Slow News Day

You can't call it anything else, other than slow news day.

... Busted Boner.... Phuket Gazette

Thai Man Breaks Penis.... THAI VISA Forum

Been that way for me to: "SLOW"
On the morning of Joey's graduation I had a sore throat and my ulcer was tap dancing in my midsection.
I handed Joey the camera and wished him all the best. Of course after the ceremony there was an extensive party.

"M" showing the emotion of the day.

A couple stiff drinks reduced the throat pain and stomach problems in the afternoon.

Looking ahead: There seems to be plenty of rainy periods over the next ten days.
It's too early to tell, and let's hope its downgraded.
The forecast FEELS LIKE temperature for one day next weekend is 53 (129F). Drink plenty of water!! Stay in the shade.

Essential Home Improvements

As sad as it may be, with the economic downturn crime and especially burglaries are on the increase.

It's been quite a few years ago, but I had two such intrusions.  Once a computer was stolen, a week later a video camera.  Things which are easily sold and hard to trace.

The windows did have metal bars on them, held in place by quarter inch screws. After the fact I tested these bars. I was able to remove them in under two minutes.



I was afraid to leave my house unattended, for fear of further intrusions.

Metal bars and noisy dogs reestablished my confidence.

Hack, Hack, Cough, Cough

Those aren't clouds in the sky.  See the NASA photo here

Sakon Nakhon FC had a sort of exhibition game last weekend against a local team with a 7/2 win.
Last years horrible season can be blamed on team selection.
Provincial teams played off and the winning team represented the province. It's player selection this year.

Mango trees may be the next major money crop Bkk Post

Formaldehyde in your American made Baby products SKY News

Big C advertisement flyers in English

Lets get this college party started...

My invitation to a local party stated 18:00 (previous post). But then I am familiar with 'Thai Time.'  
We arrived early and had a drink in the hotel's restaurant.
When we made our entrance in the ballroom at 6:15, the room was almost empty.
I expected that. The Thai Lady Band was doing some final rehearsals and kept me pleasantly entertained.

By 7 p.m. people began to trickle in. It took another half hour before the room began to fill.
Meanwhile I continued to enjoy the performances by the "Thai Lady Band." They are simply superb.

090318
Uploaded by luanghans

Then all of a sudden every person with a camera cell phone sprang into action.
Right about then I lost control of my camera. The party had turned into a paparazzi frenzy.
Where have I seen these guys before? Ah.. well... of course... television. 

Everyone wanted to pose with the "stars."

I do enjoy graduation parties, but they also sadden me a bit. It's somewhat of a going away party for students who I have known and befriended.

As can be expected, as the school sponsored party ended, everyone regrouped at the local disco.

See this album here 090318 S-BAC Graduation Party

Swimming pools are fun...

A great way to keep cool in Isaan
Local contractors will build you one for 1 million baht or more. Less expensive alternatives are available.

Things to consider:

Size

Do you really need an olympic size swimming pool?
Large pools require more maintenance and are more expensive to operate.
They also tend to attract more visitors.
If small children are going to use the pool, considering the depth is also important.
Above ground or below ground pool. Below ground pools will require pumping to drain a pool.

Water supply.

Pool water should be changed once or twice a year, depending greatly on usage and maintenance.
Having water trucked in is the most expensive way of filling your pool.
If you're using ground water you may be confronted with undesirable additives requiring extra filtration.
My personal preference was the installation of a number of large water tanks which store rain water.
Local tropical rains are heavy enough to fill your pool in under an hour.

Shower and toilet facilities

A must, unless you want all your visitors traipsing through your house.

Pool supplies

Pumps, filters, chemicals can be acquired locally, but of course are more costly than getting them from a pool supplier in Bangkok.
There are a variety of pumps and filters, get some professional advice. Visit a pool shop in Bangkok

The amount of chemicals required depends on the size of the pool and the cleanliness of the users.
I tell my guest to shower before and after using the pool.
Unfortunately their understanding of taking a shower means simply getting wet.
Body sweat, oils, makeup perfumes, colognes, hair gel, all will require extra pool cleaning.

Covered or uncovered

Open pools tend to collect more dust, leaves and other debris, while enclosed pools will have less of this problem.

Lightening

Great for evening pool parties, but they also tend to attract a large number of uninvited guests: bugs.
Yellow fluorescent lighting seems to attract the least number of bugs, white or black-light attracts the most.

Tile or cement

I made the mistake of tiling the floor around the pool. The kids had a ball using the wet floor as a slide.
But after a third fall, causing injury, that was replaced.

First mistake: Too small. I wanted something more like a jacuzzi.


Second Mistake: Started digging during the rainy season.


* Neighborhood teens provided inexpensive labor.
Planned the depth to be even with street water drains. Pool can be emptied without pumps.

With a roof to protect from the elements, a local contractor poured the cement.







Sharp edges and corners were a mistake. Corners should be rounded, otherwise they become collection points for sand and dirt.
End Part 1

Graduation Ceremonies and Party Season

Received a first invitation to a graduation party this season. The party is this evening.

Quite an innovation:  V.I.P invitations 1,800 baht.

Might sound a bit pricey, but that revenue pays for first rate entertainment, Previously mentioned

Sunday Perception

Cold season makes three day return visit:
Time to pop some extra vitamins. Those cold northeasterly winds are having a conference in my chest.
The cool weather is ideal for catching up on gardening.
Don't be fooled by the coolness, the sun is still strong enough to nurture skin cancers. Wear protection!!!
The wind direction will change quickly on Monday for more seasonal weather. HOT and HUMID.
Another short cold snap possible later this month

How to plan a party at my house
The neighbors daughter, who is home on vacation from the university asked if she could have a coke and some ice to entertain her friends. I agreed.
Then the next request, something to put into the coke.
Well young lady, if I'm paying for this party, then you might as well move over here to cut down on delivery travel.
Popcorn, potato chips, peanuts, soda....
Her aunt brought over home made mushroom soup. The mushrooms are grown by another neighbor.

Pool tennis
The latest addition of a few dozen soft plastic balls to the pool have added a new dimension to my exercise routine.
A couple of tennis rackets with these balls and now you have pool tennis with all swimmers as targets.
Twenty minutes of pool warfare and my age starts showing: Time-out.

Tough times
A family stopped by with a request for a loan. He's a contractor who went into a partnership. The partner ran off with the money to pay the laborers. That has to effect a whole village of people. As sad as this story may seem, I don't have that sort of money to lend.

Not too long ago someone else came with loan papers wanting to borrow money 'to buy land.'
Shortly after declining that loan I discovered that their truck had been repossessed, and the money was to be paid to the finance company. 

The frequency of requests seems to be increasing.

Body Painting
Tattoos have never been my thing. Sure many are definitely fine art. But those canvases are only temporary,they tend to die and are burned and buried.
A large percentage of tattoos adorning Thai's are of religious and spiritual significance. Some of these ink drawings are even intended to ward off harm (including bullets) from that person.

 

Point of view

ASEAN Summit April 10 - 12 has been moved from Phuket to Pattaya due to lack of available accommodations in Phuket.

As I See it:  Might not be the ideal place to spend this years Songkran vacation. Customarily one can expect major clean-up campaigns beforehand. Obviously there'll be an enormous increase of security personnel

Germany's GEZ broadcast collection office may send out collection agents to collect on overdue bills from Friedrich Schiller and Adam Ries. Schiller is a 18th century poet. Ries is a 16th century mathematician. Reuters

As I See it: Public Bureaucracy at it's finest.

The Weather

As I see it: Today - hot humid, 75% Thunderstorms, cool night (15-17).
Extended forecast: HOT and HUMID.

March 25 Hot night under a tin roof.

Chiang Khrua Regional Sport Day

Just received a note advising of a regional Sport Day to be held tomorrow (Saturday) in Chiang Khrua.
The all day event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
Chiang Khrua is approximately 15 k.m. north of Sakon Nakhon on highway 22 in the direction of Nakhon Phanom.

Even though hailed as Sport Day, the event is not limited to sport activities.
It is a celebration of family, friends and community uniquely Thai.

Related Post: Slow down on Highway 22 near Chiang Khrua