Stevemercer

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).

As others have said, it's a mixed bag. On the one hand, most of the larger/edible wildlife have been shot/eaten and you won't find much except in the protected national parks. On the other hand, Thailand is a tropical country so vegetation is rampant and there is life aplenty during thewet season. But it is mainly aquatic, amphibious, reptilian or invertebrate. If you live in south Thailand, adjacent to a national park, no doubt youwould see plenty of wildlife. I've rehabilitated about one hectare of previous waste land. You can grow just about anything in the tropical climate (assuming you have access to water during the dry season) but most of the attracted wildlife will be cryptic or those species that can survive alongside rural farming. It's not like Australia where you can stop for a picnic just about anywhere and attract a bevy of wildlife. I'm amazed at all the lakes, swamps and wetlands around Thailand, most of which are devoid of waterbirds. Having said that, Thai rice farmers are getting better educated and waterbirds seem to be making a comeback in many areas (where they were previously shot out). One good thing about Thailand is that the import controls are pretty slack and you can buy all sorts of exotic species at pet markets. For example, coming from Australia I was deprived of land tortoises and iguanas, which you can easily buy here. You can get all sorts of exotic fish to stock your ponds, some of them true river monsters. I used to have iguanas living in the trees and swimming across the pond to sit on the verandah waiting on a feed. Unfortunately the neighbours killed and ate them when we were away for a few weeks. I'm sure they would have gotten my Asian Tortoise as well, but it weighs about 30 kg and resents being 'manhandled' (he prefers to be moved around in the wheelbarrow). So you can get just about any exotic pet you want which, in my view, helps make up for the lack of local wildlife.

I think there would be more options and opportunities for them if they were educated in the west. Whether they are happy or not is another question. But I don't think we can make the judgement that they will be happier having a lesser education and not knowing so much about the troubles of the world.

I reckon it's because Thailand is (relatively) cheap meaning an average working bloke can pull the birds and live like a rock star. Try living a similar life-style in a western country. You can't do it without being rich, famous, young and/or handsome.

My wife, an Isan Thai, will not eat Japanese food because it may contain raw fish. However, she happily devours Isan delicacies such as raw prawns, crabs, beef and pork, along with sauces made with raw freshwater scaled fish (source of liver flukes).

I like the wet season in Thailand best (June - September). I love the cooling wind that comes with storms and seeing the torrential rain filling up my ponds. It's a lot of work for me, cleaning out the gutters, digging out the drainage lines, tidying up torn down trees etc. But everything is grren and alive. Having said that, this wet season has been a bust with rainfall <50% average. I don't mind 'winter' (October - January) although it only gets really cool for 3 or 4 weeks after Christmas. However, the humidity is normally gone. The 'build up' to the wet season (February - May) is, of course, often unbearably hot and humid punctuated by the odd wild storm. It's at this time of year I start to think maybe I should be elsewhere.

It's good that he was allowed to keep enough money in his pockets to catch a taxi. Although he could have just done a runner, I guess.

I hate it when you complain the food is too salty. They take it back to the kitchen and add sugar until it no longer tastes salty. So now you have a double dose - salt and sugar.

Naah...this one

I've got a Silver Machine.

Thailand is a good place for the elderly because of the general cultural respect for age and wisdom. It is not a barrier here. Not having moey is probably the only real barrier in Thailand. In my view, most western cultures/countries are for the young. There is a place for the elderly, but it is generally out of sight/out of mind.

Do you have an ATM card from one of the big banks? Most include accident insurance that will help pay for this sort of thing.

Western banks were like this in the 1970s, but were forced to become more customer orientated when Governments started to allow competition from building societies etc. Thai banks are still pretty much protected from new start-ups/competition by Government regulations.

Cooling fans, drip trays? Am I missing something here? Do people in Thailand still have working refrigerators from the 1960s?

Naah. I regret they are not co-ed. Melbourne Uni for me.

The 'seven sister' colleges are still a big thing.

