Stevemercer

Our kitchen sink started draining slowly this year (despite periodic cleaning of the U-Bend under the sink). The problem ended up being a blockage in the drain pipe before it entered the concrete drainage pit. After digging everything up (as the OP has done) I could see that no water was flowing into the cement bore when the kitchen tap was on.

I suggest doing something similar while you have the pipes all exposed to see where everything is going (or not going).

Because of several 90 degree bends, I ended up cutting the drainage pipe in two places until I could get the hose in, clear the blockage, and get the water flowing back into the cement bore. I then had to use plastic sleeves to reconnect the pipe. Messy looking, but it is all buried again now.

Another issue was flooding caused by the neighbours infilling at least a metre higher than us causing water to infiltrate through the top of the cement bores during heavy rain. I ended up digging a drain along our fence to keep most of the excess water away.

Our house has three bathrooms and 6 of those buried bottomless concrete bore things (3 septic and 3 grey water), plus a kitchen sink and washing machine discharge. Unfortunately the kitchen sink and washing machine both flow into the grey water tank for the busiest bathroom. This tank is at the lowest end of our property and cops the most flood water as well. Meaning it is nearly always full during the rainy season and the surrounding ground boggy. The overflow now leaks out the top of the cement tank into the drainage channel I dug along the fence. Luckily there is enough gradient to take the worst of the overflow away from the house and into a depression.

2 hours ago, Morch said:

 

The attack was planned long ago - certainly months, some reports citing a year or more.

It was no ad hoc response to am emerging situation.

Yes, Hamas knew the writing was on the wall following the 2020 Abrahams Accord when the United Arabs Emirate, Bahrain, Sudan and Morroca recognised Israel and normalised relations. Saudi Arabia is the next cab off the rank expressing willingness to normalise relations (pushed by the USA). Such recognition would doom Hamas to being a bit player as other Aran nations followed suite.

Saudi recognition of Israel would be a game changer for the whole Middle East.

Hamas is willing to sacrifice Arab lives to ensure Saudi Arabia doesn't recognise Israel and to keep the status quo.

Maybe I am taking the question too literally.

I am 64 now, in 2023, so naturally I don't want to give up 6 years to become 70 in the same year. Would I want to be 17 again in 2023, and gain 57 years? I guess so.

But wait, if I was 17 again would I retain all my memories and experiences gained in 64 years? Or would I be starting again as a fresh-faced (more likely pimply) teenager who is a blank sheet?

If the later, obviously the year 2023 holds no special significance because I won't have recollections or experience of past decades for comparison. So I'll make my own future with none of the expectations or prejudices I might have now.

If the former, I'm not sure I want to live my life again. Of course, it would be a different life because external factors are so different now.

If the question was would I like to go back in time to when I was 17 (with all the experiences and memories I have now), then the answer would be no. Sure, I could make my life different, and I would have an additional 57 years of life, but I already know the story and don't want to do it all again. I certainly don't want to go through all the same old externalhistory.

But I would like to see the future and how things turn out. I don't place any particular significance on 2023 in comparison to 1970, 1999 or 2010. I would like to see a manned mission on Mars, flying cars for everyone, personal robots, genetically modified pets, maybe even clone myelf.

So, yes, I would be 17 again in 2023. But I don't want to live my life again.

I'm not sure a usufruct (if possible) will help your situation because it would normally expire on your death. 

I would have thought that wills leaving the property to an orphanage may be contestable by the family. You would obviously need to appoint an Executor you trust to arrange the sale and finance transfers. However, this would be a long time in the future and circumstances may change. I wouldn't feel 100% secure that the family would still end up not getting the home.

As another poster has suggested, one possible option would be to sell the house/land in the near future and move elsewhere. This would be a big decision for your wife because her family would see it as a snub (which it is). Besides, apart from the inheritance problem, you may both be happy in your current home and situation.

I guess it boils down whether, in time, the knowledge that your in-laws may get the house/land starts to outweigh the happiness you have in owning and living in your current home. Maybe you should, quietly, start putting out feelers about selling and moving on in a few years time.

20 hours ago, biervoormij said:

One has the Andaman Sea the other has the Gulf of Thailand.

I would have to agree. The beaches at Phuket are cleaner and there are even a few waves. Swimming in the Gulf is like taking a tepid bath.

As Dr Sheryl says 'Metformin is dirt cheap and has an excellent safety profile'. 

There is some evidence that Metformin is a 'wonder drug' that may have the potential to prolong life, not just for mild diabetics. It might be worthwhile researching a bit more to see if it might benefit you in the long term.

If your grandfather lived to be over 100, you might have good genetics. It would be good to do everything in your power now so as to improve your quality of life in the future. Taking Metformin, under a doctor's supervision, would be something that is cheap, easy and effective.

I just glanced at this. As others have said, block her and do not respond to her. She just wants money. She will not contact the police or immigration. If she tried she would be ignored. You will not be blacklisted. It is ancient history in everyone's mind except yours.

Learn from your experience. When you next return to Thailand do not share contact details unless it is more than a one night stand.

The new PM has shown the colours of the new government - they will side with the establishment. If the PM had a reform agenda to try and end corruption, he would have gone for 'Big Joke'.

Instead, the PM has gone for more of the same. He continues the tradition of appointing deputies as chief who are in their last year before retirement. The establishment wins all around. The new chief will get a boost to his pension and CV for appointment to prestigious government positions post-retirement. The new Chief of Police will not rock the boat, and will not make any changes to the system, given he will be retiring in a year and has too much to lose.

'Big Joke' is probably the least corrupt in the current line-up and, in my view, genuinely wants to reform the police force for the benefit of Thailand, rather than his own benefit.

If the Move Forward Party had been allowed to form government there is no doubt whom they would have picked.

The MRI/CT report will be in English, written by the chief radiologist (doctor). Most hospitals will give you the actual scan on a CD if you ask them. However, this is of limited use because each hospital in Thailand seems to use a different propriety software. Maybe there is an international standard you can ask for.

The average public hospital will have a 3 - 4 week waiting list for a MRI. Of course, if you go to a private hospital they will organise it within a few days, depending upon any fasting requirements for the mandatory blood tests prior to the scan.

A private hospital may want to work you up a bit. For example, they may set up an apointment with one of their gut doctors who will want a blood test and X-ray first. Depending on the abdominal complaint they may recommend a CT in preference to a MRI. Finally, the doctor will want to discuss the outcomes of the MRI/CT with you before handing over the written radiology report (normally one page).

Dear placeholder

We will have to agree to disagree. Renewables don't make the cut for baseloading power (60%) because the wind does not always blow, the sun does not always shine, rivers do not always flow, hydro dams sometimes freeze or are drought affected etc. Renewables will always be used for peak loading (40%) where they will also command the highest return on electricity prices. 

16 minutes ago, placeholder said:

You really need to get yourself acquainted with the huge advances being made in energy storage. The price of which has plummeted. what's more, presently only 4% of Thailand's power comes from renewables.

In addition, for better or worse, who or what has stopped Thailand from adding additional fossil fuel powered plants from operating?

Finally, how much of a registration fee for EV's do you think it will take to cover the costs they incur for infrastructure?

Finally, you fail to note the cost savings in health care and infrastructure damage caused by fossil fuels.

 

I'm not arguing about the huge advances in energy storage. I also think it is a good idea to avoid new power stations using fossil fuels.

What I am saying is that there are no commensurate advances in the cost of generating the power to be stored. The world has been dependent on fossil fuels for nearly a century and governments won't give up the associated taxes and revenue streams. Consumers of electricity will have to pay their fair share.

Fuel excises were worth $3.77 billion in 2022/23 revenue to the Australian government, charged at about 48 cents per litre of petrol. Nearly half is spent on road infrastructure and the rest goes to consolidated revenue. The average cost to each household is about $1210. To replace this revenue, an additional $1210 per year could be placed on individual car registrations. Of course, this could be done gradually as electric car uptake increases and should also apply to IC cars.

Alternatively, governments could collect from electricity providers who will add a tarrif to electricity charges. In reality, governments will do both. They are not going to forgo revenue just because it is good for the environment.

