How Do I Survive Living At The Farm ... Tips And Tricks Please!

[swissie]

In case of doubt: Boil the water first.

Come to think of it, BEER is also boiled warer,right? Solution = Only drink beer!

Cheers.

So to be sure boil the beer, refreeze it and down the hatch. Anyone ever tried this?

I tried it. Worked pretty effectively, even if you skipped the first two steps.SC

I am not a brewer. but my understanding was, that at some point of the production of beer the whole thing has to be brought up to boiling. So therefore=boiled water. Nevermind, I rather drink it instead of brewing it.

Cheers.

[krisb]

Just wondering if anyone on here ever eats; steak and kidney pie, liver and bacon casserole, brawn, stuffed lambs hearts, black pudding or haggis?

I make my own steak n kidney pies , very nice indeed. Liver n bacon casserole i do a big potful and freeze it into individual portions. Don't see much lamb but bought a frozen New Zealand leg yesterday from Macro. Brawn , no thanks. Haggis i have one in the freezer but not tried it yet. There's a Thai woman in Pattaya who makes currys just like a UK curry house. I get her to make me just the sauces in kilo bags and put my own prawn or meat in. She also makes bags of pukka pilau rice and chippaties. I also cure my own hams and make my own salt beef which are far better than anything you can buy. I'm going to do a full leg for a Xmas ham and a big joint of bottom round for the salt beef. My mouths watering thinking about it but the cod , home made chips and mushy peas for tonight will suffice.

Ever get the feeling that you're staying in the wrong country?

No , i'm not here for the food or the temples. I don't like crappy spicy Thai food so i make some good stuff. Strangely enough there's always plenty of farangs trying to get their hands on my home made delights.

Kidney and liver!...and you call Thai food crap

[SantiSuk]

I worry about the sheltered life you have led David - never been camping before? The village is either going to make a man of you or send you screaming back to town

Sorry, I'll stop making fun at your expense. You'll probably have to shell out on some ingredients at the market yourself if you are to avoid internal organ soup, fiery bamboo curry, somtam and the like. Perhaps buy them one of those round barbecue tops with holes if they haven't got one. Makes good wholseome barbecued meat and fish and nice healthy vegetable soup in the ring around the edge. They should know how to do it i you buy the gear and some fresh meat. Most Thais are used to falang not liking spicy food so don't be too ashamed to state your preferences.

Under no circumstamces eat somtam with rotten fish ('palaar') or laarp plaa with uncooked fish. Could give you parasites (it did me), followed by liver cancer.

Really!...tell us how did it end up giving you liver cancer?..interesting.

Sorry - only just seen this enquiry. I didn't say it had already given me liver cancer, but it did give me horrible flash fevers and put me in the infectious diseases unit at St James Hospital in Leeds for several days (I was too old to be fiddled about with by Jimmy himself!) and it could recur and stimulate cancer in my bile duct if I'm unlucky.

http://en.wikipedia....Opisthorchiasis

Selected highlights:

Infection of Opisthorchis viverrini and of other liver flukes in Asia affect the poor and poorest people.^[3] Opisthorchiasis have received less attention in comparison of other diseases and it is a neglected disease in Asia.^[3]

^{The prevalence of human infection can be as high as 70% in some regions, for example in Khon Kaen Province in Thailand.[5] The parasite establishes in the bile ducts of the liver as well as extrahepatic ducts and the gall bladder of the mammalian (definitive) host.[5]}

^{Importantly, both experimental and epidemiological evidence strongly implicates Opisthorchis viverrini infections in the etiology of a malignant cancer of the bile ducts (cholangiocarcinoma) in humans which has a very poor prognosis.[5]}

[Totster needs to be a bit less macho and a bit more cautious about his wife's som tam palaar, but up to him if he wants to die young ]

Edited November 9, 2012 by SantiSuk

[onionluke]

I have made my own sun dried tomatoes in the past and watched them dry .

