Reginald Prewster

True, dogs are work. Especially as we were living in a Moo Ban Village My neighbor had 3 dogs and it was smelling like the Sri racha Tiger zoo, especially on warm days, because she gave a heck... You need to water the lawn and trees every day, remove the poop as it comes (most they do on their runs but sometimes sh*t happens) and the vaccuum cleaner is in use every day to clean the house from hair. Barking is a training thing. They need to bark but they learn that 2-3 "wuffs" will informs us that someting outside is not kosher. People passing by, the electric man or water meter man checks. As owner you NEED to respond, "Ok got it, good boys!" The only thing they getting really insane is when the garbage people "steal our stuff" beside the wall... But I trained them if somebody carries something away without me or the girls opening the gate, block the gate and watch that fellow closely... My bad: The Lazada guy was laying 6 hrs in the sun on the lawn and couldn't move an inch. Carrying in and carrying out is for dogs not really a difference... What more can happen as you get up in the morning and step on something soft, while the dog looks at you like: We got a deal so where is my treat for it... YIKES! BUT, you can train them not to create a mess and put the food bowl on the door mat... Or the funny times, when a Burglar comes on your turf and even the dogs looking stunned why this midget has the balls to punch the brother and escaping so quick in the trees... True, you must love working with dogs as they are real work but also your best and reliable friends...

Find two decent size stray dog puppies and teach them one thing: not to eat anything fed or thrown by strangers. They give their life for you...

Well thats what I get when I chose English. They must be real Doctors translating Thai to Latin... LOL I hope that they not sew me a second dlck on, instead building in a hip joint, just because they didn't understand my English.. Qualified Doctors Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montesmus. Pro vel nibh et elit mollis commodo et nec augueique But nothing is better that give them a private visit. Samitivei Hospital and Bumungrat is off my list as both have put me into the CT for 36.000 baht. Bangkok hospital used X-ray and commented that CT was no way necessary. The winner was the small Clinic in Soi Nern Plub Wan Pattaya Darkside. He didn't use any machine but told me right away while I tried to stand up from his seats in the entry hall, that he couln't treat Osteroporosis and all signs pointing to it. As former Bangkok Hospital Doctor he recommended of course this Hospital. For my outcome here is I will give first both Hospitals you recommended here, near home in Khon Kaen a visit and see what they come up with. I am aware that a hip bone replacement nowadays is quite easy. Really no need to go all way back to Germany and pay cash... I belive that mosts Doctors have done lots and lots of replacements and the differences are not significant. To find out if I am right there is no way around to visit them after coming back from Taiwan in October. Cheers all for the heads up and also Sheryl for your recommendations..

I have asked the insurance and they are covering this hospital. As I hit a stray dog with my bike I had to pay in advance (broken Finger of my wife and broken rib for myself done in Bangkok Hospital Pattaya) and claim later.

Thats what I have found out so far, 600K is for good quality in Thailand and the same bone is for 220K NTD = ruff 260K THB. But having my farm gang bring and pick me up and my wife around me can't be weighted up with money, hence I still looking to do it in Khon Kaen instead of Bangkok.. If my knees are due then Bangkok might be the better option..

Thanks for your reply, 15 years ago sounds very good as they must be even more sophisitcated by now. From Sri Racha I have experienced a fellow friend who had a bike accident. They bolted his bones together and did an exellent job. In Khon Kaen I got told that many doctors in Thailand move from surgery to surgery in different places. The doc in Taiwan told me he does the cut and the technician from the bone company puts it in and that there are rookies and old school techs..

Sure my infos are not from the www, I spoke to some people (also expats) directly who have done it here in Taiwan and they are happy. I was also imprested that based on the documents gathered in Thailand (Xray - Type and Brand) the price was 30% compared to Thailand, but if I compare the visual impression of the hospitals and the service, I tend more to Thailand. Also because it's since 22 years the country where I am living. I will wait for @Sheryl 's recommendation as well... Still nice if anyone has own experiences to bring up.. It's not getting a tooth filling, but when the pain is permanent and mobility is lacking more and more then it's time to make a choice. 18 Years climbing Wind Turbines pay back now... I guess my knees will come next..

enough said. I can tell you if you play idiot what's the last that is going through your head if you hit something: The Number Plate.......

