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Bredbury Blue

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Posts posted by Bredbury Blue

  1. Returned yesterday to Samut Prakarn DLT office to do my licence renewal (2yr. to 5yr.).

     

    Have to say it was far quieter, a lot more pleasant and parking no problem at Samut Prakarn DLT office than at Sukhumvit 62 DLT office, though seemed like very little English is spoken there (I was accompanied by my wife, Thai). On my each of my visits I saw only one farlang.

     

    Showed my paperwork outside and was told that I had to go to 2nd floor, counter 4. At counter 4 was told to queue for the boss’s office (it’s behind counter 4). Went in and he checked my paperwork was in order against my passport, Work Permit and expired driving licence. He put a form on top which I signed then took it all back to counter 4 who checked it again and sent me downstairs to the testing room.

     

    In the testing room for the 2pm appointment slot there were 3 Thais and me (not busy like Sukhumvit 62 when I went 2 years ago, where they we testing many groups of 10 at a time).

     

    So, I got my 5-year licence and I would recommend Samut Prakarn DLT office over Sukhumvit 62 DLT office if you live close enough.

     

  2. Plenty of vids on YouTube of people doing it on motorbikes which should give you an idea.

     

    I'm never sure when people say the MHS Loop do they mean the big one that goes from Chiang Mai to Mae Sot and back or the smaller loop of Chiang Mai to Mae Sariang and back.

     

    Drove the big loop a few years ago, we loved it. Especially loved the drive from Mae Sot to Pai. Loved Mae Sariang, MHS and Pai. 

     

    Route was:

    BKK to Sukhothai (1 night at hotel at airport)

    Visited the brilliant Si Satchanalai Historical Park (2nd night at hotel at airport)

    Sukhothai via Tak for lunch and on to Mae Sot (1 night at centara hotel)

    Mae Sot to Mae Sariang (1 night at Riverhouse hotel) *mistake not to stay an extra day at M.S.

    Mae Sariang to Mae Hong Son (2 nights at Imperial)

    MHS to Pai (2 nights at The Quarter)

    Pai to Chiang Mai (2 nights)

    Chiang Mai to Sukhothai airport again (1 night)

    Back to BKK

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  3. 2 minutes ago, cyril sneer said:

    you say you get bein sports, is there an option to subscribe to the true sports channels with premier league?

    I downloaded on my phone and subscribed to BEin connect app - don't remember how much but it was cheap. On the box I downloaded the BEin App. I log in on my phone and connect the phone and BEin App on the tv to watch.

     

    We already have a True tv package with Premier League, but I think through the box you can subscribe just for a PL package (i can see THB 149 and THB 249 on the screen).

     

     

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  4. It looks like the True Box I have. Got it for free I use it everyday to watch Netflix, YouTube, football on BEIN Connect. Worth having. If it doesn't come with a remote (It should) then download 'Android TV' App on to your phone.

     

    The smaller of the two boxes. It connects in to the tv.

     

     

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  5. 14 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

    For the past few days the two chicks have been hanging around on our garden paved floor area. Today there's only one.

    Pleased to see it's back to two youngsters again this morning (always come to the same spot in the garden - the area where I put bread).

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  6. For the past few days the two chicks have been hanging around on our garden paved floor area. Today there's only one.

     

    A bit like the adults, you can get really close to them.

     

    Be interested to see if it's back in the morning. Plenty of cats use my garden as a highway, also lots of snakes (found a dead rat snake in the garden this afternoon - we suspect a bird had it), monitors - a python sometimes lives under the empty house opposite.

     

     

     

  7. We were in the area so we did our annual visit to see the Gulls from Siberia, Mongolia, Tibet and China wintering at Bang Pu pier (they visit every November to April).

     

    Chaotic but great fun feeding them bags of pork scratchings.

     

    They are extremely agile, you feel you are going to have them crash in to you as they get so close, they are experts at carefully and gently taking the food from your fingers.

     

    1637232278852.thumb.jpg.df164f4f6e1e03f0405cbbaf9ed7f43b.jpgIt's a popular attraction for the locals.

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  8. On 11/15/2021 at 3:38 PM, Bredbury Blue said:

    Using SLT Smart Queue, i just tried booking an appointment first at Bangkok's DLT Phrakhanong Sukumvit 62 and then at DLT Samut Prakarn.  The earliest appointment booking spot that is free at either place is in March 2022!!!

    This afternoon the wife and i went to Samut Prakarn DLT office, reasoning that it'd be quieter than Phrakhanong Suk 62 office, to see if I could book an appointment in person as I didn't want to wait till a March 2022 online booking slot.

     

    When we arrived at the DLT reception the wife said she wanted to try to book an appointment for me. We were told to go up to the 2nd floor, desk 4 and ask to see the office boss (he's jaydee we were told).

     

    Joined a small queue for our turn in the boss' office. 

     

    Wife explained to him my licence expired in July, I'd done the 1hr video lesson in June (showed the certificate on my phone), and as I had to go overseas for work was it possible to get a quicker/earlier appointment than booking online. 

     

    He booked me in for the earliest possible date which is just after the Dec 5th holiday.

     

    He was indeed jaidee.

     

    Very happy to get that appointment date.

