NIrishGuy

Yep and having had a family member die this very week from picking up a simple infection when in hospital which turned into sepsis  - and this after they were flooded with just about every antibiotic humanly possible, I can confirm that antibiotics certainly aren't a get out of jail free card any longer 😞

Yeah they might  - right after they've finished paying for the wall !!!   Oh no wait.....funny how that all seemed to just quietly disappear eh and all you hear is Trump shouting about what a great deal he got for the plane, but strangely the wall is never mentioned anymore.
 

As with all these things no doubt the final figures will be well and truly fudged to ensure that everyone both saves face AND ends up with a nice healthy profit into the bargain.
No doubt a bill of £3.2 billion WILL be presented and paid so the Government can show how hard they had negotiated with their supplier - and then a month or two after that a few quiet bills for "the supply of napkins" or "supply of replacement carpet as ordered" or " repainting of edgings" or some other bullshit bills will be quietly presented and processed for another Billion or two here or there !
They must think we the public don't KNOW their crafty games.  

As with all these things no doubt the final figures will be well and truly fudged to ensure that everyone both saves face AND ends up with a nice healthy profit into the bargain.
No doubt a bill of £3.2 billion WILL be presented and paid so the Government can show how hard they had negotiated with their supplier - and then a month or two after that a few quiet bills for "the supply of napkins" or "supply of replacement carpet as ordered" or " repainting of edgings" or some other bullshit bills will be quietly presented and processed for another Billion or two here or there !
They must think we the public don't KNOW their crafty games.  

Solid gold toilets and beluga caviar on tap 🤣

As with all these things no doubt the final figures will be well and truly fudged to ensure that everyone both saves face AND ends up with a nice healthy profit into the bargain.
No doubt a bill of £3.2 billion WILL be presented and paid so the Government can show how hard they had negotiated with their supplier - and then a month or two after that a few quiet bills for "the supply of napkins" or "supply of replacement carpet as ordered" or " repainting of edgings" or some other bullshit bills will be quietly presented and processed for another Billion or two here or there !
They must think we the public don't KNOW their crafty games.  

Likewise same happened to me on one of very first trips to Bkk many moons ago, where the guy I was with had apparently recorded me / us at various times, both clothed and not and sure enough when done and he tried to do me over for WAY more money then would ever be acceptable to any of us.  Then he then turned nasty of ocurse, telling me that he knew the hotel staff and could get my home address details and threatened to send all the pics plus details of "what we'd gotten up to" straight to my "wife" !! I think my howls of laughter and my firm "ha you go right ahead, this should be interesting considering I'm single and gay" threw him somewhat. 
But it was quite obvious that this was a game he'd played many times before, obviously factoring in that if even just 20% of his customers WERE straight men perhaps "experimenting or playing away from home" then they'd probably be more than happy to pay up whatever he asked just to avoid the risk.
Pleased to say that this was after some great sex and after his vain attempts at blackmail he left ( almost) empty handed with the hotel staff throwing him onto the street after him throwing over a few light fittings and things in the room all o try and intimidate me. He then threatening to "find me" no matter where I was in Thailand ! ( although looking back now that probably wouldn't have been that difficult to achieve if he had of actually wanted to of course !) 
Interestingly, we bumped into each other in DJ Station a few years later and he actually apologised and admitted it had been a bad time in his life and he'd been on a lot of drugs etc and asked would I accept a beer along with his apology ( which I did) and we parted the best of friends and have actually bumped into each other a few times since and always stop to say hi and catch up.
Ha I sometime wish I'd of asked him a copy of whatever pics he said he had so I could look back on them fondly in my dotage but alas that moment has passed  🙂

Likewise same happened to me on one of very first trips to Bkk many moons ago, where the guy I was with had apparently recorded me / us at various times, both clothed and not and sure enough when done and he tried to do me over for WAY more money then would ever be acceptable to any of us.  Then he then turned nasty of ocurse, telling me that he knew the hotel staff and could get my home address details and threatened to send all the pics plus details of "what we'd gotten up to" straight to my "wife" !! I think my howls of laughter and my firm "ha you go right ahead, this should be interesting considering I'm single and gay" threw him somewhat. 
But it was quite obvious that this was a game he'd played many times before, obviously factoring in that if even just 20% of his customers WERE straight men perhaps "experimenting or playing away from home" then they'd probably be more than happy to pay up whatever he asked just to avoid the risk.
Pleased to say that this was after some great sex and after his vain attempts at blackmail he left ( almost) empty handed with the hotel staff throwing him onto the street after him throwing over a few light fittings and things in the room all o try and intimidate me. He then threatening to "find me" no matter where I was in Thailand ! ( although looking back now that probably wouldn't have been that difficult to achieve if he had of actually wanted to of course !) 
Interestingly, we bumped into each other in DJ Station a few years later and he actually apologised and admitted it had been a bad time in his life and he'd been on a lot of drugs etc and asked would I accept a beer along with his apology ( which I did) and we parted the best of friends and have actually bumped into each other a few times since and always stop to say hi and catch up.
Ha I sometime wish I'd of asked him a copy of whatever pics he said he had so I could look back on them fondly in my dotage but alas that moment has passed  🙂

