Tofer

23 hours ago, smotherb said:

Never claimed I did. Where are you going with this ramble?

Just responding to your inane comments.

On 5 November 2017 at 8:29 AM, JSixpack said:

 

Not clear how much knowledge, however. I know of a guy who's lived here for more than 30 years, married to a Thai, but still knows very little. Mentally he still lives back in the USA. All he knows is that Thais like to have money thrown at them, so he does. And they eat Thai food and watch Thai soap operas and speak an incomprehensible language. At least he doesn't posture as an expert, however.

 

Superstitious claptrap is part of the (quaint) Thai cultural traits. It's strongly reflected in their customs.

 

I don't profess to be an expert in anything, as I stated 'some knowledge', but I think there's a bit of difference between Thai spiritual beliefs and ghosts chasing motorbike rear lights!

Unless you or your disconnected USA friend know different, kindly enlighten us all.

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Hmmmm. I first alighted on Thailand's fair shores in 1974 and been here on and off ever since, but I know enough to know that I know only a smidgen of Thailand, it's customs and culture. I also doubt that any mere farang will know much at all.

Quite, but my intelligent Thai wife does, and she's never heard of such codswallop.... 

3 hours ago, Naam said:

i hate wooden doors!

 

No reason why you can't do them in aluminium. The images on Google will give you an idea of scale and eccentric pivot positions to consider.

3 hours ago, smotherb said:

Well, I did. And, you were the one who used the feminine pronouns in your comment to which I referred. Are you now talking about baklas or gigalos?

Then you don't know my acquaintances. 

17 hours ago, smotherb said:

Well, I thought I had covered those types with the statement about "not willing to do anything for it but spread her legs." However, I would recommend part of your selection criteria for women should be to avoid those types, shouldn't it?

Wrong assumption! Who said they were girls that only 'spread their legs'?

10 hours ago, Naam said:

i was thinking of a center pivot that would have given 1m left and 1m right but i considered that too less.

1m clear opening should be more than enough for regular furnishings to pass through.

Personally I think it would look better off centre. A centre pivot might look a bit like a shopping mall revolving door.

Google hardwood door designs, or pivot door designs, there are some good examples.

20 minutes ago, Seanbhoy said:

Lol the guy is asking for a treadmill, we have awnsers of:

- get a rowing machine

- join a gym for a few months first

-save ur knees, get a bike machine

-get a cross trainer 

-take up reading whilst you exercise 

-go to the sauna instead

-get your running shoes on and go test them all

 

 

so to follow suit, and to answer to your question-

 

Forget the running machine, just cut some snacks out instead.

 

nah just go gym and ask 

You forgot one, build a swimming pool - best exercise ever...

3 hours ago, Naam said:

ï wanted one but then i thought of the problem of transporting furniture through the main door.

If you ever do design one (on your next build) it needs to be oversized to be practical and impressive. Ours is 1.25m wide and 1m clear opening at the pivot point. You could easily make it bigger if you wished, just choose the pivot hinge carefully according to the weight capacity.

It's not a problem for us though as the entire house to the sea side opens up for an outdoor living concept. We only have a/c in the bedrooms and study.

Have you considered a rowing machine. My BIL uses one at home, and he's a fitness fanatic, it also folds up and can stand on end out of the way.

5 hours ago, smotherb said:

Not sure goal-oriented is a bad thing. My wife wanted an education, wanted a good job, wanted to be able to support herself and those she loved--that is a pretty good goal in my opinion.  Now, if you mean money-grubbing materialistic goals and not willing to do anything for it but spread her legs; well, that is a different story.

I agree with the concept of improving ones opportunities. What I really meant was those constantly on the look out for a better option / upgrade if you like.

I knew a maid who moved in on her bosses husband, then on his boss.

I personally knew a long term acquaintance who wanted to meet me on a visit but later told me she was getting married 2 weeks later and explained she wanted to see if I was interested enough to marry her instead.

Another partner never needed money, when asked why, she was being funded by an Americans credit card.

All keeping their options open for a better catch I believe.

On 3 November 2017 at 12:00 PM, smotherb said:

That, in fact is what I did. However, that was not the intent.  I married a Filipina because I loved her, we had been together for almost 30 years before we decided to come to Thailand to retire over ten years ago. However, I would not simply take that advice. I do not like such generalizations; some Filipinas are real problems, just as some Thai women and even some Western women are real winners. You really need to have something to offer a woman other than money and make a wise  choice. 

Good that you added this caveat to your earlier post, and I agree wholeheartedly. I've know PI women who were completely goal orientated, climbing the social ladder so to speak, now married to real winner Thai, living in Thailand.

43 minutes ago, Naam said:

what wealth?

You can't fool us...... 

58 minutes ago, tlock said:

where is this cabinet maker located?  

