Wednesday, February 16, 2011

NE Division Football season delayed

Been a bit under the weather the last few days.
Thought I had gotten over the sore throat and chest infection. It came back with a vengeance after a week of feeling great.
The long cool spell, then a few days of really hot, back to quite cool and windy, mixed with two days of rain hasn't been an ideal condition to recover from this apparent flu.
Even had strong considerations to skip school for a few days, but I didn't.


Sakon FC pre-season match with Nakhon Phanom FC

The season start of the  North Eastern division football clubs had been postponed for two weeks until February 26.

During the off season five players where lured by better pay from the Sakon team to Nakhon Phanom.  Recently three of the five wanted to return to Sakon, deciding the grass was not greener on the other side.  Their requests to return to Sakon FC where denied, as a new lineup had already been put in place.  Among the departed players was the previous Sakon FC team captain.

Sakon FC and Nakhon Phanom FC faced off in a game last weekend.  It wasn't their usual field.  The play field used for the occasion had no spectator facilities, you either sat on the ground or brought your own chair.


The  game ended in a 1-1 tie.

Last weekend in Bangkok




Reads on the Net
"...Sakon Nakhon had gone khanom jeen mad..."
Noodling around the realms of the Paranormal
by Andrew Biggs - Bangkok Post Feb 13


Nutty

I'm not an overt fan of red meat,
but the ad is WELL DONE!



Well deserved stupidity reward - female


Well deserved stupidity reward - male

Caution:
Don't try this at home

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Baked Fresh Daily

The raisin bread was delish.
Ready for more.


Can't wait to taste some rye breads. Been told they'll be coming soon


Sakon Nakhon Rentals

preamble: I've received an inquiry regarding housing rentals in Sakon and will respond here with information as I know it. I hope local expats will post comments to provide additional insight on the subject.

I know of no real estate agent handling rentals in the area.
A number of real estate websites list SakonNakhon, however, when you go to these pages they have "No listing."

From past experience I have found one of the better solutions is to put the word out amongst the expat community.  Word seems to travel fast.  In two such cases I am aware of, prospective renters where looking at available houses the following day,

Turnovers seem to be quick and frequent.
In one of the two cases, the prospective renter decided to think about it, only to find the house rented the following day.   That particular house was again vacant two months later.

Location is an important factor in prices.
Within the city houses rent for an average of Bt 3,000 to Bt 5,000, while I have seen houses outside the city go for as little as Bt 2,000.
One bedroom apartments within the city start at around Bt 2,500.

In most cases, what you see is what you get. Most minor repairs, painting, etc., are "up to you."

Only contracts in Thai are binding.  If you have a contract in English, or any language other than Thai, you have no legal recourse, should problems arise.


Photo Albums

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Keep those heavy blankets handy

Rapid weather change between 11 - 15 February 
is the weather warning issued by the Thai Meteorological Department.
Expect temperatures to drop by 4 -6 degrees

5 pm Wed at my house
high/low temperatures Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday SundayMonday
Thai Meteorological 35/18 35/18 30/17 28/15 29/1429/14
AccuWeather 38-37/2139-37/22 41-37/1834-32/17 36-32/17 28-28/14
Weather Underground 35/1836/19 35/2028/19 32/2129/16
Red indicates "Feels Like" temperatures   Numbers are subject to updates.



Sakonnakhon Running
is the organizer of the Phutha Walisphum Marathon 2011 to be held February 13


Sakon FC in search of a new Family Name
Sakon FC owners have been in negations with possible sponsors.
In a latest negotiation the offer was made to change the name to that of the sponsor, an insurance company.


If you drink, don't drive or take the bus

New drunk driving law, which went into effect February 1, seems to be specifically aimed at public transportation:
"...drivers and passengers of all public transports except taxi, motorcycle and public van drivers..."
The exempted drivers of this law already have to obey a zero percent law






High farce at the Thai-Cambodian border worldblog.msnbc
Who fired first?


Quote of the Day
We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads
2002

I'm sticking to that line,
even though my waist size has gone from 31 in 2003 to 36.

Took a bit of rummaging, but I did find a pair of jeans size: "pleasantly plump," at the local BIG C.

Now if I could only find some underwear with a front door, that would make my day

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The Hot Season has arrived

FC season  which was to start Feb 12, delayed until Feb 26
Sakon FC hosts Mukdahan FC at Sakon Pattana Suksa Field.
Heard it through the grapevine (rumor), five players deserted the team for better paying positions at Nakhon Phanom. Tryouts where held yesterday for new players.

Local casualty of border conflict
Sergeant Wutcharin Chatkhamdee, of Infantry Company 1623, who was killed in recent a clash on the Cambodian border, was cremated at Non Saeng Thong forest temple in Sakon Nakhon TAN NETWORK
Phones before his time

Pool Season has begun
My Thermometer registered 84F today. Finished filling my pool at noon.
Just in time, the pool was crowded till 5 pm. 
90 degree temperatures are forecast for the next few days. 

1965 Also before his time
Trip cancelled
Had been offered a free trip to Korat on Wednesday.  Had to decline the offer today after waking up with a sore throat and sniffles.  An apparent relapse of similar flu symptoms a month ago.



Memorabilia on display at the recent
Chinese New Years festival

Sunday, February 6, 2011

SakonNakhon Chinese New Years Celebration 4709


A most enjoyable event.
Old friends, new friends.




Nonstop entertainment, endless choices of food and drink


Let's face it SakonNakhon people know how to throw a party.

The best part of the evening for me was a short history lesson.

Did you ever hear of the great SakonNakhon fire?

Some fourty or fifty years ago.

Rumors have it that it was an elaborate insurance scam.
I want to emphasize RUMOR here.

Thanon Charoenmuang, the street which leads into Phra That Choeng Chum, used to be main street.




Plenty of Memorabilia was on display

Plenty more pictures in my photo album

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Here comes the Hot

Weather
Time to clean out the air conditioner filters

Suspect someone is celebrating Chinese New Years and forgetting to update the weather at the Thai Meteorologic Department.

Both AccuWeather and Wunderground predict a warming trend over the next week, with unseasonable hot weather midweek.  Feels like temperature may reach 38C (104F).



Cost Of Thai Living Increases
  • ....severe impacts on Thailand's livestock production due to rising prices of animal feeds.... BERNAMA
  • Thailand Coconut production plagued by drought and pests  THE NATION



A large group of expats attended Dave's
farewell party to wish him all the best.

While Kat's away... Bob will ....
Friends held a birthday dinner for Bob  
while his wife Kat is in Bangkok for medical tests.
The food was soooo goooood


New Restaurant
Thai-Italian cuisine
featuring a 195 baht bacon pizza























Thailand Media Freedom on Trial Christian Science Monitor

Thailand's goal: 100-per cent crash-helmet wearing by year end 2011  BERNAMA

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Travel tip - Extended weather forecast

How do we get from SN to Chiang Mai
3 adults 2 kids...
Planned on VIP bus but am told it goes to Chiang Rai not Chiang Mai.

Best route through Udon.
From Udon it's a 12 hour journey on the overnight.
Before you consider traveling by bus, read the following thread at Udon Maps
Bus times from Udon Thani to Chiang mai (night bus)....

A long range weather forecast for the summer season has been posted at the Thai Meteorological Department website.
lower than last year. And rainfall will be above normal....