@Garrett **********

That's likely to be the reason. Different regions are effectively different companies. Might be true quite widely in Asia. Certainly true in China as well as Thailand. Mystery probably solved. Only mystery to solve now Is CDM. Cadbury's Dairy Milk doesn't appear a good fit.

Thai Life are straight players but I'm not sure what would be the value of Life Assurance.

@Nontiya **********

Indeed. And that is why I 1. Recognise choices. 2. Make decisions without hesitation. 3. And decisions made will always protect my freedom from intrusion as best possible.

@David *******

It's not learning that is the issue. It's lack of desire/interest, especially when the old ways like diarising (meaning hard copy in a pleasant desk diary work perfectly well). No turning on. That is the key - and not a technological one. So no exposure to unwanted calls, messages and advertising. My dislike of digital routes has nothing to do with technology and everything to do with intrusion. Fascinating revelation though that in this discussion people have jumped to technology fear without at least considering technology dislike. Perhaps I will conduct some research on that, using my multiple Macs and pcs - whilst mostly having my smartphone resolutely turned off. That preserves an atmosphere that is conducive to the levels of thought required. Go out and I reluctantly turn the smartphone on. Worth reading Tchaikovsky (I think the nephew) on Tchaikovsky the composer - loss of concentration so loss of thought trains and possible great work through minor interruptions that were totally unnecessary. With age I think he had the reputation of rather an irascible old man. But I, for one, perfectly take his point. I don't think I've ever totally lost work but losing half a day to a whole day is pretty easy. For what - someone screaming at me in a foreign language I don't understand to buy something I don't want. Yet if I turn off the tones why have the thing on, because I sure as hell am not going to look at it. Always remember that with age we have the great privilege of not having to be on-trend, don't have to do as the next guy, but do as closely as possible exactly what we want. OMG! I still wear deck shoes!!! I like them. I'm not trying to fit with a youthful set, not trying to form relationships, etc.

@Shayne *********

You are so far in the space of not being aged there is absolutely no point talking with you eg "now where is the pencil - I remember having a pencil"................... "Oh bugger, I put it in the fridge". I doubt you've even the slightest grasp of any of that. And likewise the young person in the mobile shop, so a total inability to understand what might be of use to an older person and so explain those features. That includes can they see the phone (bright red is good), can they see what is on the screen properly? Unlikely, but a tip is that dark background works best. Would they know there is a choice of backgrounds, would they be able to change, would they be told by that salesperson - resoundingly NO.

@Shayne *********

But so speak young people, the very ones least vulnerable. Mobile phones are the invention of the devil to older people, myself included. Would he even know there's a calendar in there, would he remember to put the dates in if he understood the availability and process of the calendar on a smartphone - if he has a smartphone.

@Bennett *******

That sounds great. Thai Embassy in Bern made it sound almost too easy. Back in USA the quote is 1-3 days, Form I-131, Application for a Travel Document, US Citizenship and Immigration Service. As best I see application might be online or attending a local office which you find by contacting the information centre. There is a long list of what events aren't covered as an emergency. It has to be stressed that missing first day attendance at Kasetsart WOULD wreck the ED Visa application. Definitely check how long to get a new passport the straightforward way, including does US have an "emergency" pay extra service. If it isn't going to happen then emergency travel document as a Plan B, perhaps later, including if a US passport has been ordered but it is failing to come in time.

@Paige *******

USA Emergency travel document? "Temporary passport / provisional passport/emergency passport of nationals exempted from the Visa Scheme for 30 days is accepted by the Immigration Bureau in Thailand. However, the passport must have a validity of not less than six months upon returning to the residence country". I would've thought you would likely get hit by the full-on carrying cash and return ticket things though. Why not check timescales re a full US passport, re Emergency Travel document, but also double check with Thai embassy.

@Dianne ****

In Thailand legally but not work - at anything - legally.

@Us ****

Technically even for free would require a work permit.