Krabi.

We bought doors and frames and the one I collected today was a bespoke pivot main entrance door and vestibule frame. They also make furniture, I believe, seen some chairs they made waiting for collection.

If you fancy a change from Suk, the Ramada Riverside has a good roof terrace for drinks / dinner with great views up & down the river. Asiatique shopping and dining venue 10 mins walk away, but not much else. Free boat shuttle service to BTS station.

On offer at the time was about 1800/n. They messed up our booking for NYEve, which we spent on a massage table in a spa room, got upgraded to a suite for the remaining 3 nights with fantastic river views and were given 2 free nights on our return for departure which they treat us like royalty - remembered by name and met at the door for priority check in on executive level in a magnificent river front corner 1-bed balcony apartment and a complimentary bottle of decent wine, executive lounge access to free food and drinks, free airport private transfer - a real treat siting on the balcony with wine and snacks from the exec. lounge with superb nighttime river views.

7 hours ago, Naam said:

there are occasions when i use my Thai assistant to negotiate not only a fair price but also a commission for him.

Great to hear you are spreading your wealth around to the good of all, top man. 

I gave the cabinet maker a very good tip today in recognition of his excellent workmanship, he was completely shocked and almost refused it. The joinery workshop stand head and shoulders above their competitors for quality and charge very fair prices, even with me infront of them. The owner very proudly gets his moisture meter out to show his timber is slow dried to max. 10% moisture content. It's a real pleasure doing business with people like this. 

18 hours ago, talahtnut said:

I'm sure it means 'sexy man', I return the compliment by saying that she is my lovely 'Bagmar'.

I'm sure it does....

Glad to hear there is humour in your relationship. 

10 hours ago, torrzent said:

Not sure "we" bought is accurate if you are a foreigner.  She bought and you paid, if it is in her name.

Oh please, let's not go into that diatribe again....

But just for the record it was bought with our money, not mine, and of course it's in her name, but am I worried, not in the least!

3 minutes ago, adammike said:

Hopefully we will all be invited round for the bbq. 

Huh, another freeloader! Naam wants my beer and now you want my catch of the day 

6 hours ago, Techno Viking said:

why so vague then ?

Sorry, you lost me with that comment. If you mean the mix up in dates it's an age thing.., and having had such a transient life, it's hard to keep track of dates.

If you mean vague about my circumstances, I'd be a very unusual tourist with a 4 rai plot of seafront land, house, apartments, a yacht, car, motorbike, pool villa development plans, a retirement extension and no fixed abode in any other country. Happy now, does that clarify it for you?

8 hours ago, adammike said:

OK but the thread is about " living cheap for one month" it's not about I spend 4000 a day or I eat lobster.stay on the page and you shouldn't get flamed.

So if I tell you I'm gonna live real cheap by 'bringing home the bacon' (seafood) caught off my yacht moored in front of our land I won't get flamed...

1 hour ago, talahtnut said:

My wife sometimes introduces me to her friends as 'Sky Lab' which seems to cause amusement.

On balance, I think I am better off not knowing why.

If you really want to know I'll give you my take on it....

2 hours ago, Naam said:

naam is the Thai word for water. Thais call me Khun Water because they can't pronounce my first name Walter. that's why i selected the handle "Naam". 

I am known around 3 villages in ChiangRai plus all my wife's family and friends as lung kiss (uncle Chris), perhaps I should change my site name to 'inner tube'....

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

If you want the best price have one of your aggressive B GF's do the negotiations for you.  That has always worked for me...

My wife insists I drop her 2 doors away and stay in the car out of sight to get the true local price.

On 31 October 2017 at 6:31 PM, Naam said:

it was rather easy. last empty lot cul-de-sac in rather small development, we met three direct neighbours personally, all lots in the vicinity one rai, 11 years living in this moo baan, not the slightest problem. perhaps the gods were smiling on us.  

Glad to hear it worked / is working out for you. 

We had a similar experience to Tropo, bought a piece of virgin / jungle land with no neighbours, and were told the people who bought the adjacent land were going to build private homes / holiday homes. We've got a 5m wide private road to the beach between us and the nasty neighbours (who actually issued death threats over a minor dispute yesterday) basically jealous of our generous plot and quality development, as their scrappy bungalows are shoe horned into less than 1 rai.

The other side is now to be a beach resort. Of course they can all do what they wish once they have permission, and we bought 4 rai plot for just this eventuality, so that we would have a generous space between our house and the neighbours (30m each side to their boundaries). Hopefully this will be enough to ensure a modicum of peace and privacy, particularly as my wife is busy reinstating a jungle along our boundaries.

It's very hard to predict / establish what is going to happen in a neighbourhood, particularly of private plots, housing developments on compounds and condos are reasonably assured in terms of standards albeit not the occupants.