Hi all, currently I am working in Taiwan who has the best health care system in the world, but when you come to the hospitals they are permanently overcrowded and looking old. I got told the doctors are top but queuing for hours turns me off. I live near Khon Kaen and have a health insurance which would cover the hip joint replacement and in Taiwan I could claim it back from my income tax. But I rather would do it at home and therefore I would hear your opinions, especially those of us who did this kind of surgery in Thailand. Are you happy with the results made in Thailand? Maybe you even have done it in Khon Kaen whould be a good to know too. How long you had to stay in the hospital? Cheers for any support

The rainseason gets things growing and the 1st cut has been made.. The first cut with chop and drop is the mulch layer in progress, hopefully more to come. The coverage from January till now is quite nice to have, slowly mother nature takes back the bare soil patches. Delightening to see. What for one the weeds and grasses is for the other pure fertilizer and new developing soil..

2x2 meter in a bigger garden or 2x2 meter just between lets say house and wall? Does the soil drain well or is it prone to water logging?

So right, 22 years I am now in Thailand and I stick to the rules which are no troubles at all.. imo Once I failed because a job has been delayed and I miscounted that I was due with my Visa extension. As I realized I was 6 days "over" I rushed with my wife to the immigration and told in the most pollite way the story, the Officer smiled and joked that he must lock me in and my wife too... And then it went fast... Bang, Stamp, 1 week extension re-dated for 1800 Baht, pointed to the next desk, retirement visa extenison into the passport... "careful next time" was all the Officer said to me with a raised finger and we passed him again..

Thai recognized Notary Office: PTA Pattaya... Caroline Wang Highly recommended... I go to her with all my Paperworks incl official translation documents..

I just had to pay my income tax which was 1.9M Baht in Taiwan. I don't know if this is because I am a long year customer by the bank, but I didnt need to be in person there. Beside the usual Power of Attorney original document signed by myself, a Passport Copy signed, The Tax remittance advice file from Taiwan signed, my wife called me via whatsapp, the Bank manager said hello and made a screen shot. That was suffiucient... So it saved me from flying and pop up in person at the Bank..

