Crossy

You need to move away from lead-acid packs. If you are using up lithium packs in 3 years you need to look at your charging/loading.

Paid holiday would be determined by your employment contract, mine's not up to UK levels, but still not to be sniffed at ???? EDIT Apparently there's a legal minimum of 6 days per year. I understand that permanent employees are allowed up to 30 paid "sick" days in a year, but any absence of 3 days or more requires a doctor's certificate, and, apparently, not providing a certificate is grounds for dismissal WITHOUT severance (which is evidently what's causing the worries).

OK, here we go, this is NOT me, honest (if you remember the saga of the yellow book, it's the same chap) ???? Anyway, I have farang friend who is a permanent employee of a Thai company, he's been there >15 years and is on a decent (ok, very good) salary. He has to go into hospital for some potentially serious surgery (he has insurance that will cover the cost, so not an issue there). He is worried that his employer won't pay his salary whilst he is laid up (it could end up being more than a month, maybe two) and of course he has a wife and mortgage to feed. He is also worried that his employer may use his extended absence as an excuse to "dispense with his services" and try to get away with not paying the legally required severance (which would be 300 days of his contracted salary). He's well known as a "worrier" but in this case is he justified? Any thoughts?

Floated in the swimming pool so the bio-degradable bit doesn't really matter, it's the thought that counts. I love the lady to bits!

Madam is all set with her (100% bio-degradable) DIY kratong.

What sort of "features" are you looking for? We're not in CR but there are certainly places specialising in recovered doors, windows, shutters, C47 aircraft**, etc. all over the country. ** A neighbour to the family residence in PhaChi actually has a C47 (DC3 / Dakota) in the garden. Apparently owned by a farang who bought it for his restaurant and is paying storage rent. It's been there since 2004 when we got to Thailand.

Every country in the known universe charges duty and VAT on the CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) value. Computers are indeed zero-rated for duty so only the VAT plus any "handling fee" charged by the freight/clearance company. I think Amazon have a system whereby you can pre-pay for the customs stuff and then get a refund of any overpayment. Any particular reason you don't want to buy here and avoid any potential warranty issues??

Fixed ????

I just did a quick and dirty calculation for our system of 10.6kWP of panels, 11kW of inverter, 5kWh ESS (actually bigger but I'm limiting usage to maintain UPS functionality). Over a week that had 4 average days, 1 really good day, 2 crumby days. Average export / re-import was 12.2kWh. So, over a month that would be about 366kWh or 1,650 Baht which would be lost if we got a no-export meter and did nothing. Adding 12-15kWh of (DIY) storage would be around 75k Baht so ROI on the ESS would work out at just under 4 years. If you went for commercial ESS units that would at least double and potentially enter the "not really worth it" area. Also, note that on the "really good day" we exported/re-imported 21kWh a fair chunk of which would have been thrown away because a 15kWh ESS was full.

Long ago as an apprentice we had to do a 3-minute talk on a subject which had been chosen by other apprentices. We had 30 minutes preparation time (close to zero when the internet hadn't been invented yet). I got "breeding porcupines"!! I don't remember exactly what I said (it was long ago), but I actually won a prize!!

In my (somewhat limited, nothing like 2 years out) experience, they just want you to pay the back-tax plus a nominal fine.

And the cheap jibes have started (not unexpected) and been removed. Let's play nicely shall we or this thread will get closed permanently.

Mine just took 14 weeks from them taking the $$$ to me getting the "please collect" email ???? I had a similar experience with the "lack of help line", then got cut off and gave up. I agree, totally unacceptable, but what can we do other than put up and shut up?

The cheapest 256G card from Invade IT (definitely legit) is 930 Baht. Soooo ... Entirely UP2U.

Madam "liberated" a fair number of the bags from the road. The sand will get used to improve the rather dense clay soil in the garden. Why pay for sand when you can get it for free

The risk of flooding here is officially over. Removing the sandbags was rather quicker than putting them in ????

I've never really had any luck with 2-stroke engines, even a gazillion years ago my old "stroker" moped was a nightmare. We have a Kanto 12" petrol saw; I spend more time trying to get the ruddy thing started (and re-started when it stalls) than I do actually cutting stuff. Contrast with the mower, mulcher and genset (all 4-stroke) which just work. Hence, I just ordered a 16" (technically illegal by the way) mains electric unit from Lazada for a couple of k Baht. I did fancy a battery unit, but Madam told me that the batteries might not last well. I do not argue with Madam EDIT 4-stroke chainsaws do exist, but I've never actually seen one. https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/outdoor-power-equipment/chainsaws/senix-trade-16-46cc-4-cycle-gas-chainsaw/cs4ql-l3/p-4221069730371264-c-10109.htm

Split from the original topic. Petrol (gas), battery or electric?

With the river now about 1.3m below my "worry" level it's time to start cleaning up ???? Unlike the mower, the pressure washer seems to have survived despite doing a passable impression of a submarine. It's going to see some action over the weekend.

Yeah, the customs chaps are really on the lookout for easy pickings. Over-limit booze and tobacco, easy rules, simple punishment. Anything that looks "difficult" gets waved through.

Lazada do have Alchemist chain oil https://www.lazada.co.th/products/alchemist-chain-saw-oil-1000-ml-i4049361651-s15765223383.html but at 460 Baht a litre ...

Not really much to add to the topic title really. There seems to be significant variation of opinion on the internet, everything from motor oil to canola or other veggie oil. So, here in sunny Thailand, what do you use??

Well, the chaps have just been, same ones as last year (yes, the tall one), no Beemer, turned up in a ratty old Toyota, BMW is "not available" Talked to our two witnesses (with ID card copies), took a couple of photos of us all together (me holding up my PP), filled in some forms and went away. 15 minutes. And they confirmed that they want to visit every year ???? Does make one feel a bit like a criminal ????

They're expecting a lot of Masons then