The Fugitive

LK Metro being the epicentre of paradise on earth.

I'm guilty of contributing to the probably illegal crossover of brown (foul) wastewater and grey (sink waste and surface run off). My soakaway was regularly overflowing and stinking our tiny garden area out. A plumber friend resolved the problem by installing a waste pipe from the top of the soakaway and running it into the surface water drain by our gate. Nothing visible as he buried the pipe but I'm ashamed of the occasional foul stench it causes outside our house.

Drains, road works and street lighting etc. are administered by your Thesaban. Amphur (District Office) are for your registry office and ID cards.

Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to let us know. Most helpful!

Good question! I'm not that technical myself but I'll try and ask. The guys have a large yard full of pickups and vans with a few engines out. Maybe that's a good sign? They sent this video clip. Engine repair.mp4

Thanks! Have to hope for the best. I was a bit shocked because I believed the engine wasn't fixable.

Today the guys got back to my Mrs. Told her a reconditioned engine would be 70,000 baht and, of course, it might have suffered the same fate as our own. They estimate 48,000 baht (parts and labour) for repair of engine and replacement radiator etc. Apparently, they're already onto it.

Agree! Readings should be taken in a consistent manner e.g. while sitting after you have been sitting for 10 minutes. I have found the whole arm machines incredibly inaccurate both at mobile blood donor sessions in Thailand and at my GP's practice in UK. They now use the small machines presumably because so many donors (such as myself) failed at every attempt.

Blood pressure reading seems to be a part of initial assessment for everything.

Agree! The pass/fail limit is built into the analysing laboratory software. Your doctor would have zero input. The limit wouldn't be tailored to you in any way. Would probably be the doctors receptionist reading the result and 'sacking you off'.

Very impressive! https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/center-clinic/dental-care/bangkok-hospital-dental-center?info=overview

If referring to tobacco smoke, there are designated smoking and non-smoking cafes indicated by red or blue signs. In the smoking, overhead extraction systems remove most of the smoke. Good for protection of staff!

The temperature is more important the older you become. Thailand is very warm/hot all year around. Lisbon officially goes no lower than 15 C in Winter, although it does feel colder. In the North you get snow. In the Algarve I experienced 25 C on Christmas Day. Too many tourists but you only have to venture a few miles inland and things become much more traditional. At Nazare one Christmas gales were so strong that everyone was advised not to venture out of doors. Awnings were torn off shops and road signs bent over by the wind. Portuguese cafes are great, they use Italian coffee machines producing superb selections. Draught lagers are excellent too, everything is available from 6am until midnight or until the last customer has gone home.

There is terrorism in the South of course. Burma has it's own problems too. Perhaps border patrols would be a justification for maintaining Army numbers?

Perhaps could be viewed as relevant training for National Servicemen as it's emergency flood relief. Army take on civilian roles such as firefighting when there is a strike (at least they do in UK).

Raises a good point. There are female Army Cadets at our local high school. Presumably they aren't doing that to avoid National Service as, AFAIK girls are, at present, not required. Maybe that could change?

Many thanks for your info. Seems to be the place to go if you need anything more than the usual!

Useful to know thanks. So far in Thailand only visited a general dentist who referred me to a specialist friend in the next larger town. As satisfied with the quality of treatment (and price) at this high street clinic I have stuck with the same place, as does my Mrs. Khon Kaen would be further to go for us but is another option.

With that in mind, the furthest our pickup goes is 11 km each way to the wholesalers. On average, once every ten days. There's a green Mustang around our way, maybe could give him a run for his money?

Wow! I certainly do like the look of this.

Here is the Royal Thai Army delivering rice to my mother-in-law prior to flooding.

Definitely right to make it a home based, privilege, fun and adventure thing. Living in a barracks was what my nephew didn't like about his National Service. If he could have gone home at the end of the day same as a normal employee it would have made all the difference to him.

A most frequent and reliable contributor in Pattaya who no longer posts on Facebook reported that a friend of his, a retiree with no motor, accident or health insurance policy came off his moto, landing upon his head. No crash helmet. Government hospital saved his life. Moving forward, the guy needed brain surgery estimated at 1.5 million baht. Unable to pay, he was moved onto a ward of 40 dying patients where personal care continued until he passed away from his injuries. As to what his chances of survival were and what state he would have been in following the brain surgery we shall never know. Personally, I have no sympathy, the guy had choices, wear a crash hat, take a moto taxi, taxi cab, baht bus or walk.

Nothing providing the family fundraiser keeps pace with the bills.

Trying to take a different perspective, that of the doctors and nurses. What is the effect upon them of delaying/discontinuing treatment? They are, of course, tax and social security contributors themselves. However, they are in a caring profession and must get demoralised from seeing patients die who they could have saved?