Expect increased road 'spot checks' for the holidays

Checked airline schedules for this week and next. Some flights have just one to five seats available.  Some flight triple in price especially days before the new year. 


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Chinese temple festival parade every year on December 11

 

Album 191211 Early morning parade

Many of the former daytime performances are now done at the temple grounds.  Some amazing talent

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Carpet Football a growing Industry

Football is a social event with no financial boundaries. 
Both rich and less wealthy enjoy and spectate and participate.

A very obvious pattern of creating a football competition.

• You can rent or own the sport facility
• You announce an entry fee and rewards
• Schedule events, concession and maintenance

The most common local sponsors are government agencies, schools and social clubs

 FIFA changed its rules in 2004 to allow sanctioned matches on certain artificial surfaces 

What I call carpet football is slowly expanding as commercial ventures. I've been to three local privately owned stadiums, seen a couple more, but don't remember where

1. Sanfun Soccer Stadium
2. The Areais
3. Green Field

I've sponsored teams for a number of years. It usually involves an entry fee (generally 3,000 to 4,500 baht), Team shirts (average cost) 100 baht each, and water or soft drinks during games.  Let's not forget parties after each win. I always get the player number depicting my age.

 The  next competition starts this saturday.  Our team is scheduled at 4 pm. The games have to be less than an hour each according to this tight schedule.  I think start time may be later than scheduled

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191215 Saturday evening, six thirty five: where is everybody?

epilogue:  It was quite the opposite Sunday night was busy
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Warmer nights till Christmas

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Economy is slowing down

Government officials are downplaying the severity as minor. I've been noticing the downturn for most of the past year.

When jobs are becoming scarce locals tend to pull out their carts and tents and set up a streetside restaurant.  Lately they've been popping up with increasing numbers.

They are less expensive and are taking away some regular restaurant business

Some headlines dare to say Recession in places I'd say it's nationwide
สกลนคร Sakon N Phuket's economy is entering a period of recession - PSU report | The Thaigerakhon

What a difference a year makes

Just came across last year's December 13 morning temperature

Expect a somewhat warmer week before the next dip into cooler temperatures through early January

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The 32 exchange rate (to the US $) had the economy a bit sluggish, but moving

there's a whole different perspective if you add the beginning of the year 2019
The 32 exchange rate (to the US $) had the economy a bit sluggish, but moving 
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191213 Full moon in the morning on Friday the 13th

without tripod
สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon