richardjm65

It's hot in Thailand when you sit by the fire to cool off.

A worthy suggestion - I googled "Surgical Supplies Nakhon Ratchasima" and came up with about 10 possibilities to contact. "Surgical supplies" was the obvious way to go but I was fixated on "support stockings/hosiery", which just goes to show that TV members can sometimes nudge you in the right direction. Thanks.

As part of my treatment for DVT, I'm supposed to use an ankle to thigh Class 2 support stocking on the affected leg, but cannot find this in our local public hospitals. Anyone know of a supplier in the Korat area or alternatively a company elsewhere that'd be able to supply by post? At present, I'm substituting with 6 inch wide elastic support bandage, but am a bit concerned that the pressure it exerts is not as "even" as that offered by the support stocking.

Don't come - they have Belgians there.

I notice that your English is good enough to contrive a username out of "sod em all".......

Don't come - they have Belgians there.

I notice that your English is good enough to contrive a username out of "sod em all".......

Don't come - they have Belgians there.

I notice that your English is good enough to contrive a username out of "sod em all".......

And Swedes........

And I notice your English, Cardholder, is good enough to contrive a username out of "arched lord".......

I guess your GF must be from Lahansai - there's no other reason for wanting to be here. We've got the usual mixture of nationalities but don't mingle much except on Saturday, when the market's in town and a bunch of guys suck up a few beers at the Swiss owned restaurant, or the bait and tackle shop, four shophouses along. There's the usual profusion of Thai karaoke joints which I suppose some expats must go to but the place lacks a decent ex-pat bar. There are a couple of guys from Wales but mafia? I don't think so. I wonder who you heard that gem from?

If you're happy to keep pretty much to yourself it's not too bad but if you need a social life, Lahansai's not for you. We've 7-11 and Tesco Lotus mini marts and plenty of temples spreading their version of peace and inner tranquility through amplifiers and loudspeakers. If you're mobile, Nangrong, Non Din Daeng and Ban Kruat are less than an hour away and Korat a two hour drive away for your big supermarkets, Buriram is just over an hour's drive away and has a few reasonable ex-pat spots.

The foreign population increases during November - April with guys wintering in the warm, and thins out the rest of the year when they go back to work. It's pretty much a typically dull, un-lovely Thai small town - basically a T-junction where the north-south road meets with the east-west road and both roughly follow the Cambodian border. Local tourist spots can be dealt with within a couple of weekends. My advice? Try living here for six months before committing yourself to a building programme and if you do take that route, build well away from temples, schools and especially loudspeakers on poles but within reach of power and telephone lines. If you're financially well off it can be an OK place, but not much of a place if you're struggling for cash. Anything else?

Fortune tellers.

Fortune tellers.

I knew you were going to say that.

Hitman scam:

http://ago.mo.gov/Co...hitman-scam.htm

scamorama

http://www.scamorama...nes_hitlad.html

419 Eater

http://forum.419eate...ic.php?t=185181

Iditos View - Conversation with a hitman

http://idiotsview.bl...th-hit-man.html

And the list goes on.

Save yourself a load of hassle and delete without opening this crap. It`s easy to tell just by the senders names and the titles.

Yeah, well done Sherlock.

However.... there is always a however.

Those scams are fairly well known and should be dismissed instantly.

And to be honest I really can't be bothered discussing this, but if you can work out my real name, my address, have a photo of me and you know my phone number........ you win ten pounds.

Thaddeus - I've worked out your real name, and your address, and I have a photo of you, and I know your 'phone number and yes.....even which beer you prefer. Shall I be able to pick up my ten pounds on Tuesday or would you prefer to credit it to my numbered Swiss bank account?

Is that scary or not..........

What type of yeast are TV bakers using?, the only one I can get hold up here (South Phetch) is SAF Gold instant. Any other types readily available and where?.

I was reading on a Bakers forum that in hot climates you should cut back on the amount of yeast in dough, I knead by hand etc.

Anyone any views on that one.

For the chap who asked about glass bowl electric convection ovens, they can be found at most good electrical appliance shops, plus Makro/Tesco etc.

What type of yeast are TV bakers using?, the only one I can get hold up here (South Phetch) is SAF Gold instant. Any other types readily available and where?.

I was reading on a Bakers forum that in hot climates you should cut back on the amount of yeast in dough, I knead by hand etc.

Anyone any views on that one.

For the chap who asked about glass bowl electric convection ovens, they can be found at most good electrical appliance shops, plus Makro/Tesco etc.

There are several brands available - Mauripan, Fermipan Red or Brown, SAF Gold Label. We prefer to buy the 500gm packs and for personal preference and constant reliability we choose SAF Gold Label. We previously used Fermipan Red, but had a couple of packs of yeast that simply did not work properly. We sought advice (via email) from Fermipan, but they did not respond. By the way, Fermipan Brown is more for cakes and sweeter bread products, Red being for your regular bread, but I could not find that information on the packets.

Can't comment on using less yeast in hot climates, but would say that the rising tends to be slower during the cooler days and also on the days when humidity is high.

