The Fugitive

Think we got about average when my brother-in-law was cremated.

'Cremains' seems to be the usual terminology. Not sure whether that applies to the charred bone fragments we receive in Thailand though. Western crematoria have cremulators that use ball bearings to grind down the bone fragments.

There are defintely regional differences. In Portugal mausoleums are popular. The rich having stone built ones, the poor wooden ones and the modern ones are UPVC of course. They may not be all huge but there is definitely a cost involved. In South America ossury cemeteries are popular, the family rent a compartment for the coffin which slides in lengthwise. When the rent runs out the coffin is extracted and the bones placed in numbered wooden boxes on racks in the cemetery storeroom. A much more economical and space saving method but some would say disrespectful to the deceased.

Good point! They are the only remains and they are of a human so maybe the term is correct in that sense? From a hygiene point of view I know which sort I prefer. A relative of my mother-in-law was cremated on Saturday. Her preferred temple is new and the crematorium yet to be built. The lady was cremated 'al fresco' style. My Mrs complained it was too smoky.

Interesting to ponder. I read somewhere that cremated remains should not be scattered nor kept in an urn at home. The reason being that everyone should be given the opportunity to 'venerate' the deceased.

Thank you for your concern. Upon second thoughts it could be something else other than low blood glucose. I will get it investigated now.

Doctor wanted to admit me to hospital for tests. My Mrs refused because it wasn't 'convenient'. Perhaps better to change the Mrs!

It was the best the hospital doctor could do at the time. I'd 'hit the deck' with a blood glucose reading of 42. No previous history of anything diabetic related. He wanted to admit me for tests but my Mrs refused because it wasn't 'convenient'. Testing myself regularly since and the readings are always fine as they are at annual medicals.

Thank you for the clarification. No doubt court fees will be payable by the organisation seeking permission plus it would also incurr them administrative costs in preparing their application. Interesting that if someone had many CCJ's for the same orgainsation they might decide to make a physical visit once the total balance reached a certain amount instead of merely instructing a firm of solicitors to send out a letter. I must look further into this!

If HDD is fried he won't be able to boot. Are we saying that the HDD is an external?

The meter reader must know that it isn't necessary to print and leave your bill each month? That's sophisticated!

Providing you are billed by the Provincial Waterworks Authority.

It simply means the experiences of others may be different... Many thanks. I didn't make the connection either.

Very true. My sister-in-law owes (or owed) 3 million baht to her bank. Occasionally representatives visit my wife's shop enquiring as to her whereabouts. Mrs tells them she works on contracts in India (which is true). They then go away. Much the same as in U.K. where a County Court Judgement expires after 6 years. If you don't need credit (or wouldn't get it anyway) you can safely ignore them. I do!

Thanks for the information. Most helpful!

My doctor recommended that when I feel wobbly and nauseous (as I do every morning), to drink a normal sugar content soft drink and/or drink my tea or coffee with a couple of teaspoons of sugar. Can't resist a least a couple of cheese, cheese/ham or sausage toasties whilst I'm in 7/11. Then you need biscuits and a few cakes to round things off. Only following doctor's orders.

Excellent info thanks, will try. As you mentioned your wife's restaurant I couldn't help thinking of when in Portugal I always ask for a jug of white house wine with my meals. Sometimes it's cloudy with objects floating in it but tastes just fine and I'm never ill. I was looking in the window of a small shop in Portugal where they had five litre containers of wine for 3 Euros. I guess that's the sort of stuff they use when you ask a bar/restaurant to make you a jug of Sangria. I paid a dollar for a litre bottle around the same time in Brasil.

Agreed, we used to say that VHS wasn't good compared with broadcast TV but that after watching for a while you didn't notice so much. I'm still impressed by regular DVD's myself. Used to download and watch DVD's that had been ripped and compressed down to CD size and thought they were excellent. Just rescued a 17 inch (albeit a recent LED flat panel) unbranded TV that my mother-in-law bought to watch in her shop. She found it distracting and annoying plus it soon developed a permanent vertical red line fault so she had put it in the stockroom. It's now my back-up computer monitor.

Thanks for locating it for me. Motive for ex-wife's actions? Mischief and proving herself to be next-of-kin and claiming ex-husbands estate?

Usual style Thai refrigeration unit at his home. I avoided getting close to it.

Many thanks. All good advice that avoids potential problems. My Mrs doesn't believe me when I tell her that all she needs to do (if I die at home) is register my death at our local District Office in the same way as a Thai person.

Many thanks! You've confirmed the lines I was thinking along. Either his ex-wife in Norway actually isn't (at least on paper) or she or someone else in Norway is 'putting the boot in' because of sour grapes. I hope it doesn't cost his widow and family too much. However, if it turns out same as your case, she'll save the temple cremation costs!

Friend of the Mrs recently lost her Norwegian husband. Widow and family are at their wits end because he has been in their house for 15 days. Widow says Norwegian Embassy will not allow his cremation. She asked my Mrs for advice as the wife of a falang? All I know is that he was previously married in Norway. I saw a wreath from two children with different Thai surnames referring to him as 'Dad'. Mrs tells me he has no children with his widow. I understand he died inside his house. AFAIK police are not involved, neither has there been a post mortem. Anyone able to shed any light and/or suggest a way forward to help his widow and family?

Many thanks for your clarification. It's helped me a lot and may have helped others I'm sure!

Problems with websites and mobile apps are not confined to Thailand of course. It's a question of priorities. Where I am we get water, electricity and internet 'upon demand' i.e. no waiting for the 'hours of availability' as in some Countries. Interruptions in supply are rare and speedily restored. All roads are either tarmac or concrete. I've never been marooned and/or unable to travel anywhere because it's rained/raining. We enjoy weekly refuse collections at home and daily collections at my wife's shop. Where I previously lived some local Council's didn't provide a refuse collection service.