Jeffrey Hospitalized

Longtime Sakon Nakhon expat Jeffrey has been hospitalized .
Jeffrey is expected to remain in the (private) hospital for approximately ten days.
Family is on their way to Thailand to assist Jeffrey.

The pavement was hot enough to fry an egg Yesterday

3 PM Shade
93F

3 PM  Direct Sun
114F 

Temperature of the cement walkway went over the capacity of my thermometer 50+ (122F).

Good reason to stay out of the sun and off the pavement

Radish Delight

In my garden I saw the big red root exposed and couldn't resist it.
Sliced it quite thin and made a sandwich from it.

Headlines that caught my attention

Condom vending machines removed from Bangkok schools  THE NATION  February 14
"machines provoke  sexual interests"

STD cases on the rise The Nation   February 15

Thailand Down  (investment news)  beyondbricks February 16

Luncheon at High Noon

.
Thursday and Friday at Chern Chim (Martin's)

• Bacon or Sausage Butties* 49  Baht 
• French fries  50 Baht

*Butty: Chiefly northern English dialect

• "a sandwich."
• two (or more) slices of bread with a filling between them

Also at Chern Chim (Martin's) on Monday, February 21, Birthday party for his son

Unfortunately the picture is not very focused. 
Every time we approach with the slightest noise, their mouths open in anticipation... 

Getting to and from my house has been a roller coaster ride for months.
Finally they filled the holes.  I suspect it won't hold long

Mekon to be Dammed a dozen times   Source: The Nation***

Clashes along Thai-Cambodian border resume, both sides blame each other   xinhuanet

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

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

We'll be in the pool in case you are looking for us

In the sun

In the shade

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	Sunday	Monday
Thai Meteorological	35/18	35/18	30/17	28/15	29/14	29/14
AccuWeather	38-37/21	39-37/22	41-37/18	34-32/17	36-32/17	28-28/14
Weather Underground	35/18	36/19	35/20	28/19	32/21	29/16

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

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