Korat88

Not sure if this forum or "general topics" is the most suitable, but since it is a computer related query decided to try here.

Do any of you UK citizens resident in Thailand have an account with Barclays (specifically as that is who I bank with in the UK) and have the privilege of accessing it via the internet? I have been trying and failing to get authorisation to get access. It appears Thailand is a risky country for financial dealings and I am not allowed to set-up on-line access which is really frustrating as I have to wait for statements to arrive in the post to track payments of any kind.

I would be happy to hear of any success stories!

Thank you

My MacBook Rechargeable Battery has expanded and needs to be changed. Has anyone any helpful advice on the best source in Bangkok please? Are all the Mac suppliers about the same or do  the costs vary for originals quite a bit from one place to another. I am thinking of going to MBK tomorrow night after work, so would that be okay or am I likely to be wasting time or getting a bad deal there? Thanks for any helpful pointers.

I have had a request from a friend in the USA to assist in recommending a good hotel near Impact Exhibition Center. The two names that I currently have shortlisted are:

1) Miracle Grand Convention, 99 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Laksi, DON MUANG.

2) Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok, 1695 Phaholyothin Road.

Does anyone have any experience? If not are there better alternatives?

Thank you.

Earlier this year I lost my brother who was the only one looking after my mother in the UK. She has been on her own since 1992 when my father passed away. Now she is on her own, aged 82, with only a meals on wheels service and a home care visitor to make sure she takes her early to slightly worse stage Alzeheimer's onset tablet each day. She has her own house in West Sussex which should be rentable for around 800 pounds a month. She also has a small amount of savings but I am uncertain of the amount. I doubt it is over 10,000 pounds.

My thinking, perhaps flawed (hence this post) is to bring her to Thailand to live with me. She can't stay with me in BKK as the place is too small, but we have some land near Korat and think that we can build something we like on it that will keep her and us happy. She will be able to do some gardening, and she will have company (wife and visitors). I am sure she would do better here. However, there is the Visa side (non-immigration O?) and then of course being sure that she can continue staying each year. It would be awful if she HAD to leave for some reason after in effect saying farewell to the UK.

Has anyone faced this situation or even proceeded with actually bringing a parent over? I remember a thread once before along similar lines, but I couldn't track it down again and besides I think it has been inactive for a long time as no update to a similar query was provided.

Any useful feedback would be really welcomed/appreciated.

Thank you