[cooked]

I have made my own sun dried tomatoes in the past and watched them dry .

sounds exciting.

[Litlos]

A few thoughts based on experiences in Isaan:

No running water for a shower, bring a couple of decent sized face cloths (Flannels?). This followed by the old Aust possible wash. Wash down as far as possible, rinse cloth, wash up as far as possible, rinse cloth, then wash possible. Could not help but bring that old one out. Seriously I now take a couple of large facecloths with me and do the overall clean with those then rinse, not as satisfying as a shower, but a good alternative. The water warmer is not a bad idea as is getting a bit cooler here. Though Isaan is colder than where you are.

Mozzie stuff. No idea what it is called but the orange aerosol stuff works well (deet) Big C or Lotus, as does the little white plastic bottles of lotion available at 7/11 and elsewhere. Think about grabbing a bottle of Betadine from 7/11 when you get here, Thailand 30ml AUD1, Aust 15ml AUD10.

If you have a mobile signal and a smartphone you should be able to get internet, tether the phone to a laptop via wireless and you have internet, albeit slow on your computer. Otherwise get a USB dongle and go prepaid, recharge the same as phone.

A no stick flat bottomed frying pan for scrambled eggs etc, make it a reasonable size and will do for cooking spag bol etc. Try and get one with a glass lid, or even an electric tepinyaki cooker (could be wrong on the name flat bottomed wok type thing with non stick).

The Thai fish holders for grilling fish will also do toast over the charcoal or gas fire. Need vegemite though, bring a large jar.

I have brought back for the farming folk some decent tools from Oz. The most appreciated was a screwdriver roll set. Stanley brand from Bunnings and about AUD25. I bring back one of these almost every time and always appreciated by some long distant relly or friend.

I used to have a link to a tube sent to me on TV of how to use a squatter 101, thankfully they have upgraded to a western style now at the farm. but lack of running water make it an interesting exercise in flushing, the squatter was easier for flushing.

Anything left in the fridge is common property, so if you leave a something nice in the fridge it may not be there when you come back.

Before embarking on anything to do with house, land, motorbikes etc ask, you will be on a different wave length initially.

The Hatari wall fans are good and I have a few installed, for the farm go with the cord controls as the kids break the remotes. What I have found is that there is not really enough lubrication on parts and then they squeak. So I pull them apart and put a small (minute, approx 3/4 the size of match head) amount of extra oil on motor bearings etc from brand new and no problems from then on, any basic oil works, I generally use diesel engine oil as that I have with me.

Cheers

[Gweiloman]

I make my own steak n kidney pies , very nice indeed. Liver n bacon casserole i do a big potful and freeze it into individual portions. Don't see much lamb but bought a frozen New Zealand leg yesterday from Macro.There's a Thai woman in Pattaya who makes currys just like a UK curry house. I get her to make me just the sauces in kilo bags and put my own prawn or meat in. She also makes bags of pukka pilau rice and chippaties. I also cure my own hams and make my own salt beef which are far better than anything you can buy. I'm going to do a full leg for a Xmas ham and a big joint of bottom round for the salt beef. My mouths watering thinking about it but the cod , home made chips and mushy peas for tonight will suffice.

Ever get the feeling that you're staying in the wrong country?

-Gweiloman-

I spent 9 times up to three month each with 4 different Thai/Cambodian women in Europe. What do you think,they liked to eat, if they could choose,

Thai-Cambo food or Falang food?

The happiest day if you go shopping with them in an ASIAN food shop.

Why shall we be different? I grew up for many centuries with that eating habit, so change now? Why?

Have I, also to change my religion, believes or change even from an "atheist" to Buddhist, because I am in the wrong country?

Enough already, that I changed to drive on the left here in TH.

Surely you must be able to see the difference between why a Thai / Laos woman is with you in Europe as opposed to why a farang is in Thailand?

[Dancealot]

David...we are now 10 pages in and some very good ideas have been given to you. What are your thoughts on what you will taking with you and doing whilst there?

