Nobukat

We have had three of these wind turbine extractors installed in the roof of our house in Sydney and have never experienced any moisture entering via the turbine. That includes some hail storms too. If it is well designed and installed correctly you shouldn't have any problems .

We don't have insullation - only the turbines and they work well . They also remove moisture in prolonged wet weather too .

Thanks for the tips. Most appreciated. I think I'll try the rotating turbine vents first. We put some on our warehouse at work and they helped - had some leaks, but mainly from poor installation... There must be some that are not too unsightly to put on the house. The house has large roof overhangs, but I think the under-eve/soffit vents look too small to do a good enough venting job. The cement roof tiles are a light grey, which should help reflect some heat.

They're just installing the ceiling light connections now, so I haven't seen if they're sealed boxes yet. Will ask them to add them, if not, to help keep the crude out. The gypsum board mounting and materials looks pretty solid. I've been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the work so far. I think I'll hold off on the cellulose. (I did see a website here for a company that does it.)

Pic of what it'll look like around 19 March, I hope. Gotta get done before the tax/transfer incentives expire on Mar 28. I really thought they'd extend those incentives...

I visited the recently opened Wine Connection Deli & Bistro on Soi 26 last night. It's located in the K Village low rise mall which is behind Carrefour.

The service & decor was above average, but what really surprised me was the price of the Australian tenderloin. At other places I would expect to pay about 750 baht. However, at the Wine Connection I paid only 450 baht for a 200 g Australian tenderloin. (I order it medium, it was tender & tasty without any fat or grissle). Of course, being at the Wine Connection there a good selection of wines to wash it down with.

Great new place - Wine Connection on Soi 26. Have eaten there a four times. Steak was certainly good for the price, and just plain good. Excellent food for very reasonable prices. Great salads, pastas, pizzas, steaks, etc. Also has a deli with reasonably priced meats/cheeses. I'm hoping they won't raise the prices after a few months (just opened a few weeks) because they seem suspiciously low... I thought the food quality was on par with (or better than) many of the 'expensive' places I've been to - and decent service as well.

My two story house here in BKK is almost finished. Typically cement, with red brick in the walls, cement tile CPAC roof, with the usual 'tin foil' insulation underneath the tiles. Soffets vented around the underside. Am thinking of adding insulation above the ceiling in the second floor, and I think the blown in loose Cellulose may be easier due to the wired up ceiling. Only downside I've heard is that Cellulose absorbs moisture and may lose some 'loft' (so blow in some extra...).

Does anyone out there have experience with it in Thailand? I guess the rolled fiberglass would work between the wired up ceiling supports, though...

I'm 52 yrs old, work permit, confirmed monthly salary of 200K/mo. Wife works in office making about 40K/mo. House cost is 8.5 million new. Small development on On-Nut soi 17. (Yeah, the traffic on On-Nut sucks, but where doesn't it suck? We both have cars)

75% loan (in her name), term of 8 years max - until I'm 60 - was all I(we) could get at Thai banks. HSBC added another 5 years to the loan term on account of my wife being only 42 years old. That was the best we could do. Makes for monthly payments of 55K, which is steeper than I planned for...

Still, it's a very well done small development where the owner is also building his house (was family owned land). Pretty solid quality and design - very well organized builder, great floor plan, wide roads, good security, including cameras along all the streets. 220 M2 living area beats anything for similar price in a decent condo in Sukhumvit area. We plan to live in it or rent it out, and know that selling a used house in Thailand is darn difficult.

Cheapest house was 8.5M most expensive about 15M, so hopefully it won't go down hill too quickly. About 75% sold out of maybe 70 houses. Keeping my fingers crossed...

A good friend of mine works for a ATOC here in Bangkok on Sukhumvit Soi 71 specialising in 'special needs' children. Autism, speech, motor problems, Downs Sindrome, etc. School is run by British woman and my friend, who is an active teacher there (with UK experience in special needs), is a very dedicated guy, speaks well of the school. If you contact the school, ask for Paul Whitehead. He does the assessments himself.

First concert was Aerosmith in Kalamazoo Mi in a small hockey arena in 1974 my second year of high school. Great to see in a small place like that. Have loved their music ever since.

