triffid

I appreciate the many replies. So that I can make a decision:

Can someone contradict with confidence the claim by the sales girl that in the Chiang Rai winter (reputedly colder than most thai localities) the right electric shower will provide piping hot water?

If so can someone suggest a brand - a high end one is fine provided it is easily installed and unistalled to take easily to take to the next rented house)?

The solar shower appeals to me - but comparative purchase price, ease of installation/removal, hot water in Chiang Rai winters?

The gas shower being suggested was a chinese made one, and would be fed from a butane cylinder (like the ones used for stoves).

The warning about fitting to a mixer tap is contrary to the Homepro chap who demonstrated the thing in their Chiang Mai Carrefour shop. These electric showers seem to be ubiquitous, so how dangerous are they in practice and how hard is it to get them safely installed?

Thanks very much for the detailed advice, Shryl.

I'm now persuaded that I should get them all operated as soon as possible. Will take the male tomorrow to the vet. (He is only 5 months old, but showed signs of wanting to copulate - with his unwilling sister - so obviously is ready for the operation! That'll eliminate pregnancy risks for a bit. At 6mths I'll get his sister done (although initially I had wanted to let her have a litter because she is an exceptionally beautiful cat). And lastly the mother-to-be (who unfortunately was made to endure some 4-5 heats before the pregnancy). All this will be done in Chiang Mai where there is good vet care available - but even so I'll tell them I don't want a uterus-only operation.

I use to fly to Bkk with Air France and KLM (they are for several years now in partnership). They were trying to corner that market and were offering the cheapest air fare. If KLM than a short layover in Amsterdam.

I'd be extremely surprized if Air France are anywhere near the cheapest.

I got a pretty good deal online from sri lankan about 4 months ago. the etihad pric quoted is cheaper, but sri lanka gave me a 3 month tkt which I needed..

Need to get a ticket from Chiang Rai to Pak Chong. Options seem to be

1) bus to Korat/Pak Chong,

2) bus to Chiang Mai, then the overnight train to Bkk, and finally a bus to Pakchong,

3) plane to Bkk, and from there a bus to Pakchong.

The 3rd option seems best, and would appreciate any info on it (am not familiar with Chiang Rai airport/flights). Is there much saving in buying on internet or at the airport/travel agent in Chiang Rai? Is there much saving in buying 2 weeks in advance compared to 2 days in advance? Is there a convenient bus from Bkk airport to Bkk Morchit bus station?

Is there any reason I may be missing to prefer one of the other options?

I don't suppose there are flights to Korat?

For long bus rides VIP buses are well worth the money. If you can get a direct over night VIP bus to Khorat, it will probably be the best bus obtion. Consider stopping in Phitsanulok instead, which is more on the way to Khorat - where CM is a bit in the wrong direction. Phitsanulok is 400 km from Chiang Rai and takes about 6 hours.

Have you considered driving?

Am curious about these 'vip' busses - especially the overnight ones. How reclining are the seats? Is it feasible to actually get a night's sleep in one? Are the loos tolerable? Do they have a respectable safety record? If there was a 'sleeper' train train service with a comparable price in say 2nd class a/c would you still consider the vip bus?

As to driving, wouldn't this be far more expensive just on the petrol and obviously more tiring?

Thanks for the many pieces of advice.

I think my best course for now is to have the male cat neutered soon after the pregnant one has her litter. The next operation will be the speying of the mother.

After that I'll think about what to do when about the remaining female.

I wouldn't abandon any kittens. I may well get them neutered fairly early and then keep them for myself.

The post-neutering weight of the male is going to be a problem. Cutting back on quantity isn't easy when he can/does push the other two aside and helps himself to their food. I'll have to find a way to avoid that happening. I already use Hills and Royal Canin dry food - will look for the diet versions.

Finally, I am presuming (and hoping) I can leave the pregnancy/birth entirely to nature, ie there's nothing I need to do to prepare or assist the cat.

Thanks again for all the advice.

A very timely question from my point of view too - I'm on the point of buying it (probably in a fortnight or so) for my girlfriend. I'd appreciate also any comments from people on choosing among the different Fino models.