With less then 5 days before I fly out ... things have become a little hetic here.

Once things have settled down I will recant in Full.

Have a good flight Dave! And a good settling.. down.

[David48]

A few thoughts based on experiences in Isaan:

<snip>

Cheers

Litlos ... I didn't show the whole post as it's long (can read above), but let me thank you for taking the time for writing that ... it was warmly appreciated ...

You made me smile because only this morning I added another 5kg to my baggage allowance, and will bring a flat-bottomed teflon saucepan ...

I know that, after I go, no matter how many times you instruct the Thai folk to not use the steel scrubber on the teflon ... I will leave and they will forget.

Also will take an old fashioned knife sharpner ...

The Lassie, when she came to my country, was impressed with this one.

My Uncle passed away a few months ago and I got a heap of his kitchen stuff, hence why I'll take a few 'extra' things over.

Stuff to use now and in the future.

EDIT:- what you said about the Fridge I learnt by asking and not experience (thankfully).

And about the Fans ... I have repaired a few when the bearings seized up at the ex-gf's place ... I know exactly what you mean.

Edited November 9, 2012 by David48

[IsaanAussie]

Stuff to use now and in the future.

David you have got to be joking. You think any of that will be where you leave it when you get back? Weddings, funerals, sticky nose relatives and neighbours and the local fix it boys will have that used, misused, abused, mislaid and buggered one and all.

[IsaanAussie]

How do you know a Thai is trying to improve his lot in life?

He owns a lock!

[NeverSure]

In case of doubt: Boil the water first.

Come to think of it, BEER is also boiled warer,right? Solution = Only drink beer!

Cheers.

So to be sure boil the beer, refreeze it and down the hatch. Anyone ever tried this?

I tried it. Worked pretty effectively, even if you skipped the first two steps.SC

I am not a brewer. but my understanding was, that at some point of the production of beer the whole thing has to be brought up to boiling. So therefore=boiled water. Nevermind, I rather drink it instead of brewing it.

Cheers.

Not that I know of. I've made a lot of beer and boiling would kill the yeast and enzymes which are creating the alcohol from the sugars. Surely boiling afterwards would ruin the fizz - the carbon dioxide. A lot of beers are pasteurized, but that's just a low slow rise to what, 160F?

Now, to make whiskey or moonshine as we call it, you first make beer but without the hops flavoring. Then you distill it to get all of the alcohol out. Even then you don't boil it or you'd mix water into your alcohol. You run the still at about 200F with 212F being the boiling point. Alcohol vaporizes at around 170F?? and is therefore removed into the still without the water.

Perhaps it is the fairly high alcohol content in the beer which kills bugs? ??

[David48]

Stuff to use now and in the future.

David you have got to be joking. You think any of that will be where you leave it when you get back? Weddings, funerals, sticky nose relatives and neighbours and the local fix it boys will have that used, misused, abused, mislaid and buggered one and all.

IA ... I never imagined you as a cynic ...

Oh ye of little faith ...

Time will tell ... if I'm wrong ... I'll buy you a watch!

[nanapong]

Sorry krisb , i just don't see the funny bit. What's wrong with kidney and liver. I like it and have eaten it all my life. Regarding Thai food , yes it is crap IMO. Everything they eat is covered with chilli to the extent you've no idea what meats in a dish cos all you can taste is chilli. Even then the quality of meat is awful and the Thais seem to like eating bone , sinew , gristle and fat. No thanks. Then you have to consider the hygiene or should i say no hygiene. If they had anything like a health inspector i guess 99% of every Thai eating place would be closed immediately. The only Thai food i eat is what the bird cooks for me and that's done to a Western taste and she knows exactly how i want it. It is strange though , when we live in Paris where the food is superb she never eats it. She prefers to go to the specialist shops who import Thai food and eat that. She'd much sooner eat a Pappaya salad or glass noodle salad than a Chateaubriand.

Edited November 10, 2012 by nanapong

[nanapong]

Stuff to use now and in the future.

