Bazle

It will be very interesting to see the proposals when they are published in full. There is talk about entitlement being based on residency, but it is not clear (at least to me) whether that is (i) residency during your life prior to pension age or (ii) residency when retired. If (i), how will they cope with Brits who have spent a lot of their working lives abroad and paid voluntary NI contributions in order to maintain their pension entitlements? If (ii), how will they cope with Brits who have retired abroad, and elderly non-Brits who would come to the UK to claim a pension?

Is it usual to have a cap on the cover? My BUPA UK insurance has an excess, and a limit on what they are willing to pay in respect of certain treatment - e.g. osteopathy. It also has limits for various operations (usually not a problem except for the anaesthetic). However, apart from that, there is no limit on the cover, so an extended stay in hospital should not be a problem. I don't like the sound of Mick's reference to "4 months waiting period for tumors, cancer, hemorrhoids, hernia, Tonsillectomy, Varicose vains". Does that mean that if you are diagnosed with cancer, the insurance company will not pay for treatment for 4 months? If that is the case, I'd be telling them what they can do with their policy - the treatment for which is probably not covered!

As I have booked 8 weeks starting 1 February, I like your reply Big D

Is it practical to get the "invited guests courtesy of (Bang Chang)" tested before the trip?

Indeed. The message about needing to book came up on their website long after that. I suspect that they need to conform to some airport rules and were brought to task. However, I also suspect that if you have not booked and there are seats available, you will be treated "flexibly"

Both these statements are incorrect. The fare is still 200 Baht. Bell now say: http://www.belltravelservice.com/index.php

Looks like this buffalo has been trained by a BG

Where did Logan say it was bad in Thailand? I read that he thought it was bad to stay in Soi LK Metro.

If you believe their website, you cannot take the bus WITHOUT a pre-booking.

I wonder if that means that Brits who have retired abroad (outside the EU) will lose their state pensions altogether?

For one person, it looks as if the memories might be hard to come by

Maybe Citizens Advice Bureaux. The problem with social security legislation is that it is at least as complicated as tax legislation. But with tax legislation, you have people who can make a very good living working out what it all means and taking cases before the Courts to get it clarified if necessary. That does not apply to soc sec legislation so there are very few people outside the official bureaucracy who have even looked at it.

You missed out these: http://www.thejokester.net/Joke%20Archive/...ve04/052304.htm

When they demolish the 22-storey office block you moved into when it was new.

Are you sure that these places are guest friendly?

This sounds a very good suggestion. Mike, one of the owners, will really take care of you if he is in Patts at the time, including showing you around the nightlife. However, The Vault does not have many rooms and is popular. The OP wants a room over the Xmas period so needs to get moving with a booking, whether at The Vault or elsewhere.

Thanks N3RGT for clarifying that. It has prompted me to better remember. A travel agent arranged it for me and charged a fee. I don't remember how much but thought it was high. However, it was vital that I got back and was just pleased she had managed to sort it out. I had to pay £75 to EVA at the airport. It was far from clear exactly how I should do that. Eventually, I determined that it had to be done at the furthest desk on the right as you face the check-in desks. I think £75 is not unreasonable in the circumstances. However, whether you get what you want is obviously down to seat availability.

I had to do it in January. It cost me £75, but I think about £25 of that might have been a (posssibly rather high) charge made by a travel agent in Pattaya.

Yorta Your response is potentially dangerous. YOU might be able to take Viagra with YOUR blood pressure medication, but that might not apply to others reading this. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art...rticlekey=17038

Have you taken proper medical advice about using Viagra? If not, I think you should as I believe blood pressure tablets and Viagra should not be mixed.

Does this mean I'll be asked for an extra 25 quid for my flight in February which I thought I had already paid for in full? I guess you don't know how much I have already paid. Frankly, nor do I as my invoice lumps all the taxes together. All I can say is that I booked it two weeks ago. This thread has caused me to look at my invoice and interestingly the "taxes" are described as "estimated" - so perhaps that answers my question.

It's known as the Taylors' Guild.

I'm not sure if this is correct but I get the impression that flights are dearer if your return journey is more than 4 weeks after your outward journey. I've booked to fly with EVA leaving on 1 Feb and returning on 29 March. The online price with Netflights was £554. I paid £579 at a Thomas Cook shop as I had some Thomas Cook vouchers to use up.

Plagiarism http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=305513 (post 4)

Brilliant