prakhonchai nick

6pm Sunday night is Stickman time.

But not today. The site is calling for a User name and password.

Anyone any information?

dual posting - 2nd one withdrawn

Buy a new car on credit rather than cash

Assuming you have the cash - become a loan shark for the duration of the car finance - lend out the money to reliable people (with a guarantee) at a rate of up to 3% a month. That way the new car is practically FREE!

The CAT issue an International Card. I bought one for 200bt. Calls to the UK approx 1.5bt/min. Crystal clear. Think they may be available in 7/11

You've got it all wrong.

Give your wife a fixed monthly allowance within reason. Let her do with it whatever she wants, but keep yourself out of family matters completely. If it's the wifes money they usually have more respect for it!

Bought mine last week from HomePro in Khon Kaen. It's a Smart, electric, Italian made. They had some Black &Decker models but the salesman quietly told me "don't buy that one, we don't have any spare parts for them".

It cost Bht 4,500, has been used once and works very well, so the wife told me.

No doubt a birthday present for the wife. An excellent choice!

100-150,000 would seem to be about right especially if alcohol is present. Alcohol is now seen less often at funerals, with the knock-on effect that less unwelcome "scroungers" attend

Some of this cash layout will be recouped from donations received from guests. Never heard of these donations being given to the monks

Most village people have adopted their own scale of "fees" for the monks, and in my locality it is 300bt per monk per day with 1000bt going to the senior monk. Cremation fees on top.

As has been said, someone will keep a record of all donations received. This is used as a guide whenever the bereaved family attend another function (regardless of whether it's a funeral, wedding, house blessing or becoming a monk for a short period), and it is expected that the new donation will either match the previous one or be 10% more. This does cause problems especially for the poor. They are "expected" to match the donation received from a wealthy contributor, when the tables are reversed, even if its not a like for like event

As I have posted several times..I am still all for diana-oasis.com / diana-estate.com

They are very friendly, perfect location, fully equipped studios and even now very busy, this fact alone says enough with most other hotels being empty. Have a nice holiday. JL., NZ

Diana-oasis does indeed look nice BUT...

Whether you stay 1 day, 1 week or 1 month you must make a security deposit of 10,000bt, refundable if all is in order with the room when you leave. This is hidden away at the bottom of their rates page, and is not even mentioned when you make a booking.

I full understand the logic behind this, but it is a sizeable amount.

A run out to Chong Chom in Surin province would probably be the easiest. Less than 3 hours by car from Korat. Technically possible by bus, changing in Prasat, but I don't know how often the local buses run to Chong Chom

It would probably have been better if your wife had not attended these "meetings" in the first place. They are hardly compulsory!

MSIG Insurance (Thailand) Co Ltd. 02 788 8888 in Banglok, Home safe package 2500 Baht a year for 3,000,000 coverage.

First class company. I have helped several friends obtain insurance either for their homes or rented properties. They also insure both my cars.

Deal direct with them - can all be done online. Scan and e-mail any proposal forms to them. Immediate cover granted. And they have many good English speakers.

Thoroughly recommended. Used them and their predecesssors, Commercial Union, General Accident and Aviva for the past 20 years.

Beware of pre-payment penalties, and if you are financing be aware that the dealer provided insurance is required.

Dealer provided insurance is only compulsory for the first year. After that you will be billed for the government compulsory insurance, but voluntary insurance (Class 1 or fully comp) is entirely up to you.

I instructed my tour driver to stop at the Irish pub for dinner,but it was closed. Anyone know why? This was Monday.

Sadly, he seems to be closed most of the time. Had he been open, in all likliehood, you and your tour group would have ended up sharing the only bottle of beer!

Next time in the area try Paradise Lake for lunch. Overlooking the man made lake/reservoir, very close to the Post Office

I just bought 2 1000 count bottles of baby asperin yesterday with no problem at all. They are 65 grain aspirin tabs and I take two every day so have a good supply. I have always been able to buy baby asperin for all of the 10 years I have been here but it is not always available at all pharmacies. So check around to more than one and you will find it. The problem I have had is they tend to stock the smaller quantity bottles of like 30 tabs and it is inconvenient. So finding the 1000 count bottles at 300 baht was a welcome happening.

Here in Prakhonchai, I bought a box of 1000 for just 100bt

I must add that the staff of our local Imm office at Kap Cheung are very friendly and helpful BTW.

