Polar Bear

We share a wall with the grounds of a church school that has been closed since COVID. I think they mostly come in from there. There's all sorts of things living there. I guess no one has any suggestions for actual plants though, so I think I'll just get more bromeliads.

Sorry, I probably should have said, I've already tried repellents (diatomaceous earth, copper, etc.) with pretty much zero effect. Partly because they also drop down from the wall/fence/ roof, and partly because there are so many of them, they just crawl over each other. It's the giant ones that do all the damage. I spent a year trying to prevent them getting into the pots, and gave up. I'd rather just go for things they won't eat.

I'm trying to replace all the container/pot plants that I've killed off over the last few years. I bought a selection of plants (don't ask me what they were), potted them all up, and the first night, I could hear a weird sound in the yard. The next morning, I discovered it was the sound of a thousand giant snails chomping their way through my new plants. So I tried again, this time taking a bit more care to get snail-resistant plants, and now I've got a few bromeliads, some spiky things and a dracena that seem to be surviving. Everything else has been eaten immediately. I'd like to add a bit more variety, but I need things that a) are OK in a pot b) can survive in Bangkok weather c) can survive my neglect and d) survive snails. Can anyone suggest anything that has a fighting chance of survival?

Grab is currently quoting 180 THB.

I do use a VPN, and it's probably been on when I've made calls sometimes, but I don't put it on for that specifically. I only use my Google Voice number to receive calls from the USA, and they are always pre-planned, so the only outbound calls I make with it are the ones I need to do to keep it active. I wouldn't usually have my VPN on when I'm making the maintenance calls, but they go through OK.

I've got the best part of a year left on my package, which is the Skype-in number and UK landlines. But I can't put credit on it, so I can't call mobiles, non-geo numbers or other countries from my Skype number, which are the bulk of my outbound calls. What use is a phone number that I can only receive calls on and can't call out from? I'm now having to pay another company to be able to use my number, while Microsoft just keeps my money.

I was 2 months in to my 1 year package. For occasional calls to the USA, you might want to try Google Voice. The catch is that you need a USA number to register it initially. They send a code to that number to register, but it's a one-time thing. Once it's registered, it's free, you just have to use it regularly. (I call the Apple helpline every month to keep it active.)

It depends what you use it for and what countries you call. I use it mainly to call UK landlines and non-geo numbers, but I also have a UK skype-in number, which I really didn't want to lose, so I've switched over to Voipfone.co.uk At the time, (about 3-4 weeks ago) it was the only one I found that had non-business packages that would allow you to port in a UK Skype number, but more might have popped up since then. The call package I've got is practically the same as I had with Skype, just a little more expensive, but they ported my Skype-in number with no fuss. But it's meant for business really, and I have to use 3rd party apps (e.g., Zoiper5) to make calls. They are clunky and awkward, and I don't like them at all. But the calls are clear enough, and calls on my UK VOIP number come through OK, so I will stick with it for now. So, not a glowing recommendation, but it does what I need it to. When I was looking, there were a lot more options for users in the USA.

Nothing, they are just keeping the money and telling us to use Teams.

BTS green line, MRT and airport links were running as normal today. The BTS monorails (pink & yellow) were still off because they haven't finished the safety checks. There didn't seem to be any problems with the roads around Rama IV, but I don't know about other areas.

I haven't used any of them myself, but these all have a good reputations: BKK Dogster HappingPets Paw House Dog Camp Trail and Tail

Yes, you can get it a little cheaper if you shop around, but it's around that price.

Whichever you prefer.

It's very easy to make yourself. Coffee, sugar, vanilla and alcohol (you can use vodka). You'll find lots of recipes online, but you can just adjust it to your taste. Good vanilla and allowing it to age for a while makes a big difference to the flavour.

Looks like a juvenile Ashy Drongo to me though I can't remember which subspecies has the lighter colouring. I'll see if I can track it down. Edit: leucogensis

Does it matter if it's pain you can't control or dementia you can't treat? The eventual outcome is the same in either case. There are vets in Bangkok that will euthanize, but they generally keep a low profile about it because it can cause them a lot of problems if word gets around locally. I don't know if they will do it for a dog they don't know or only their regular clients, but if you would like contact info, send me a DM. There are also several temples in Bangkok that cremate animals. As to whether it's time. I will say that whenever I've had an animal put to sleep I've beaten myself up over it as to whether it was too soon, or if there was more I could do. But with hindsight I can say with certainty that I left it too long every time. I am sure I will do the same thing again next time though. It's always such a hard decision.

It is very similar to human dementia in many ways, and if your dog is suffering from it, you have my sympathy because it's a tough situation. wThere isn't really any treatment. There are some supplements that people say help and a couple of meds (i.e., propentofylline), but it's debatable whether the potential for improvement is worth the side effects. The only practical advice I could give is to keep them busy with exercise and especially puzzle toys during the day because they often have sundowner symptoms, as humans do, with a disturbed sleep-wake cycle. If they are up all night pacing and barking at walls, no one gets any sleep, and that's not sustainable for any length of time. Good luck.

