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villagefarang

Member Since 2007-04-03
Offline Last Active Private

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About Me

The year was 1975, I was still a student and working part time. That first couple of years I made several visits to Thailand. After graduation I moved here, not suspecting that more than 35 years later I would still be here? The first 30 years were spent in Bangkok but now I live in the countryside more than 50 kilometers from Chiang Rai. Neither cynic nor apologist, Thailand has simply been my home for a very long time.

I don't enjoy getting older, but there is no place I would rather do it, than here in this house, in a field, in a valley, with a view.

My Blog
My Google+ Profile Page
My Google+ Photo Album
My Google Map

Community Stats

Group Advanced Members
Active Posts 2,840
Profile Views 21,730
Member Title Misunderstood Blogger
Age 57 years old
Birthday June 15, 1954
Gender
Male
Location
Phaya Mengrai, The House in the Field
Interests
Blogging, photography, running, hiking, mountain biking, riding my Ninja 650r, my dogs and most importantly my wife and best friend for nearly 15 years.

Previous Fields

Location
Chiang Rai

Contact Information

Website URL http://www.villagefarang.com

320 Excellent

Latest Visitors

edwinclapham
2012-05-27
Will27
2012-05-27
scorpio1945
2012-05-27
ripstanley
2012-05-26
davehowden
2012-05-26

#5342599 Finished House Picture (Views and Gardens Welcome)

Posted jambco984 on Today, 17:03

villagefarang, on Today, 16:43 , said:

Thanks for reading and thanks for all those “likes” you gave along the way. If you are 27 or 57 it really shouldn’t matter all that much. Of course it may not end up being your last place but having your own home at any age can make life a little more comfortable and enjoyable. Hope things workout for you. Posted Image

Sometimes I just couldn't help myself with the likes, a lot of what you write is just great humbling honesty and its something that is lost on here sometimes.
I enjoy your posts from naam, crossy, mr bojangles and your good self, I really like Naam's home its a cracker but all I see is Lt. Commander Worf walking around with his big rigid head. If on the other hand you are Michael Dorn then please accept my apologies. Posted Image

Thanks for the reply VF keep up the good work, here and elsewhere.

#5342586 Finished House Picture (Views and Gardens Welcome)

Posted Crossy on Today, 16:56

villagefarang, on Today, 16:50 , said:

tb86, on Today, 13:28 , said:

monty1412, on 2012-05-26 16:57:20, said:

tb86, on 2009-04-15 21:18:10, said:

almost finished

crikey tb86 et onto your builder. the've built it the wrong way up

Yeah man, stairs are a real pain

I was under the impression you had one of those Thai ceremonies, you know the ones with a dead chick or pig, some string, candles and whatever. Thought that would have taken care any tilt problems and gotten the house right way up. I’m guessing it must be a joy to live there now. Posted Image

It's those cheap Australian plans he used, if it was in Oz it would be OK

#5342475 Finished House Picture (Views and Gardens Welcome)

Posted jambco984 on Today, 16:18

So this has taken me the best part of two working days to read, obviously inbetween getting some classes taught and pretending to look busy.
I have enjoyed reading nearly every single post here its a breath of fresh air to have something to read that doesn't involve being called out on something or someone making stupid replies to cause a fight.

VF I am in the dreaming stage at the moment, at only 27 and living here full time now for 18 months I am just about ready to commit and build something personal and special to me, I see me living in it as a young man and eventually pottering about in it as an old one, Mrs Jambco had some land given to her by the MIL and we are wanting to take the rollercoaster ride that is building our own nest.
I hear all you nay sayers saying what the chuff at 27? I am ex British military and find when I put my mind to something I get it done and thats where I'm at right now.

Off topic a bit here but I just love, naming no names as I see it has caused some trouble in the past, some chap who will remain nameless blog Posted Image

Everyone take it easy out there and I hope this thread goes for many more years.
Keep sending your pictures. I hope mine will be up there soon.

Take care

Darren

#5341267 Electrical Poles Collasped Near Cabbages & Condom

Posted Rotweiler on Today, 09:15

De..  un.. and just broken too.  :-/  The following just posted in the CM forum:

The original topic on this subject was posted in the Chiang Mai forum and then moved to Chiang Rai.  Since many of the CM forum readers travel that route and know the area well (and most of the residents of the area, while legally within Chiang Rai Province, actually have much closer ties to Chiang Mai), a reference to the post in the CR forum:

http://www.thaivisa....abbages-condom/

Several photos posted as well.

The micro-burst lasted less than 2 minutes and toppled a close-together pair of poles supporting a major transformer - the resulting domino effect toppled (all broken near the base) 36 concrete electrical poles over a distance of over 2 km.  In addition to the damage at C&C, many homes in the area were damaged both by the winds and by the toppled poles, especially in the village of Ban Mo.  Thank goodness, no injuries.

Local crews were assisted by emergency repair crews from as far away as Lampang and Thoeng and had power restored to most of the homes within 52 hours.  Internet server was restored yesterday but land-line telephone will take longer.

FYI

#5341187 Rabies In Thailand

Posted chrisinth on Today, 08:47

It's always been my policy that if bitten by a street dog, mauled by a cat, etc, and the skin has been broken, get your ass down to the hospital and get the shot. This may very well be knee jerk reaction, but with rabies, for myself and the family better safe than sorry.

As Thanyaburi Mac said earlier, there are no more stomach injections needed, so it is no big drama.

