Fireman Sam

Good news, always great to have more choice with Qatar starting EDH in May and Emirates already well established in GLA. Regards

Can anyone who is using Mac, suggest a good Ad blocker. I don't have one installed, not a great problem but just a few websites that I visit have a couple of adds that pop up on their home page. I mostly use chrome with my I-mac. Regards

Just an idea, you might get more bang for your buck buying a second hand original, always people wanting to upgrade. I have purchased a copy before, never again. Regards

Going through a bit of a Smiths phase just now for some reason, sure shuts the neighbours up when they are blasting the Molam out at full decibels ha ha. Regards

No no, I'm based in Nakhon Phanom and have been for the last seven years where we have rented our house, sorry should have made it clearer the potential house move is within Nakhon Phanom. We have plans to start building there at the back end of next year, all being well. Maybe a thread with a difference to start. Looking forward to not travelling so much in the future. Regards

Yes Tom, I probably could but don't think I will have the time this trip, I have some business to get done in Ubon next week, then maybe a house move the following week, then have to be in Bangkok for the 23rd and 24th March. If I'm not successful with London in April then I might pop over into Laos to Savannakhet, which is apparently slightly easier to get an non 'o' from, not too far from Nakhon Phanom. But I really want to test the waters with London, I can't see why they shouldn't give me one. Thankfully should be my last requirement for an non 'o' as I'm retiring next year. Regards

Just an update, reference Multi non 'o' Visas and Hull. Quote below is direct from Thai Embassy in London Visa Application by post "The Royal Thai Embassy in London commenced its visa application by post service on the 2 January 2014. Termination of visa services by post at the Royal Thai Consulates in the United Kingdom and Ireland (namely, the Royal Thai Consulates in Birmingham, Cardiff, Hull, Liverpool, Glasgow, Gibralta and Dublin) will be effective from the 15 January 2014." Link to quote http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/401 I applied for a multi-entry Non "o" Immigrant visa via the Hull consulate on the 27th January, before I was aware that they had stopped issuing non 'o' visas altogether, all my paperwork was spot on, I submitted a copy of my Thai marriage cert both sides, and a copy of the certified English translation, copy of wife's ID both sides, bank statements showing income of more than 65,000 baht into UK bank account for the last three months. Hull phoned me on the 3rd February to say everything was in order, but I shouldn't have applied to them, but they had forwarded it to London and were still waiting to hear back from them. I phoned Hull on friday the 7th February to see if they had heard anything, "still waiting" they said, so I emailed a very polite enquiry to the consular service in London myself, no reply. So on Wednesday the 12th another phone call to Hull, and they still haven't heard from London, so I asked them (Hull) to just put a single entry tourist visa in my passport and refund myself the price difference. Got my passport back on the 13th with tourist visa as I was booked to travel on the 18th February. Speaking with the Hull consulate they were saying that they or any other consulate in the UK should not process personal Non 'o' visa applications now and I should apply directly to the embassy in London, looking at the first paragraph on the Embassy website looks like they are correct. I have six consecutive non 'o' multi entry visas in my current passport. Although the London Embassy didn't actually turn me down they never replied to Hull or to my direct enquiry. The tourist visa is sufficient for my needs reference this trip. I want the non 'o' as my 5 year Thai driving licences run out in August. I am back in the UK at the end of March/beginning April when I will apply direct to London for my trip in May. Will let you know how I get on. Apologies for the long rambling post, hope you can decipher it. Regards

Agreed, the last sentence in the post's article states that they will rally at the airport if they don't get paid by the end of the month, next Friday. "However, the farmers finally agreed to cancel their plan to rally at the international airport and were heading home on their farm trucks. They promised to return and to rally at the international airport if they do not get paid next week as promised." From Bangkok Post Regards

It does say in the article that they will rally at the airport if payment is not forthcoming. The 28th is Friday might be okay if you're through swampy by then Teelack. Regards

Farmers are returning home for just now anyway after Yingluck says they will get paid next week. Surprised they fell for that old chestnut again, how many times have they promised to pay them over the last few months. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/396254/pm-yingluck-promises-farmers-payment-next-week Regards

