rickudon

You can buy dried haricot beans in Makro. However, even after soaking overnight and cooking for 45 minutes they were still like bullets...

Was taken there in 2021 - I know it was the pandemic but it was a boring sh*thole then and I was expected to pay for it. Most exciting thing was a fish swimming around.

There have been a whole spate of corruption cases in the news the last few days, a coincidence? Not sure if it is the old government letting these go forward so that Srettha cannot claim credit for prosecuting them, or if the prosecutors feel there is a chance that they will not be penalised for publicising them, now that the government has changed (a bit).

Sorry for those who are desperate for rain, we have had about 20cm this week alone in Udon Thani. Ponds overflowing, roads beginning to flood at low spots. At least as much as last year.

I only drive a car, and in over 12 years of driving in Thailand, have only ever had a few parking scrapes or wing mirror bumps (although 3 times the parking scrapes were Thais hitting my car!). In my Thai/UK family, during that time, motor bikes have caused :- 1. wife had one fall (mud) with daughter. Fortunately only scratches. 2. Son while holidaying here borrowed wife's bike to drive around the village; had helmet but wore flip flops. Fell off on bump and ended up with 27 stitches in his foot and could hardly walk for a month. 3. Nephew and Niece hit car while going to school, only minor injuries but had to pay the car driver.... 4. Above niece drove into a metal pole and broke leg. 5, Another Niece run down while turning right in traffic. Arm broken. 6. Another Nephew 2 accidents including a broken arm. Also, at least 3 people from the village have been killed by trucks on the main road only 500 metres away. You may be lucky, but riding bikes is dangerous. My rules for car driving:- 1. All other road users should be assumed to be out to get you. 2. Speed - drive in Kmph what you would in mph back home - gives you that extra bit of reaction time. 3. Assume that the person on your left side will be turning right, and vice versa. 4. At traffic lights, always allow space for motorcycles in front of you - they sort out the red light runners. 5. Never trust a turn signal on another vehicle until they actually turn. 6. And, of course, ALWAYS put that seat belt on before you reach the road (in UK definitely saved me from serious injury twice).

Do Not rely on the generals. The recent Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian airbase 700 km from Ukraine, made Shoigu convinced that it was a NATO attack, and wanted to retaliate. Putin had to talk him out of it. There is mad, and stupid, which is worse....

Never found an actual Thai news channel in English. If they had an actual brief news in English slot i never found it. (PSI). Since internet got to the village gave up looking - we now have AIS that does include a number of International News channels. If i want Thai news in English, i use ASeannow.....

If Thailand can win 17 awards, it tells you that other ASEAN countries are doing nothing.

India's ban on exporting rice and the Ukraine war affecting grain prices, means rice is selling for more on international market. Hence more is being exported.

Heavy overnight rain in Udon. All ponds overflowing and wife's shop flooded, which is a first. Fortunately water levels in the village have fallen today as rice fields were not full before the rain.

Sorry to hear about Owls and Andrews experiences of CKD. Maybe more common than i thought. I do have a cousin with it, soon to go on dialysis. he is a bit low, as also his wife has Alzheimers and is now in a hospice. Spent a day and a half at Nong Prajak Public hospital last week, for tests, more tests, and a couple of consultations. I had blood tests, urine tests, Prostate tests, ultrasound twice, an Xray and a CKG. Also gave a bag of medicines for blood pressure, cholesterol and bladder function. Was a bit exhausting being sent from one room to another (every test and consultation was at a different place) and the lack of English in the signs doesn't help you get to the right room/desk. I went via the foreigners office, which i am sure gets you bumped up the priority list as never had to wait more than 20 minutes ( i guess that is because you are paying.....). Took the wife second day which helped. All told cost about 6,000 baht, which is a lot cheaper than Bangkok hospital. Apart from the CKD and an enlarged prostate, all was good.

