4MyEgo

We live in a village, and we knew of a builder, not sure if he is qualified, but as I worked in the game, I knew he was very good at his work after inspecting a few houses, and the wife having talked with the people who owned the house, asking if they had any issues, all said no and gave him the thumbs up. So seeing the quality of work is a must. Expect delays, our build went over 6 months, e.g. 18 months 2 men, but we weren't to fussed because when we moved here, we lived in our bungalow on the land and could keep an eye on things, it beat giving the sister-in-law instructions to be on site doing video chats with us from overseas. The only thing I regret (not really) is allowing the wife to talk me out of putting in a cavity wall, although I sorted that out later by creating external shade cloth coverings 90% UV which take the sun off of the walls effected on one side. I did the following and it worked out brilliantly but it all depends on your budget and how much comfort you want if your going to be home all day as we are. 1. 3 metre ceilings 2. Good quality sisolation under the roof tiles, like thermal reflective sisolation holds the heat from entering the ceiling through the tiles for a greater period of time, therefor keeping the space between your roof and ceiling space cooler, also by installing thick environmentally friendly insulation batts reduce the heat coming through your ceiling and also stopping cool air escaping upwards when using your air conditioners, e.g. we use them for 20 minutes before bed and then turn them off before bed, then allow fans take over on low, works like a charm if you don't like air conditioners and paying for larger electricity bills when not required. 3. All electrical wiring to go into pvc pipes to stop rats eating them 4. Whirly birds to take the heat out of the ceiling space on really hot days 5. Vents at the front of the house to allow the air to flow and with the whirly birds it creates a sort of like wind tunnel assisting the air to move quicker, e.g. our whirly birds are spinning all day, even when there isn't any wind 6. Wide eaves, minimum 900mm although 1200mm would be better for shading 7. All bedrooms to be on the opposite side of the sun, e.g. the sun doesn't touch the walls our bedrooms are on, so they are always cooler 8. Safety cut out switch within the main switchboard and get some fixed generator lights on the walls for any blackout, we have 2 plus 4 portables, beats the hell out of candles. 9. Spend a little extra and get those power points with the on/off switches for the sack of the kids sticking in any objects which can also be overcome by those child safe plugs 10. We didn't tile our floors we had the concrete lacquered, thus providing the polished concrete look and not only does it look good, it is cheaper than laying tiles with less maintenance. 11. We installed sliding doors internally as they take us less room, e.g. not taking up any space when fully opening the door vs the sliding door which can slide behind a chest of draws for example and they don't slam shut with the wind or kids have a tantrum.....lol as they are flush with the wall. 12. Don't tint any windows as they retain the heat, put in some light curtains which will allow a small amount of the heat in which is better than trapping in the heat with heavy material curtains or tinting. Remember most of the heat enters through the glass windows, so important to have curtains which also keep the cool in. 13. Established trees help to shade the house 14. Keep concrete at a bare minimum near the house as it heats up, so some blue rock or something like that is better in my opinion 15. Manholes should be in the bathrooms for accessing the ceiling, out of site 16. Good size rain tanks, we have 2 x 1000 litres, plus a good quality pump and additional smaller pump to pull water from the street when and if water isn't flowing so well (automatically kicks in) 17. Security grills internally on windows and doors are always a good thing to have for when your not home, you hardly notice them if they are stylish and inside the house. 18. Good quality toilet seats to avoid blockage 19. Extractor fans in the bathroom as well as fans to help remove those heavy smells. 20. Check if you land is within a flood prone area, if so a few extra truckloads to raise the land made us feel a lot better when the neighbours took on water due to some heavy rains a few years back, everyone saying we didn't need to raise the land that much when we were filling the land with a little extra soil....uha, which leads me to the top layer should be that fine red red rock with the blue metal will help in absorbing the rain. Last, but not least, white is a good colour for reflecting the sun on external walls, and believe you, me, it's all about keeping those walls cool. To sum it all up, only invest as much as your prepared to walk away from if the $h-t ever hits the fan so to speak, not that it is going to, that said, 10% of your worth should do it, that is what I based what I was prepared to lose and we are going 15 years strong, but I have 90% to fall back on if ever, anyways best of luck, just thought I would throw that in because a lot of blokes didn't think about the what if and where would that leave me scenario, so if you have everything covered, you good.

