Eneukman

That explains why I couldn't understand what the fuss was all about. Unlike many of our European neighbours, Scotland's football fans have gained a reputation for being the best behaved anywhere, which considering the dismal performances given in recent years by our football and rugby teams is surprising. . Must see what the odds are for us beating Italy away from home next weekend. Now that we have a Scot as manager again, it just might be worth putting on a (very) small flutter. Alan

Well done, Wales. At least Scotland are showing SOME promise of things to come. After all, a mere 2 years ago, Wales won the wooden spoon so there's hope for us yet. Alan

Would someone care to explain to those living on planet Earth, i.e. not in the US , what the fuck this topic is about? By the way, please don't say football. Football is, in the civilised world, played with a ROUND ball. Alan

When I first started going to pubs in the early 70's, the Scottish licensing laws were fucking stupid. Pubs could open from 11.00 till 2.00 and then again from 5.00 until 10.00. If you wanted a drink on a Sunday, you had to go to a hotel as pubs were barred from opening. The laws were gradually relaxed and now in Edinburgh it is just about possible to drink around the clock. Some places close as late as 3.00 or 4.00 in the morning and others open at about 6.00 in the morning (to cater for night shift workers on their way home). Restricting times when you can buy alcohol won't stop underage drinking. To do that, you have to come down hard on the outlets that knowing sell alcohol to anyone underage - not that hard as all Thais over a certain age have to carry their ID card at all times. This reminds me, a friend and I were in a pub one night many years ago when some older guy came in and bought a few drinks - and then proceeded to pour part of each drink into a hip flask. Bloody expensive takeaway! We saw him in the same pub a few times and each time he did the same thing. I mean, it's not as though there weren't any off licences nearby where he could have bought some booze for home consumption much cheaper! Alan

In the post this morning, I received from my former employer details of the pension I will receive when I'm 50 in June. They had given me a figure about this time last year but I was working on the basis that the actual figure would be slightly lower. To my (pleasant) surprise, the actual figure is a few hundred pounds per annum higher. . They have also given me the chance to take a cash lump sum of £25,800 in exchange for a lower (by about £1,600) pension. I've no real need for the cash so plan on taking the higher pension but any other thoughts would be welcome. Coupled with investment income from the sale of my flat and exisiting shares held, this will give me a a sufficient excess of income over expenditure to pay for holidays etc. I've also decided to give up work on 8th April , which also brings the reality of taking the very big step of retiring to a foreign land and culture so much closer. All I need now is to get my non-immigrant O visa, buy my ticket, organise a roof repair, get the decorators in, put the flat on the market, get everything I want stored delivered to my brother, complete the sale (private) of certain items friends and family want, throw out a lot of stuff I won't need and which can't be sold and a million other things I probably haven't thought of. Ah well, roll on 14th June when (hopefully) I'll be flying out to start a new life. Alan

Thanks, John - that's a useful guide. Alan

I now use my Nationwide debit card to draw cash whether I'm at home or in Pattaya and to date have never had problems. However, as childofthemoon says, there is a problem in the UK with cards being cloned - including some machines too fucking close to where I live for my liking. I also use internet banking so I can keep track of what's happening in my accounts, including my offshore account, on line. In addition, I use Microsoft Money to keep track of my finances and seldom have any problem reconciling my bank statement when it comes in every month - unlike beforehand when it took for ever to balance it! I am forever amazed at the number of people who don't pay any attention to their bank statements. Having worked for a bank for many years, I pay VERY close attention to my statement as I know how easy it is for simple mistakes to be made, not so much now though. Alan

dave, one of the pitfalls in owning a bar Alan

I've only experienced 2 days of Songkran and that was enough . Next April, I'll be getting out of Pattaya for the duration. Alan

Could someone please explain to me what remaining sober means? I certainly don't plan on drinking excessively when I make the move - maybe an average of 5 or 6 drinks per night, maybe less Landy, Udon is one of the places I'm thinking of moving to ultimately, with a live in gf, hopefully (not wife note ). I will need some alternative form of horizontal exercise to keep me in shape - what would renting a place with a pool, shared or otherwise, cost to rent? Alan

Very useful site that, Hub - though there I came across one or two airlines that I would definitely not be too sure about flying with Alan

I seem to recall that Pete disabled this feature, but if you ask him nicely I'm sure he'll change it for you. Martin may also be able to make the appropriate change for you. Alan

The company I've heard of is Telestunt They charge aroubd 4p a minute to a land line and 5p a minute to a mobile. For land line, dial 0844-428-7171 or for a mobile dial 0844-566-9191 I've only phoned a mobile once and the line was very good. bigmofo, what's the connection like using telesavers? Alan

it worked Alan

Thanks, Gabor. You've just really depressed me with that photo. :crying :crying :crying . However, 97 days, 16 hours 48 minutes till I head for the airport. Alan

Easy when you know how Alan

Test Thai Visa

torrenova, you'd be surprised. A friend's cousin did just that - and survived - but not before fathering a child. Actually, come to think of it the vast majority of members here have at least twice the amount of common sense that he has - and believe me that aint hard! Alan

I would like to know the answer to this as well. Have tried a couple of things but to no avail. Alan

hangin, yes farang is the term Thais use to refer to foreigners of caucasian extraction. Many members stay at the Residence Gardens which has 2 pools, though one is used on a fairly regular basis for training by Mermaid Dive. If you join the Members' Section you'll see a link to the Residence Gardens which will give you a room at 1,350 baht per night. The bedroom is seperate from the living room, which is quite good. You can walk to Walking Street in 10 or 15 minutes or you can jump on a baht bus (they pass by the hotel entrance) and be there within 5 minutes for just 10 baht. It's also guest friendly. Alan

I would just post my visa application but after the bullshit I got from the Glasgow office, I would rather pay them a visit (and pay an extra £10 for the priviledge ) to ensure there are no problems for whatever reason. The cost of applying for visas to many countries, not just Thailand, is ridiculous but it's their country and they know that if we wnant to go there we have to pay the fees they decide to charge! Alan

biggles, it was the consulate in Glasgow that gave me the duff information. When I enquired about a non-Immigrant O visa I was asked why I was going to Thailand so I duly explained that it was my intention to retire there. She (of 18 years experience) then told me that I HAD to obtain the retirement visa in the UK etc etc and insisited that this was the case when I queried what she had said. I then telephoned the consulate in Hull, who didn't ask why I was going to Thailand and confirmed what I already knew to be the requirements. So I'll be applying to Hull for my visa which is much more inconvenient to get to than Glasgow The requirements for a retirement visa are less stringent in Thailand than your own country, such as no need to wait 6 weeks or more for the local consatbulary to confirm that you have no criminal convictions plus I suspect a simpler medical. Alan Alan

When in July are you going to Pattaya, Tangent? I expect to be at the RG for the first 2 weeks and then in my own condo for the last two weeks. Travelocity is worth looking at. I've booked short haul flights through them and have been very impressed with the speed they get the tickets to you. Alan

I don't know about the rest of you, but I find the crescendo of noise in some parts of Pattaya makes me want to just pass through them as quickly as possible. Instead of trying to crack down on closing time and the hours during which bars are allowed to open, I feel his time would be better spent on introducing AND more importantly enforcing limits on the maximum volume of music coming from various outdoor bars all trying to outdo each other Hopefully, monkeyman's assessment is right but again I know fuck all about Thai politics. Alan

I'm not into diving but I can confirm that Mermaid Dive are the ones who use the back pool at the RG for training. I think there is a link on the RG web-site to Mermaid Dive. Alan