One of the best was ZZ Top in the same place in 1976 - those 3 guys can jam. Funny thing was that I met Billy Gibbons in 1986 when I lived in Texas and he was at a BBQ I went to with a friend. Very funny guy and was kind enough to actually talk to me for 15 minutes over beers and brisket.

Another 'best' was George Thorogood & The Destroyers in a little bar in Houston in 1983. What a great rockin' bar band to hear from 10 feet away...

Tied this site once and never again. Just for the reason neither of the two agents advertising there didn't bother to reply...

I used the site and actually rented a condo through them about a year ago. What I did not like was that the site is not updated much, so it's almost like a "bait & switch"situation. Some real attractive deals are shown and then - "oh, that was rented already"...Anyway, I did get a place through them with an expat guy assisting. I had to pester him a bit on a few occasions to get moving on something. Not overly impressed to be honest, but, I would use him again, I guess. Likeable fellow.

I am American. Hospital was Srisiam on Navamin Road - a Thai private hospital (quite good, and it was very inexpensive). They did not do any automatic registering. So, from what Mario says, the Birth Cert at the hospital that I signed, and provided a copy of my passport with, is not legally 'binding'. But if the mother took this birth cert to use to register for the blue book, could she actually use my name without me being there? She claimed she used another name to register him, and she used her mother's family name as his family name from other documents I had seen - his insurance and other docs used the mother's family name.

Funny to think that the first proof of birth at the hospital - the birth certificate - carries little weight at the 'formal registration' at the Amphor. So, how can one use a different father's name at the Amphore when the first birth cert has another name? I guess the birth cert just proves the birth, but doesn not prove who the real father is...

If she truly registered the boy using her mother's maiden name, she would not have to come back to me to get permission for his future Thai passport, etc.

Legitimisation of a child only takes place in the way described by law. The law states that you have to register the birth yourself at the amphur if you were not married to the mother. You didn't do that and hence didn't legitimised the child.

Thanks Mario,

You've obviously done the research on this subject. Apologies for asking redundant questions...And thanks for not injecting unnecessary 'editorial' comments about the situation.

Just to clarify some possible confusion around hospital birth certificate vs birth certificate.

Strictly speaking what Mario says is correct. However, top hospitals like Bumrungrad will perform a full service and register the birth at the Thai regsitrary office for you. You don't need to go in person. So in their case the hospital birth certificate and the official one they refer to are one and the same, they don't give you a separate cert. That's why many people, myself included will say that they never registered the birth. Technically speaking we didn't Bumrungrad did.

Bottom line is if the birth was in a hospital like Bumrungrad then chances are that the birth is registered already...

I am American. Hospital was Srisiam on Navamin Road - a Thai private hospital (quite good, and it was very inexpensive). They did not do any automatic registering. So, from what Mario says, the Birth Cert at the hospital that I signed, and provided a copy of my passport with, is not legally 'binding'. But if the mother took this birth cert to use to register for the blue book, could she actually use my name without me being there? She claimed she used another name to register him, and she used her mother's family name as his family name from other documents I had seen - his insurance and other docs used the mother's family name.

Funny to think that the first proof of birth at the hospital - the birth certificate - carries little weight at the 'formal registration' at the Amphor. So, how can one use a different father's name at the Amphore when the first birth cert has another name? I guess the birth cert just proves the birth, but doesn not prove who the real father is...

If she truly registered the boy using her mother's maiden name, she would not have to come back to me to get permission for his future Thai passport, etc.

I'm not sure about the hospital birth certificate, but as far as I know it is only a testemony that a child was born, including some details. It is not proof of fatherhood.

If you are not married to the mother and also didn't go the the amphur yourself you are not considerd to be the legal father, as you did not recognise the child. The only way the mother can ake you the legal father is to file a paternity suit, which because of the DNA evidence wouldn't stand a chance.

In short, don't worry.

Hi Mario,

Thanks for the quick reply. That was basically what I thought, as well, though I am never surprised at what can happen here, so thought I'd get an opinion. Wasn't sure if I had to go back and 'challenge' the Birth Cert or not to avoid future complications.

That said, I doubt she'll bother me again. I reckon she'd rather poke her own eyes out with a sharp dirty stick than lose face again with me (that was the only thing I could do out of anger/spite - was to cause her considerable loss of face with various people and family). Too bad for the child. I was a dam_n good father to him from the start.