Yes, now that the ice is broken with the Royal Pardon, Thaksin will be out in less than 6 months. I think he has a good deal. I'm sure he can have whatever visitors he wants - family, friends and politicians will all be kow-towing to him every day and every hour. Much better than being in a faraway country Welcome home Thaksin. I think he is a spent force politically. I'm sure the current government coalition will have plenty of problems and, God willing, Move Forward will sweep all before them at the next election. All the have to do is stay solid as the opposition and smear Pheu Thai with the 'in bed with the establishment' brush.

Depression is real. Clinical depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain and needs medical treatment to correct the balance. However, it is not an easy thing to find the right medicine and right dosage, particularly because it takes a few months before you know if the medication is working/not working. If it's not working, you have to taper off over a month or so, start the next medicine and wait a month to see if it works etc. etc. With correct medication, you can finally look back and understand that how you felt was not normal, and there is no need to be in that state. Your confidence, vitality and outlook on life are sky high. Most anti-depressants also prolong sex (e.g. inhibit ejaculation) which is often why rock stars take them (and subsequently auto-asphyxiate). I used to be shy and withdrawn. The anti-depressant medication I took got rid of this as well as lifting my mood. Before that I could scarcely speak at meetings, because of shyness, but after I could perform at meetings, present in front of hundreds of people etc. etc. This really had a positive affect on my work becasue I could achieve my full potential without being held back by shyness or self-doubt.

If you are past retirement age, and looking to settle down with someone, maybe you should be looking for a lady with whom you can be friends and grow comfortably old together. Looking at your wife, do you think you will be happy together in 5 years or 10 years time, when maybe the sex and physical fit is a thing of the past? Will you be able to enjoy the simple things with her? A good meal, holiday at the seaside etc. Even if you largely have separate interests/lives, can you come together at the end of the day and have time to share a smile and a few words? Many Thai ladies have this material fixation. My wife seems to. So it is not unusual, butit doesn't have to be a relationship killer if you can reach a common understanding about how to live within your means. Your job is to look after the money, save and secure your future together. Her job is to spend all your money as quickly as possible. If you can manage this juggling act, it doesn't have to be the end. However, the bottom line is does your wife still give you joy and happiness, or is it all take, take, take? If you're not happy, things will only get worse. You need to have that prospect of happiness, joy and security in your life. If your wife is sucking it all away, you really have no choice.

I think you just have to put up with him. It doesn't sound like he's the type to do any physical harm. If his wife is beautiful, and receptive to a bit of flirting, even more reason to put up with the bad along with the good. You just need to have strategies/excuses in place to minimise your time with him.

I agree with other posters that younger Thai ladies can sometimes seem emotionally immature. They are like teenagers - sometimes moody, distracted, distant, bored, volatile. Think of your girlfriend as a teenager and respond accordingly. She will have many good qualities, but will sometimes be non-communicative and hard to read. She may feel a little guilty about the relationship (e.g. she could not tell her Mum or Dad) which makes her run hot and cold. Is she comfortable holding your hand in public when you do go outside or cross the street? If no, she may not be entirely comfortable in the relationship and a bit self-concious or embarressed.

I live near Mahasarakham and rainfall has been well below average (about 75% of average). September is normally the wettest month so maybe we can make it up. My ponds are at about 50%. Last year they were 75% at end August.

Papaya grow fast. You'll have plenty of fruit after 12 months. But they are fragile and need a lotof water. They need calcium and seem to grow best next to concrete. You want to get shade trees in as quickly as possible. Look around for popular natives (e.g. that grow naturally around the area). They will typically be hardy, fast growing, cheap at local nurseries and only need watering for the first year or so. Start planting around the fenceline and access/walking paths. Weeds and pest species thrive best in sunlight. They don't tend to grow in shade. You won't have much grass or other ground plants once you re-establish the shade.

I can only suggest building up a loose circle of friends/acquantainces within 30 minutes or so from where you live. Tinder is good to build up a social network. With 6 - 12 acquantainces on chatting terms, there should be social opportunities develping . Avoid the obvious 'independents' and younger people (<35). Pick only those you find attractive or intriguing. Be fussy. Just be patient and opportunities will present themselves over time. You might chat with someone for months before something happens. Maybe you will never meet or there is no spark when you do. I think it's really just a numbers game and always being friendly and generous in small ways.

Well, there might be a pool table up there soon.