David you have got to be joking. You think any of that will be where you leave it when you get back? Weddings, funerals, sticky nose relatives and neighbours and the local fix it boys will have that used, misused, abused, mislaid and buggered one and all.

IA ... I never imagined you as a cynic ...

Oh ye of little faith ...

Time will tell ... if I'm wrong ... I'll buy you a watch!

Send him the Rolex now David and not one off Sukhumvit ...

[David48]

One more question ...

Usually I 'wet shave' with a razor in the shower, but that won't be an option here.

How do you guys do it?

Particularly interested in hearing responses from guys who used do to what I did ... but now do something else for local conditions.

[krisb]

Sorry krisb , i just don't see the funny bit. What's wrong with kidney and liver. I like it and have eaten it all my life. Regarding Thai food , yes it is crap IMO. Everything they eat is covered with chilli to the extent you've no idea what meats in a dish cos all you can taste is chilli. Even then the quality of meat is awful and the Thais seem to like eating bone , sinew , gristle and fat. No thanks. Then you have to consider the hygiene or should i say no hygiene. If they had anything like a health inspector i guess 99% of every Thai eating place would be closed immediately. The only Thai food i eat is what the bird cooks for me and that's done to a Western taste and she knows exactly how i want it. It is strange though , when we live in Paris where the food is superb she never eats it. She prefers to go to the specialist shops who import Thai food and eat that. She'd much sooner eat a Pappaya salad or glass noodle salad than a Chateaubriand.

Yeah look its understandable that you like the foods you like. Me Ive never liked the idea of liver and kidney.

Id hesitate at a guess you dont like Indian curries much either?

Personally I think Thai food is excellent. Its possibly the most popular restaurant food out there.

But, if your more of a meat with 3 veg type of man than thats your choice.

As for health inspectors, theres so many places that are closed or warned through breaking acceptable health/cleanliness rules in countries like Australia, the UK etc it would shock you. Places from 5 star restraunts to cafes, it makes no difference.

What I do in Thailand is if my wife says its ok, then its ok. She hasnt done wrong by me yet.

David, eat in the local soup kitchens if your wifey says its good soup. It will be delicious!...and only 20baht.

[krisb]

One more question ...

Usually I 'wet shave' with a razor in the shower, but that won't be an option here.

How do you guys do it?

Particularly interested in hearing responses from guys who used do to what I did ... but now do something else for local conditions.

Yeah I shave in their "shower", no problem there. While your tipping buckets of water over yourself, not to hard.

Or suppose theres always buy an electric razor.

[mancub]

One more question ...

Usually I 'wet shave' with a razor in the shower, but that won't be an option here.

How do you guys do it?

Particularly interested in hearing responses from guys who used do to what I did ... but now do something else for local conditions.

Yeah I shave in their "shower", no problem there. While your tipping buckets of water over yourself, not to hard.

Or suppose theres always buy an electric razor.

If you've got water...........can you not then ,err ,by implication wet shave ? Please don't take this in any other way than tongue-in-cheek....but I'm beginning to wonder how you manage to survive in your home country ! You could always just grow a beard for charity ...it is Movember after all !

[althemighty]

At my wifes house there is only running water at certain hours of the day when there is water there is not enough pressure for a normal shower. To shower you get a bucket of water from the big clay pot and pour it over your head. I get my wife to boil me some water in a big pot so I don't have to use just the cold water.

For shaving I use shaving gel.

[shaggy1969]

At my wifes house there is only running water at certain hours of the day when there is water there is not enough pressure for a normal shower. To shower you get a bucket of water from the big clay pot and pour it over your head. I get my wife to boil me some water in a big pot so I don't have to use just the cold water.

For shaving I use shaving gel.

Have done the same myself many a time.Although i would only add the hot water on a night time because cool/cold water can be very refreshing morning time and during the hot parts of the day.