I think yeast not working properly might be due to improper packaging, air ingress, storage in high temperatures or just old age. I also strongly suspect that most of the yeasts, although in different packaging, originate from the same factory which I think is in Vietnam.

As an aside, after the first thousand or so hand-kneaded loaves, machine kneading looked a far more attractive prospect.

In all my employment, whether in the UK or overseas, it has never even crossed my mind to make a gift to my potential employers. When I reached the high, dizzy office of managing director, I would have been embarrassed by any gift from a potential employee, more so as I would suspect (rightly or wrongly) that the purpose of the gift was to influence me, however subtly, in the event of the employee turning out to be a dud.

Perhaps things are different in the fashion game.

Being retired out in the boonies I have a bit of time on my hands and have started to make bread again. I make the dough by hand and bake in a small glass convection oven. Turns out well, so far making white bread rolls, French bread and Pitta's.

I have recently discovered a bakery supplies shop which besides many types of bread and all purpose flours also stocks rye and whole wheat flour.

Must admit that the bread is solely for myself as the wife & family have not succumbed to western food.

Could you expand on this convection oven ?? any pics ??

Yes, we too bake our own bread and have done since moving from Bangkok to Buriram province in '97. It's now a small, semi-commercial enterprise with several breads available plus crusty rolls, burger buns and pizza dough. I also have a sourdough culture that is several years old. We used to do the kneading by hand, but invested in a medium sized dough hook machine. We've an Italian EKA electric oven - sufficient for four loaves at a time.

We get our bulk bakery supplies from a place in Korat, but we know of another supplier in Buriram town. The problem with most of the commercially sold bread is its sweetness, chemical content and lack of both flavour and substance, which was the goad needed to make our own.

Yes, it's well worth baking your own bread.

Where in Korat if you dont mind....do you have a phone number at all ??

I can't supply an address as their card is in Thai, but if you know where that apparently abandoned hotel type building is, it's in that area. Perhaps your partner could call them on either 044-273-107 or 044-259-439 for directions. The second number is also their fax, so maybe they could supply a map. They call themselves "Baker Shop Co., Ltd.

Hope this helps.

It seems inevitable that I will require replacement of a knee joint - even I can see the bone contact on the X-rays. My question is, what should this procedure cost here in Thailand? I understand that a titanium joint is probably the best to go for since future joint wear is minimal and I'd like something to last the rest of my life. (I'm 68, by the way).

If anyone has any useful comments about the procedure, costs, or the after effects of replacement surgery (I understand that the sudden correction in walking posture can sometimes cause pain elsewhere), I'd really appreciate them. If you've already had this surgery; in retrospect, do you feel that your life has significantly improved?

A miracle.

It`s worked. Halleluiah. It`s only taken 2 months, but it was all worth it.

The problem now is, look at old Beety, he`s really cheesed off.

Well, not to be too pedantic, but he, or she, should look cheesed off because he probably knows the "miracle" effect has not yet spread to RJM's screen, which is rather a shame, as I used to rather enjoy those coy but sexy antics.

I was in the RAF when Pontius was a pilot :-)

That'd be when Mortis was his Rigger.

You say "paperwork", but not, presumably, the passport itself? Was the paperwork sent registered or via EMS or by regular mail. If sent registered or by EMS you should be able to effect a trace. I guess the first move might be to contact the folk at the British Embassy Consular Section, as they might have some idea on how long their HK colleagues normally take. There's been Chinese New Year, of course. That might have slowed things a bit.

Yes, we too bake our own bread and have done since moving from Bangkok to Buriram province in '97. It's now a small, semi-commercial enterprise with several breads available plus crusty rolls, burger buns and pizza dough. I also have a sourdough culture that is several years old. We used to do the kneading by hand, but invested in a medium sized dough hook machine. We've an Italian EKA electric oven - sufficient for four loaves at a time.

We get our bulk bakery supplies from a place in Korat, but we know of another supplier in Buriram town. The problem with most of the commercially sold bread is its sweetness, chemical content and lack of both flavour and substance, which was the goad needed to make our own.

Yes, it's well worth baking your own bread.

Just to be clear, I have no problem with using the word "farang" or "soi" or a couple of other examples. However, I detest native English speakers who are talking to other native speakers and saying things like, "Me like go byteo mack mack."

We've one of these - he's nicknamed "him speak me" and he happily chatters away to all foreigners in this pidgin. He's harmless, but genuinely believes he's showing his mastery of communication. Even the Norwegians find it funny! He comes here for about five months a year and I do wonder if he carries the habit back to his local pub in England. "Sawatdee crap, me want pint Tetley's bitter, chai mai, crap".

He's also a great wai-er - anything or anyone that moves gets a good wai-ing, usually the full job, hands above the head, knees and back deeply bent to show his respect. Adults, kids and (most disconcerting), the assembled foreigners which, once again, even the Norwegians find funny.

But there you go. Lucky me not same same him.

We got ours from Chang. I can't remember having to pay for them as they came as a "perk" for installing a Chang Draft tap. Later they became hard to get and the agent was reluctant to supply them. (I suspect he was selling them on to his mates). Why not contact Chang direct, and check if they're still available?