I had set some budget and requirements calculated as I usually would do in my Offshore jobs, when I was working for the insurance side: The bridge had to have a static which can carry a schoolclass and a safety factor of 30% extra. 2500Kg SWL (safe working load) plus 750 Kg safety factor.. The budget was set at 250.000 Baht and the Castle Bridge would have been with these requirement three times the price, But, me, drunk with blurred view I might miss the bridge anyway and falling into the water which needs no aesthetics..???? But I can add an update here too as the island is a part of this story: I need to go back to the 10th of December last year. The connection of the new lake and the old existing pond was in the final stage. All what was left, was a dam and a little tiny mount, where some Leucaena Trees were growing. The next day already the lake and pond were joined and made the wanted lake of 5500 squaremeter was completed.. My wife (the little dot on the island) was over the moon, the main miliestone of our food jungle, her biggest dream was done... Not much later the story was (of course) over a ghost on the Land. An old lady walking around the lake and as well uncle and auntie (70+ Years) as also out Housemaid (35 years) confirmed that she is there... I am not so into this stuff and have more the mind: If I would go tomorrow for a life sentence into prison I would have the night before the same good sleep as always.. BUT, as a foreigner choosen Thailand to live, I always respect the traditions, because I have seen how the old traditions got kicked with feet in Europe and how the hate and racism is building up there. So I told my wife to get a monk on the land and sort it out. Last Monday, my wife and the Farm Gang (3 Generations Thais and since decades best friends) went to a Wat about 10 Miles away from the Land (which is in the middle of nowhere) The Monk there is quite young for his rank, but he came to the wat as he was a child and never left again and so he has built some reputation... Well, surprisingly he knew the group would come and he knew already that we disturbed the piece of the spirits on the land by removing a mount, that was there for many generations. The mount was beside a hut which was built as shelter used by the farmers before, right beside a small lake.. OOPS Bullseye! (my thoughts, just that) If you look at the picture, yep, on the spot.. Here a 2nd picture where the poles of the hut and the mount are still there. Two days later after we donated for the temple, the Monk came. I am still working in Taiwan, so I had to "participate" from our site office via WhatsApp Video call.. The Monk, my Wife and our "Farm Gang" started the celebration by collecting some earth in two buckets (one from the Monk and one from us), some rice seed and water in the others. This had to be blessed, because it might be dirt and water, but it was the "home from the former owners" and it will be "our new home"... What the sword had to do I could not understand but somehow it should keep the evil away and open the door or give enlightenment to ask the spirits for receivement of the Merit to be the new owners... After the items were blessed all went to the location where the mount has been before and a little hole was dug out. In this hole they put some gifts from everyone and we had to close the hole with the blessed earth, while the Monk spread the water in the surrounding and chanted his prayers.. The monk then walked over the entire land and obviously recommended my island to the spirits.. (I was in tears, my sacred island, where I was seeing myself already in front of a well stocked fridge with Leo, a Pizza oven and BBQ, a little cosy hut, singing dirty songs... You all know: the real man's world thing...) But after the ceremony was completed and the monk was gone back, my wife told me that made me thinking: Hey, As young boy in Germany, the Punk Parties in the Village Cemetery was actually not disturbing the peace of the dead... Because she said, the island was chosen for the reason, that it will be in future a place of happyness, many laughing people will gather there and the spirits will be happly joining. We only have to put the usual bowl of rice, some lao khao or fizz drink and some scent sticks in one place, before the party starts to invite the spirits to join us... Well, and there is our Housemaid... She has given her Talisman with her lucky Lottery Numbers... If the numbers are not coming this month, there is no refund and not return, this little brick stays in the ground forever... I not want to see the "old Lady" roaming restless around searching for her little brick in the night.... ???????????? Fair enough and worth it I guess. How do you think?

If you are living within the Korat Plateau (ที่ราบสูงโคราช) or Korat Basin, then I guess you hit salt... As I we bought our land we made sure that we will be in the Phu Phan Uplift to make the chances higher not drilling into the brine levels.

For myself it's more to have a Project after retirement, because what i blew in the farm is quit a bit of money. 5500 sqm lake, 400 mtr river, fruit trees from all around the world and an Aquaponics system is in planning.... More something to play with, instead hanging off with other expats in front of 7eleven on the stone table. (Seen enough of them in Pattaya.) Beside this I love to live in the nature and not in the city... I am happy if my family can make an income and when I see the prices of food since 2002, where I moved to Thailand I we talk about almost 10% per year but the pension isn't following up...

Just some consultancy jobs no bone jarring anymore. The problem is that I need to step out slowly and understand I am 60. I traveled 42 years and visited till today 57 countries in the world, so I can't just stop from one day to the other. 2020 I made an attempt to retire (hence 57 same like you @soalbundy) but a new project lured me with a day rate that most people can only dream of. But its an easy going job, gliding worktimes, Saturday and Sunday off where I make tours with my Gogoro all around Taiwan... (defo the last Country I visit, because now I start missing my wife, friends and my farm in Isaan...)

Considering the "Little Ghost" has to pay her way out then 100k is the common "fee" 2007 I met a "married" Phillippina in Penglai City and my mate from Denmark asked all of us at work to buy her free. The whole story was 40.000 Yuan... (around 190.000 Baht) "little Gosts" are also in Taiwan where I am working now and we heard about a Thai who asked around to find a room in our Apartments for natural services. She was an overstayer and escaped a karaoke bar the News said.. This kind of girls can't just buy a ticket for 2500 Baht...

