Paul Catton

Please add your "Scornful" comment to the present situation of "Monopoly tm " regarding NZ property. Rents are still increasing! Recent persons of home ownership are now facing significant Negative equity! First home buyers of today, are now faced with a myriad of challenges.

Closing for the month of November. I have had to shave on the XL spreadsheet, another NZ$10,000 of equity in our home in 10 days, using my preferred "median price checker". This equates to approximately THB 219,500 and now represents 19.64 devaluation. Being "freehold" would only have an impact if required to sell Beware. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/300751714/anz-house-prices-will-drop-32-in-real-terms-from-their-peak And worse. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/300753093/property-investors-ready-to-have-some-fun-hunting-discounts-banking-strong-yields

I update the "Financial XL Spreadsheet" on a more frequent basis (usually twice a week) as it contains our "Budget" as the leading "Worksheet" being in a calendar type format with projected wages v utility expenditure for 6 months. Our "budget is a target", and never set in stone, and consequentially almost always being missed. When whole rump steak being under NZ$13.00 kg, buy now. Whole fillet steak being under NZ$26.00 kg, also is a buy now. Similarly it applies for specials relating to Chicken, Pork, Lamb and Seafood. Having a significant "Fruit and Vegetable Garden" gets us back on track to aspirations of meeting our budget. I use the Spreadsheet for our known impending bills that are forthcoming, and thus able to organize assistance payments Ex Gratis to my progeny being the "wolves at the door". I digressed. Running the household under a spreadsheet with ten minutes data input per week, benefits me

25 seconds visiting a website and updating a spreadsheet, conversely gives peace of mind.

Gives us an indication of equity held in New Zealand. As we are both nearing retirement age with many options available, liquidation of NZ assets could always be a consideration.

A quick update. I have shaved another NZ$15,000 of equity in our home in just under a month, using my preferred "median price checker" which equates to around THB 330,000.

Caught the Airport Link to Phaya Thai. A couple of escalators and a two minute walk we were at the BTS line. Boarded heading South West and got off at Saphan Taksin to get the Hotel ferry boat to the accommodation. Easier than going to the Supermarket for the weekly shop.

Wasn't the "Magic Food Point" open? Magic Food Point After getting check-in out of the way, we usually nip down there before heading back up to get processed airside.

To try and impound a "private vessel" on the open seas is an act of piracy!

If the Red Cross Winter Fair held at City Hall goes ahead in December, they will have a mobile optician. They have an eye testing machine (Autorefractor) and it takes about an hour before your glasses are ready. Cost is around 300THB. Have seen similar set-up around various places in Thailand especially the large temple fairs.

Auckland, New Zealand. Todays conversion rate 21.95, just under 110 THB

Hi Chomper, TBL would be referring to NZ and the dairy industry. Very contentious at the moment.

Private fireworks were relegated to November 5th Bonfire night, Back in the day, we the kids made a "Guy" and begged "a penny for the guy" outside the local pub, corner shop etc.. for fireworks money. Perhaps a few bangers might have been set of prior to 5th, but was not really commonplace. A parental supervised bonfire with treacle toffee and parkin. Now, fireworks extend from Diwali, into Halloween, then Guy Fawkes, Rugby World Cup, Thanksgivings, a special Birthday, an inconsiderate <deleted> or two and then finally New Years Eve. For two months our cats appear to be on a hot tin roof ????

Chaing Mai always had a nightlife scene albeit without the reputation of One night in Bangkok

Go back four decades, the only speakers on pickup trucks were used as advertising the latest Muay Thai contests around their local venue. Every idiot now wants to blast the <deleted> out of all others with their choice of noise pollution. Songkran started as water anointing - to water gun fights - to wiping out motorcyclists with bucket dumps. Cultural or behavior gone bad ? This behavioral problem is not relegated to Thailand, solely, has happened worldwide.

Hi Charlie, This type of behavior was never part of culture decades ago. Excusing bad behavior as cultural, endorses the continuance of the practice.

The best bar for nightlife I have ever attended was located in the Anusarn Market area. @CMKiwi took me there which was prior to Covid-19 decimating life as we knew it. It definitely was not a flesh trading operation, in my imposed blinkered opinion. This particular bar on our visit had a renowned winner of the Thai version to something similar to Britain's Got Talent or Americas Got Talent with his backing group that rocked the night to the early hours. Presumably, Anusarn Market is now a huge car-park with shutters closed on the fixed peripheral businesses.

7/11 Straw or rolled up $US 100 for the Coke?

"Sherlock Holmes - Dr Watson". You see but not observe, Would perhaps look lame with maybe having Bangkok expectation.

Chiang Mai has always had good a nightlife scene spanning over the decades. Nana Plaza, nor Soi Cowboy and other flesh entertainment venues was never the charm for the "Rose of the North" adventurers. Pay for play was always available and best venues were not Loi Kroh, but rather the smaller bars on the left hand side of the old city within the moat. Of course, I am only "repeating" gossip, being told third hand sitting on a bar stool.

I don't know, probably not, just persons being shafted by brand. Currently Opal has bags of considerable worth, probably exceeding the annual deposit for any type of extension of stay. She saves the money from her wages, always topped up when at home or when travelling as part of personal discretionary spending. "Hermes" appears to be a complete a "misnomer" regarding with its huge price tags, lacking a keen eye and not being in vogue, they look like satchels to me. I am only a guy, usually up to six pockets on my clothing, anything else in a Supermarket carry bag .

If it was a Birkin, might not be far off the mark ???? HermesBag Style Price Range Hermes Garden Party $2,000 - $3,000 Hermes Constance $4,000 -$30,000 Hermes Kelly $9,000 -$40,000 Hermes Birkin $9,000 -$400,000

Opal and I are scheduled to be back in Chiang Mai from the 23rd December and onward to the middle of the first week of New Year 2023. Too date, there hasn't been any notification of any Xmas / New Year celebrations from our preferred choice of accommodation being the Duangtawan Hotel I have not found any content posted by the Chiang Mai Municipality regarding proposed celebrations for the New Year. Being a local expatriate, with feet on the ground, any recommendations?

My tenure was 1977 to 1983. Would not have called it medieval by any choice of words. Restrictive, perhaps. However, being part of a large expat community and with sources, provided all that one could desire. Pork, Bacon was always in the house c/o the US Commissary. Wine was easily made by fermenting grape juice, beer was a little bit harder. However "Blue Ribbon" introduced "Malt" in a can and was available the new supermarkets at the time. Best years of my fomative life.

Has been posted in the Community Pub, Surely people don't communicate solely about Thailand focused when gathering together. It hardly falls into the category of "World News", my opinion only.