181228 Did I get this one all wrong? Mandatory health insurance for expats in the making

The article is  O-A visa Specific.
The argument here is  my misconception I have had all these years that I was renewing my O-A visa yearly.  The yearly 'extension of stay is not a O-A visa, it is retirement extension: 'Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom.'
Based on this article insurance requirement is only for O-A visa which is only valid for one year Details are still being formulated. Will details remain O-A specific or address all long stay visas? 
The article has created over 31 pages of comments and questions at Thai Visa  
Insurance for foreigners had been tried under previous administrations, none seemed to have survived   
สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

It's more profitable than growing rice

Many changes in the Christmas festivities.  Much  greater than in previous years.  The parade route in Sakon City had been changed slightly this year. Unfortunately a posting of the change was only made two hours before the parade.

Medical use marijuana has just been approved in Thailand. Details have yet to be announced.

2019 starts off with some Chilly Nights

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

It will be interesting what the holidays bring

The bath weakened slightly close to mid year, giving us an extra one or two cent on the dollar. December numbers seem to strengthen the Baht

Compare this year and add 2003, this year's fluctuation seems light 

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Wish you all the best

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Tha Rae Christmas Star Convoy

Got a late start getting to Tha Rae.  Parking was at a premium, but we got lucky.  The parade route was changed from previous years.  Walked through town thinking the parade was already done.  When we decided to head for a place to eat we were confronted by the parade taking up one lane of westbound traffic on the main highway.

More street vendors than ever, more lights than ever.

Stopped off to get something to eat, where a number of local friends joined us for the evening

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Football, Christmas, and an anniversary

Had the option to attend three football games Saturday.  Took the first offer which was the U-15 game. Some of those players sure looked a lot older than 15.
These young guys played fiercer than their adult counterparts.  Quite a few injuries and a few referee reprimands

181222 U-15 Sakon 1 Mahasarakham 2

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Tha Rae Christmas Festival gets in high gear tonight Dec 23

TAT advertises the longest fireworks display ever this New Year

Celebrating one year without cigarettes today. Used to smoke two to three packs a day.

The trade off has been weight gain on 10 kilo.

Due to injuries I have to limit my exercise to avoid pain medications. I hope to get some help with the aid of a tens unit. Used on for many years during my working years.

Late harvest hibiscus tea

As I harvest the last crop of the year over one hundred plants are already sprouting for next spring crop.  Each one of these buds has close to a dozen seeds. 

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

It's the season, expect evening road checks

I lucked out a few years ago. I was such a heavy smoker that not enough air came out of my lungs to activate the analyzer. I quit smoking December 24, 2017

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon