Eneukman

Very true as well as bearing in mind that inflation in Thailand may be higher than that in your home country. I'm only 52 so just don't feel comfortable drawing on capital just yet. Maybe when I get to 70, I'll think about it as the chances of living to 100 are remote. Alan

I was 2 weeks late with my 90 day reporting and a a result, was fined 2,000 baht AND had my passport stamped. My understanding is the same as Emil's and that if you leave the country before your next due date, you don't need to report until 90 days after you return. I hope we are both correct here, because if not, I'll be 2 months late when I next report! I was due to report at the end of June but because I last re-entered Thailand towards the end of May, I should not be due to report again until the end of August. One point though, as far as I am aware, renewing your visa does NOT count as reporting your address. Alan

I don't know. My interpretation was 91 consecutive days, though I cans see the contrary argument if you are in and out of the country a lot a you are. Have you tried getting insulin in Thailand? It might be an idea to take your insulin along to one of the hospitals and ask if they can supply yoou. Some of the clinics may also be able to provide you with a supply of insulin. Alan

In some polls, viewing the results before voting prevents you from going back and voting at a later time. Alan

I have an account in the Isle of Man. They contacted me about the new European ruling that withholding tax at some ludicrous rate will have to be deducted if you lived within the EU. I gave them a note of my address in Thailand and they confirmed that I will continue to receive my interest without this new tax being deducted. My mailing address is my brother's but before I left the UK, I cmpleted a form claiming non-residence status as for as income tax was concerned. The Inland Revenue also have my address in Thailand as my mailing address. I rekoned that it could be seen as suspicious if I was claiming non-resident status but had a UK mailing address! Alan

What sailfast said is correct. The beds I've had there have been queen size so certainly big enough for two. Alan

Ah yes, I was standing on the balcony of my condo watching a thunder storm when I saw one of the power lines on Theprsassit Road blow. A spark jumped arched about 10 feet into the air. 5 seconds later, the power in the condo went off! There must be some kind of transformer on the opposite side of Thappraya Road but which is hidden behind some buildings. During the rain on Tuesday, something big must have blown as I saw a huge veil of white light coming from that spot followed by a number of sparks. Then during Thursday's storm, I heard a very loud bang so went out onto the balcony to investigate and a series of rather large sparks were arching several feet into the air from the same spot. I'm just glad wasn't standing nearby at the time! Ah yes - infrastructure in Thailand in te 21st Century! Alan

There's a thread somewhere, can't remember immediately whether it's here or on another board, but it seems to be that if you leave the UK, you lose the entitlemnt to free healthcare after 91 days away. You would recover your right to free treatment if you were to return to the UK to live. If this is correct, I would not entitled to free health care in the UK even though I'm paying voluntary National Insuramce contributions! Alan

To qualify as a non-resident, you are only allowed to visit the UK for an average of 91 days per year. In one tax year, you are allowed up to 180 (or 181 days), but be careful that this doesn't bring the average over 91 days. Any income that arises in the UK will be liable to tax, though you will be entitled to your nomal personal allowance. Tax is a somewhat compliacted subject so - check out http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/moretma.shtml#individuals for more detailed information. Once you have non-residence status, interest paid on a bank account, say in the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands will not be liable to UK income tax. You will, however, have to sign a form stating that you do not live in the EU or European withholding tax will have to be deducted. Alan

I really have no idea of the percentage. 80% rented may be a bit high, but I would be surprised if it's not a good bit over 50%. Alan

Before I retired, I used to get summoned to the surgery once a year for a check-up due to suffering from high blood pressure. Somehow I think hsving the letter asking me to report for my next check-up returned would give him a clue, particularly if I hadn't asked for a repeat prescription for 6 months or more! Alan

Thought about hitch hiking? Alan

This is exactly why I live in View Talay. Easy to get back to at night - even with a drunk tg in tow. Alan

I looked in again last night with tg, who proceeded to get rather drunk. Once we got back to the condo, she collapsed face down on the bed, though she did undress later. However, and this has to be a first, she did not take a shower. No night time session, but she made up for it in the morning. Alan