Really hope they don't try and close the place down. I transited the Airport early this morning, normally I'm not that lucky. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/396087/suvarnabhumi-airport-braces-for-rice-farmer-protest Hope anybody with a trip planned doesn't have any problems in the next few days. Regards

The Kindle has to be one of the best bits of tech in the last few years. You can carry around one thousand plus books with you. I bought the paper white last year, great investment. Now no need to dust rows and rows of books on shelves lol. Regards

Hi Mick, The end of the roof pitch including the guttering, must be within their own property boundaries. Although I was not directly involved, my late American pal had exactly the same problem at his house in That Phanom, although his neighbour was a high ranking local police officer. Yes, no luck there. The police officers roof pitch was right on the boundary and the rain run-off was cascading into my pals garden. After loads of arguments and court proceedings, which included site visits from the judge and referencing the Channotes etc etc. The end of the roof pitch had to be and was deemed to be within the police officers boundary, but the court awarded my mate 6000 baht for a sort of inconvenience/damage payment for the water run-off, that the police officer had to pay him. We'll you can imagine how that went down, my mate suffered loads of intimidation including the officer cleaning his gun on the porch in the morning and pointing it at my mate. Not sure if my mate ever got the money from the officer or not, my mate unfortunately died from a heart attack at age 62 not too long after the whole episode finished. Regards

All subjective mate. Regards

Qatar are still only 9 abreast in economy on their 777's, there are two different cabin configurations on their 777, IMHO the best economy seats are the ones at the rear of the first economy cabin either 17A,B or 17J or K, or 24 A,B or 24 J or K depending. Both these sets of seats are only two across, they have sufficient recline and nobody is behind you to upset. Qatar's A330's are nothing to write home about, must be some of the oldest aircraft in the fleet. I found Emirates A380 quite good in economy, but I always managed to get the best seats which are 68A or K and 81A or K these seats give unlimited legroom and direct isle access. You used to be able to pick these seat from the manage my booking part of their website, not too sure about that nowadays as I nearly do all my travelling with Qatar. I was a Gold Card FF with Emirates for many years and have been Gold with Qatar for the last three years. Regards

Should be a great trip in style, the 777ER is great in business and their 787 looks just as good if not better. Remember the trip report especially the 787 leg. I have one trip on the 777ER in business from DOH to LHR in March, unfortunately another three economy long haul flights in economy before then. Enjoy and regards.

I fly around 100,000 miles a year, for myself far easier if the long flights are overnight travelling either West to East or vice-versa. Daytime flights I find really hard to sleep on, with the subsequent sleep disruption for a few days afterwards. Regards

Not as far as I know, I think one of the big initial delays were the business class lounges not being ready last year. I quite liked the Premium Terminal the few times I have been lucky enough to travel in that class, should be there in March again. There will be a separate terminal apparently for the Emir, but that is not really surprising. Regards

Sorry slightly off topic, new airport now supposed to open mid year according to this press release. http://dohanews.co/much-delayed-hamad-international-airport-to-open-by-mid-2014/ Regards

Another one received today. http://www.qatarairways.com/uk/en/offers/5-day-promotion.page?CID=EMGB576190 Regards

Another one I received today. http://www.qatarairways.com/uk/en/offers/january-offers-2014.page?CID=EMGB93360 Sorry never looked might be the same one as earlier posted. Regards

Superb photos yet again RhinoTusk, thanks for taking the time. Regards

Yes Airport still under construction, supposedly opening early 2014, will believe it when I see it. Think they are using it for some cargo at present. So I'm afraid it's still the bus runs for boarding and disembarking at present. Regards

Just received this one from them. http://www.qatarairways.com/uk/en/offers/january-offers-2014.page?CID=EMGB666720 Regards

I also am a FF with Qatar and seem to have no problem receiving their sale offers, only problem is most of them are not applicable to my preferred destinations. If I receive any, I will certainly post the link to the sale. Regards