BoganInParasite

Mine took two and a bit weeks two years ago. That included the time to electronically send a new photo after the original was rejected. Pretty astounded by the good service and quick turnaround (not to mention the appalling cost).

Wife has one. Uses it mainly for her homestay stuff. I refuse to have any clothing ironed anymore. Always hated doing it myself and while both wives have been happy to iron my stuff, now that I don't work and avoid social interactions requiring any semblance of pretentious, I prefer not to impose upon her.

I'm inclined to just grow older gracefully and put up with the deterioration. Had my share of fun and pleased I'm still in the saddle so to speak.

Amazingly this came up to pretty much within a few thousand of ours. However we were told if we ever returned to live in Thailand it would be returned and it was. So technically I paid nothing.

Up here is remote rural northern Thailand we have several depots that will pay for scrap/recyclables. In our case since COVID we just donate. Recently we got two brothers to collect from our home and they were staggered we didn't want payment. At our village landfill and indeed at a couple of spots in the village there are places for recyclables. And I see evidence that someone occasionally opens and examines bags presumably looking for items they can scavenge.

Started making our own bread 2-3 years ago. Started simple with a white loaf baked in a cast iron camp oven in the electric oven. Then moved on to whole wheat loaf baked the same way. Then a spiced fruit loaf baked on a lined metal sheet in the electric oven. Then a year ago started doing white baguettes, then wholewheat baguettes. Taught the Thai wife and she has been serving in her homestay breakfasts, still warm from the oven. Have been quite a sensation with her guests that were predominantly continental Europeans in the last eight months. She (and I) were quite nervous when she baked and served baguettes to her first French guest but they loved them.

Would like to spend a year or two in Taiwan, then head back to Australia for my sunset years. Must admit that am somewhat concerned that the Australia I would be returning will be too different to what I left sixteen years ago to feel sufficiently at ease.

No dinner for a couple of years now. 14-15 hour daily fast. Not noticed any health benefits but now getting older and less active so don't need the calories of three meals. Much prefer a substantial breakfast and light lunch.

Pretty sure I've only used the horn here for dogs and cattle on the road. And the Thai wife has forbidden above dash hand gestures of frustration and/or copulation suggestions.

Yeah the wife hosts quite a few big bike riders. Favourite roads seem to be 1256, 1081, 1148, 1169, 1091, 1333 and 1097. Even the far northern portion of 101 gets some folks excited. There are also some good short rides up into some less visited mountain villages.

Close to Pua in northern Nan province.

Managed to mow all of the lawns in 85 minute respite from the rain. Wife was keen since she has homestay guests from today for five days. Getting too much at my age.

The wife's small and highly regarded homestay in northern Nan province had an unexplained fourfold increase in bookings from Europeans this last high season. Made up for the near collapse of bookings by Thais. Bookings by expats living in Thailand stayed the same.

Speak occasionally to tourist farang guests at my wife's small homestay but in terms of expat farangs living in Thailand it has been at least over a year. Just glorious.

Have seen enough before and since COVID to say that 15-18 months is about the expected lifetime of the majority of these types of small businesses. I've got pretty good at predicting those that will not survive. You look at them and ask yourself what are they offering that will stand out in a saturated market, where will the customers come from...foot or motor vehicle, where is the parking, adequate signage, no website/Facebook, not on Google Maps or if they are, without the correct or any GMB categories.