So the problem started because he left his subsidized housing for an extended period of time? That I can understand, especially if there are waiting lists or something. If all of his other benefits are contingent on his qualifying for subsidized housing, they may have just followed along.

And I can see the government's point of view. They are paying for housing he isn't using while he takes an extended vacation? He should have lost it.

Whether he is capable of understanding or dealing with the situation is another thing entirely, and the callousness of the consulate amazes me.

I wonder if the Cambodian government can force them to repatriate him?

The problem started because SOMEONE took the trouble to report his housing unocupied , the housing was contingent upon his extended disability benefits . Something else i came across today : The Disability discrimination Act ,"" A disabled person should not be treated less favorably than some-one else "", a person on retirement pension can go abroad without his penson being curtailed although some benifits that are only applicable to living costs in the UK are deleted , i have been living abroad for many years but am in reciept of my pension , a few people i have met recently who are on long term physical disability allowance the same as my man , are still being paid , albiet from different towns .
He is becoming somewhat more disoriented as time goes by ,not always finding his way home if he goes out alone , but he did go alone to the Embassy today , they offered him a free phone call to the UK if he goes back at 4 pm tomorrow , hey ! that's now , it's 1.35 am already !!
Cambodian government cannot even get people to drive on the correct side of the road or obey street signs which includes traffic signals , force who to do what ? He has not broken any laws or caused any mischief so they have no reason , the most they would do is throw him in jail ,,,,, God forbid .
I sounded off ( quietly ) to the National Health Board last night giving them all the details including his N.I. # and original address , they are having a big thing about treatment of mentally ill persons at this time . i also wrote to his chidren and suggested they get off thier asses and start making some effort and noise from thier end , i would have had thier offices in an uproar if this had happened to either of my parents . Oh , did i mention i also found a newspaper to write to ?
Thanks again for your thoughtful input and especially for caring for this unfortunate soul . Colin

The consulate offered him a free phone call. How extremely generous of them.

It honestly doesn't sound as if the children care at all. Even if things are tight financially, surely together they could borrow enough for a ticket home. I gather he came over on a one-way ticket.

I think you are correct , not even an SMS in over a week , I sent them an intense e-mail over the weekend suggesting they go or phone the ministry and newspapers but at least SMS him to know he is thought of , very important to depressive people , we gave him a cell for this purpose .
On the good side , finally i recieved an answer from the National Insurance people not of help but another e-mail address to write to because they did not cover this type of thing at that office . How about clicking on FORWARD ? or picking up a phone , is there no communication between departments ?
After several visits to the Embassy they finally called England and allowed him to speak to the extended disability office in person , gave all particulars etc , "Get back to you later , have to talk to a supervisor upstairs "What , no intercom ?I guess another phone call tomorrow , England is 6 hours behind so not too wide a time frame to connect . Thanks again for your concern. Colin

It's wonderful of you to go to so much trouble for this man. I hope the embassy comes through with a bit more help, or he can get his pension reinstated.

How much exactly will it cost to send him home? Is it just the Airline ticket ? Just had a thought that this could be cheap advertising for whichever airline would give him a free or pay later ticket, if you offer to sing their praises in newspapers & recommend them to all expats!

I have always recieved more than I gave when helping people with problems , it just makes me feel well lucky ? I have enough in my life to satisfy me , i am not a dreamer after riches or fabulous belongings , i have never been jobless or penniless , had my share of fame in my field . I have however been in the glutinous slime of deep depression and soared the heights to outer space on a manic journey to any place but down , absolutely drugless . My mother always told me i would be always surrounded by love as long as i gave it freely , what a soothesayer she was !!! I recieved love in those times and now i am surrounded again from the wonderful people on this forum , please excuse the smudgy words , but the humidity has risen somewhat , thanks again , Colin

You know , it's amazing , i was out grocery shopping with my wife when the phone started to vibrate , she looked all excited as she extricated it from her pants pocket , excuse me please , i was thinking of a previous post of yours , MMMMMMmmm . The call was from our man in suspended animation , his local office would not re-instate his pension until he returned to England , this brought to mind an expression originated by one of my daughters when asked to do a chore , "But dad , my arms are all out of breath " . Have i got it wrong , but are all or most government employees THAT STUPID? They did however give him the phone of another office concerned with over-seas problems , excuse me @%#*@ do they accept collect calls ?
Whilst talking to my wife about this in our pigdin English/Kymer , i thought about airlines , on arival home , she booted up the computer and there was your latest post , ohmegod , the old adage is true !!! great minds do think alike , but multi miles apart ? Scratch my ear please !! When i finish reading my new posts i will be right on it , another nights sleep gone i guess , have to strike while the irons hot , the inspiration from this forum seems never ending , thank you , thank you . Colin

The airlines are a great idea! Hat's off to both of you!

I guess you also will be off to the consulate to see if they will pay for another phone call.

Well , this poor person hasn't had a beer in a couple of weeks now to placate his nervous state of mind and cut his smoking well down . This is difficult for depressives to do under normal circumstances , but he is without his medication also , he has also been walking all kinds of K's to conserve expencies and the tempratures here are in the 30's , if nothing else he is getting more healthy by the day . Yes , he is on a mission to succeed and will be at the Embassy again tomorrow to plead his case . thank you for your encouragement once again , Colin