    • Like 1
  9. 23 hours ago, howerde said:

    I gave up trying to use smart queue, and just turned up, took a thai speaker with me,  about 4 months ago, they gave me an appointment a month later, then they were closed for a month, with no one answering the telephone, i turned up with expired appointment card last month, they let me in,  and i came out with a 2 year license about an hour later. its best if you take a Thai speaker with you, if you can not speak Thai, not  much english spoke there, dont forget to wear trousers shorts are not allowed in, plenty of signs warning you.

    Thanks, i'll send you a PM

    • Like 1
  10. My 2-year licence expired middle of this year but as i understand it, due to Covid-19, there is a Grace period until 31.12.2021 for renewing the driving licence.

     

    Using SLT Smart Queue, i just tried booking an appointment first at Bangkok's DLT Phrakhanong Sukumvit 62 and then at DLT Samut Prakarn.  The earliest appointment booking spot that is free at either place is in March 2022!!!

     

    Anybody had any luck either just turning up and applying on the day or just turning up and getting an appointment for a short while later?

  11. 2 hours ago, drtreelove said:

    I understand. Its true that sometimes the situation is such that you are faced with choosing the lesser of evils due to poor original planning for mature tree size.  You may be stuck with either tree mutilation or clear cutting.  

     

    But for others who may be planning and planting their landscapes, its a good heads-up to always consider the eventual size of the trees you are considering. Get informed and choose wisely. 

     

     

    Wise words. We bought the house from someone with the tree planted too close to the house and right next to cables / wires requiring the trimming. We have also planted trees on an additional house plot we bought to extend our garden, and as trees grow they need trimming. If we had loads of land and no complaining neighbours we could probably let the trees grow untrimmed.

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  12. 53 minutes ago, drtreelove said:

    I'm sorry to hear that. 'Chopping them back' violates best management practices and destroys natural form and beauty.  'They grow back so quickly' because its a natural vigorous growth response to the loss of foliage and capacity for essential photosythesis of sugars to support life of the tree.  Moderate crown reduction, size and safety managment can be achieved with proper  pruning practices, while maintaining BMPs for tree health and structural integrity.  

    Why Topping Hurts Trees (2018_05_25 14_55_25 UTC).pdf 188.43 kB · 0 downloads Why Topping Hurts Trees_thai (2018_05_25 14_55_25 UTC).pdf 376.57 kB · 0 downloads

    No don't be sorry to hear that. It's worked pretty well for 18 years. It's either trim the trees or cut them down as they are close to the house, near wires, allow access on to low roof for rats to gain entry to downstairs ceiling, etc. - we choose trimming over cutting down.

  13. 35 minutes ago, islandguy said:

    My wife says it is very poisonous. Not surprising as oleander and plumeria are also poisonous. Perhaps learning that as a child influenced your wife? Also, people vary in how they react to a particular strongly scented flower.

    Perhaps, or it's because another tree common to cemeteries in her childhood (strong smell helps mask burning smells / deceased)

  14. 47 minutes ago, drtreelove said:

    And do you know this intoxicating fragrant flowering tree, in full bloom for the last two months or so, all over Chiang Mai, widely planted in road median strips, like along  the 1001 between Raum Chok and Mae Jo.  

     

      ปีบ pip (Central) Sounds more like ton peep or beep. 

    Millingtonia hortensis species page - THAILAND NATURE PROJECT

     

    Last week I saw the largest specimen I've seen, at the admin bldg on the McKean hospital property in Chiang Mai. 

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    Have 'beep' or Indian cork trees is our garden. Like them a lot. We chop them back when they get big but they grow back so quickly.

  15. On 10/27/2021 at 5:48 AM, drtreelove said:

    Thanks a lot, that's the one.

     

    So many names for it:

    Blackboard Tree, Devil Tree, Indian Devil Tree, Milkwood Pine, White Cheesewood. And 'tin pet' (Duck feet tree) in thai.

     

    Loads in bloom right now in my mooban, but the closest is say 200m from my house and we can still smell it. Such a strong smell. I don't mind it, my wife hates it.

    • Like 1
  16. 21 hours ago, Anticloud said:

    For now it's แมคกราซ but my wife would really like แมคกราธ. It's McGrath and has a "th" sound. She would prefer แมคกราธ. I didn't catch this last year when my work did taxes, as I cannot read Thai.

    Asked my wife to pronounce the two versions above - pronounced the same. 

     

    Made me wonder about when we first arrive and our name is first translated in to Thai. I guess for most of us it must be when we first get our first WP. I may have asked someone to read out the translation to me (I may not have). As English people pronounce my name differently (my surname is a well-known place in England but people pronounce it differently), I'm not too concerned about the Thai version I was given - it's roughly correct so it's ok with me.

     

    Based on the 2 versions given being pronounced the same, I'd probably stick with the version you were given if I was you. 

  17. On 10/14/2021 at 6:48 PM, digbeth said:

    Frangipani is taboo to keep around the house as the name 'Lantom' means 'sad' and associated with funeral in many culture but is probably due to the fact that the tree is very sappy, it has since been renamed 'Leelawadee' and often seen planted in many beach resort, the flower also taste good deep fried in batter 

    Just asked the wife has she ever ate it and she looked at me like I was crazy. She says the flower is poisonous. Also it used to be grown only in wats / cemetery as it can 'absorb the smell of bodies but in recent times has become popular for gardens.

     

    Wiki says

     

    "The Frangipani is, in fact, poisonous, but only if you eat an entire flower will you begin to feel sick. Frangipani possesses a milky sap which is mildly poisonous."

     

    Also read it's poisonous to dogs.

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