On my floor in my condo, the unit next door is on one side is owned by an English guy who is only here for 3 months or so each year. His girl friend has been staying there on and off. The condo next to mine is, as far as I know, empty at the moment and was rented. A number of other condos are also rented on what appear to be short term leases. The condo opposite mine is owned by an English guy but he lets it out on short term leases. The most recent tenant has just moved out has still to be replaced. I know one guy who co-owns about 25 different condos. Many of these are, as far as I know, let out on a short term basis. Also, there are people who live here for several months of the year, but I have noticed that one group of French people have been missing for a week or so. I assume that they have gone back to France for the summer months. Whilst 51% of the condos are supposed to be Thai opened, I think you'll find that there are quite a few ina company name. I believe my landlord owns a number of condos in this building as well as elsewhere and I think that some of these at least will be in a company name. I know that the condo I rent is. Alan

I've done a quick Google search and found this, which confirms what the OP said. It also says that some doctors are offering treatment regardless of the guidelines. http://thisiscostablanca.adlibweb.com/content/view/353/102/ The article refers to people who have retired to Spain, but must, I would think refer to anyone who no longer lives in the UK. Alan

I have no doubt that you will be treated. However, if you no longer live in the UK, you may find yourself being presented with a bill for payment once you've recovered. Alan

I keep a note of how much I spend each month (it also lets me know wheter I'm going vastly over budget or not and need to ease up a bit) Excluding costs in the UK and an allowance for visits back home, my average expenditure for the last 12 months in Thailand was just under 99,000 baht. BUT over a 6 month or so period I gave a girl a lot of money to help out when her mother was in hospital (she later died), when her father was killed in a motor bike accident and to pay her rent etc when she wasn't working. This brings the figure down substantially to an average of 87,500 baht. Trips to Udon Thani and Malaysia were paid in cash and if you discount these, my total costs in Thailand amounted to an average of around 81,500 baht. Routine expenditure amounted to just under 79,000 baht on average with the balance being one-off purchases etc. Of this figure 20,000 baht was rent. I don't have a live-in (yet - though that may be about to change) and I try to restrict myself to mongering on average one night in three. I went a bit over the top last month and spent a bit over 90,000 (excluding a donation to the appeal for Larry), but it was fun. Hope these figures help. Alan

I was in last night for a couple of drinks with latest tg and will try to look in again tonight. Should be a nice place once all the work is completed. Alan

Alan

My presence is required elsewhere tonight, but I should be able to look in later on - hopefully with tg in tow. Alan

No, you're thinking of a non-Immigrant B visa, which is for those with business interests here. It's simply a case of applying to a consul in the USA, though some of these are more user friendly than others. From what I can recall, Denver is user friendly. There's an application form you have to complete and you also have to sign a letter certifying that you have sufficient funds to repatriate yourself should this be neccessary. When I obtained mine 2 years ago, someone else had to act as guarantor. In my case, my brother acted as guarantor though in reality, he would simply have signed a cheque on my account as he has power of attorney in that regard. I would suggest phoning a Consul near you and clarifying their requirements. Once the visa is issued, you must enter Thailand within 90 days. Alan

Before I retired, I obtained a list of the prescriptions I had to take to keep my blood pressure under control. My records were then going to be put into storage, but I was assured that they cold be recovered easily enough should I return to the UK. I had to tell my surgery that I was relocating to Thailand as I used to get called in once a year for a check up due to my blood pressure and they'd have wondered why I hadn't told them that I'd moved when their next letter was returned marked "Gone away". Alan

I rent a double room in View Talay 2A, which is 74 square metres in size. It's a good size and I like having the bedroom seperate. Rather than a connecting door, the original owner created a wide arch, which means it is just possible to lie in bed and watch the television in the living room. The bedroom doesn't have an aircon unit but instead has a large ceiling fan. The fan is great and costs a lot less to run than an aircon unit. Having the arch, I could run the aircon in the living room if really required, but I try to use it as little as possible. Alan

Where did your friend come from, Gary? For UK board members, the Consulate in Hull is very user friendly. I got my multiple entry non-Immigrant O visa there before I retired here 2 years ago. Alan