Re.shaving am sure Dave is on a wind up there but if not then it's the old bucket of water,gel/foam and a razor.If there isn't a mirror in your bathroom then you could do what I used to do and that was grab one from the nearest motorbike.(maybe you could pack a mirror in your bag to be safe).

Shaggy

[ALFREDO]

Surely you must be able to see the difference between why a Thai / Laos woman is with you in Europe as opposed to why a farang is in Thailand?

The difference is not so far fetched,

We have to fly to far away countries to get what we like and to see different cultures and have a different climate, countryside.

The women who are lucky (mostly I hope ) to be taken to EU for a trip or even a marriage and many men who come to SEA.

One spends money, one receives money.

But what has that to do,

with the fact, that they, the Thai women and some of us, or many men, prefer to stay with the eating habits they grow up with?

SEA style and European style - and even here with many differences.

Edited November 10, 2012 by ALFREDO

[ALFREDO]

One more question ...

Usually I 'wet shave' with a razor in the shower, but that won't be an option here.

How do you guys do it?

Particularly interested in hearing responses from guys who used do to what I did ... but now do something else for local conditions.

You wrote you do not want to improve things, ok.

But, its not a big investment, I would try to find a possibility to get enough pressure in my Electric water heater

and even,if I have to buy a water pump to achieve that.

If nothing helps,but that would than cost a bit money all together, I would drill a well

and than the pump and than the shower-water heater.

An investment for everybody. Do you know many people in EU who have no hot and pressured water? But ok, they used to that and you do not want to change that.

But they use cars and motorbikes and not water buffalo anymore for transport,or?

I to, always shave under the -warm- shower in TH and I sit on a Toilet, the flushing can be done Thai style.

No flushing toilet necessary, in TH you get only the porcelain seat also, without the flushing part.

After a good shit in my GF home, I shower my whole body again, clean away everything, including my sweat.

If, shower and toilet is in the same room, as it is usual.

[nanapong]

Sorry krisb , i just don't see the funny bit. What's wrong with kidney and liver. I like it and have eaten it all my life. Regarding Thai food , yes it is crap IMO. Everything they eat is covered with chilli to the extent you've no idea what meats in a dish cos all you can taste is chilli. Even then the quality of meat is awful and the Thais seem to like eating bone , sinew , gristle and fat. No thanks. Then you have to consider the hygiene or should i say no hygiene. If they had anything like a health inspector i guess 99% of every Thai eating place would be closed immediately. The only Thai food i eat is what the bird cooks for me and that's done to a Western taste and she knows exactly how i want it. It is strange though , when we live in Paris where the food is superb she never eats it. She prefers to go to the specialist shops who import Thai food and eat that. She'd much sooner eat a Pappaya salad or glass noodle salad than a Chateaubriand.

Yeah look its understandable that you like the foods you like. Me Ive never liked the idea of liver and kidney.

Id hesitate at a guess you dont like Indian curries much either?

Personally I think Thai food is excellent. Its possibly the most popular restaurant food out there.

But, if your more of a meat with 3 veg type of man than thats your choice.

As for health inspectors, theres so many places that are closed or warned through breaking acceptable health/cleanliness rules in countries like Australia, the UK etc it would shock you. Places from 5 star restraunts to cafes, it makes no difference.

What I do in Thailand is if my wife says its ok, then its ok. She hasnt done wrong by me yet.

David, eat in the local soup kitchens if your wifey says its good soup. It will be delicious!...and only 20baht.

Funnily enough i do like Indian curry up to a Madras strength. Over that it's too hot. I'm aware of how many so called 5* eating establishments are closed by health inspectors in Western countries. In Thailand i was sort of generalising about the state of the kitchens i see in places like Pattaya and other holiday resorts. We live about 20 mins from the beach and go to one particular Thai place for many years. It's clean , the seafood is as fresh as you can get particularly the crab done in a mild curry sauce. It's superb and probably my favorite Thai dish. At home the missis and kids tend to eat outside on the street with a few other mothers and their kids. They're all from Issan so the food they have is not for me. The kids squabble over fishes eyeballs. Ughhh. Today i'll cook leg of lamb , Yorkshire puddings , roast n mash pototoes , cauliflower and carrot. Heaps of Bisto gravy with mint sauce. Mmmmm. For sure they'll be tons left over so that'll do for tomorrow as well. Any lamb left after that will go into a madras curry. Yes each to his own. Have a great day !!!

