nidnoyham

Yes it was new, Si bought it at Pitchet, up north. Its a pretty basic model- 2 doors etc. When we swap over driving, the seat, steering, wing mirrors, all adjust in seconds. The one thing I don't like is the dark side windows. Great in daylight, but turning right or left in total darkness is a bit scary. the large wing mirrors do block your view a bit too.

Toyota for me. They have service stations all over the place. Took ours Hilux into the Hua Hin one for it's 20,000k service. Just drove in. Pull into the car park. Someone comes to you as you get out, takes your service card and details. Wait about an hour in a AC room with free internet computer, tea, coffee, toilets, comfy chairs.... You can sit and watch the car being serviced in the workshop. Compare that to service in the UK- " Swhhhh- Well Guv', we got a lot on this week, fit you in next Friday at 9 ? " They must be good Pickups, there are thousands of 'em on the roads.

I thought they were for hosing the pan down after you had pebble dashed it. They do seem bit viscious for the bum and balls area.

We'll miss you monkey.

I can't remember the exact rule on our scheme. I believe it was a 50% reduction of benefits for a wife 15 years younger or more. The little girl has gone to live in Pitchet. Had a couple of days on the beach with her and she enjoyed ordering me about in English. She will likely lose the language, as only my lady and her mum speak it. Si ( my lady ) has promised to speak to her as much as she can in English, when there. Loaded the pick up with his oxygen bottle + mask (10,000 bht ) don't know what she will do with it, sell it most likely. But in true Thai fashion, the wife was totally practical about her situation. " Next time I marry, husband not be ill. Too much money and cannot go to work, if look after him ! " And all us blokes talk about is love !

I was in Pattaya when the letter arrived for his wife. I had the pleasure of translation for her. No mention was made of his daughters right to claim. Another company deals with his insurance. This should be O.k for a claim- providing he did the right thing when she was born, by making her the benifacter. Gentlemen, sort these things while you can. You can't when you can't.

Just found out that the deceased was not married long enough for his wife to qualify for a pension. The Trustees have made a rule, that requires at least 12 months marriage for the spouse to get pension. This to prevent terminally ill members marrying someone to get money from pension scheme.

I agree with Owen' Early retirement is a privilege, not a right. It is at the employers discretion. In the UK there has been talk of raising the normal retirement age to 68, to make life fair between the sex's. Women of my wifes age will now retire at 65 instead of 60, to be on par with men. My company encouraged early retirement for the top earners. New employees are so badly paid now, many can't afford to contribute 6 or 7% of their wages to a company pension scheme. This means a drop in contributions, plus the present slide in equities , have put a strain on funds. I watched both my parent work up to and beyond retirement, mum died two weeks after giving up work at 76. They knew nothing other than working for a living. I promised myself I would not follow suit. If you can get early retirement and survive - take it.

My mate gave me this hotel, but they are not taking bookings online.

Thanks for that chaps. I did the usual search of the place and the hotels did seem a bit pang. Thanks for the link monty. NNH

My mate in Rayong had the same idea. He had the hole dug for peanuts. When he inquired about having a pool installed, the price was fantastically high. He too now has a fish pond. I have a feeling that swimming pools are a Ferang thing and are priced accordingly.

Will be staying in Hua Hin area in a weeks time. Any nice hotels that are not at Japanese tourist prices ? Will only be for a few days, but I like value for money. Thnx NNH

If you're looking for a way to force the issue of early retirement and get an answer that tells you how to do it. That will cause a stampede. Put up the rent in Pattaya too.

Err- why don't you make a phone call to your Personnel department and ask if you can retire ? My company had a Final Salary pension scheme that required your age and service to add up to 80, with a minimum age of 55. This was reduced to a combined figure of 70, when they were keen for long term employees on maximum wages to leave. How do you know your pension figures, if you don't know if you can retire ? Do you get an annual forcast from the company ? Basically, retirement is made easy or hard, depending on what suits the Company. Mine was in the throws of going broke, so many of us jumped ship with our pensions in tact. The tax free lump sum payment today, is double the one we received in 2003. We just couldn't take the chance back then of losing what we had. Owens health advise is a priority issue. Remember, you will be getting older and frailer in a foreign land. a land that will require you to pay for health treatment. Two of my workmates that also retired in 2003 had previous health issues. Cancer and heart problems. The one with Cancer lives in the UK and in December, had a 5 hours of surgery to remove a kidney and a growth on his bladder. He is having treatment now to check for any further cancer. All free on the NHS. The one who lived in LOS, had insufficient funds to get treatment for his heart. I went to his funeral this month. They were both the same age - mid 50's. I forgot to add, they are both married to Thais. The one still here is waiting for his wife to retire. They have land in LOS to build a house, but may be thinking of 6 months in each country in the future.

Si and I saw the first arrival at LHR- 2 years ago ? All the plane spotters were on 28 R where the other planes were landing. Darned if ATC didn't direct it down on 27. They would have got a better look from Tesco's carpark at Dukes Green. Funny thing, from a distance, it didn't look any bigger than a 747. Just fatter. I'm off on the TG 911 Wed' morning, be in Patts following week.

I would like to patent hemp based material for aircraft parts. It' strong, light, cheap to produce and the plane gets higher quicker.

He didn't have 160,000 either.

What if someone calls you Dave, but you are really a Rod- knee ?

I think an emergency NI, will attract an emergency tax number, making tax higher. i don't know what the company will do.

Didn't Howard Hughes have a similar project ?

Well to conclude, the funeral went very well. Over a hundred attended, mostly from work. His ashes are to be sent to LOS for the wife to do with as she wishes. I hope this episode has people thinking about the 'other side' of retirement, minus the 'rose coloured glasses'.

Thanks owen, I think I will stay on the sidelines for this one, being a friend of the wifes family and all that. The idea is not mine, but I do agree with the sentiment. It would be nice to appoint a Thai as the executor, but the only one I would trust, is my lady and she is the mothers cousin. There again, the men at work, may not trust her. I think his first Thai wife could come into play. She is well sorted money wise in the UK and has dual passports etc. She is very fond of the little girl, so would want to help. Yeah, I will put the ball in her court. Thais and money,is not my scene at all.

How very sad. Sod it, Cowboy and my workmate combined, have been enough prompting for me to go to LOS next month. Forget the money. God bless them both.

The blokes at work are having a collection. They are not too keen on giving the money collected to the Thai wife. They asked me if it is possible to set up a trust in LOS for the daughter ? As she is only 6yo, it could be for a few years- 12 ? Anyone know of a way of doing this ? I have no idea how this would work.

Amen to that.