Duh. Twenty years in Asia (9 in Thailand), Thai speaking, with regular Thai friends, educated MD of a mid-size company here, and I obvously left my brains elsewhere during this particular voyage.

I will keep the details short & sweet...

I was told by the doctor who delivered the child I thought was mine, but found out was not after 2 years of very responsible support - that the birth cert at the hospital carried no legal weight whatsoever if I did not go with the mother to register the birth at the Ampor. Also, the child's mother and I never married.

Is this correct? While I highly doubt it will ever come up, could the child's mother come back later, say to the US embassy, and claim support based on this birth cert that I originally signed? (I have evidence from DNA test that I am not the father).

Seems strange that the birth cert, alone, is basically worthless...

So there is still no fitness centre open at Nusasiri? I also read complaints of units smelling like sewers due to a construction flaw. But if this was the norm it seems like I would be hearing that a l lot more often.

Sewer smell in the units or in the common corridor?

It wasn't specified. Just some people saying that the real estate agent admitted that the sewer smell that the client was noticing was due to a construction fault.

I haven't seen Nusasiri, but The Address 42 looks nice enough, and the soi is quiet at the end, I think the design is nicer than quality of materials, if that makes sense. Beware location...the back side units face another condo about 5 meters away, so look for better facing. Also, The Address units do not have balconies, so that's a negative in my book.

bro 6,000 a month aint a lot of money for a kid, id say 10,000 ish, dont give her a lump sum , have a trial seperation and remember its the kid you gotta think about ,

try to keep a level head aswell

1. Just to be safe, get the DNA test done. (I know ALL about that issue, believe me)

2. Offer reasonable monthly assistance for the child's living expenses (I don't know what you can afford). Part can be in cash, and part in Tesco Lotus vouchers...

3. If you really want to get her out, you might want to also include enough for her to rent a room...You have been supporting her and child for, I presume 1 year and 9 months at least, so there is a set precident. And how will she leave if no money or no place to go?

4. Possibly provide a health insurance policy for the child - cost about 20K per year or so, depending on coverage and company. If you are indeed the biological father, you could be on the hook for such support, as well as morally...

5. Keep cool with her as previous poster suggested - in case of possible court, you should be seen as being responsible and realistic

Or...get a lawyer and go to court. I would consult a lawyer initially anyway to confirm where you stand.

I was taken to cleaners for A LOT more than I'd like to admit, and after 3 years of supporting his mom & 2 years for my 'son' (love/time/money), found out he wasn't mine. I'd have helped after, but his mom saved so much of what I gave her that she has a nice bank roll to transition herself while she finds a new sucker. Plus, she treated me like sh+t for 3 years, using the kid as blackmail so I put up with it. DO NOT let that happen to you. Worst experience of my entire life.

And good luck. Men tend to underestimate how ruthless women can be until they have us by the short hairs. (Men can deserve it - or not - but I'm just saying...)

pauls pad

Hi Paul,

That's a nice little house you have there. Do you mind sharing how many square meters or configuration, or other details - floor plan? I'm looking to build a vacation place in Korat on some land we have and yours looks to be a nice design. I like the single story model, especially with high ceilings, big windows, good outside covered areas.

Thanks

Unfortunately, I can speak from recent experience...Thai lady claimed I was the father, and so I thought from the timing, etc. Not married, but I was intent on taking care of this lady, whom I had feelings for and my responsibility for a child. While we did not live together, I was, indeed, a loving father of said 'son' for 2 years - seeing him 3 or more times a week and gave much fatherly support and money...

>>>>>

Yes, I am stupid. I trusted someone not to lie about a child. I speak Thai, been in Thailand and Asia over 20 years, blah blah, but when it came to something like that, I lost my noodle...Never had any real problems with Thai women in 20 years, as I seem to understand things here, or so I thought.

So, should I continue to support the child? (If you knew the lady and her mother - both professional scammers, there is not doubt what most would do).

I will not. She can go find the real father and ask him to put up with her sh*t.

Can you honestly look that kid in the eye and tell him he's not your son and walk away from him? He doesn't see you as a scam victim, to him you're just "Dad".

Had the test come out as him being positively yours you would still be stuck with the ex and her mother, so why let a DNA test deprive the both of you of the one positive thing that emerged from the relationship between you and his mother? Even if it was in an unconventional way.