Very well written and true; too bad he didn't use a pseudonym!

Do you seriously believe he wrote this?

It reads like the product of one of the top flight legal firms in London - possibly also brushed up by a professional 'wordsmith' over there.

Thanks a lot for your replies, which I found very helpful; and since you referred to your national organization's policies, they are also authoritative enough for me.

I had just a few follow-up questions.

female #1

Waiting up to 12 months between litters will mean she will have to endure several heats in that period. Are post-litter heats as intense and troublesome as those before the first litter?

Does each litter 'age'/ 'wear out' the cat to some extent?

cat #3

Unfortunately this cat is already the fat one. Can the post-neutering added weight be cut back by cutting back on food intake or is it a biological consequence to be accepted?

I have 3 cats. #1 is about 18 months old and pregnant (for the first time); #2 is female and just 5 months old; #3 is male and brother of #2. I am not experienced with cats as pets and would appreciate advice on the following from anyone with experience, knowledge or expertize.

Regarding #1.

After the birth I want her to have one more litter (by another male) and then I intend to have her operated on.

Questions: Is every pregnancy a health burden in any way? If so, I won't put her through the second pregnancy (This is my favourite cat). If not, should I aim to get her pregnant again (by #3) at the very next heat or allow an interval (how long) for her to recuperate?

Regarding #2

I assume on balance it is better to get it speyed asap.

Questions: Should I do it now - before she gets the first heat? Or when is it ideal? There is no difficulty in keeping her indoors and away from interested/interesting males. But of course #3, her brother, is going to be around - are they likely to mate? If so, would this necessarily be a bad thing in terms of the offspring?

Regarding #3

Is neutering necessary once both females #1 and #3 are speyed? From the point of view of its health, corpulence, nature/spiritedness?

Sorry for the repetition - was wanting to correct the last para which should have said "females #1 and #2"

I have 3 cats. #1 is about 18 months old and pregnant (for the first time); #2 is female and just 5 months old; #3 is male and brother of #2. I am not experienced with cats as pets and would appreciate advice on the following from anyone with experience, knowledge or expertize.

Regarding #1.

After the birth I want her to have one more litter (by another male) and then I intend to have her operated on.

Questions: Is every pregnancy a health burden in any way? If so, I won't put her through the second pregnancy (This is my favourite cat). If not, should I aim to get her pregnant again (by #3) at the very next heat or allow an interval (how long) for her to recuperate?

Regarding #2

I assume on balance it is better to get it speyed asap.

Questions: Should I do it now - before she gets the first heat? Or when is it ideal? There is no difficulty in keeping her indoors and away from interested/interesting males. But of course #3, her brother, is going to be around - are they likely to mate? If so, would this necessarily be a bad thing in terms of the offspring?

Regarding #3

Is neutering necessary once both females #1 and #3 are speyed? From the point of view of its health, corpulence, nature/spiritedness?

I have 3 cats. #1 is about 18 months old and pregnant (for the first time); #2 is female and just 5 months old; #3 is male and brother of #2. I am not experienced with cats as pets and would appreciate advice on the following from anyone with experience, knowledge or expertize.

Regarding #1.

After the birth I want her to have one more litter (by another male) and then I intend to have her operated on.

Questions: Is every pregnancy a health burden in any way? If so, I won't put her through the second pregnancy (This is my favourite cat). If not, should I aim to get her pregnant again (by #3) at the very next heat or allow an interval (how long) for her to recuperate?

Regarding #2

I assume on balance it is better to get it speyed asap.

Questions: Should I do it now - before she gets the first heat? Or when is it ideal? There is no difficulty in keeping her indoors and away from interested/interesting males. But of course #3, her brother, is going to be around - are they likely to mate? If so, would this necessarily be a bad thing in terms of the offspring?

Regarding #3

Is neutering necessary once both females #1 and #3 are speyed? From the point of view of its health, corpulence, nature/spiritedness?