You need to see it with a different point of view. I am working offshore since decades and yes, I made my coin after I left Germany and it's rip off taxes on everything.. But does it make rich? Moneywise sure... but I bought a farm now, just 17 rai and rented another 7 rai (soon more) , our grocery bill dropped significantly from year one... I feel getting superrich (not moneywise) since I could reduce my work rotations from 9-10 to just 6 month a year..

LOL, at the opening celebration I was there and I thought by myself: Maybe going the extreme works, I should try selling Bibles in the I-bar... Lucky, I didn't

At least she has made a little effort to show me in clear pictures how the trees a doing. I was quite surprised and getting a little more optimistic. Failure: I though it is good to plant nitrogen fixer around the trees when they get planted. Arachis Pintoi was the choice, Chickens, Geese, Goats all love the greens and as harder the Pinto peanut gets grazed, as better it will cover the ground in its resting times... Result: The pinto peanuts stunted the growth of my new planted trees. As soon they were relocated the trees were shooting up. Good; Arachis Pintoi (pinto peanut) has proven that it is a great fodder plant, grows in deepest shade but also in the sun and starts covering slowly the bare soil... Despite planting about 380 trees in the dry season (lucky our well has great water) only 3 trees died immediately after planting, so I can say I did my homework before I started... Also the idea of the artificial river instead of swales pays out now. A few of the trees increased twice their size in just 6 month... Jacaratia Mexicana (Bonete) was just knee height as I planted it.. Adansonia digitata (Baobab) grew his trunk from 1.5 inch to 3 inch at his foot (pipe is 2 1/2 inch) Moringa drouhardii with his common Name Bottle tree was a thumb size trunk as he left the pot and did just what we expected to do.. and in general some other specimens from around the world which I not expected to grow in the Isaan just do fine... one thing sets me up is, that I had every tree from the date of seeding, pot numbered and listed, then I put a label with name, date and place of origin on the trees, before we relocated them from Pattaya to Isaan. As they were planted, our farm gang decided to take the ugly yellow plastic things off, because "Lung" (Uncle) said we have a zero plastic policy on our farm... AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGG! I have to calm down, it's my fault my wife said, because I was swearing like a Broommaker when a blown away Som Tum bag crossed my path.. And when she said so, then it is so... I hope one day I meet some fellow here who helps me to rename all these trees.. BBQ on the island and a fridge full of beer will be a promise.. That is one of my next winter tasks, because my island is a (my) sacred place for BBQ, Pizza Oven, Hut and Fridge.. And if not there: "Gone fishing"

I see we are actually speaking the same language and we are both deep into the Permaculture farming. All these things I try to get implemented BUT when the cat has left the house, the mices are dancing on the table. I have left 15th February to my Job in Taiwan and try my best to get my wife directed but all I hear is. Rain must first come, Seeds die because one day rain and 3 days dry erosion does not get corrected, wait for more rain to plat Vetiver Grass BUT, the lake is made last winter 125 x 60/45 x 7 meters deep and I told her to wait at least 2 Ammonia Spikes are measured. But no: water level reached 1.2 meter and now the lake is stocked with huge carps, catfish, white fish, perches... in an amount way out of balance. (I was long years in a fishing club where I was responsible for the surrunding growth and stocking rate based on catch reports... ) There is a lot going not the way I want to have it. A BBQ sponsored ended up with 2 Goats delivered alive and nobody wanted to kill them, now one oif them is even pregnant. I think it's time for NO MORE MR NICE GUY! I will continue my posts on my tread, but you are right @drtreelove you are speaking my words but I am 4000 Kilometers away to excecute the tasks necessary. End of October my job goes in a winter break and then I will swing the hammer big time...

Happens really not often that they solve a hit and run case.. ????????

There was not long ago a headcount how many chinese are on the world and the number given was: 1,425,671,352 so what happened if he would have jumped? 1,425,671,351 who finds the difference?