Old Curmudgeon

Tool box for bed of pickup truck. http://www.bangkokshipping.com/toolbox.php

Well, doing exactly that is an easy and often pleasant way to meet people, especially other expats. Two examples -- hopefully helpful to my fellow expats who are a bit shy: Many years ago, when "Butter is Better" first opened, I went for a meal. Sat down and started studying the menu. Another man at the next table, about my age, appeared to be a fellow expat. Turned to him and said, "This is my first time here. I hope you don't mind me asking, what is that you ordered and how is it?" He explained. So I said to the waitress, "I'll have what he ordered. Same-same." That was all it took to start a friendly and very pleasant conversation. Just the other day, at a different restaurant, at a table by myself, another expat-looking man walked in alone and went past my table to the toilet. Looked like a decent sort. So when he returned, I said, "Good morning. I'm eating alone today. If you'd like some conversation with your meal, you're welcome to sit here." He did and we had a good time exchanging expat stories. I've found that many expats (many, but not all) are eager for conversation with other expats. All they need is the opportunity. Provide that opportunity and it is quite easy to make new friends.

Immediate solution: use an agency. Recently I moved to a new area and needed to find a new maid. Hired from an agency in Chiang Mai with excellent results. (Excellent, not cheap.) In the past I've used agencies for maids, with generally good results. If the first maid they send does not work out (for any reason), the agency will immediately send someone else. No need to spend your time or effort hunting for a replacement, interviewing, getting references, etc. The agency will also provide basic translation service as part of their service. If your wife does not speak or understand Thai, that may not matter anyway if the nannie/maid is Burmese or Hill Tribe or Lao. The agency can provide basic language help for both sides. I simply searched on the Internet and I interviewed the agency, not the maids. First agency I contacted was vague, poorly organized, made all kinds of promises. And spoke (on the phone) with an Indian/Pakistani accent. So I searched for a different agency. Found one that was helpful, realistic, organized. The maid they sent was excellent, and I've requested her to come back again four times already with another reservation for next week. Lesson learned: Interview the agency. Finally: price discovery. I'm paying the agency 220/baht per hour: 880 baht for 1/2 day. That's for maid service. (Nannie, I don't know). Maid told me that the agency takes 20%. Which tells us that (in this case) an excellent maid expects to take home in the vicinity of 175/hour. I hope you'll report back here with your results.

Thanks @TooPoopedToPop for mentioning that ... I'll have to try the whole wheat bread. Just today, for the first time, I bought a bag of JJ's pastry crust "cookies". Crunchy, not overly sweet, perfect with a cup of tea.

Good idea. Recent gatherings were "separate checks": rather awkward for waitress. In future probably only buffets, because fixed price. photo from Auf der Au web site.

Actually don't want more than just digital nomads. Several "groups": exactly "who" is being discussed. I'd post the list here, but the thread would explode with indignation. But one example, just to "test" response. Vaxxed invited?? Or not??

I wish more expats could find ways to cooperate as @Barley has done on this topic. What I appreciate is not just discount price, but that Barley did a lot of research to find a good product and a reputable seller. Would be very helpful to see other ways to cooperate following his lead.

"Price discovery" I'm updating this topic to help others looking for a maid. Above I posted about paying 200/hour for an excellent maid from a service/agency. Just now got new information. A neighbor in my moo-baan, her sister just died recently. The sister had daily maid until her death. Neighbor asked if I was interested in a maid: - cleans - does laundry - does simple cooking (including Western food for farang husband of the deceased). - has motorcycle for nearby errands. - working for that family for quite a few years already, so is "known". 7 days/week (every day). Paid 400/ day (and happy to have work). When funeral ceremonies finished, she'll start here. I will pay more than 400, (but not yet decided how much more). And if @Old Curmudgeon disappears, you'll know hiring her was a bad choice! (Maid almost certainly was vaxxed: could "shed" to me.) But I don't have enough to keep a maid busy 7/days a week. If anyone else interested, well, you know what to do. San Sai area.

Good idea, @Barley. I take you up on that offer. Sending PM to you now.

Follow up report: I'm paying 200/hour. Plus an extra 50 baht/day for petrol for the motocycle -- she comes 20+ KM. Maid is from a service, a cleaning service. There are many such services in Chiang Mai. She is superb. Cleans in every nook and cranny. Makes suggestions about what needs cleaning that I overlooked. Sees something that could do with a bit of organizing, goes ahead and does it. Paying more than I expected when I started this topic, but certainly worth it.

I agree with @CallumWK about this problem, but for a different reason. Because default goes to below last post -- ready for a new post -- most readers will glance at the last post, and then post some reply. This is very bad user interface, because if the last post was off topic -- and most are -- then the new post will also be off topic ... and away we go into a maze of off topic posts. I didn't realize this until @CallumWK brought it up. But it explains why most threads quickly deteriorate into a total hash of off-topic comments. However, if forum goal is to maximize quantity of posts -- regardless of relevance to the topic -- then the current default certainly does that.

Thanks for your post, @Freddy42OZ, but, no, not trying to resolve problems. Not here looking for conventional tech support. In your defense, all other posters on this thread (so far) have gone off on that same (wrong) tangent. Please take a moment to re-read the opening post. Goal is to *FIND* someone to review my computer configuration, all of it, and recommend improvements. Review to include backup configuration, VPN, Ethernet router, software "settings", and on and on. I've done exactly this every 3-4 years, with various consultants, both formal and informal. "Informal" means other Mac users with vast experience. Always find some worthwhile improvements. In the past, I've found this sort of consultation both back in the USA, and here in Thailand. But now, I don't know anyone in Thailand with deep expertise on Mac. This thread is asking how to *FIND* someone, not how to solve specific problems. Thank you for your time to write and post on my thread.

Thanks, @josephbloggs for taking your time to write and post. Before you posted, I wish you'd considered that this thread is NOT about Dr. MacBook. In fact, my OP specifically stated I do NOT want a computer shop for this consulting project. The two times I went in to their shop in the Fico Building at Asoke Intersection, they were helpful. But the help they provide is NOT what I'm looking for here. Thanks, anyway, for defending the nice people at Dr. MacBook from accusations that I did not make. My only goal with this thread is to find a Mac consultant. That clear and simple goal seems to upset some people into posting off on wild tangents. I have no idea why.

I appreciate your detailed post @pattayasan, but clearly you didn't read the opening post on this thread. This thread is NOT about updating an operating system. (That may be required, but that is not the topic here.) Thanks, anyway, for your good intentions.

TUTOR ?? ?? NOT AT ALL. As the OP explained, looking for a farang who can do a "checkup". If you know WHERE to post an ad or HOW TO FIND a consultant, please say so here. Not try to second guess what I'm looking for. Thanks.