Need to get a ticket from Chiang Rai to Pak Chong. Options seem to be

1) bus to Korat/Pak Chong,

2) bus to Chiang Mai, then the overnight train to Bkk, and finally a bus to Pakchong,

3) plane to Bkk, and from there a bus to Pakchong.

The 3rd option seems best, and would appreciate any info on it (am not familiar with Chiang Rai airport/flights). Is there much saving in buying on internet or at the airport/travel agent in Chiang Rai? Is there much saving in buying 2 weeks in advance compared to 2 days in advance? Is there a convenient bus from Bkk airport to Bkk Morchit bus station?

Is there any reason I may be missing to prefer one of the other options?

I don't suppose there are flights to Korat?

I'd like to thank everyone for the helpful - if by and large discouraging - replies.

My reasons for asking were three fold.

1.

For exactly the purpose specified by Artamus's post - proof opf address.

2.

To pre-empt 'loading' of the bills by the landlord - I've suffered unreasonably from that practice previously.

3.

I want to build up a record of co-residence with my girlfriend for the purposes of applying for a schengen visa for her in the foreseeable future.

It looks like I'll have to try and achieve 1 & 3 with phone bill in my name and the internet bill in hers; and try by other means to mitigate no 2.

Can phone and/or internet bills be in 2 names?

Perhaps I cn get an address letter from my consulate nd use it for no 1.

If someone has info on these two thoughts it would be a help.

ya got buckleys ,

thai partner is the best case senario ........................

??

Sorry, don't follow you.

I asked if a farang tenant have utility bills in his name (or jointly in his and thai partner's names)? Or are they always in thai landlord/owner's name.

I will be renting a house very soon, and when I do I want to have utility bills sent to me in my name - something that's normal for rentals in my experience abroad. I am told that in Thailand utility bills can be only in the name of the owner of the house. I shall be most grateful if someone can tell me whether or not this is so.

Yes, please say where you are located. And are they pure persian or mixed? Are you selling them or offering them free to a suitable home? Depending on your answers `i could be very interested.

I did post in the other forum too. Wanted to know if the train's punctuality can be relied upon to catch the connexion at Hualomphong. Is it as bad as someone is saying there?

Otherwize the taxi from ekamai seems ok.

thanks for the replies/suggestions.

Looks like the weight of contrary evidence is in support of the OP. Anyway, hard to prove a negative.

Ajarn may have to back up his claim with specifics.

Curious to know, if and when Tachilek does sell dvd s agin, how do their prices compare with dvd s in Mae Sae or Chiang Rai?

I have the flexibility to travel on a wekday. But are train times reliable? The Hualomphong connexion is an hour, but still....I do things slowly, I'll have luggage and I like to have ample time. And I don't want to be forced to pass the night in Bangkok, lose that night's ticket, find the next night's train full, etc.

The Pattaya train journey being horrible - and a long 4 hours too - is daunting. Why is it so horrible? Is there a first class to mitigate this? Maybe the bus to Ekamai and a taxi from there is more practical after all.

Finally, I know that flying may be the simplest thing - especially with a direct bus to the airport - but I quite like travel by train and moreover there's the heavy luggage. (Why all this luggage? Well I'm returning after 2+ months in Europe.)

Does any one have experience and specifics on the conditions in the Pattaya train, and its punctality - or lack thereof?

Is there a direct bus from pattaya to the bkk station (with trains to Chiang Mai)? Otherwize what is the best point in bangkok to change from bus to a cab? I need to arrive there well in time to catch the evening train.

What's a recommended agent in patttaya who will reserve/sell me a train ticket?

Any practical info would be much appreciated.

and fare is 150 baht

Thank you for the comprehensive info. It'll be very helpful in a few days when I should be arriving at Suvarnabhumi.

Also wanted to know about any bus service from pattaya to bkk railway station - which is where I need to go from next. but I'll post in the travel section.

If someone has used this service did they notice how much space they have in the van for luggage. I'll have a biggish suitcase and a biggish carry-on and a laptop bag. At a pinch I can put the last two in my lap, but the suitcase needs a boot/trunk or something.

Tried emailing them but they don't reply.