Thailand has never been conquered by westerners, why would they start now, as far as I am concerned, Thai's are racist, not picking on Thai's, just stating the facts that I have observed from living here, and that is not to say Racism doesn't exist worldwide, it does, suffice to say, why would Thailand want to open up to westerners when they can control the conditions, I mean what is it, they allow up to 200 westerners if I'm correct to become citizens subject to rigorous conditions that most other countries don't put people through. The above said, even if and when they allowed us married to Thai's for over 5 years to become citizens, I wouldn't because I am already a citizen of my birth country as is my wife, (dual citizen) and didn't have to do squat to get it, just be there for 2 years as a permanent resident then apply for citizenship a couple of years later, no need for work or knowing the language, go figure.

Have been here just on 6 years, the only thing that has really changed for me is that I have become awoke as to how uneducated and racist the Thai people are, e.g. Thai's 1st, everyone else 2nd, this was clearly evident with this pandemic. The lack of education, explains the corruption etc to me. All of the above said, one can still live a good life if one has the backing, not talking pensions, and yes the cost of food is up their if you like your imports, i.e. pretty much the same as back home, but labor costs, housing materials, electricity, water, and the like are cheap, so it depends on what you want in life, i.e. to own a shack in a western country and put down at least a million $'s to buy it, but we all know it's way more than that or use those funds to build a place here for 1/10th of that and maintain the same existence as you did when you lived back in your home country. Thailand is not perfect, but where is, when I talk to guys thinking of retiring here, they can't believe what it costs me to live here, albeit it they constantly complain of how expensive it is back home and how they have to keep working to just survive, with my reply being, how much is enough and what do you want out of life, because at the end of the day, it's only time, the rest is nothing, so if you want to work 5/7th of your life to exists to watch your asset grow, but have to work to continue to repay the bank loan, the car loan and the rest, then keep doing what your doing, for me, I have enough here to last me till I'm 101, but I don't just sit and live off of my money, I look for investment opportunities without breaking a sweat so as to minimise my out of pocket expenses, with this year being the worst as it's cost me around 4,500 baht a month to live here after income from investments earned......I know, it's bad, but hey could be worse ???? I think if people have money, Thailand is a perfect place to retire and ones home country can be a holiday destination every year or two if one has family there, otherwise the world can be anyone's oyster.

If you haven't planned one, good luck, because I doubt you will be getting one if past experience has anything to do with getting a vaccination. I paid in full for Moderna in June which is supposed to be arriving in October, well almost half of the reduced amount (3.9 million) thanks to the Thai Red Cross who put their beak in and will get 1.1 million of the 5 million doses that the private consortium wanted to order. Fortunately I did receive a Pfizer jab from a tip off from a mate and am due for my 2nd dose in 9 days, that said, will be pushing Moderna back to March/April next year as my booster, subject to data on whether we should get a booster 6-8 months after 2 jabs of Pfizer and where the virus is at. Had I not been tipped off by my mate about the Pfizer jab being on offer, I would still be waiting for Expatvac to get in touch with me as I registered with them on 1 August, also Bangkok Hospital KK who said my registration was successful and had an appointment for Pfizer on 12/9/2021 subject to email confirmation which hasn't arrived. So my thinking is that these guys that come up with these ideas change plans along the way and nobody gives an update on what is happening, suffice to say, it's everyman for themselves. All of the above said, from my experience here, putting the Mor Prom site aside which was a success earlier on when AZ was being rolled out for farangs, I wouldn't be relying on this government for a booster, so as I said above, if you haven't planned one, good luck with that.

Well done, that is great news, thank you for the update and the very best of luck to you.

I found it on Google maps but it the link won't work if I try and share it with you, it's basically on the corners of Narisson Road and Surin Road with it's actual entrance being in Narisson Road. If you have Google maps, type in: phuket provincial public health office and it will come up for you.

Make sure you take your passport with you and any docs of pre-existing medical conditions in case they register you on the post. Best of luck

Your not suggesting they stacked the voting, surely not, this is Thailand, that's like saying that a General of an army could take the country as a caretaker in a coup, have the constitution changed and then become PM. Highly unlikely, no, no, no, they voted him in ????

