OneMoreFarang

I intend to buy an IKEA METOD kitchen. Now the question is if I should let them assemble it or do it myself (with other people for support). My question is how difficult the work is. I assembled already other IKEA furniture and that was fine. I have not much trust in many Thai technicians. I am sure they will be able to build the kitchen. But I worry that they use too much power on the screws so that they are lose again and things like that. The kitchen should be stable for many years, and I don't want to have trouble later. I have the tools and in principle I am sure I will be able to put things together. But I didn't do that 100 times like the IKEA teams. I worry a little about the exact alignments of doors and drawers and things like that. It seems to be not easy to get this right. What is your experience with IKEA and their teams building kitchens? Do they do quality work or just rush the job? And what is your experience with assembling IKEA kitchens or other furniture? Did everything go right? Did you wish you would have asked them to do it. Obviously I have to pay if they assemble it. This is not the issue here. I am willing to pay if they do quality work. That is what I am concerned about. What is your experience?

I would love to read a background story about why these raids happen and who has this let's-do-this idea. Is it some police officer who wants that everybody gets a night OT payment? Or is it some politician in Bangkok who tells them to show they are doing something? Or maybe someone from the tourism authority? Who has these ideas and what is their actual goal?

Ask your employer or accounting.

I have to admit I thought about grey. A little grey or a little more grey...

Thanks for your post and also thank for all the other useful comments. I understand what you write, and obviously you are right. But unfortunately that doesn't bring me nearer to the question of how to choose one or more suitable colors for my condominium. I don't want to get all the walls printed, furniture and plants inside, and then think: I don't really like this. Let's try again...

They should be forced to do that. Or they should go to jail. And obviously that won't happen in Thailand anytime soon.

And some professionals do it because they like science and they do their best. And sometimes pharmaceutical companies develop and produce great medicine. I think it's wrong to assume they are all bad.

I think it's good to have a well-deserved skepticism. But sometimes they are right.

Loan sharks are a big problem in Thailand. And most people don't go to the police because they know that many loan sharks are connected to the police. I am not sure if she is brave or stupid to go with this to the police. But in general it would be good for Thailand if more people would stand up against loan sharks. Obviously it's stupid to borrow any money from them at all. But we are all allowed to make a stupid mistake from time to time. She, and all those other loan shark victims, should get fair conditions to pay the money back.

I am sure there are many studies out there which were done by teams of professionals. Do you think that you know better? If yes, why?

Normally I ignore your post. But this time I saw a reply to this so now I am aware of it. Please feel free to open any new topic you like. Obviously, it would be nice for the people in China if they would be treated better. And I guess on my list of possible concerns they are still a little higher than those gays in Qatar. But that issue is still far below my threshold of: I care enough to talk or write about it. Go ahead, and don't expect any contribution from me.

That is often easier said than done. Many of those stupid people visited school - and didn't learn much. And even if they learn something and work hard some will think that working not so hard and making more money with crimes is what they want. And then maybe they fail and get locked up. And then? Will educating them then make them good productive citizens? It seems that works only in rare cases.

It seems all in Thailand relevant political parties have strong connection to "interests". Maybe military, maybe other rich and powerful groups. I don't think there is any party from the people for the people. Some super rich businessmen pretend they are in politics because they have such a good heart, and they want to help the poor and downtrodden. As far as I see it that is just BS. It brings them some votes from the uneducated masses. That's the only reason why they pretend to feel that connection.

Yes, and no. If someone is drunk and drives and maybe crashes into someone else that is a law and order issue. And the same is true for someone who drives under influence of drugs. Taking drugs somewhere in a safe environment shouldn't be an issue.

My wife doesn't worry when I go out to Nana. She knows enough girls there who report right away where they saw me and what I did...

I don't like drugs, and I agree. Some time ago I read an interview with a high-ranking police officer in the UK who just retired. He talked about a huge drug bust. Then the reporter asked him what difference this will make, and the police officer replied: Now drugs will be for some time more expensive on the streets and because of that there will be more crimes from people who "need" money to buy drugs. So much for the meaning of success.

They should prosecute the driver for attempted murder and send him to jail. If that would happen often enough, then maybe some drivers would have an incentive to stop. Just the fact that maybe they kill somebody seems not to be important enough for some.

I just saw a video about that. Interesting. The singer made a long video about the motorcycle rider touching her leg. And she tells him he should not do that and then he does it again. And what does she do? She continues to make her video. I find such behavior strange. I asked my gf what she would do? And she said she would tell the guy to stop the bike, get off and send him away with a couple of words which would be censored here. Obviously the guy shouldn't do that. But why does she sit and make a video out of that? What would she have done if he (tried to) rape her? Make a video? There was a time when girls learned to tell such guys to f$# off, maybe slap them in the face, whatever. He will get the message. But sitting there, continuing with the ride, and making a video? Strange!

Good idea but I don't want to run the risk that someone thinks I am one of those rainbow guys...

And for how many people did the escape work long time? Is it really so difficult to see that too many people who take drugs f#$$ up their lives? Don't do it!

Drug abuse works like this: You think you want to feel better. Somehow someone told you that taking drugs will make things better. You can a) do that I find out in the long run it won't get better or b) you think for a minute or two how many people ruined their life with drugs and then you don't do it. It's not really that difficult.

It's time to paint the walls of my renovated condominium. But which color? I think looking at a book full of colors or little plates makes it difficult, at least for me, to imagine how a whole wall or room painted in that color looks like. Are there any shops in Bangkok which show colors on walls? How did you select which colors you want? And did it work out the way you imagined? This is an example of what I think is a bad way to select colors. It's just too small to get an idea how it will look on a wall.

So if you are black, poor and uneducated then you have to take (expensive) drugs, correct? I think that sounds rather stupid. Basically nobody is forced to take drugs. And nobody is forced to continue with that habit. People are responsible for their lives and their life decisions. Telling them, or pretending that obviously they have to take drugs because condition a, b and c is stupid. But that doesn't mean they should all be locked up even if they take drugs.

Not that I care about football. But looking at some of the results I understand why they want to get drunk.

That's why I meet the guys in Soi Cowboy. Nobody likes woke modern times - ok, most of it.