Sorry to hear about Owls and Andrews experiences of CKD. Maybe more common than i thought. I do have a cousin with it, soon to go on dialysis. he is a bit low, as also his wife has Alzheimers and is now in a hospice. Spent a day and a half at Nong Prajak Public hospital last week, for tests, more tests, and a couple of consultations. I had blood tests, urine tests, Prostate tests, ultrasound twice, an Xray and a CKG. Also gave a bag of medicines for blood pressure, cholesterol and bladder function. Was a bit exhausting being sent from one room to another (every test and consultation was at a different place) and the lack of English in the signs doesn't help you get to the right room/desk. I went via the foreigners office, which i am sure gets you bumped up the priority list as never had to wait more than 20 minutes ( i guess that is because you are paying.....). Took the wife second day which helped. All told cost about 6,000 baht, which is a lot cheaper than Bangkok hospital. Apart from the CKD and an enlarged prostate, all was good.

Since middle of June plenty of rain in Udon Thani. Maybe slightly less than normal, but rare to get 3 days without rain. Our rice field is full and ponds close to full already.

Ideally, but plenty of people live on the streets. Housing in Thailand is a separate issue, but still a lot simpler and affordable than say in the UK. That is one of the main issues that sees me in Thailand. UK state pension doesn't cover housing either

You cannot live on 600 baht a month. Totally agree that 3,000 baht is a more sensible pension.

In the UK, most ATM's are built into walls for safety. Doesn't help. Favourite method of theft is first steal a JCB digger from a building site and use it to demolish the wall and carry away the ATM machine for leisurely dismantling. Takes less than 5 minutes. near my old home a string of thefts over a one month period removed all but one ATM machine in a 5 mile radius, very hard to get cash.

WE have 3 Haier AC's, first recommended by installer/repairman about 3 years ago. Work fine - last 2 both installed this year during the heatwave, so cannot say about how long they will last.

Plenty of rain in Udon Thani. Veg garden still flooded.

Wildfires need very dry conditions and a good breeze if they are to spread. As for ecoterrorists, forget it. In the UK, back in 1976, we had a very dry spring and summer after a dryish winter, then a heat wave for 2 months. Fires broke out everywhere - sides of motorways looked like chessboards because of so many fires caused by cigarettes - but no fires spread very far. If you get dry conditions - fires will happen. usually due to careless humans, but lightning can start them. Most fires burn themselves out or are easily controlled. But when all the conditions are right .... It does seem that the last decade or so is seeing a dramatic increase globally in severe fires. Climate is definitely a factor. In Thailand fires are common, many small ones, but never heard of a large, out of control fire.

Chickenlegs, just having a rant. Still alive and should still have a few years left. Owl, welcome to pop in next time you are in Udon. I live about 500 metres from VP (which you know). Yes, i remember seeing about the wife's debts. Mine had a few - didn't get told about them until after daughter born! Avocadoes - i started with 6 in pots. Started off well, but eventually started dying off. I planted one in the ground, but didn't matter how regularly i watered it, it slowly died. The one i kept going was planted in a concrete ring with well prepared soil. It was doing fine, but past experience with the others told me that they hate getting waterlogged, they need good drainage. BUT also need regular water. The one in the ring in hot weather needed watering every other day or would start to wilt. I was originally diagnose with CKD in 2021 in the UK. But told early stage. Was getting checkups and tests from Bangkok hospital but was a bit expensive. I was hoping to get some tests while in the UK but during the 3 weeks i was there we were so busy ( sight seeing, Chessington world of Adventures, safari park, Hampton court etc.) plus sister-in-laws wedding that never even had time to visit a doctor, only had 2 days free and needed to rest! And have you tried to get an appointment with a UK GP recently? Usually a 2 week wait and similar for tests, have to book in advance and wait a week for results. I will return to UK next year (alone) as have a number of things to do which have been put off due to Covid. Should have at least 3-4 years before the CKD becomes critical, then maybe back for good - but to be honest probably easier to see a doctor in Thailand currently. Trying to get my diet more in line with what the kidney's need, but that means making more food for myself. CKD isn't really curable - it is all about slowing it down. Currently the only symptom i have is i get tired after a reasonable bout of physical work - usually need to rest for about 2 hours. Other things - our ponds are now full, due to the constant drizzle, but not overflowing yet. Have just bought some more Jeramid to grow on for the ponds. Usually overflow 2 out of 3 years. Not sure if i will plant any more trees.....

