kirkieb

The "Father-Ray" foundation would be well advised to finally publish some figures (Accounting).

Up to this day, the father-ray foundation refuses to account for how many seriously affected AIDS-Patients they have under their "financial-umbrella" and the cost associated by this.

Until some transparency enters their business-acumen. Non money to them!

Cheers.

Not sure why you bothered to respond. Swissie, The Foundation is getting so big that they have things going on I'm not privy to being a volunteer and mainly focusing on Orphans. The figures you speak of focusing on a group of unfortunate people with HIV has absolutely nothing to do with me trying to find a ride on mower to keep 60 kids mostly under the age of ten with backgrounds we both can only be grateful we were born in better places with Government Support. Your issues with the Foundation should be addressed in a more appropriate forum or even better with the President and the Foundations Administration. Its because people have issues with irrelevant things that unfortunately prevents a wonderful organisation achieving an even higher performance and helping more than the current 850 Thai Children and young adults. Im trying to raise money or even better get a ride on lawnmower donated so it doesn't need to be brand new just in good condition would be great. I'm a pensioner and a realist and know there is not one big organisation in the world that someone doesn't have an issue with but if we all focus on every bad point then there will never be any more good points and really in the end its just the kids that have nowhere else to turn.

Hope you can see what I'm trying to do Swisse and your always welcome to help me push the lawnmower and keep your money in your pocket I wont say no to any help

Hi Bunta

Got to tell you I know how difficult it is for these kids to get into the organisation. They just dont have the power or authority to accept kids or take them. Like all countries there is a huge amount of bureaucratic rules to get thru. These kids have to get in front of the government people who take them and place them. Is very sad I tried to get one accepted also but without the paperwork and officials who tick the boxes. All we can do is pray for them and hope more people become aware and offer their help.

Just an update for anyone interested The Wet has arrived and the grass is growing like crazy. I still think the ride on is the only way I will get through all the grassed areas with so many trees it rules out a slasher. So if you can all keep your eyes out or watch the forums for Farangs who have made their fortune and little to spend it on tell them we need a ride on mower yesterday. At this point any would be great but a 48 inch cutting deck would be perfect.

Does anyone know where you can buy a backpack weed sprayer of at least 10 liters and of reasonable quality. I need to get one for Father Ray Children s Village and will buy it from a donation Ive received but cant seem to find any or where to buy weed spray from in Chonburi

Any ideas

Hi Bunta

Got to tell you I know how difficult it is for these kids to get into the organisation. They just dont have the power or authority to accept kids or take them. Like all countries there is a huge amount of bureaucratic rules to get thru. These kids have to get in front of the government people who take them and place them. Is very sad I tried to get one accepted also but without the paperwork and officials who tick the boxes. All we can do is pray for them and hope more people become aware and offer their help.

Hey Bunta

Its how I would do it also but no money for labor, no tractor for ploughing,had to raise the money for the lawnmower and poor thing wont last long so we focusing on around the homes in the village. Would love a Ride on and still working on that. The grass clippings are all being spread around to return as much to the soil as we can. Want to start a compost area but distance and small mower catcher means being emptied every few minutes so walking back and forward to a compost area acres away is a little too hard to imagine. In time my vision is a tractor or ride on with a trailer and collecting all clippings and cuttings to compost. The kids all go back to school in less than two weeks so its just me.

If your free or have a tractor with cultivator then would love to hear from you if you can help us out.

Kirkie

Have our mower and it hasn't had much rest in passed week and place looks so much better. One snake only encountered. Thanks for everyones efforts but we could use a ride on or old tractor for future slashing ha ha Thanks everyone

Kirky

What a great source of real responses. Nothing beats experience and the many responses show some real pain endured. Have been hit myself only today and found how pointless it is trying to complain or get back a deposit on a property that was in Thai and signed by my Thai wife. Even the lawyers (English) tell me it will cost a fortune to get back my deposit. In that said I had my eyes wide open at the time and asked for a translated contract at the start and was promised it over and over before wife would sign. On the day all we had was my wife reading the contract out which by most countries standards covered nothing including returning deposits etc. Only promises from the Manager Verbally. I'm so glad I finally got the damn thing translated independently. Yes I wish my wife did not sign but she assured me it was well written and was a good deal. ARGHHHH Follow your Gut fellas. Its cost 100 k Baht and that sux as I'm on a pension but its a good lesson and maybe I was too stupid to believe anything here is more than a grab for cash. I choose to now keep my cash in Oz rent, and just ensure beer o'clock comes around. Eyes wide open fellas . Cynical maybe but supreme optimist and think the Government here need tourists and visa runs are worth a fortune to this country, just with ASEAN happening in two years maybe the borders will be further.

A lady I know in Australia who is on an invalid pension has just sent me message to say she has made all these scarves and sold them at a market and has raised 3000 Baht towards our lawnmower so now we have 10000 baht towards a Honda 5.5 hp or a deposit on a ride on or transport costs to borrow a ride on for a while from Phuket.

There are some great people out there.

Thanks Kevvy nice words and great support will never get enough of that as far as the kids go but it certainly helps me and the many other great people make a difference.

Kirky

Hey Weegee

When can we have it and for how long? I have 7000 Baht so far donated by some wonderful Thaivisa mbrs and maybe that would be close to put it on a truck and send it up here if those that donated agreed.

Would make a huge difference to the area. One of our mutual mates visited the place today and was humbled by it all.

Kirky

Hi Johanohl

Thanks they are the best prices we have been offered but considering we are only at 7000 Baht so far in our fund raising we are going to be a fair way off the ride on idea. We have so many wonderful sponsors of the Foundation already and the Foundation is desperate to raise money for a Special Needs Kids Classroom which we just have room for the kids to be in class one time a week so all funds are assigned to that project that is spare.

I cant ask the Foundation for anymore money at this point. On the other side the push mower is as good as we can hope for. I have been told to stick with Honda only because many of the locals tell us its still not a common brand here for workshops to repair Briggs and Stratton. I personally just want a mower that is happy to work hard and will last us for a few years and parts are cheap and easy and accessible. and most professional gardeners in Oz all use Hondas just for longevity they get from them. Open to your professional advise as Im just the crazy bugger that wants to push it and make sure the kids areas are clear of long grass for snake s to hide in.

Love to know what you think johanohl as to the ability to do such a big regular job with the Briggs

Kindest regards

kirky

Well if you know the entry to Siam Country Club coming from Lake Maprachan then the signs are on the right to Father Rays Village, follow the Polo club signs u will see the kids village on the right. If you let me know I will meet you there am usually there most days

Hey Weegee, Have spoken to Kevvy and we hooking up on Saturday to solve the worlds issues./ Glad you got back to Oz safely. Have a massive amount of scars from using the whipper snipper in areas that haven't seen a line trimmer in a while. The kids were fascinated at the amount of blood that came out from my legs. They thought I was very strong. I explained that strength had nothing to do with it and I was a <deleted> for not wearing long pants.

So far the whole place after 20 hours on the whipper snipper doesn't seem to have made much difference. I could use a good backpack weed killing type spray unit with a spreader bar if you know anyone in Bunnings. I love Bunnings by the way.

I got all my injuries from using a weed eater on the footpaths that are full of huge weeds.

Stay safe my new mate and enjoy Oz.

Kindest regards

Kirky

we have a few goats already and the bloody things get too well fed and don't eat the grass. In fairness to the goats they do spread a lot of weed seeds also seeing as they roam willingly. I think my calculation of the land size is a bit off I think we are on about 10 - 12 acres so renting a lawnmower every week wouldn't be viable seeing as the grass grows so well. If I had my way Id say concrete the lot but thats being just ridiculous

Hey Kevvy sent a email to your email account. Not at the Village tomorrow due to Songkran commitments in Town so hope to catch up with you in the not too distant Future.