//Edit// Btw... I know this has to be tearing you up inside, so don't think I'm unsympathetic. But when I look at my daughter, no matter what DNA tests say, she's still my little girl and that's not going to change as long as I'm breathing. (I have no doubts shes mine though. My wife and I are both too lazy/busy to mess around)

Yes, you are right. It is tearing me up inside, and has been for the last 3 years while this young lady has done nothing but manipulate me by using my 'son'. I have had to neuter myself to put up with it. She has been rude, unappreciative, greedy, lazy - seemingly relishing in her power over me. And, I, I hate to say it, have been a fricking boy scout - trying so hard to be a stable figure, encouraging, supportive, teacher, part of family, etc. I've never tried so hard at anything in my entire 50 year life...I mean, I can't get any better than that - ever.

She took off for 3 months April-June without saying where after I sent her back to her mother's house from the very nice rented condo I put them up in....(good reason, and not out of jealousy). I finally caved and got to her through a friend and she came back, mainly because I was planning to pay for a hand operation for the boy. I am sure that after I paid for the operation, she was just going to split.

She has absolutely no conscience about it, and she will run off with son once she milks me for all I'm worth.

I would stay the course if there was any chance of her being even 60% straight with me. After her lying about me being the father for 3 years - she KNEW it from the start- she continued to bitch and moan about me not buying a car, a house, and land, etc. urgently on top of the 50-80K/mo. I don't care a hoot about sex, etc with her, but there is no way I can take the blatent emotional blackmail she has done in the past any more (I will spare details of her earlier tricks). She is not a hardened bar girl, either...

I truly never thought a person (and mother in cahoots) could be so ruthless and greedy after someone else has only helped, loved, and supported them. I never pressured her for anything at all, except good care for her and son. Her own aunt and cousing admit as much to me...

What a shame. The boy is a cute little guy who really loves his papa and visa-versa...but he's young enough that he will not remember...Unfortunately, I will.

Unfortunately, I can speak from recent experience...Thai lady claimed I was the father, and so I thought from the timing, etc. Not married, but I was intent on taking care of this lady, whom I had feelings for and my responsibility for a child. While we did not live together, I was, indeed, a loving father of said 'son' for 2 years - seeing him 3 or more times a week and gave much fatherly support and money...

I thought to get a DNA test a year ago and did not, for some silly reason...Then, came to my senses recently (I have had no 'relationship' with said lady since 'son' was born). You can get DNA testing done through the mail and it is cheaper and easier than going to a local hospital. I sent away to an Australian company. They sent me instructions and some cotton swabs on sticks. Rub inside child's mouth in 2 spots for 30 seconds. Same in my mouth to collect cheek cells. Put in envelope. Send to Australia. Results back in a week. Cost about A$300. Found out I am NOT biological father.

Lady was taking me for a ride the whole time and even with 50-80K Baht per month ++ in support, was never enough. When I confronted her with proof last week, she quickly admitted it and said "mai pen rai, don't be serious". Well, if I had any relationship with her at all, if she respected me at all, if she could speak without lying, I'd likely keep supporting the boy, as I really grew fond of him and visa versa, but she has been nothing but greedy/lazy, and now I know, totally lying for 3 years, so that's it for me. She could not even say "sorry" until I asked...Kid will have no father, and she doesn't care a bit...I was pretty broken up about it as I truly loved 'my son'...

Yes, I am stupid. I trusted someone not to lie about a child. I speak Thai, been in Thailand and Asia over 20 years, blah blah, but when it came to something like that, I lost my noodle...Never had any real problems with Thai women in 20 years, as I seem to understand things here, or so I thought.

So, should I continue to support the child? (If you knew the lady and her mother - both professional scammers, there is not doubt what most would do).

I will not. She can go find the real father and ask him to put up with her sh*t.

And I should add that my "son's" mother has a friend - let's call her "Gun", who has an Australian guy on the same hook with daughter "Amy". Poor Aussie fellow, whom I'll call "Zaza", has no clue and has bought the house in Surin, car, and supposedly gives her 100K Baht per month. I know for a fact the kid is not his as "Gun" admitted same to my face with her Thai boyfriend sitting there...She is now visiting him in Australia with "Amy", who is very very dark...Well, at least I was smarter than him, but that's not saying much...I sure hope the guy reads this post and recognizes himself...