Pierrot

about twenty minutes ago, the juristic person for my building delivered a notice to my door regarding our cat, informing me that 'Pets are not allowed" (i was already aware of this), attatched to the back of the notice was a picture of my cat lying on my bed, this was obviously taken when no one was home and without my permission. after informing the juristic person that i intend to take legal action against (name i shall not mention) for entering my property without permission, he buckled under the stress and informed me that the maid had provided him with said evidence for a little tip as he put it.

having just taken extreme pleasure in firing my maid who was not the best in the world anyway, i now have a vacancy for a maid if anyone has anyone they would care to put forward..

regards

get a blog. no one cares about you.

Don't be so hard on him.

The OP has also started this other tread "Mastication Techniques"

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Mastication-...es-t275718.html

Obviously he has something to say, but are we ready to hear it ?

Then the dreaded "miscellaneous" expenses.

No idea what to put in there, will 2000 baht a month cover that?

- proceedings with thai authorities - visa, driving licence, etc.

- everything else I didn't think about?

As a rule of thumb, I usually put it at 30% of my monthly expenses. Your expenses are based on your lifestyle, so for me it makes more sense to put it as a % of your average expenses rather than a fix amount.

Actually, it's the Japanese who teach us quality as we know it today.

In 1990, it was already clear that one day Toyota will take over GM as the biggest car manufacturer. If you want to understand why and how the Japanese completely changed (for the better) our understanding of quality from manufacturing to our every day life, this book is a must read :

THE MACHINE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

When The Machine That Changed the World was first published in 1990, Toyota was half the size of General Motors. Today Toyota is passing GM as the world's largest auto maker and is the most consistently successful global enterprise of the past fifty years. This management classic was the first book to reveal Toyota's lean production system that is the basis for its enduring success. Now reissued with a new Foreword and Afterword, Machine contrasts two fundamentally different business systems -- lean versus mass, two very different ways of thinking about how humans work together to create value. Based on the largest and most thorough study ever undertaken of any industry -- MIT's five-year, fourteen-country International Motor Vehicle Program -- this book describes the entire managerial system of lean production

http://www.amazon.com/Machine-That-Changed...n/dp/0060974176

But her sense of living in the moment is quite pronounced so she will just do whatever and there is no concern at all. If we take the Motorbike, she often will be in the mall before I have even put the helmet away (I like to lock my helmet to the bike). I turn around, and the hunt is on. She says she can't wait on the street because of the sun, but that doesn't explain why she is not waiting inside when I get there. Especially since sometimes it's in a parkade. She just gets shopping, my job is to find her. When I was a kid I had a trapline and I was an avid hunter. I had no idea my tracking and spotting skills were preparing me for marriage.

More seriously, I understand you problem I have the same from time to time. Now the answer depends of my mood of the moment. Either I make a big scene, saying I'm not her driver or her maid, so she better behave if she doesn't want to take a taxi back. Or I just head for the bookstore or the computer store and wait for her to call me when she's finished. Nowadays that's what we do, unless we really need to be together, we both head our own way and call each other when we're done, much less drama this way.

Actually it reminds me an other story. This lady journalist just come back to Koweit after the war and realizes there is a big improvement in the relation men/women. Before the men used to cruise ahead and the wife were following behind. Now she realizes the men are much more polite and let the women go first. She decide to interview one of the man in the street and ask why this change of attitude, does the war make them realize the importance of women in the society ? The man gave her a blank look and just a one word answer "Landmines".

It reminds me this dinner one time, for the 25 years wedding anniversary of this old couple. The husband had all these nice names for his wife, "please Honey, could you pass me the salt", "sweetie, could I have some more wine", "Dear, some more dessert?". When my wife congratulated him for being so sweet after all these years, he smiled but didn't say anything. After the dinner, he came to me and said "You know what, after all these years, I still don't remember her name"

I am wondering if the errant China QC hasnt already slipped thru into pharmacology?!

The original Q&A, albeit somewhat rhetorical, was visa-vis the China marketing faux pas by EADS/Airbus?!

Clearly that thrust, to some, is a non event - when in fact, it is very relevant.

