High Zoo-Ology Anxiety

Alvin has a housemate.

A friend of mine from Tha Rae brought me a female squirrel as a companion for Alvin

Alvin is two years old, the new female, still unnamed is probably middle aged.

In the wild squirrels live to about 12 years, in captivity over 20 years.

Putting the two in the same cage did not work out. 

It wasn't a fight, 
rather a territorial dance.
Lady squirrel has a separate cage for the time being.

One morning, while at my computer I heard incessant squealing.
At first I thought the high pitch sound came from birds outside my window.
Not so!!  
It took a while, but I finally decided the noise is coming from within.
A baby squirrel an inch tall, on a ripped towel in the cage floor.
The mother had taken it out of the nest.

The screeching only stopped hours later when the mother returned the baby to the nest.


Days of no sounds, utter silence. 
I was becoming anxious. Had the infant squirrel died.
Relief this morning, I heard the baby squirrel

As Hot Season Approaches, A Stark Reminder

As the days are getting hotter, kids tend to head to the nearest watering hole to cool down.
Unfortunately with the hot season approaching, so does the season of drownings.
A first drowning in Sakon City yesterday, a young Patana school student.
Apparently he was swimming alone. Discovered hours later.
Source: STV on Facebook

Sakon Nakhon COOL er

After a couple hottest days of the year, 39C Felt like 42, 
a  five day cooling trend is in the makings.

Temperatures are forecast to dip into the upper 20's C. 
Possibly as low as 27C


It's a temperature roller coaster ride.  This might be the last of the cool days.

March temperatures mostly in the lower to mid 30.



Rain possible next weekend.  
Depends how much the weather dissipates as it moves in from the south.

Roadwork has come to my front door

It's real noisy in Mister Hans' neighborhood.  

Sledge hammers, diggers, boisterous voices.

 

A drain pipe is being installed in the middle of the street.
  I'm guessing the road in front of my house will eventually be paved.

There was talk some years ago of widening the street into a four lane road.
  Talk of buying and demolishing the houses across the street from me.
  Obviously that's not happening.

I suspect it's a new administration, with new plans and new allocations.
  I'm just glad to see the street being built after ten years of promises. 

 

Great Expectations, or just a pipe dream

The first games of the 2013 Thai Division 2 League North Eastern Region season were played last weekend.
Of the 16 teams in the league: 

3 teams won games: Amnat Charoen, Nong Khai and Poi Et.

  10 teams came away from the game with a draw.

  3 loosing teams: Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu, and Mukdahan.

SAKONNAKHON F.C. Founded in 2005

Sakon FC (Sakon Nakhon Muang Thai FC) hosts Nong Khai this Sunday.

It may be 'the start of something good.' this season.
Nong Kai is one of the better teams in the league. Finished the 2012 season in sixth place.
16 teams in the league.

It will be interesting to see if Sakon Nakhon Muang Thai F.C  had a Muang Thai makeover.  Muang Thai is the new sponsor

Nong Kai beat SakonNakhon F.C. like a 'bad child' at a home game last year.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

A Hard Act to follow

Richard Briers CBE  died on Sunday aged 79

(14 January 1934 – 17 February 2013)

Richard Briers on Wikipedia

• Plenty more Richard Briers videos available on You Tube 

T.i.T. bit plus

T.A.T. News Photo Contest 18th February 2013 – 18th March 2013

GM to CM	The one they saw coming

NOK ! when there's no other choice

Reader Comment: 

NOK Air is now adding new routes to their already tough schedule.
What happens now?

My Research indicates:

In the case of increased services to Mae Sot and Chumphon starting 1 March:

"... using Saab 340 chartered from Siam General Aviation, also known as NOK Mini."

• Mini NOK; aka SGA Airlines, is a subsidiary of NOK Air.
  It's fleet consist of:

5 ea Saab340B (SF34) 

1 ea Cessna Grand Caravan (C208B)

Sakon Nakhon is served by NOK AIR using ATR 72-200.
The ATR 72-200 was first manufactured in 1989.  A very efficient and reliable aircraft.
Modernized versions (AT 72-500) were certified in 1997.

On it's website NOK Air indicates the continued use of the  ATR 72-200 for the Sakon Nakhon - Bangkok route.

Recent six to 12 hour flight delays, and the replacement with Boeing 737-400 aircraft, would indicate that there may be a maintenance safety concern.

On my recent Sakon Nakhon - Bangkok round trip I traveled on two Boeing aircraft.

The Boeing 737-400 aircraft are listed at Wikipedia: 

To Exit Service 2013 

A Bangkok Post article dated January 31 indicates that NOK Air plans to sell 30% in a public offering in August 2013.  The money is to be used for aircraft acquisition.   

Get ready for the Hot Season, it's coming !!

"Buy a fan Now"  reads the headline at Thailand Business News

"...it might get hotter than usual...
   ...you may be asked to shut down your air-con to avoid a power outage."

Power outages a likelihood this hot season.
An electric fan won't be much use. 
Cold shower won't work. No water pressure without electricity.

Buy or build a small pool. 

Mine is only chest high, reducing the risk of accidental drowning.
Made for lounging and water play, not for endurance swimming.
Maximum capacity: I've counted 18
When the temperatures become unbearable, a tub or pool (and a cold drink)  is a sensible only solution.

If it gets hotter than usual, add ice as needed.

 

The place to be on a really hot day: as long as the canals wont run dry