I would suggest you contact them and ask the question, i.e. can I get Pfizer and if they say yes, then ask, do I need to register online or just come on the 9th and then take it from there. I walked into a Provincial Health Department to register as there was no online registration, received Pfizer then next day. Ask questions about SHA+ , SHABA via inbox www.facebook.com/SandboxPhuketFor inquiries about congenital diseases, please contact the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office at 094-5938876 or 062-2435116.

I also received Pfizer about 10 days ago, although not because I am going overseas, which is on the cards next year around middle of the year, that said, I won't forget the "Thai's 1st" policy earlier in the year and there still being that around parts of the country now with farangs reporting that they were sent away. My wife who is 40 refuses to get Sinovac followed by AZ, her government has let her down, although I did book us both the Moderna vaccine for October, whereby I will put mine back to March/April as a booster. When my wife's sister who is 39 found out I received Pfizer shot she immediately said to my wife, I will buy his Moderna shots and pay him off, with my reply to the wife being what about your mum or dad, I would have thought if I wasn't going to sell my Moderna shot I would give it to one of them for free, with my wife saying, I will tell my sister you will think about it but might need it as a booster next year because of your underlying condition. Now the question has to be asked, is it selfishness, e.g. me 1st or just stupidity as I would put my parents before me. Do not feel like you are a hypocrite or be guilty for their governments mishandling and selfishness, most Thai's voted them in thinking they would get a better deal, which they have now found out the hard way that they are worse off. Empathy might be a better word for it. Just remember this, if it wasn't for the generosity of the USA, we wouldn't be any better off and in the same boat as the Thai's, don't forget that, thank you America.

I pay about 1,000 baht a month (not 6 months) for my meds at a pharmacy, compared to back home $10 a month government subsidised. In essence you are paying 105 baht per month for your meds, Jesus, that's a 10th of what I am paying, perhaps you don't realise the costs involved of running a hospital. Sounds to me like we found a winner, that was misspelt on purpose.

When starting off with all the misinformation, I sat on the fence, not an anti-vaxer, got all my shots as a kid and my annual flu shots and Pneumonia shot + booster following year. The above said, the misinformation and push by the anti-vaxers was hard, and with Professors, Dr's, Scientists, Epidemiologists, Lawyers and the like forming their own groups, it was very confusing, suffice to say I had an appointment back in June for AZ, but let that go at the peak of all the news of clots and associated/assumed deaths from AZ, add to that the misinformation for VAERS just about did my head in. I booked Moderna for October back in June as a back up and allowing for more data to come through, then on the same day that the FDA approved Pfizer as a vaccine I was fortunate enough to also get my 1st jab with Pfizer, the rest is now history, although I do know that there are a lot of still brainwashed people out there, can't blame them really, but I am glad my group of friends finally got their 1st shot of Pfizer whilst they were adamant that they weren't getting jabbed.

I too am registered on two sites, however waiting for them to contact me tells me that they aren't capable of handling the volumes from my experience. The above said, I would strongly suggest you contact your local Provincial Health Department if you are over 60 or under 60 with pre-existing conditions as there have been a few rolling out Pfizer with great success, e.g. I got wind of this and got my 1st dose close to 2 weeks ago. I also registered with the local hospital and they called me a week after my 1st dose and advised that they had Pfizer, however we advised them that I had already received mine in another province an hour up the road. If you don't fit into the above category, suggest you pay for Moderna which I believe if you can and do, it will be early next year before you get a shot, that said, it beats waiting around and in the meantime if they lower the age group for Pfizer for farangs then you get Pfizer and use Moderna as a booster sometime next year by moving the injection date further back. Don't sit and wait, be pro-active, i.e. if you haven't been. Good luck.

I know a lot of farngs who received the Pfizer all over 60 including myself and would strongly suggest Pfizer over the other two you have mentioned. If I were you I would check with your local Provincial Health Department as Udon Thani Provincial Health Department which is an hours drive from me, allowed registration on-site for farangs over 60, no pre-existing conditions required, albeit I have one, and then the shots were given at Raj University the following day.

Let me guess, the Thai Red Cross will get first the 1st 1.1 million ahead of all who paid for it for October.

Selfishness reminds me of ????

Wife said to me over dinner the other night she wanted to repeat the kids, my reply was; is this because of Covid, yes she replied, I said, "up to you honey", I have had my 1st dose of Pfizer, wife zero, kids zero, so it looks like we will all have to remain in the house until the big bad wolf huffs enough to go away or decent vaccines arrive for them, me thinks the latter it will be.

