George Aylesham

Not spineless - just a very canny minnow which has successfully survived in an ocean of sharks.

I'm sorry the OP had a bad experience at Rajavej. I had a major orthopedic problem (badly broken shoulder, broken hip) and was admitted as an emergency. From the moment I was admitted, the treatment I received was top class; this included a team of specialists - orthopedic surgeon, hematologist and one other I forget, Surgery took seven hours and the post surgery follow-up followed the most modern techniques available in Europe and included two months of physiotherapy sessions from a newly qualified Chiang Mai University physiotherapist . Over the next year I had regular consultations with the surgeon. My room, while plain, was large and had a comfortable bed for my wife. In short I'm happy to sing the praises of Rajevej to anyone who cares to listen and my wife and I use its services, including the annual health checkup and vaccinations, pretty regularly.

Belgium breaks own record for longest period without government Monday, 3 August 2020 © Belga Belgium on Sunday broke its own standing record for the longest political crisis and longest period without an elected government. It has been 592 days since the previous government, led by former Prime Minister Charles Michel, collapsed over inter-party tensions on migration in December 2018. - Not the first time either. Germany took 86 days in 2013 to reach the current coalition agreement, and in the same year Italy took 62 days to form a government.

Well, both Italy and Belgium have managed pretty well without governments on occasion.

A heck of a lot: Good cheap food Friendly, polite population Stunning seasides and countrysides Superb roads Cheap accommodation Cheap hotels with far, far higher standards for the price than in Europe Decent, effective and reasonably priced healthcare Outstanding service in shops, offices and service outlets 'Can do' attitudes - always finding some way to solve a problem Very hardworking And as for bureaucracy yes - but it's a real doddle compared to what immigrants have to go through in Britain. Ok, not perfect - what country is; but coming here for the first time in 1974 and living here since 2015 I'm not tempted to try anywhere else.

And that coming from the lilywhite defender of electoral rights. The mainly coloured people of several of the US's Southern States might have a slightly caustic word to say about how their government has been protecting their rights.

In 27 states in the USA the age of sexual consent is 16 and in six US states there is no minimum age at all

Perhaps but the two that come immediately to mind are the USA - Trump, and the UK - Johnson.

Not so - At least here in Chiang Mai a new, well equipped geriatric hospital has been built.

Alas I didn't.

Wow - free genital mutilation for these unfortunate young men.

Not if you are following the statistics on Thailand's falling birthrate.

And Thailand (along with China) remains the major client for Burmese gas.

Do that in Britain and the Immigration enforcement police would put you on the first plane for Rwanda. Or Catterick which is probably even worse.

What is really bad is when the wife pays and the change is handed back to the husband.

Hopefully - but this may just be Mr Deripaska's wishful thinking.

Maybe not the most appropriate time to introduce the new tourist tax . . . . .

We noticed young plants for sale in Chiang Mai's Kampthieng market as well in a branch of Big C (next to the rosemary).

Some of them perhaps but most of them set out their prices very clearly. A few years back while on holiday my wife lost her front tooth and went to Chiang Mai's reputedly most expensive dental clinic. They (the dental surgeon and the dental technician) spent one and a half hours trying to resolve the problem and explaining to her exactly what was wrong - then said no charge - we haven't been able to help.

The tourist is clearly a prime candidate for this week's Darwin Award.

Cashier knows who is the boss?

And the British Immigration Services do not keep records of who comes in/leaves the UK. This lack of any accurate statistics has always hamstrung British immigration policies.

If Thaksin wants it, that'll certainly put the kybosh on the proposal.

Actually this type of theft is not unknown even in Europe. When I was living in Brussels 40 years ago one of the city's upmarket shopping galleries on the Avenue Louise was seen to be blocked to customers at both ends by the police. Later it was discovered that the reason for the blockage was to allow the police thieves inside the gallery to go about their thieving without being disturbed.

As this is all about money financial inducements to whistleblowers might help as well.