Edited November 11, 2012 by nanapong

[ozzydom]

Sorry krisb , i just don't see the funny bit. What's wrong with kidney and liver. I like it and have eaten it all my life. Regarding Thai food , yes it is crap IMO. Everything they eat is covered with chilli to the extent you've no idea what meats in a dish cos all you can taste is chilli. Even then the quality of meat is awful and the Thais seem to like eating bone , sinew , gristle and fat. No thanks. Then you have to consider the hygiene or should i say no hygiene. If they had anything like a health inspector i guess 99% of every Thai eating place would be closed immediately. The only Thai food i eat is what the bird cooks for me and that's done to a Western taste and she knows exactly how i want it. It is strange though , when we live in Paris where the food is superb she never eats it. She prefers to go to the specialist shops who import Thai food and eat that. She'd much sooner eat a Pappaya salad or glass noodle salad than a Chateaubriand.

Yeah look its understandable that you like the foods you like. Me Ive never liked the idea of liver and kidney.

Id hesitate at a guess you dont like Indian curries much either?

Personally I think Thai food is excellent. Its possibly the most popular restaurant food out there.

But, if your more of a meat with 3 veg type of man than thats your choice.

As for health inspectors, theres so many places that are closed or warned through breaking acceptable health/cleanliness rules in countries like Australia, the UK etc it would shock you. Places from 5 star restraunts to cafes, it makes no difference.

What I do in Thailand is if my wife says its ok, then its ok. She hasnt done wrong by me yet.

David, eat in the local soup kitchens if your wifey says its good soup. It will be delicious!...and only 20baht.

Funnily enough i do like Indian curry up to a Madras strength. Over that it's too hot. I'm aware of how many so called 5* eating establishments are closed by health inspectors in Western countries. In Thailand i was sort of generalising about the state of the kitchens i see in places like Pattaya and other holiday resorts. We live about 20 mins from the beach and go to one particular Thai place for many years. It's clean , the seafood is as fresh as you can get particularly the crab done in a mild curry sauce. It's superb and probably my favorite Thai dish. At home the missis and kids tend to eat outside on the street with a few other mothers and their kids. They're all from Issan so the food they have is not for me. The kids squabble over fishes eyeballs. Ughhh. Today i'll cook leg of lamb , Yorkshire puddings , roast n mash pototoes , cauliflower and carrot. Heaps of Bisto gravy with mint sauce. Mmmmm. For sure they'll be tons left over so that'll do for tomorrow as well. Any lamb left after that will go into a madras curry. Yes each to his own. Have a great day !!!

Do you really think that members here care how you live or what you eat, how about you cease with the "holier than thou " garbage and let the thread get back on topic.

[krisb]

How do you know a Thai is trying to improve his lot in life?

He owns a lock!

I dont get it?...not funny.

[nanapong]

Sorry krisb , i just don't see the funny bit. What's wrong with kidney and liver. I like it and have eaten it all my life. Regarding Thai food , yes it is crap IMO. Everything they eat is covered with chilli to the extent you've no idea what meats in a dish cos all you can taste is chilli. Even then the quality of meat is awful and the Thais seem to like eating bone , sinew , gristle and fat. No thanks. Then you have to consider the hygiene or should i say no hygiene. If they had anything like a health inspector i guess 99% of every Thai eating place would be closed immediately. The only Thai food i eat is what the bird cooks for me and that's done to a Western taste and she knows exactly how i want it. It is strange though , when we live in Paris where the food is superb she never eats it. She prefers to go to the specialist shops who import Thai food and eat that. She'd much sooner eat a Pappaya salad or glass noodle salad than a Chateaubriand.