Likewise same happened to me on one of very first trips to Bkk many moons ago, where the guy I was with had apparently recorded me / us at various times, both clothed and not and sure enough when done and he tried to do me over for WAY more money then would ever be acceptable to any of us.  Then he then turned nasty of ocurse, telling me that he knew the hotel staff and could get my home address details and threatened to send all the pics plus details of "what we'd gotten up to" straight to my "wife" !! I think my howls of laughter and my firm "ha you go right ahead, this should be interesting considering I'm single and gay" threw him somewhat. 
But it was quite obvious that this was a game he'd played many times before, obviously factoring in that if even just 20% of his customers WERE straight men perhaps "experimenting or playing away from home" then they'd probably be more than happy to pay up whatever he asked just to avoid the risk.
Pleased to say that this was after some great sex and after his vain attempts at blackmail he left ( almost) empty handed with the hotel staff throwing him onto the street after him throwing over a few light fittings and things in the room all o try and intimidate me. He then threatening to "find me" no matter where I was in Thailand ! ( although looking back now that probably wouldn't have been that difficult to achieve if he had of actually wanted to of course !) 
Interestingly, we bumped into each other in DJ Station a few years later and he actually apologised and admitted it had been a bad time in his life and he'd been on a lot of drugs etc and asked would I accept a beer along with his apology ( which I did) and we parted the best of friends and have actually bumped into each other a few times since and always stop to say hi and catch up.
Ha I sometime wish I'd of asked him a copy of whatever pics he said he had so I could look back on them fondly in my dotage but alas that moment has passed  🙂

Likewise same happened to me on one of very first trips to Bkk many moons ago, where the guy I was with had apparently recorded me / us at various times, both clothed and not and sure enough when done and he tried to do me over for WAY more money then would ever be acceptable to any of us.  Then he then turned nasty of ocurse, telling me that he knew the hotel staff and could get my home address details and threatened to send all the pics plus details of "what we'd gotten up to" straight to my "wife" !! I think my howls of laughter and my firm "ha you go right ahead, this should be interesting considering I'm single and gay" threw him somewhat. 
But it was quite obvious that this was a game he'd played many times before, obviously factoring in that if even just 20% of his customers WERE straight men perhaps "experimenting or playing away from home" then they'd probably be more than happy to pay up whatever he asked just to avoid the risk.
Pleased to say that this was after some great sex and after his vain attempts at blackmail he left ( almost) empty handed with the hotel staff throwing him onto the street after him throwing over a few light fittings and things in the room all o try and intimidate me. He then threatening to "find me" no matter where I was in Thailand ! ( although looking back now that probably wouldn't have been that difficult to achieve if he had of actually wanted to of course !) 
Interestingly, we bumped into each other in DJ Station a few years later and he actually apologised and admitted it had been a bad time in his life and he'd been on a lot of drugs etc and asked would I accept a beer along with his apology ( which I did) and we parted the best of friends and have actually bumped into each other a few times since and always stop to say hi and catch up.
Ha I sometime wish I'd of asked him a copy of whatever pics he said he had so I could look back on them fondly in my dotage but alas that moment has passed  🙂

Likewise same happened to me on one of very first trips to Bkk many moons ago, where the guy I was with had apparently recorded me / us at various times, both clothed and not and sure enough when done and he tried to do me over for WAY more money then would ever be acceptable to any of us.  Then he then turned nasty of ocurse, telling me that he knew the hotel staff and could get my home address details and threatened to send all the pics plus details of "what we'd gotten up to" straight to my "wife" !! I think my howls of laughter and my firm "ha you go right ahead, this should be interesting considering I'm single and gay" threw him somewhat. 
But it was quite obvious that this was a game he'd played many times before, obviously factoring in that if even just 20% of his customers WERE straight men perhaps "experimenting or playing away from home" then they'd probably be more than happy to pay up whatever he asked just to avoid the risk.
Pleased to say that this was after some great sex and after his vain attempts at blackmail he left ( almost) empty handed with the hotel staff throwing him onto the street after him throwing over a few light fittings and things in the room all o try and intimidate me. He then threatening to "find me" no matter where I was in Thailand ! ( although looking back now that probably wouldn't have been that difficult to achieve if he had of actually wanted to of course !) 
Interestingly, we bumped into each other in DJ Station a few years later and he actually apologised and admitted it had been a bad time in his life and he'd been on a lot of drugs etc and asked would I accept a beer along with his apology ( which I did) and we parted the best of friends and have actually bumped into each other a few times since and always stop to say hi and catch up.
Ha I sometime wish I'd of asked him a copy of whatever pics he said he had so I could look back on them fondly in my dotage but alas that moment has passed  🙂

