@Steve *****

That’s great Steve. I tell my GP’s practice that I’m ‘abroad until further notice’. That ensures they won’t remove me from their panel as it’s my intention to return at some future date. I don’t need regular medication myself. However, I’m sure if you mentioned something similar they would be agreeable to continuing to issue prescriptions ‘pending your return to UK’. As regards postal delivery by Royal Thai Mail in Thailand, it’s the same as UK (door to door). You don’t need to find out when items arrive and collect them in person from the post office as you do in certain other countries.

@Euan *******

No charge for GP consultations or writing out prescriptions in UK. If in England prescription medicines are free from age 60 onwards.

@Chizel ******

Santander U.K. wrote to my home (U.K.) address asking me to contact them. As I was in Thailand I was unaware. They then suspended my internet access. I telephoned and they explained they wanted to know my future intentions for my current account, savings account and credit card? I explained I was abroad until further notice but wished to keep all open pending my return to U.K. They said this was fine and unblocked my internet access. What they would have done had I not telephoned I don’t know.

@Declan *********

Thanks for that Declan! Going to have to work on this.

My Thai Mrs wants to take a holiday in Spain and/or Portugal. Anyone with experience of applying for a Schengen tourist visa to either please?

@Steve *******

The irony is that people think because you live abroad you must be rich! In reality, we are unable to afford enormous gas central heating bills and pay our Council Tax (property tax to the local authority).

@Marty ********

Absolutely believe that! My Visa Agent tells me that the majority of her customers are Brits receiving State Pension only.

Free WiFi is everywhere. Hotels, coffee shops and even the most economical noodle restaurants have it. Simple to buy a SIM card at any shop and top up when needed. AIS and True seem to offer the most signal coverage.

@Mark **************

If you already have a DTAC sim it’s probably easier to keep it and ask for a similar data add-on package. In my case, AIS add-on pack was available within their app. True didn’t advertise their’s, I messaged customer service who sent me the code to apply it. In both cases, I needed to top-up my account in advance to permit the purchase. If you decide to go for AIS or True it’s best not to buy at airport. They try to sell tourist ‘specials’ which are not what you’re looking for. Buy a pre-paid SIM from .

@Nick ***********

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing either! I tried uninstalling and reinstalling and other speed measuring apps. To be fair, the speed does vary considerably but it’s always a lot faster than what I’ve paid for so I’m very happy.