GarryP

Luckily the humidity is so high here that the evaporation rate is quite low, otherwise there would be a severe drought across the country.

I have a few catapults, but I am absolutely useless with them. Couldn't hit a tin can at 4 yards. I have a bb gun too and and much more accurate with that. Having said that, I couldn't hide the bb gun in my pocket, or the neighbour would think I am very pleased to see her.

Well as I have since moved upcountry, it will also be that way for me. Luckily the government (only) hospital in the tiny town where I live is only a hop and a skip away. I have already noted that it is exactly as you say. I'll get my queue number and <deleted> off back home for a few hours before returning.

I would not recommend the craack of dawn thing at Chula. Been there and done that. After waiting about 7 hours I gave up and went to a private hospital instead.

I can't bend down low enough. Not that I'd want to.

You mean Chatchai's buffet cabinet? Anand's time was good. There were definitely some positive changes bringing Thailand in line with international agreements and standards.

I'm still a farang in the eyes of most people here. Just happened to gain citizenship in early 2016. I don't recall ever voting in the UK, but then I left when I was 19.

Yes. I voted in the Bangkok gubernatorial election, but this will be my first general election.

Don't agree with you often, but that was definitely the last straw. Despite having some good policies, I will never vote for PT as long as the Shinawatras are involved.

Who did they think would win?

the sex is better because she suffers from photosensitive epilepsy.

A bit too effin late there.

I didn't know that power failures was so common out in the sticks. But early last week was a big learning curve. Periods without power on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, one caused by a fire which burned down three house in Phon, another by power supply cable being cut (don't know how) and another due to a wind storm. Villages quite close to where I am are also without water now too. Hopefully, we get some rain before it hits my mini town cos I don't think I'll be able to book a bore driller at the moment. Read somewhere that in Udon there is a 2 month waiting list. They seem to be fully booked here too.

Mr. Bit (Missed a bit)

I know a few people who stopped doing the extension based on marriage once they hit retirement age and started doing retirement extensions instead (Bangkok). They said it was a much simpler process. It may be worth checking out.

I've told my wife that if she starts getting all nutty when she hits menopause, she's going on hormone replacement therapy. She actually agrees with me on this, but will probably change her mind on that when the time comes. Fingers crossed.

I have always bitten my tongue on this, despite feeling Owl was being treated poorly by the missus. But as no one really knows the situation better than the people directly involved, I thought it best that I focus on the good stuff.

I'm gonna have to give them a call. Submitted my application to back pay in early January and still not heard back from them. Luckily there has been the extension you mentioned.

I understand where you are coming from. I was married for 27 years to my first Thai wife, but it was me who was unhappy with how things were going rather than the wife complaining about everything, but I just couldn't up and leave so just stuck it out. Then our daughter died (she had severe cerebral palsy), so no longer any reason to stay in the unhappy relationship as my son was in his early twenties then and could look after himself. But I still stuck it out as my wife went into depression at the loss of our daughter and I just couldn't leave her like that (living hell for me though). Finally she came out of depression after about 2 years, only to be diagnosed with cancer and die 2 years after that. So I did finally get my freedom and like you I am now a farang in Isaan, but what a journey to get here. Having said that, I did not have the wool pulled over my eyes that often as I do speak the lingo.

I had some workers in my house when I played that. 55555

Had a bit of rain on Tuesday night/ Wednesday morning here in north Kalasin. Nothing to scream about but still appreciated, especially as my garden is rock solid and we can't plant much until the rain arrives. Reduced the garden dust though. To give you an idea of how dry the ground is:

A quick change of subject, but linked to this thread. When I read about Owl and his daughter solving the Rubik's cube, I thought I'd give it a go. So I found a decent set of videos on YouTube and after a month (yes, a whole <deleted> month - must be my short term memory going down the bog as I age), can now solve it without having to refer to notes. Never realized I had so much time to kill unitil I moved upcountry just over a month ago. Anyway, thanks Owl. What is your next puzzle adventure?

I think I'd better stop following your thread for my own mental health. ???? You'll be picking out all the things that I should have called the builder out on, but because I wasn't on site and even if I was, know nothing about building, would have missed anyway.

Just rechecked the www.gov.uk website and it says they have extended the usual deadline of 5 April for voluntary contributions (for 2016-17) to 31 July this year so I should be okay. I'll give them another week or so and then follow up.

I submitted the CF83 form 2 months ago and still not heard back from them. When I actually requested my NI number (I had forgotten mine), it took them 7 weeks to get back to me.