Kirky

Like the idea Tananthai of that mower checked one out at the shops yesterday but they advised me its great for tall grass but not so great for maintaining lawn. Either way thanks for the advise.

Kirky

yeah we have given the ride on idea away, will stick to a lawnmower. The kids already have many jobs to and are responsible for the houses they live in, They all have many jobs daily and its because they start their day at 4.30 am with some not getting home til 6pm its a massively big day. They all sweep and do all the floors every day, the toilet gets roistered daily and then they have their rooms checked daily and cleaning of their school uniform after school and then dishes after dinner so they certainly do a lot more work than most western kids I know. I'm amased at how much they do.

Im happy to mow the lawn for them with the kids sweeping, and removing the waste of all pruning s I do as I go.

There are so many projects on what to train the kids in future prospects and doing gardens is a great idea, will keep an eye on the ones showing some interest

Thanks Mr

Have bought a Brush cutter myself already for them and been using it there all week but large areas need a lawnmower and the problem is there is so much crap for sale here and in 6 mths time we get the same problem, I personally have had Hondas in Australia and the damn things just keep going and going with an oil change an new air filter and spark plu are about all they ever need so Im going for Honda, the biggest size we can afford.

Kirky

Latest update is both mowers have been inspected at workshops in Pattaya and today it became apparent that both mowers are not interchangeable so that option is gone, the parts needed are very expensive to replace on such old engines and a body for the old Honda is 5000 baht new or 3000 Old so after much consideration am now looking at buying a new Honda Lawnmower. We have been offered a Discounted price from a Supplier on Pattaya Nua of 14000 Baht and have already had two donations totaling 3500 Baht.

Anyone wanting to donate please contact me as soon as possible as the grass is just going to explode with all this rain and we need this mower now.

Kindest regards

Kirky

Hi Kevvy sorry for not responding earlier but am having a bit of trouble finding too many business s open that can fix the mowers to give me a price. I checked out a new Honda and its about 15000 baht so am looking at trying to raise the money myself and start fresh with a mower that I know they will get many years out of.. In the mean time as soon as I find a place open and willing to give me a quote will let you know mate.

Kirky

Thanks for great advise so far keep it up you never know we may just get a nice looking area for a bunch of kids that really just want to be loved. Oh and somewhere to kick a footie would be nice to.

Alright an update after some very good advise from weegee, am going to attempt to try and make one out of the two bad lawnmowers but may still need a honda shell with wheels as have one honda motor but shell is completely shattered. The engine is too small for the job but will suffice to get started.

Anyone have an old Honda shell with good wheels?

http://www.fr-ray.org/ Just in case there are more sceptical people that look for bad and cant see the good Im trying to do I invite you to come and have a look at the kids Village. Its open every day The Village is Near the Polo Club or the Big Chinese Temple about two minutes from the Lake. This is a genuine Community spirited plee for help nothing more. If your interested in helping these kids then please feel free to send me a message but if your someone who has tall poppy syndrome keep your negative attitude to yourself these kids have had it bad enough without more of that stuff in their lives.

Tanithai to respond to what seems like sarcasm please understand that I never asked for a ride on I said I was going to fund raise myself for one in the future (personally from friends in Australia). The kids at the orphanage have a gravel area used to play soccer and every kid has massive sores from grazing their legs. Father Ray was successful late last year in getting a donation for grass to stop the kids getting hurt but due to lack of water or the shear cost to water such a big area we have been waiting for the wet season to start so the grass gets a chance to establish. Im just thinking ahead for the mowing of a small soccer field to give these kids something most people take for granted.

Thanks for replies, the Village is near Lake Maprachan in Nongplalai, In Chonburi It has ten houses at the moment they have over 50 kids. The property has had so many great people helping over the years but maintenance on the grounds and the buildings is difficult. So far a ride on mower is a dream and I will be using a push mower of over 10 Rai of land and without complaint I boughjt a whipper snipper myself but the job is too big for that.

Have had a generous person already offer to see what they can do to fix the two push mowers and Im hoping to get the details of the engines today to assist that wonderful; person.

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