An understandable conclusion. All I might add is that i believe that having been badly burned by this climbdown, Thailand Elite will find it difficult to play around with promised privileges again. It has too many professional members including lawyers and PR people who I think had a major effect on the recent reversal. If I was sure about Thailand, I'd jump in and get the 5 year visa at its present 600,000 baht before it is withdrawn, as this will give you the option of upgrading by 15 years for 400,000 provided it is done within 3 months of the expiry of the original visa. We now know that the new 5-year visa to be introduced in a month or two will cost 900,000. I also think there will be no option to increase at the end. A 5 year visa is stuck in to a full page in your passport. Same with the 15 year upgrade. So your basic immigration rights will not be affected. It's the perks that they seem to want to play around with. 
Against that, you will still be just 74 by the end of the 20 years. By then, I am certain Elite visas will be a great deal more expensive - assuming there are no more issues severely affecting the Thai economy. What would you plan to do then?

So me sitting here in the UK at 54 year of age and with no real plan to retire to Thailand but thinking "but maybe, some day that might happen and so why apply for an Elite NOW ( fast) and also immediately upgrade it to the 20 year option just to keep the option open".
BUT on reading this thread then also realising that the Elite visa office / Thai Government could ( and probably will) move the goalposts again at ANY time and many times over that period, with as PeterRS has already pointed out zero regard for existing holders (as they seem to be doing already here) so now thinking "so what's the point in risking that money".  and I'd just be better letting things roll and deal with things as they are a the time I'd ever think of moving there - or am I wrong ?

So me sitting here in the UK at 54 year of age and with no real plan to retire to Thailand but thinking "but maybe, some day that might happen and so why apply for an Elite NOW ( fast) and also immediately upgrade it to the 20 year option just to keep the option open".
BUT on reading this thread then also realising that the Elite visa office / Thai Government could ( and probably will) move the goalposts again at ANY time and many times over that period, with as PeterRS has already pointed out zero regard for existing holders (as they seem to be doing already here) so now thinking "so what's the point in risking that money".  and I'd just be better letting things roll and deal with things as they are a the time I'd ever think of moving there - or am I wrong ?

So me sitting here in the UK at 54 year of age and with no real plan to retire to Thailand but thinking "but maybe, some day that might happen and so why apply for an Elite NOW ( fast) and also immediately upgrade it to the 20 year option just to keep the option open".
BUT on reading this thread then also realising that the Elite visa office / Thai Government could ( and probably will) move the goalposts again at ANY time and many times over that period, with as PeterRS has already pointed out zero regard for existing holders (as they seem to be doing already here) so now thinking "so what's the point in risking that money".  and I'd just be better letting things roll and deal with things as they are a the time I'd ever think of moving there - or am I wrong ?

So me sitting here in the UK at 54 year of age and with no real plan to retire to Thailand but thinking "but maybe, some day that might happen and so why apply for an Elite NOW ( fast) and also immediately upgrade it to the 20 year option just to keep the option open".
BUT on reading this thread then also realising that the Elite visa office / Thai Government could ( and probably will) move the goalposts again at ANY time and many times over that period, with as PeterRS has already pointed out zero regard for existing holders (as they seem to be doing already here) so now thinking "so what's the point in risking that money".  and I'd just be better letting things roll and deal with things as they are a the time I'd ever think of moving there - or am I wrong ?

I miss Soi Twilight. For me, it was the heart of Bangkok's nightlife. When it closed, Bangkok was really ruined for me. 
I don't dislike Bangkok, I just prefer living in Pattaya, specifically Jomtien. 

The major problems for me in Bangkok is the pollution, the never ending traffic and the heat. 

I guess there are also provisions in insurance policies that say they won't cover incidents that happen when the victim is intoxicated or has drugs in their system.

More importantly perhaps if they're saying that the charge was ILLEGALLY gratifying sexual desire of another person does that then suggest that there's a LEGAL way of providing that service in Thailand as I thought THAT for sure WAS still illegal ! ? 🙂
 

I run out of likes but thank you for all comments above. I enjoy reading this forum so I figured out best way of having it available is to keep it alive and post. 
But our biggest thanks should go to TotallyOz for making it available for us.