I haven't been to the restaurant, but I order takeout from Aesops, and the food is good. It's not the best I've ever had, but it's definitely much better than anything else I've found here, especially the Kleftiko. https://aesopsbangkok.com/

It's much the same for cats. As long as you have the paperwork in order, there's no quarantine. (This assumes we are talking about a regular domestic pet cat.) Where are you bringing the cat from? Depending on the regulations of the country and the airline, you can take cats and small dogs in the cabin. The size and weight limit depends on the airline, but it's usually around 7-8kg with the carrier, with space for them to turn around. It has to fit under the seat in front of you, but as long as it's soft-sided and will squish a bit, the airlines are usually OK about it being a bit oversized. The airline is more likely to be careful about brachycephalic breeds, like Persians, in terms of making sure they have enough space. I've flown with cats in the cabin a few times, and it was fine. They have to stay in the carrier the whole time, but they pretty much just sleep. I've also flown with a dog in the hold, and that was fine, too. He found the move pretty stressful, but I think he was better in the hold than the cabin even if he had been small enough. He wouldn't have liked all the noise and people/carts moving around him. The hold isn't cold storage. If they have live animals in there, it will be kept between 15c-20c (59-68f). If you have them with you, I'd guess you still have to go to the animal quarantine station by baggage claim #8 to get your import permit and pay the fee before going through customs, but I don't know that for sure.

It's pretty straightforward. Assuming they are too big to go in the cabin, make sure they are booked in the cargo hold as excess baggage NOT cargo. (Bringing them in as a cargo shipment is a lot more complicated and expensive.) You'll need: Microchip record (must have been done at the same time or before the rabies vax). Their vaccination record, with the latest jabs being at least 3 weeks and no more than a year old. (The vax needed are Rabies, Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis). You don't need a titer test. A basic health certificate (no special format) from your vet confirming they are healthy and fit to fly. It should include the animal's name, species, age, sex (and whether neutered or not), breed, color, birthmarks, weight, microchip number, and date of birth. As well as your name and passport number. This will need to be in English. The vet needs to sign, stamp and date it. The exporting country normally determines how long the health certificate is valid for. If Mexico has no regulations on it, get it within 10 days of your arrival. You used to have to email all the documents through and get the import permit in advance, but they issue it on arrival now. But if you have to get an export certificate from Mexico (some countries do, some don't) AND you need the import permit, you can still request it in advance. They used to be pretty responsive to emails [email protected] but it seems a bit more hit-and-miss these days, so you might have to call if you need to contact them 02 1343640 When you arrive, you pick your dog up from the animal quarantine station by baggage claim #8. They will check the microchip and your paperwork and do the import permit. You have to pay the import fee there (I think it was 510 THB, cash only). Then you go through 'something to declare' and they will charge you custom's duty. I paid about 1,000 THB for my neutered mutt, but I've heard of people getting stung for a lot more for unneutered pedigree dogs. Keep all your receipts. If you take them out of Thailand again, you don't have to pay again to reimport them. If there is a possibility of you wanting to take the dog to the USA in the next few years, look into going there now and getting a 3-year rabies booster from a USDA-accredited vet before you travel. It's very difficult to take a dog to the USA with a local vaccination record.

Kinokuniya has international magazines. There's a branch in EmQuartier by Phrom Phong BTS.

They are sentient, and they have some sort of internal mental life. Whether that's equivalent to our emotions is probably unknowable. But some species have complex social structures, and within those they have strong preferences for which individuals they choose to spend time with and which ones they avoid. They are aware when an individual they prefer dies or is removed from the community. They look for them or wait for them in their favourite places. There is a lot of behavioural evidence that they thrive when they are surrounded by individuals they prefer and do poorly when forced to be alone or with individuals they would not choose to be around. It's probably anthropomorphic to say they are happier when they are with friends, but behaviorally, that's what it looks like. Commercial fish farms have to keep the fish 'happy' because they won't eat well or breed well if they don't. Even if all of their physical and nutritional needs are well met, they are still prone to something akin to depression or stress. Get it some new friends as soon as you can.

It's a millipede. I'd guess Orthomorpha (maybe coarctata or communis) but there are other possibilities. They are all pretty much harmless to humans but excrete various substances that can cause irritation if you handle them.

The Red Cross has been offering on and off for a few months. Their supply is limited, and they are prioritising people at high risk of STDs.

All that flooring is going to have to be taken up and replaced, and depending on what state it's in underneath it, it might need more work there too. It needs new cupboard doors, and some of the shelves will probably need replacing. It's hard to see from the video whether the tiles in the shower are damaged or just filthy, but there's something going on in there. I'd wager there is mould on the walls where she's got crap piled up against them, in which case the wallpaper will have to come off as well. I've no idea what this would cost in Thailand, but it needs a lot more than just trash removal.