jacko

Cold Mountain

Tis the season to be jolly.... well not really:

King Arthur

If The Avenue is to be turned into Pattaya's answer to The Nana Plaza, it will be a different place for dinner.

Well judging by the company you and your camera keep I expect high standards! For the rest of us, there are Pattaya GCs and MPs.

I just knew you could inform me on this!

Well there certainly is one there, on the left with your back to 3rd and close to that end. And my attention was drawn to it as I rode past on Sunday, as I saw the phrase Gentleman's Club has been added to it. When did that happen?

That's great.... I bet it is one of those memories that one plays over wishing one could return and take it in a different direction. I recall arriving in Pattaya once and was quickly ensconced in a regular bar... my suitcase up against a wall and my carry on at my feet. Just having a couple.... I recall I had suggested I was looking for a bed-warmer to come with me to my hotel and help me unpack, and get a few hours sleep and I had 3-4 girls vying for my attention, even one who was not long out of the village who must have been using up 25% of her English vocabulary saying 'pick me- pick me'.

If I have left there I usually have my bankbook and passport on me, and possibly a bit of cash, so that deters getting distracted into soi 6.

I believe the Australian system deters living overseas... I have heard the comment that they need to be resident in Oz sufficient time. One pal moved back. I will let someone who knows what they are talking of respond.

Location, location and location...

I did my Extension just recently, 2nd Dec when it was not due until 26th. I would be an idiot to leave it later, it gets real busy at the end of the year. Although as Atlas 2 reported, Dec 25th is a pretty good day to do it. Just don't like leaving things until the last minute. I didn't have to go early, for immigration opening, never have done. Waited 20 minutes with 4-5 ahead of me. Why people are banging on about the insurance policy I don't grasp, dump the Non-Imm-OA Permission to Stay. Shelling out good money for a crap insurance policy makes no sense whatsoever. Older guys are really going to get stung. Not sure agents can bypass that requirement yet, so do it yourself. Got a long looking wait in Soi 5, try the next street, soi 6.

They offer a retirement extension, and "retirement' visas, so I feel the answer is yes. The subsequent treatment of them is beginning to seem inhospitable.

For what reason, to die alone away from your home and wife? My latest loss chose to come back here.

I don't think it will get higher, it has already been moved up from 65. People younger than yourself will have a higher age. There is a lot of fuss in the UK,which was an election tool too, with respect to women's pensions, which had to move up from 60 to be equal to that of men. The added complexity was women never got their stamps themselves but accrued according to their husbands many years ago. Now there is a gap where women will have retired and yet not receive their state pension, an awkward transition. Equality has it's drawbacks. The OP rant was also posted on Thai Visa, I see no point to such posts. If they are informative, and correct in their details, they are useful. This is whingeing, I don't see it being helpful. Does Thailand want retirees, yes, on their terms. If they bring money and never become a burden they will be accepted. But there are rather a lot of them who survive, but have no resources for their own healthcare. Just lost another friend here to the big C.... you would need substantial savings to go through it here.

We usually don't play solo..... Christopher Plummer.

Sadly Sterling seems to have fallen back since, I suggest it is due to Nicola Sturgeon doing her William Wallace bit.

Yes, here is a pic......

They had one of those big tubs and a plastic cup, and fortunately for me (not for who pays the bills), I think it had previously been topped off from the electric shower. So tepid. Those run down places without water tanks, pumps and electric showers will not be seeing my custom. Oh... and I often ask for lotion....

Yes a few up soi 15 which runs between Soi Buakhao and 2nd Rd behind the Avenue, and Key Visa located across from the Big C on Sukhumvit, near Pattaya Tai. Also soi 13/2. Price depends of course how much one needs them to do for you. Rhino Tusk's remark is very true. If one has all the financial requirements, quite easy to do oneself, particularly if one has had an Extension based on retirement before. (It isn't really a Visa, but a one year Extension on a Permit to stay). The only other issue is what type of Non-Imm Visa one starts with, an O-A would also require health Insurance.

Blood Diamond

Titanic

I was in an 'ahem' 'establishment' yesterday and they had no incoming water. Whether it was anything to do with the damned roadworks outside I am unsure. It doesn't bide well for the rest of the dry season.

Tombstone

Bone Tomahawk (Just caught this on Sophon, a bit gruesome)