Thailand is a riddle, everybody is helpful, they never say no but nothing gets done, it's almost amusing. Two weeks ago I became aware that the septic tank needed emptying, my missus rang the man up who said he would come the next day, as he didn't mention an exact time (a sure sign he wouldn't be coming) I assumed he would arrive....he didn't, he had to go to a funeral, maybe it was his own because two weeks later he still hasn't arrived.

 

 Our water pump continued running even though nobody is using water,"The pressure switch needs replacing", Said the technician over the phone, "I'll come this evening"....he didn't, one of his water buffaloes has gone missing, he has to find it first, two days later still nothing.

 

 Yesterday I got an Email from BMW with an attachment, a Lebensbescheinigung form to show I'm still alive to receive my pension, I have to get it signed by the mayoress. In the morning after making an appointment we went to the council office.....there was nobody there, they were all at a children's day party at a school,

 

The pump man arrived and fitted a new switch, the pump worked for three days. my missus noticed that since the car arrived back from having a new clutch fitted it's now slowly dripping oil. I laid under the car to see where the oil was dripping from when a howl from my missus stopped me, the water pump had stopped working. She rang up the technician, his wife said he was out, she would relay the message. This obviously had an effect as he arrived two days later. He inspected the pump and said, "it's vucked" in Thai of course. We bought a new, more modern pump, for a new, more modern price, like twice as much as the old one. He has removed the old pump and gone home to bring his cows and water buffaloes in from the fields, he will be back tomorrow, at least that's what he said.

 

 My motor man said I need a new gasket but he's a bit tied up at the moment.....of course he is, it's alright he said cheerfully, you can still drive it, it's not so bad, he flinched at madams snarl.

 

I went to the tax office on Friday with my calculations, and the official was very impressed.... "You can't deduct your son because you aren't married to his mother, so you can't deduct his health insurance either, that will cost another 2,000 Baht, I want to see an end of year bank statement, your legally married wife's ID card and your Thai ID card".   "I don't have one, can't you just use my passp..."  "Get one,  the office is open until 4pm".
There you go....it is as it is.

I think only a Thai person is able to understand other Thais, and not just the words.

And in my experience, there are few such Thai people who might be willing to be "interpreter".

 

You know already that what you and your wife are doing doesn't work. Find a new approach. It might be difficult, but doing the same again and hoping next time it will work better doesn't make much sense. 

22 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think only a Thai person is able to understand other Thais, and not just the words.

And in my experience, there are few such Thai people who might be willing to be "interpreter".

 

You know already that what you and your wife are doing doesn't work. Find a new approach. It might be difficult, but doing the same again and hoping next time it will work better doesn't make much sense. 

Oh it all works out in the end, rural life demands a certain amount of equanimity. The new water pump in all its glory has been set up, it produces water at too little pressure, mostly none at all. My wife who is a devout Buddhist should be used to the slings and arrows of life by now and draw strength from his teachings, instead she panicked and is a hive of activity, attempting, without success, to exchange the water pump for a more powerful one, ordering the the pump installers to drill the well deeper etc. I watched in amusement and then told her to contact the water management technician at our council office and ask for advice. He came immediately and told us there has been a lot of water problems in the area due to a poor rainy season and now drought like conditions. "simply remove the pump and have the pipe lowered a few meters, you won't need any drilling, the water table has fallen somewhat that's all, your pump installers should do it in a few hours" he said reassuringly. Tomorrow we shall see, the pump installers father has died so he can't come today, all will be well (forgive the pun).