Wow, just realised 3 weeks or more since looking at the thread. So much happening. For me a few mishaps. After the fantastic UK family holiday, got back on the 11th May, just in time for daughter to start school. First, my one remaining Avocado, 6 years old, which i had given explicit instructions to be watered, was dead. Typical. Hard to rely on extended family here. Next, was told the old rice field next to the pond was going to be ploughed. I had left some piles of branches there left over from the Eucalyptus harvest (another case of the land being left in a mess), so i went down to clear them; trod on a rock and felt a sharp pain, thought it must be a long thorn or nail. Upon investigation, so signs of a wound. Thought nothing of it, expected it would be back to normal in a couple of days. How wrong i was! Couldn't walk on it for more than 5 minutes and pressing the clutch pedal on the car was painful. Took 5 weeks. I had broken a bone in my foot I think. followed by - management light on car engine came on - 24,000 baht to fix. Air conditioner died in bedroom, another 6,000 to repair. Then ... Toothache. Antibiotics, visit to dentist and root canal treatment (2 sessions). Crown to follow. Decided it was also time for some blood tests, went to Nong Prajak hospital - result - wouldn't let me leave until i had seen 2 doctors. Chronic Kidney disease (CKD) is getting worse. Finally, due to not working on the farm, and wet season, the grass was growing a riot, so contractor employed by wife to cut it. My instructions - "careful of my Date palms". When i went to check, already finished - but so were 3 of my date palms (i have spent two and a half years rearing them from seed), only 2 left. They were about 75 cms tall and about 5-8 cms thick at the base, how can you think they were grass? I have lost more young trees butchered by Thai bush cutter/tractor idiots over the last 10 years than i can count. My M-in-L also helpfully weeds out any of my vegetables i plant if she thinks they are sick, weeds or anything else. Our garden is nearly a desert because she digs up the grass (lawn) and chops down trees and shrubs just because she doesn't like sweeping up leaves. Just about ready to retire to a bar for the rest of my life and drink! So have been a bit depressed of late.

As with all innovative construction techniques, there is a gap between what is possible and what happens in practice. Poor quality materials and lack of maintenance can lead to catastrophic failure. Worst example recently - the Genoa bridge collapse which killed 43 people. It may take a few decades to fail, but you do not want to be around when it happens.

Incorrect. Taenia are tapeworms. if humans ingest the eggs, the parasites may hatch but will die as humans are not the correct host in the first Stage of the cycle, so the cycle will not be completed. The cysts they form can cause damage. This is the correct description of the lifecycle: Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm, belongs to the cyclophyllid cestode family Taeniidae. It is found throughout the world and is most common in countries where pork is eaten. It is a tapeworm that uses humans as its definitive host and pigs as the intermediate or secondary hosts. It is transmitted to pigs through human feces that contain the parasite eggs and contaminate their fodder. Pigs ingest the eggs, which develop into larvae, then into oncospheres, and ultimately into infective tapeworm cysts, called cysticercus. Humans acquire the cysts through consumption of uncooked or under-cooked pork and the cysts grow into an adult worms in the small intestine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taenia_solium

I wonder what are the items used to compute the CPI. Yes, prices haven't risen a lot, but quite a few packaged items are suffering shrinkflation. One item i buy regularly has shrunk to 85 grams from 100 grams - to me that is 15% inflation!

Banks closing accounts because you live abroad is worrying, because sometimes we need a UK bank. I was careful to set up my financial and legal affairs to work in the UK as far as possible when i moved to Thailand 13 years ago. I maintain a UK address ( relatives home) and have internet banking for all my banks. I use 3 main banks, have regular transfers between each bank ( a circular transaction through each bank in turn) to keep the accounts active. Also have a UK credit card. Means i have options if one bank is lost temporarily or permanently. Get pensions paid in, some direct debits paid out, and this allows me to move money around and take advantage of any higher interest accounts. Still get some issues - logging in sometimes requires OTP's, which can be an issue as one bank would not accept foreign telephone numbers. Also had issues with Nationwide refusing to send money to Wise half the time, so just use my Clarity credit card (which is actually cheaper, as long as you pay off your debt same day). And of course getting new bank cards requires them to be forwarded by family. So reasons to keep more than one account active. Especially important to keep UK bank accounts now as opening new accounts with Thai banks is a nightmare, even with a long term Visa.