Great stuff. I forgot about the shopping, did some before coming back from the gym; ended up spending more than I thought, always the way but then again I love shopping. I did sign up for this but only because we left Thailand to educate our daughter in UK. There is a part of me that just wonders if it would have been a bad thing if we had just stayed in Thailand and Kataleya had been immersed fully in Thai society with schooling. I know I would be happier in Thailand, and the way the education system is in Wales, together with the way society is moving I am wondering if I have done the right thing coming home.

God, the sacrifice I have made as an old father. Take little one to school. Come back get changed for gym, walk 20 mins into town for gym. 1 hour 20 mins, I walk back. Clean cooker including hob, do all the dishes, put out all the recycling, change the kitchen bin with old bag in recycling. Change all the bed sheets and pillow. Put the dirty sheets etc., into the washing machine. Clean the living room. Clean the car. Put away Kataleya's toys and fold her clothes and put in drawers. Now in car, waiting to pick up Kataleya. Might get a cup of tea from Kataleya when home but will be expected to cook the family meals, seems I am the only one who bothers to understand the air fryer. Lovely day. I suppose it's OK but I didn't really sign up for this.

Well, maybe a record but my mate got his e-visa last night. Applied 1100 Wednesday, email with e-visa arrived 1830 on Thursday. That's a pretty good service. He is well chuffed as he believed he had applied too late, but a big smile on his face now.

Should be interesting; my mate bought his ticket yesterday (Wednesday) for his trip to Thailand this Sunday and also applied for his 60 day visa. He is traveling Thai at 1150, and I am hopeful that he gets the visa, but it's a bit tight. Probably be a record if he gets it. Have told him that he does need it before he arrives at immigration around midnight UK time Sunday, otherwise it could be £30 wasted.

The image below is of the pies I bought but the price has gone up a wee bit. Taste of Stilton is awesome.

I put brown sauce on pie meals and breakfasts. I put tomato sauce only on fish and chips. Proof added lol

Got them from Lidl, box of 2 deluxe pies for about £2.50

Steak and Stilton pie and homemade chips.

Yes, sounds like it would be a good idea to carry a copy of your insurance certificate, as well as a copy of your passport. My best mate always confirms where his insurance certificate is, just in case something happens to him while in Thailand. Probably a good idea to confirm with a close friend, that you have insurance, in case an event like the guys does occur. Sounds like the guy probably doesn't have insurance, but maybe there should be a central database that can be assessed by relevant authorities to find out if travel insurance has been taken out. Sad situation regardless.

Just an update to the above as I have seen comments on another site, Crazy Bull Band bassist, Cha, was stricken with a sudden brain aneurysm early Sunday morning and has passed away. Another site (Father Teds) We would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of Cha, The bassist from the amazing Crazy Bull Band who sadly passed away in Hua Hin hospital last night. Cha has been a major contributor to the live music scene over here in Hua Hin for a very long time now and it has been an absolute privilege and pleasure to have had the opportunity to work with Cha who performed here so many Monday nights in Ted's.

Never looked for Indian paste as I am not an Indian food lover. I would think though, there must be plenty of places that do Indian pastes, going by the number of Indian restaurants around. If not sold in Lotus, I would think that Villa or Foodland would offer supplies. I am sure there are those here who can advise more correctly of where to buy.

Just putting this here as it may be relevant to those in Thailand who have traveled to Hua Hin and enjoy watching the bands that strut their stuff in the bars.. It is Mr Cha, who has passed away, the base player with the Crazy Bull Band. They play every week at Calypso bar, Fame Bar, Woodstock bar and Father Teds. I always watch the band's sessions in Calypso bar as my hotel (Initial Condo is next door) and at Fame. Appears he has died only recently, but not too much info on how he died. Just an RIP on their Facebook page.

That's a picture of one of my favourite pastes for cooking. First tried a yellow curry in Prachuap Khiri Khan and thought, wow. Similar to a Massaman and easy to buy in most stores. I went to Lotus in Hua Hin and bought about 10, along with the Penang option. Always buy plenty when in Thailand for use back home.

Looks very appealing....

I have only ever shown my passport once and that was at a vehicle check on the Expressway in Bangkok. I had the laminated copy. Thing is, I have never worried about being stopped as I am prepared, but I would hate to be unprepared and then stopped at a checkpoint.

Just got 45.15 on Wise just now for a transfer; better days indeed, especially for those going soon to Thailand.

Normally up there 3 times a week, but we have had so much rain before this cold spell that it had been about 6 weeks since I have achieved that walk. It is a lovely walk with wonderful views over nearby Swansea, Mumbles and Neath Port Talbot steel works. The land across the water is from Minehead in Somerset to Ilfracombe in Devon and can be seen most days when the weather is clear. Get to see a few dog walkers on the way up but they are restricted once they hit the farm gates to the ridge. Just a few walkers, loads of sheep and a few cows and the great view on the top. The ridge is called Mynydd Drumau.

I believe it costs 1900 baht to extend your visa exempt for another 30 days. Surely this would be a better choice if you are the type who stresses over these things. Of course a 60 day tourist would be the best option and would allow you to have a stress free trip. It is so unlikely that you would be stopped, but it does happen, you just don't know, and the consequences don't bear thinking about. Also it would cost you 1000 baht to pay 2 day overstay at the airport, so only 900 baht extra to extend your visa exempt in immigration. For me, the hassles of getting a 60 day tourist visa or extending the 30 day exempt are nothing compared to the awful consequences of being caught by authorities as an overstay before heading to the airport. As much as you could lay low, do you really want to do that, when on your holidays. Difficult also to claim to immigration, you forgot etc., if your ticket clearly shows you had bookings for flights more than 30 days apart. For me it is just part of travel planning, get the appropriate visa or be prepared to extend in Thailand. Then again, I am the type that doesn't want the stress or hassle involved with being a possible overstay. Plenty do take the chance, but that is not me.