Furthermore, the assumptions are glaringly inaccurate, interspersed with wild conjecture, and furthermore compounded by

flames & no doubt, the non-prescribed, illegal mixing of the aforementioned with copious amounts of fermented liquids or

reasonable facsimiles thereof. That we finally do have some coherent commentary is comic-relief.

I could give a rats a$ if my iPhone or Sony had some Foxconn bits - but - none of my industries will not tolerate any

China built component. Period. Even at 50% off. It used to be - no MIT, now add MIC

A China Airbus - at this moment in time - looks to be a real compounding of errors, is all.

That their internal travel expansion will proliferate is another.

BR>Jack

If you tried to speak in plain english, it would be easier for us (non english speakers) to understand what you mean.

In fact, it's quite simple. The problem is that buyers are focused more on price, delivery, quantity rather than about quality control. If the Chinese (manufacturer/owner) smells he is able to deceive the buyers (because he is screwed in price so much, losing an affordable profit) he will try and go around the initial agreement.

FYI :

http://www.economist.com/books/displaystor...ory_id=13642306

But it's only half of the story ....

We imported Mattel toys (Mattel announced recalls Tuesday for 9 million more Chinese-made toys, including popular Barbie, Polly Pocket and "Cars" movie items, and warned that more could be ordered off store shelves because of lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed.

You ask, I answer. The magnets ( and there was other problems) were a design problem, don't blame the Chineses for that.

No Condom ? By tomorrow you may have have a kid or AIDS, or maybe both.

One thing you should be looking forward is to get a brain.

Actually most of Mattel's problem were due to faulty design, nothing to do with China.

Anyway, last month Mrs Clinton went to China to beg Chinese officials not to let down America.

Twenty years ago american car manufacturers used to make fun of Japanese. Now Toyota is the biggest car manufacturer in the world and american car manufacturers are all bankrupts.

Stick with your "intelligent design" but please step aside when when we're moving ahead.

I am a bit pissed of now

Being here for 2 years now, working to make ends meet ( I don't have a pension like most of your guys have) and just finished my first 5 little units

Sorry to hear about your trouble. But what are you talking about ???

I am talking about some one who destroyed my property we do not have condo's here like you have in BKK or where ever I build this UNITS by my self ok ? If you don't know what a unit is search on google

I checked and that's what I found :

UNIT (UNified Intelligence Taskforce, formerly United Nations Intelligence Taskforce) is a fictional military organisation from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who.

Do you belong to some kind of alien invasion forces ?

This thread is pathetic.

If I were a mod, I would close it to put an end to its suffering.

If I were a mod, I would put an end to your suffering

Thais can also have a good sense of humor.

A few month ago, we were pissed off to see some of the neighbour's cows invading our garden on a regular basis. One day we went to see him to complain. Jokingly he asked if we could identify the offenders, he can organize a line up if needed ... Nevertheless, the very next day his employees came to our land to fix the fence and we never had trouble with his cows again.

I am a bit pissed of now

Being here for 2 years now, working to make ends meet ( I don't have a pension like most of your guys have) and just finished my first 5 little units

Sorry to hear about your trouble. But what are you talking about ???

Honestly, usually I don't have much respect for MBA and PhD but for Student 0001 Seckson

Everybody, everyday, should do something to help others. Today it will be easy :

http://www.thaistudentcharity.org/index.ph...4&Itemid=32

Please help give our students the opportunities they deserve !

The court has been appointed by the coup makers. The current government is the coup makers choice, and they had very hard time to make it look like a "democratically" elected government. If new elections are held today, they will bring the same result as the past 10 years.

IMO it will snow in Bangkok before we see the current pro-government MP (rightly) disqualified.

You don't make sense at all.

You're talking about a big house, a pool boy and a gardener and at the same time a third class insurance and an allowance of 500 Bahts / day for your wife.

For a middle class European life style, I'ld agree with givenall, a monthly budget of 200,000 is a good starting point.

Now if you want to live like a billionairex, the sky the limit, but don't make the mistake to think Thailand is cheap !

200,000 a month!!!

We live on 10% of that. Comfortably.

It depends where you live.

We have two houses. One in Isaan,small village, our main expenses are the gas for the car and the internet, house is fully paid, so beside that, I would have hard time to spend more than 200 bahts a day.