The evidence is as clear as daylight, the CCTV is the witness and it doesn't lie, no need for his wife/girlfriend to come forward as she wasn't in the room. They might want her to say, as reported, they let me go if I kept quiet, which we know won't be the case because she would fear for her life. I can't see these bozos being released, if they are, there will be a massing uproar, suffice to say, the CCTV has got them good, so they will be made an example of to protect the rest of the corrupt force, all the way to the top, extending to all the other government departments that we know of. I wouldn't want them to get the death penalty unless they go out the same way as the deceased, alternatively they can rot in a cell with 60 other inmates, if they can survive that.

Maybe there will some breaking news down the line, "Dr related to Jo Ferrari" working in a Police Hospital crashed a Porsche borrowed from Jo Ferrari's collection of 29 luxury cars. It was also reported that Jo Ferrari was distraught after finding out of the news as he kept a large stash of plastic bags for emergency use in the back of the Porsche.

Glad they mentioned that clown, but 24.04% is way to high for that clown. That's a fair percentage that would reflect the overall population, I just don't get the corruption part, Big Boss, Joe Ferrari, there innocent and Jo should be acquitted soon, let's not forget, the Junta along with their buddies has a reputation to uphold.

Your welcome, next time I will bring it down a notch just for you ????

3 weeks.

Mate of mine and his Thai wife in Oz were experiencing similar symptoms to you but after a couple of weeks cleared up. He has high blood pressure and is 61 on some meds for his high blood pressure, his Mrs came off far worse as she had a score of 3 for her blood cell count, my Mrs is a 10 and that is as low as you want to go, so his wife is on iron transfusion. I had my 1st dose of Pfizer on the 23rd, sore injection site for a day, diarrhea once, some headaches, lethargic, some dizzy spells, and muscle aces, but nothing more than my average day pains, although the muscle pain, particularly in the arms from the elbow down to my wrist are annoying, but one has to look at what one has been doing of late, e.g. pushing the bike (possible cause), suffice to say, I would think the above except for the sore injection site are normal for me, excluding the diarrhea as well. I think the 2nd will be much the same, but my mate did say he coped it worse the 2nd time around, so maybe up your vitamin D, C, Zinc, Magnesium and B12 ?

You've done your home work then. I was being facetious when saying (hero) as I know you are caring and mean well for the girl from your post ???? Don't commit till your ready, suffice to say that there is nothing wrong with your wife explaining to her that you cannot take any chances of being infected as it would be a death sentence, something on those lines and I am sure she will appreciate your honesty and generosity paying for the hotel and food. You are a better man than me, I won't have anyone staying here, whether they have had Covid or not, cannot afford to take the chance, it would be a death wish on me, suffice to say my wife's son who had been home for a while asked his mother if he could go and stay with his girlfriend for a week, we sat down and discussed it and said to him, on one proviso, i.e. you do not go out and about apart from getting food to take home, or eat in when there are not a lot of people as we cannot afford you bring the virus back here as it would disrupt the family, e.g. we might all end up in different hospitals and the youngest is 7 followed by 11 and I have an underlying condition, he agreed to the terms and off he went, he stayed for 10 days, he is that age where you want to you know and we told him that he has to wear one because we will not support him getting a girl pregnant, that said a week later my wife's sister (auntie) to him, by a few years, asked him in front of us how was his trip to another province and if the skin clinic gave him any freebies for her, OMG, my wife lost it, I asked for translation as I could see she was furious, and she said he caught the bus for a two hour trip to go to a skin clinic with his girlfriend. We have not seen him since that day, about a week ago, he could have exposed us, but lied, not the first time, so the wife told him to move to his girlfriends, no skin off of mine or my wife's nose, you raise them best you can, but if they want to continue to lie and expose everyone because of their selfishness, then they can go where the grass is supposed to be greener, with our blessing.

Yes completely understood this before I received my 1st dose, hence the reason most are taking it, particularly those of us over 60 with underlying conditions. After the 2nd dose I have already planned to get a booster come March/April next year because from what I am reading is that Pfizer is only good for 6 months against the Delta variant, the USA, UK, Turkey and others are going down that path, albeit it 6-8 month boosters.