Skyscanner allows you to select/chose the currency for pricing and payment. Obviously it is best to pay in your 'home' currency, if possible, to avoid exchange rates.

Aged care is crying out for workers, mainly peple to visit the elderly at home and take them shopping etc. But I imagine you need to go through police checks/accreditation before you can work. You might be able to register and do everything necessary online while still in Thailand.

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

More likely introduce road user charges to stop people using solar to get cheap driving.

NZ has road user charges for all diesel vehicles.

It's a strange world. NZ adds extra taxes to diesel while Thailand subsidises diesel!

1 hour ago, placeholder said:

Why will the price of electricity go up astronomically? Is electricity like, say, a rare mineral, so that increased demand means relative scarcity so the cost is increased  I was under the impression that electricity was a product created in many ways and the production could be expanded as demand rises. What's more, I was also under the impression that power generation in Thailand was a government enterprise and that prices were imposed by the government.

Electricity is becoming a scarcer resource because governments and the public are baulking at new coal, gas or nuclear base-loading powere stations. Look at the resistance to Thailand trying to build new gas power plants. Renewables will keep adding peak power, but cannot supply more baseline power. As demand continues to rise, prices will continue to rise.

All governments tax petrol/gas and the revenues are significant contributions to revenues spent on roads and [ublic infrastructure. This revenue stream will need to be replaced as electric vehicles become increasingly mainstream and demands on domestic electric grids increases. Governments can increase vehicle registration costs or add surcharge taxes to electricity to compensate. They will do both.

My ex-wife got the house back in Australia. When I retired I had to make the decision to start afresh in Australia or Thailand (with my new Thai wife). I had enough money to buy a house in one country or another, but not both.

We chose Thailand and built a house. After 10 years here I sometimes wonder what would have happened if we had bought a house in Australia. I've no doubt it would have been a great investement and probably doubled in value over that time. On the other hand, our house/land in Thailand is probably worth similar to when we purchased it 10 years ago.

Like most farang I did not fully appreciate why the cost of land/houses is so cheap over here. One of the reasons is that there is only a limited market for second hand properties out here in rural Thailand and it is easy to over-capitalise. Houses do not appreciate (it's like buying a new car with the value dropping off quickly) although the land will go up if the location is favourable. Similarly, Thailand is an aging country and the population has levelled off and will decline. There is no chance of massive migration to pump growth (unlike Australia which welcomes 500,000 new migrants each year).

I don't regret our choices because it was a life-style thing.

We don't know the full circumstances. Finding the body in a car park is a question, as suicides are usually  alone and unassisted. But presumably the police have the results of the autopsy, have traced his final movements (including CCTV if available) and have checked his finances and mobile phone over the last few weeks for any unusual transactions/interactions.

I think, in general, Thai woman fall in love easily. They are like teenagers. Mostly, they can fall out of love and move on.

Interesting thread...I always wondered about the different coloured pipes. I didn't realise you could buy different wall thicknesses of plastic pipe.

I use one of the local hardware shops and we can usually figure out what I want or need, despit my lack of Thai.

Back in Australia, you would always go to one of the big chain stores because they were cheaper than local hardwares (if any remain). That's not the case in Thailand. Often the smaller/local shop is cheaper, or the same price, and offers better service.

You need a Terbinafine anti-fingal cream. There seems to be some built-up resistance to other older antifungal creams in Thailand.

You shouldn't get flats if you buy new. If you do, and you are in an urban area, there is always a repair shop within 500 m. You can ride with a flat (if you have to) as long as you keep it slow and careful.

Most often, you will have a slow leak, and you will only notice it in the morning when you go to ride and the tyre is flat. Have a pump handy at home so you can pump it and ride to the nearest bike repair place you trust close to where you live. They will normally fix it on the spot at minimal cost (maybe 200 Baht).

I wouldn't worry about carrying any tools. Repair costs and transport for the bike (if needed) are ridiculously cheap).

As I said above, find a bike shop close to where you live. They can probably organise just about anything you need (including picking up a dead bike). Most repairs that could strand you give plenty of warning if you listen to your bike (unfortunately us older and lazier riders do not listen and wait for the worse).