Yeah look its understandable that you like the foods you like. Me Ive never liked the idea of liver and kidney.

Id hesitate at a guess you dont like Indian curries much either?

Personally I think Thai food is excellent. Its possibly the most popular restaurant food out there.

But, if your more of a meat with 3 veg type of man than thats your choice.

As for health inspectors, theres so many places that are closed or warned through breaking acceptable health/cleanliness rules in countries like Australia, the UK etc it would shock you. Places from 5 star restraunts to cafes, it makes no difference.

What I do in Thailand is if my wife says its ok, then its ok. She hasnt done wrong by me yet.

David, eat in the local soup kitchens if your wifey says its good soup. It will be delicious!...and only 20baht.

Funnily enough i do like Indian curry up to a Madras strength. Over that it's too hot. I'm aware of how many so called 5* eating establishments are closed by health inspectors in Western countries. In Thailand i was sort of generalising about the state of the kitchens i see in places like Pattaya and other holiday resorts. We live about 20 mins from the beach and go to one particular Thai place for many years. It's clean , the seafood is as fresh as you can get particularly the crab done in a mild curry sauce. It's superb and probably my favorite Thai dish. At home the missis and kids tend to eat outside on the street with a few other mothers and their kids. They're all from Issan so the food they have is not for me. The kids squabble over fishes eyeballs. Ughhh. Today i'll cook leg of lamb , Yorkshire puddings , roast n mash pototoes , cauliflower and carrot. Heaps of Bisto gravy with mint sauce. Mmmmm. For sure they'll be tons left over so that'll do for tomorrow as well. Any lamb left after that will go into a madras curry. Yes each to his own. Have a great day !!!

Do you really think that members here care how you live or what you eat, how about you cease with the "holier than thou " garbage and let the thread get back on topic.

lol , what , you mean like all your ever so interesting posts. You need to lighten up my friend and don't take things to serious. I'll be carving the lamb in half n hour. Do you want a slice.

Edited November 11, 2012 by nanapong

[ozzydom]

lol , what , you mean like all your ever so interesting posts. You need to lighten up my friend and don't take things to serious. I'll be carving the lamb in half n hour. Do you want a slice.

Many thanks for the kind offer,but my chinese style pork belly is looking very good in the oven at this point in time,besides I had my lamb on Sunday. Just because some of us choose to live in a Thai village does not mean we miss out on some of the finer things in life, we just enjoy the best of both worlds.

[mancub]

At my wifes house there is only running water at certain hours of the day when there is water there is not enough pressure for a normal shower. To shower you get a bucket of water from the big clay pot and pour it over your head. I get my wife to boil me some water in a big pot so I don't have to use just the cold water.

For shaving I use shaving gel.

Have done the same myself many a time.Although i would only add the hot water on a night time because cool/cold water can be very refreshing morning time and during the hot parts of the day.

Re.shaving am sure Dave is on a wind up there but if not then it's the old bucket of water,gel/foam and a razor.If there isn't a mirror in your bathroom then you could do what I used to do and that was grab one from the nearest motorbike.(maybe you could pack a mirror in your bag to be safe).

Shaggy

David doesn't do wind ups ! Mind you ,268 posts later, at least he will have gleaned sufficient info to enable himself to sh*t and shave .

The non-stick frying pan was the best suggestion in my book !

[Dancealot]

One more question ...

Usually I 'wet shave' with a razor in the shower, but that won't be an option here.

How do you guys do it?

Particularly interested in hearing responses from guys who used do to what I did ... but now do something else for local conditions.

Wet shave ingredients i use for 6 years now. Bar of soap/decent razor/water. No need for a mirror. I shave with my right hand and my left hand follows and checks the movements of the razor.

I have to admit: this only goes for a clean shave. When i have to adjust/maintain my moustache and sideburns(see pic) i need a mirror or a barber...

I do it in Europe as well. Easy. I saved a lot on shaving foam during the years.