Dave

I would agree with the above

However, having regard to previous suggestions, are the staff equally "friendly and helpful" out of normal working hours?

Most people that tried them reckon my French sticks are still the best at 20 baht.I did try the Makro bread, and as with most Farang style Thai bread, it toughens up if you leave it for a couple of hours. Fantastic if you buy and eat straight away though.

Unfortuntely never had the opportunity to try yours Martin, not being local

How about a twice weekly bread delivery beyond Surin. I'm sure there would be many customers. Can you put them on the bus?

Finally Makro have seen the light and have introduced a bakery at Surin. It is situate to the left of the fruit and veg.

Their French stick at 18bt is very good, nice and crusty, and interestingly Big C Surin have reduced the price of theirs from 31bt to 18bt albeit for a short period.

Have you used tried the loafs yet Nick??

Dave

Used it? Hmmmm! Now there's an idea!

As I said it's good and crusty. Just had some with vintage cheddar.

Finally Makro have seen the light and have introduced a bakery at Surin. It is situate to the left of the fruit and veg.

Their French stick at 18bt is very good, nice and crusty, and interestingly Big C Surin have reduced the price of theirs from 31bt to 18bt albeit for a short period.

Surely, apart from having a UK address, when opening an account it is necessary to provide identity proof (ie passport) and address proof (utility bill etc). When living in Thailand this is not possible. How do those of you that have opened accounts get round this?

Have just made an ATM withdrawal from K bank using a Nationwide Flex card, and for the first time have been charged the 150bt fee. On a 15000bt transaction (the maximum permitted by Nationwide - ie £300), I got a rate of 51.89bt. Had the 150bt fee not been charged I would have effectively received a rate of 52,41. Quite a significant difference!

8pm. Thai banks closed. Last rate from Kasikorn bank for £ was 51.97. Visa International showing 52bt with no deductions.

Have just obtained 52.257 from Kasikorn ATM in Prakhonchai -Buriram province. No 150bt fee!

Don't shoot the messenger. I’m just passing on what happens in our area between Thais. Whether it’s legal or not doesn’t matter. It seems to work and is an accepted agreement amongst the locals. Notice I mention these are Thai/Thai loans.

All I can say to a farang who lends to a Thai and doesn’t do his homework beforehand is, why would you do it? Personally I very rarely do it and only under exceptional circumstances.

A farang should NEVER lend money directly, but through his wife/girlfriend. But it should nevertheless be known that it is farang money, and if repayment is either not made or late, the farang will become directly involved -something the village Thais dread.

My wife and I have just had a default on the piece of land immediately adjoining our garden. We tried to buy the land some years ago, but at 250,000bt it was more than double its worth. Instead we gave a revolving loan out for 100,000bt with the land as a guarantee. 6 weeks ago the woman defaulted with 81,000bt outstanding, but since we had already received 77,000bt in interest payments over the years our net cost was just 4,000bt.

On the odd occasion that debtors have been slow in repaying,and my wife has spoken to them on 2/3 occasions without success, she sends word that if the money is not repaid the following day, I will make a visit, and if necessary embarrass them in front of friends and family. This has always had the desired effect. In fact one woman was so concerned, that she sent the money round the next morning by courier at 5AM!

Nick

I am too owed money from my wifes uncle, who lives in our village. Its been 2 F***king years now and I am very p!ssed off about it.

Is it Ok if I tell him you will make a visit and embarrass him. I hope that does the trick cos I have tried every other threat immaginable.

Thanks a bunch

Dave

More than happy to assist. However my fees are high, then there is travelling allowance, and my need for first class transportation - your helicoptor should suffice though!

Nick.

On the odd occasion that debtors have been slow in repaying,and my wife has spoken to them on 2/3 occasions without success, she sends word that if the money is not repaid the following day, I will make a visit, and if necessary embarrass them in front of friends and family. This has always had the desired effect. In fact one woman was so concerned, that she sent the money round the next morning by courier at 5AM!

Since everyone seems to think there is little you can do, may I suggest you engage in some daily harassment of the debtor, preferably when it will prove most embarrassing to him.

This is exactly what a 'Reng Rat Nee' firm will do. For a fee they will have people stand outside the debters house, day and night, shouting out to the debter to pay up what he owes. They will also go to their place of work and do the same in front of their work colleges. I have placed the question, on this forum, as to the where abouts of one of these firms. I drew a blank, even though they do exist.

Why pay someone to do what the OP and his family can do themselves?