Finally got roped into going by train up to London, with Mary and renewing My Sons expired Thai Passport, it expired over 3 years ago.
After sitting in front of Thai Embassy staff processing the que, I chatted to My Son to pass the time , about how he must observe the subservience and grovelling around him to Thai civil servants.
London embassy staff, they heard and understood Me.
We have no appointment.
So eventually the Passport renewal room empties and it is only Me sitting alone in the room.
My Mary has fled and is hiding from authority, Thai authority.
So I go and get her with a face of thunder , and low and behold the Embassy staff serve us with no fuss.
Everything goes smoothly.
The room that renews passports renews Thai ID cards as well.
They overheard Me telling My Son that He does not one of those ID cards, because He could end up in the Army.
Give them their due, they overheard My background chatter ( their English is good) and upon processing His passport renewal , they explained that his new passport is for 5 years.
To renew again He must be registered in the Blue book in Thailand, and have a Thai issued ID card , to retain his next Thai Passport.
They informed Me that at 18 in the unlikely event that He would be called up, He just needs to inform them that he is in full time education abroad, and is exempt.
No ploblem.
Brilliant day out in London.