On the other hand for our house in Bangkok, just for the mortgage and basic household expenses, it already cost us 50,000 / month, then we have to eat, and basic city expenses, minimum 1,000 Baht a day. So for a couple, no kids, without doing nothing, it already cost us more than 100,000 / month.

Honestly I've better time in Isaan taking care of my garden, but unfortunately can't afford to retire yet.

You don't make sense at all.

You're talking about a big house, a pool boy and a gardener and at the same time a third class insurance and an allowance of 500 Bahts / day for your wife.

For a middle class European life style, I'ld agree with givenall, a monthly budget of 200,000 is a good starting point.

Now if you want to live like a billionairex, the sky the limit, but don't make the mistake to think Thailand is cheap !

Yes, I feel like I belong to an elite that is above democracy, that my decision should not be contested by the "uneducated". Be honest, accept it. But please, the "uneducated" should stop talking about democracy or first make the effort to understand the meaning of the word.

Democracy : one person = one vote

Your definition ?

Quite amazed at the at the sheer hatred and viciousness of the anti-Thaksin brigade here!

Nothing amazing about people hating a convicted criminal who flees like a coward, refuses to accept punishment handed down by the Thai courts and who continues to stir up trouble in the country - all in the interests of saving his own precious scrawny arse.

What is amazing however, is that there are people like you who continue to speak in his defence (although you'll no doubt deny that) and mention his name in the same breath as the word democracy.

Punishment handed by a military appointed court following a military coup.

Since then the people have repeatedly voted for politicians supporting Thaksin, only to see their choice overturned by a court appointed by the coup makers.

Let's make it clear. You feel like you belong to an elite that is above democracy, that your decision should not be contested by the "uneducated". Be honest, accept it. But please stop talking about democracy or first make the effort to understand the meaning of the word.

bwha ha ha ha

It is taken 10 years for these proposals to get here.

Will take another 30 years to implement...

Actually it just depends how long it will take for Thaksin to come back.

Just look at the new airport. How long did we wait for it ? Then one day Thaksin was elected PM, he said we will have a new airport and then we had a new airport !

But just looking at the result of local election a few days ago, it seems people start to realize who really "rak Thais"

"America is the first empire to go from barbarity to decadence without going through civilization"

Oscar Wilde

R.I.P. America

Agree with MF, "As far as the "foreigners can't farm in Thailand" goes - meaning, ex-pats like you and me who want to grow a few rai of maize, rice, or keep a few rai of sheep or cows, or pig's in a piggery - there are ample ways for one to go about this kind of farming without upsetting officials or breaking the rules"

The real risk for Thailand, and for other developing countries, is somewhere else :

Nov 2008 : Daewoo to cultivate Madagascar land for free

Daewoo Logistics of South Korea said it expected to pay nothing to farm maize and palm oil in an area of Madagascar half the size of Belgium, increasing concerns about the largest farmland investment of this kind. From The Financial Times

http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?ne...920081227033091

March 2009 :

Madagascar's new leader has cancelled a controversial deal for a South Korean firm to lease a vast tract of land to grow food crops. Andry Rajoelina said he was axing the deal because the people should be consulted. Daewoo Logistics has reportedly expressed its frustration. The plan had helped fuel popular anger against President Marc Ravalomanana, who was forced from office on Tuesday. From the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7952628.stm

Two majors points I guess I didn't make clear enough :

- The contractor is more an incompetent than a crook. We asked him to do some jobs that were way beyond his abilities. Also, as BusyB mentioned, Thais people are not comfortable "in the art of constructive conflict and criticism", so we allowed the problem to deteriorate until I had no choice but to intervene in a very "un-Thai" way. We didn't talk to each other for more than a year, but the wifes have been friends for more than 20 years, so one day it's time to move on ....

- The deal was supposed to be only a land deal, nothing else. I didn't recommend anybody for any job. I just said that the area was very nice at all seasons, which is absolutely true. The guy never asked me for any advise,and I'm not sure he would have been very happy if I told him he was a fool to trust those people.

Actually I've a question for people who read this forum. Most of you (same for me) have a Thai wife.When making an important decision, do you trust more your wife, afterall she's the local, who knows better what's going on, or your own judgement ?