briley

Just got an e-mail from Ethiad offering me the chance to bid for an upgrade.

Since my original ticket cost around £500 and they want a minimum bid of £750 to upgrade - and then said at that figure I was highly unlikely to get an upgrade I olitely told them where to get off.

Does anyone actually take up the airlines on this sort of offer?

At the same time, has anyone plugged a pen drive into the socket on the back of the Ethiad seats? Can it play any type of video/music or is it more complex than that?

I can not get Radio 4 and Radio 5 to stream live programmes, it works for a few minutes then fails. This has been happening since Sunday.

I can listen to anything from the BBC using 'listen again' - but not 'live'.

BBC web pages talks about being aware of a problem but do not date their message.

I am wonder if it is my setup, Thailand or the BBC? Do others have the same problem?

The post office has many rates I can use for mail from Chiang Mai to the UK, eg for a 250gm package you can:

• Letter air mail B185 - can be sealed and contain a letter
  
• Small package air B136 - can not be sealed, string or staples only, no letter and must have customs form
  
• SAL (letter, small package or printed paper) B97 - goes surface to Bangkok, air to London and surface to Manchester, just the same as normally happens.

I used to use letter rate but have now moved to small package rate. I've found that the delivery time is exactly the same as a letter.

I'm now considering the SAL rate - has anyone tried the SAL rates? Is the delivery time similar to a letter?

They have SAL letter, small package and printed paper and all SAL rates are the same, a good half the letter rate. If I use SAL letter can I include a letter and seal the package????

Royal Flora opens on Wednesday - according to my tickets.

Does anyone have a programme of events, especially for the first day? The website is sadly lacking in information.

The UK state pension scheme is due another major shake up as from 2015 or 2016.

The idea is to bring in a simpler system giving all OAPs the same, either a single tier system giving £140pw for everyone or a two tier system giving every one £97pw plus about £1.60pw for each year you have worked.

I think the changes are a good idea BUT whichever system they bring in will only apply to those who retire after the implementation date (probably 5th April 2016)

If your retirement age is before 5th April 2016 you will get less pension for the rest of your life. I estimate you could lose out by up to £60,000 - that is (don't laugh) 5,555 cases of Chang beer.

It is possible for you to make your views known now either using the interactive web based system at:
https://interactive....he-21st-century

or, more easily, by sending your views by e-mail to:
statepension.reformconsultation@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

Don't forget -

This will impact on all UK nationals in Thailand over the age of 60.

It is much easier to get the government to change it's plans now before white papers etc than waiting until you lose out in 2016.

Very few people respond to these things, the poll tax had 117 people make comments, so your voice will be heard - if you want.