I too have had the tour of the train models ( very interesting the first three times 🙂 )  
 
My biggest ( tongue in cheek ) peeve / pet hate when having my english breakfast there ( of course 🙂) was I always asked for and got two extra slices of bacon ( I liked their crispy bacon) so, the first time the two extra pits came out, but arrived on a separate plate to the rest of the food, so I of course scooped it on to my main plate and said "no problem, tomorrow all on the one plate is ok" but each and every time I ordered the same since each and every time low and behold two, two plates come out, one with thefull english breakfast and the other with the two extra slices of bacon !  lol   I actually thought it was like a running joke between myself and the waitress but no matter how many times I went through the putting it all on the one plate routine and no matter who served me, no, two plates it was and please dont fuck with our process sir !! lol
So, that's it, I told them I'd never be back and have left 16 negative trip reviews on trip advisor and Yelp on them !!!    lol   ( I'm JOKING !!!!! )   I love popping in and seeing them when there for breakfast, having a read of the 3 day old morning papers and enjoying our good old two plate one plate game !
 
Glad to hear Mr Zee and his family have weathered the Covid storm and are still with us.
 
 
 
 
 
SINGLE time no matter who brought 

I too have had the tour of the train models ( very interesting the first three times 🙂 )  
 
My biggest ( tongue in cheek ) peeve / pet hate when having my english breakfast there ( of course 🙂) was I always asked for and got two extra slices of bacon ( I liked their crispy bacon) so, the first time the two extra pits came out, but arrived on a separate plate to the rest of the food, so I of course scooped it on to my main plate and said "no problem, tomorrow all on the one plate is ok" but each and every time I ordered the same since each and every time low and behold two, two plates come out, one with thefull english breakfast and the other with the two extra slices of bacon !  lol   I actually thought it was like a running joke between myself and the waitress but no matter how many times I went through the putting it all on the one plate routine and no matter who served me, no, two plates it was and please dont fuck with our process sir !! lol
So, that's it, I told them I'd never be back and have left 16 negative trip reviews on trip advisor and Yelp on them !!!    lol   ( I'm JOKING !!!!! )   I love popping in and seeing them when there for breakfast, having a read of the 3 day old morning papers and enjoying our good old two plate one plate game !
 
Glad to hear Mr Zee and his family have weathered the Covid storm and are still with us.
 
 
 
 
 
SINGLE time no matter who brought 

I too have had the tour of the train models ( very interesting the first three times 🙂 )  
 
My biggest ( tongue in cheek ) peeve / pet hate when having my english breakfast there ( of course 🙂) was I always asked for and got two extra slices of bacon ( I liked their crispy bacon) so, the first time the two extra pits came out, but arrived on a separate plate to the rest of the food, so I of course scooped it on to my main plate and said "no problem, tomorrow all on the one plate is ok" but each and every time I ordered the same since each and every time low and behold two, two plates come out, one with thefull english breakfast and the other with the two extra slices of bacon !  lol   I actually thought it was like a running joke between myself and the waitress but no matter how many times I went through the putting it all on the one plate routine and no matter who served me, no, two plates it was and please dont fuck with our process sir !! lol
So, that's it, I told them I'd never be back and have left 16 negative trip reviews on trip advisor and Yelp on them !!!    lol   ( I'm JOKING !!!!! )   I love popping in and seeing them when there for breakfast, having a read of the 3 day old morning papers and enjoying our good old two plate one plate game !
 
Glad to hear Mr Zee and his family have weathered the Covid storm and are still with us.
 
 
 
 
 
SINGLE time no matter who brought 

I too have had the tour of the train models ( very interesting the first three times 🙂 )  
 
My biggest ( tongue in cheek ) peeve / pet hate when having my english breakfast there ( of course 🙂) was I always asked for and got two extra slices of bacon ( I liked their crispy bacon) so, the first time the two extra pits came out, but arrived on a separate plate to the rest of the food, so I of course scooped it on to my main plate and said "no problem, tomorrow all on the one plate is ok" but each and every time I ordered the same since each and every time low and behold two, two plates come out, one with thefull english breakfast and the other with the two extra slices of bacon !  lol   I actually thought it was like a running joke between myself and the waitress but no matter how many times I went through the putting it all on the one plate routine and no matter who served me, no, two plates it was and please dont fuck with our process sir !! lol
So, that's it, I told them I'd never be back and have left 16 negative trip reviews on trip advisor and Yelp on them !!!    lol   ( I'm JOKING !!!!! )   I love popping in and seeing them when there for breakfast, having a read of the 3 day old morning papers and enjoying our good old two plate one plate game !
 
Glad to hear Mr Zee and his family have weathered the Covid storm and are still with us.
 
 
 
 
 
SINGLE time no matter who brought 

Dont worry that was more the Government age for retirement here in the UK I was referring to there. If I'm still working at 66 ( or even 55 ) please just shoot me and put me out of my misery !