Geriatrickid - thanks for that wonderful video, it really made our day. Sadly, I missed some of the middle hours since, being an older retired gentleman, I do tend to take the occasional unplanned nap. However, my sweet, young Thai-Chinese girlfriend was able to bring me up to speed on what I'd missed when we went to bed with our cocoa, (she had even memorised some of it and was able to hum it for me), and asked if there were any of the singer's live concerts available. If so, I'd like to make her a birthday gift of them - she looks forward, so much, to these little displays of my affection for her.

Do keep up the good work! By the way, if this fine singer has not released any live concert videos, I'm wondering if she might appreciate the 25 disc boxed set of "Mrs Mills's Greatest Hits". What do you think?

At least there's a result - of sorts. Because of a similar situation in our village, this was on my mind whilst doing a re-supply drive to Korat today. It would seem that the family have sorted it, at least temporarily, but I imagine it will eventually finish up with the 16 year old kid parking the yet unborn with relatives. Given the looks you've attributed to her, she'll probably finish up on the strip - waitress, cashier, hooker. Who knows?

Depending on her relationship with Scumbag, she'll either work for him or go freelance. She won't be left with much in the way of choice.

You're obviously upset by the whole thing, more so because of your inability to influence matters and I therefore suggest that your input into family affairs should be only by proxy, via your missus, who may pass on your concerns and possible solutions, discreetly, in her own manner.

I also suggest that if the situation were reversed, consider the possibility of a complete outsider suggesting solutions to a family problem in your own country, and the predictable reactions from the various involved family members. Anyway, that's what TV's about - giving us the opportunity to talk about our various frustrations. I sincerely hope that this works out for the best - though I'd expect the story is far from over.

You come across as a decent sort of guy, so don't be too thrown by circumstances over which you have little control. Cheers.

Drugs and/or Lao Kao - what to do? plus pregnant 16 year old kid who will most likely be left to cope and who eventually will park the offspring with MIL or whoever else she can find to take on that responsibility. It's really sad but there's not much you can do. Your western morals and sense of responsibility don't apply - and you're best off taking a back seat and watching how it unfolds, Thai style.

Your sense of reason and logic do not apply, Jim, and your attempts, (if any), to impose western standards will meet with hostility and resentment. I've seen it before, but never yet seen it resolved satisfactorily by a foreigner's intervention, unless it was by lavish financial generosity which, of course, sets you up as a soft touch for the future.

Good luck, hope you manage to keep your cool. It ain't your fight!

I don't ride 'bikes anymore, but I used to, and the 'bikes I rode were big bikes. Going thru' a green light, I got hit by a truck in Singapore - bike wrecked, and I slid and tumbled maybe 50 metres. Result? One broken shoulder, a damaged hip and plenty of road rash. All very painful. Afterwards I examined my helmet, and concluded that I preferred the damage to the helmet rather than the damage my skull would have sustained had I not been wearing it. Wind in the hair? Great - until that one, unpredictable second when your life turns to shit. And probably through no fault of your own.

Easy - put a sign in the window saying 6,000 baht found - when the person comes in going spastic saying it was 60k then you have your man, Otherwise, maintain your karma - there are a lot of poor in Isaan, help someone who really needs it.

I need it - see post #9 above.

Ah! Good! You found it - thought I'd lost it. Tell you what, keep 600 baht as a sort of "thankyou for finding it" gift and mail the remainder on to me. Should I PM my mailing address to you..................?

As awful as pla ra smells before it is eaten, the aroma does not seem to remain on the breath too long. There is, however, a type of bean which, when eaten together with raw garlic and pla ra has some sort of internal reaction that causes breath bad enough to jam radar. If my beloved has been on that, it'll linger with her for two or three days, wake me from a deep sleep and blister paint. Diligent use of an extractor fan to freshen up a bedroom is also a requirement.

It is at such times that I consider alternatives, such as separate rooms or, recognising that it is I who have the problem, an air ticket to faraway places. And good riddance, some say!

I too have had CTS, though mine was concentrated in the thumb and the surgeon who performed the op gave it an alternative description of "trigger thumb". My surgery was about 50% effective. The surgeon suggested that the use of devices such as the one you've mentioned and similar items might not be particularly beneficial as the problem was more with the inflamed tendon within a sheath, rather than muscular.

That said, I try to keep my hands supple by opening/closing/stretching movements and simulating playing scales on a keyboard, but with a moderate pressure. Additionally, I take an anti-inflammatory called "Difelene" (diclofenac sodium), as a tablet, in a 50mg dose twice a day. It helps with other inflammatory pains too. I also use "Difelene" (diclofenac diethylammonium) as a tube-packed ointment, and this is a translucent gel which is massaged into the affected area, but is without the heat (and smell) produced by various other medications usually employed for muscle soreness. I find this very helpful, though I'd recommend using it 2 or 3 times a day. Both are cheap and available over the counter at good pharmacies in Thailand. I'd suggest trying the tabs and gel for, say, a month, before resorting to possibly only partially useful surgery.

If you try this, and find it useful, I hope you're able to continue playing. I take it you're a blues fan? As an ex-engineer I found the loss of digital dexterity depressing, but with work and those meds, I lost some of the clumsiness.