The thing you miss the most?

[bozzman101]

Hi Barry can nab thong make an irish sausso???????????????????????

[Korkenzieher]

Decent & reasonably priced cheese and wine. Calvados.

@hollister. I'm with you on that - but tend to prefer east coast, around St.Augustine. Florida is pretty tough competition for Thailand IMHO, as prices rise, for (for eg) retirees, who don't have to worry about the tax system so much. I would miss some of the more colourful 'local' life here though (ahem! )

[PeteC]

Not the right thread, but a one off opinion. As mentioned a bit above, the thing we may miss most in the future is our money, and not only due to inflation or strength of the Baht. With the baby boom generation now in full retirement swing, I have a gut feeling that in 2012 or 2013 at the latest we'll see the retirement extension qualifications go up both in terms of needed income, and bank account balance. I would think the monthly income route may go to 75-80, and the bank account route to 1 million. They could also raise the age to 55 again.

Those are the only ways that I can see for them to put the brakes on what could be a huge expansion in applications. I'm sure they have a target number of foreign retirees that they don't want to exceed....IMO. Pete

[Homer]

I don't miss a thing, in the sense that not having it gnaws at me. There are moments when the difference between what is available here and back in the US of A comes to mind before I let that thought go:

Able to communicate with most people.
Not wondering if the medicine is fake.
Products with a reasonable life span & price.
True information on product labels.
NFL, NBA, college basketball, college football on the TV.
Boobs.

[richard]

Nowt much

Seasons
Rain
Green countryside
Good ale
Certain foods



Was chatting with a visiting relative today whilst getting massaged on a beach south of HH and was asked the same question. Gut feeling is after a sprinkling of the above I'd want to be back here in Thailand. Even my daughters say 'dad, you would never hack it' and I'd be accused of constantly moaning about 'the good old days in Thailand'. Think they may be right as when I have gone back for a visit, so much has changed and I can't wait to get back home to Thailand

Maybe I was 'born under a wandering star' (Lee Marvin)

[Korkenzieher]

Hmm - i didn't really read the question as 'what do you miss enough to go home for' (wherever home might be...); just what is there that you can't get that you wish you could. There isn't really anything I would feel I need to fly to the other side of the planet for. I just wish I didn't have to fork out such ludicrous amounts of money for stuff that would be at basic commodity prices in Europe - for an eg. Villa Market: Paul Masson California carafe at the equivalent of £13, for example. Now paying that *would* be a sign of madness (or desparation!).

[Vital Spark]

I find the longer I'm here, the less I miss. Partly due to the fact that staples like peanut butter, cheese, and other western foods are much easier to find now (even in Nakhon Pathom) than they were 14 years ago. Partly, also, due to the fact that the UK is not the same as it was when I left it.

On my last visit to the UK at the end of November I noticed that the pub culture has changed dramatically, with my favourite 'locals' either having a make-over, turning into gastro pubs, or closing down . The general feel of the lovely town I grew up in was rather depressing, with people moaning about everything, from the government and police, to utility costs and vets fees.

Yes, I do miss the distinct seasons and (of course) my immediate family. But that's about it.

We'll never move back to the UK. We're here for the duration and happily so...

VS

[MrPlum]

Racing round English country lanes and French racetracks on my super-bike.
Windsurfing.
Playing village cricket and watching visiting tour teams.
Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Bike and campervan touring at home and abroad.
Summer walks in the forest.

A night out in Hull.

[Spitfire]

I must agree with Richard about missing decent beer and real ale/bitter but it's not the end of the world.

I also miss classic Christmas with close family plus having my wife with me, with them.

There are of course gripes about Thailand, along with all other countries, nowhere is perfect. But it is still a better deal than many other places plus the pros still outweigh the cons in the end.

If I was to be pushed to say a dislike then I would say the way in which I'm treated as a non immigrant.....I work, pay taxes (probably more than most Thais), contribute in many ways (not just financially by bringing in foreign currency), don't send what I earn to another country in remittances like the some other nationalities do, marry a local national, learn the language etc etc etc......only to be treated with indifference by officialdom and having to report like a criminal ever 90 days. Having a WP or a retirement visa for a year should exclude you from that annoyance imo, but my opinion counts for sweat FA of course.

One mentionable thing I do like that is worth mentioning, along with quite a few others, is that you generally 'fit-in' no matter what and where you go here in LOS, which is not always the case where I come from.......quite a bit of latitude even if there is some piss-take from the local baffoons.

Being called 'Chao-tang-chat' (which is polite) instead or 'Farang' every now and then would be nice. But I guess I'm nitpicking.

However, I'm having a better life here than I would be in the UK, so it's all relative I think and not too bothered by trivial stuff these days.

[Korkenzieher]

@Plum. Yes. Cricket is an issue. Definitely. Hull, however... I'd accept Beverley, but Hull?

[dtaai-maai]

^^I accepted Beverley once. I think you must have got there first.

[Korkenzieher]

Boom boom!

[MrPlum]

@Plum. Yes. Cricket is an issue. Definitely. Hull, however... I'd accept Beverley, but Hull?

Yes, I know, sounds unlikely but have to say I had my best night out ever there. Long time ago, though and my Saturday Night Fever outfit has seen better days.

[richard]

Well I lived near to Hull for many years and the only excitement was Hull fair

For a real night out we went to Scunthorpe of all places

[margaretcarnes]

@Plum. Yes. Cricket is an issue. Definitely. Hull, however... I'd accept Beverley, but Hull?

As a 'Hull' Lass who moved back here a few months back yes - it's a strange place alright. In the 70's and 80's I used to go to York, Batley or Scarborough for a good night out! (Scene I Richard?)
It has a dubious reputation - the best thing to come out of Hull is the M62 etc etc. Much of it is justified, and it's best (?) Rugby League team has just caused a worldwide scandal.
But it's home for now and does have one asset - whisper - JP