#5340929 Rabies In Thailand

Posted Thanyaburi Mac on Today, 06:19

FYI, the current POST Exposure shots for dog bite are just like normal shots, given in the arm. No more shots in the belly, that's long ago.

If the dog is identifiable, take about three shots, then stop if the dog hasn't gone "bad." If the dog isn't IDed, then complete the series of POST exposure shots, four more, I think.

And, not really very costly at all.

Our nephew had the short series as a result of a dog bite here on the mooban soi, as did another kid here.

Mac

#5341094 Electrical Poles Collasped Near Cabbages & Condom

Posted Rotweiler on Today, 08:02

In total, 36 concrete powerline support poles broken off through 2 villages around C&C (on Highway 118 between MaeKhachan and Wiang Pa Pao). A number of houses were seriously damaged but no injuries reported.

Power back on for most within 48 hours as emergency repair crews from as far away as Thoen and Lampang came to assist,

Attached Thumbnails

#5339553 My Thai Lady Is Lovely

Posted cooked on Yesterday, 18:13

villagefarang, on 2012-05-27 12:35:36, said:

cooked, on 2012-05-27 12:26:21, said:

speaking the same language doesn't mean that a couple are going to understand each other. Men and women are from different planets.

If it is already so difficult to understand these creatures from a different planet, how can not being able to speak the same language make it any easier? Personally I do not adhere to that quaint truism that women are somehow unfathomable.

I did business in Switzerland for 40 years and English customers thought that the fact that we could speak English together would help communication. It did, but only up to a point. I don't understand human beings, let alone women, gimme a break will you?

#5337917 Something I Dont Understand

Posted bendix on Yesterday, 09:06

SimonD, on Yesterday, 04:33 , said:

473geo, on Yesterday, 02:26 , said:

....
Have you ever seen the number of of times people post repetitive accusations of a poster of being a troll?..photos...charicatures...just makes a mess of....and extends the thread .....but I guess each to their own

How does that saying go?....

I think this is close but what you are all overlooking is that it annoys bendix. Anyone with the temerity to ask a question on here that could be otherwise resolved by consulting Sir Google, QC, is wasting valuable bandwidth and virtual ink. At his time of membership he should not be subjected to trivial annoyances, it might cause his pipe to go out and then where would be without his sage advice?

Get a grip, people.

I'm not sure why you're referring to me, but seeing as you have been so kind as to draw me into the discussion let me argue a different point of view.

60% of threads on the General Discussion forum these days are rants and raves about perceived personal slights or scams which no other member can do anything about, so why bring them up, or they are threads complaining about life's frustrations in Thailand.

On the first matter, many of the slights - aneliane's accusations of being treated in a racist manner, for example are just laughable. The scams - such as some guy's misreading of an Air Asia ad - are not scams at all, but instead are misreadings of perfectly legal advertising. And the frustrations - police corruption, double pricing - are all things which are just a normal part of life in a developing country. The retort - if you don't like it, go home - seems to be to be perfectly reasonable. We have the freedom to do that - unlike the locals - and yet all we get is a group of privileged expats whining that things aren't like they are at home when, FFS, they are not at home.

As for threads about the price of buffets in Sukhumvit restaurants not being what they should be . . well what on earth are we meant to do about that? He can't name the dam_n place, so what is the point of posting about it? If he doesn't like it, then he can take his business elsewhere.

#5337383 Something I Dont Understand

Posted phuturatica on Yesterday, 01:33

I think the main frustration is that majority of people who post about things that have been asked a million times before fail to use the search function before asking the question. When the typical questions get asked a thousand times over its hard not to lose the enthusiasm and find it annoying.

However I do appreciate the fact that everyone has to learn one way or another and if you don't ask, you don't get (or learn in this case!)

Also, some of the questions are a little bit ridiculous. I am faced every day with scenarios where I get ripped off or whatever but I just use my common sense, follow my instincts and act accordingly.

"Ohnoes I went to a Sunday carvery and they didn't have the meats on that they advertised!" - Surely you would just follow your instincts. You either complain and refuse to pay or whatever or you can pay and just pass it off as a learning curve and never to eat there again. Why do you need to make a post about it on a forum?!

#5337121 Something I Dont Understand

Posted TommoPhysicist on 2012-05-27 22:24:23

I think a lot of the problem is, when you ask a silly question, you are inviting a silly answer.
When you confess to going against all forum advice, you invite criticism and 'told you so' posts.

A few prime examples.
I bought a car/house/condo in my gfs name and she took it away from me.
I gave my wife access to my bank account and she emptied it out.
How much sin-sot should I pay/my gf wants 1 million sin-sot.
I paid 2 million sin-sot to marry my girl, and now she has divorced me.
I paid a bribe to the police and they took it.
I left my wife at home while I worked overseas for 10 months of the year, now she is sleeping with someone else.
I was overcharged because I am a foreigner.

Have I missed any out?

#5333915 Brit Accident Students Mother Call For Foreign Office To Issue Warnings On Th...

Posted Semper on 2012-05-26 17:52:14

Sayonarax, on 2012-05-26 14:14:17, said:

Semper, on 2012-05-26 13:17:39, said:

Sayonarax, on 2012-05-26 13:13:54, said:

Semper, on 2012-05-25 11:22:16, said:

There is nothing dangerous about the roads in Thailand. It's the drivers that couse the accidents.

I guess you an 8 others don't ride motorbikes around Thailand and except that giant pot holes are apart of safe roads.

Oh, but I do. However I never try to beat the speed/time record from point A to point B. Posted Image

And you should always expect a pothole, parked car or someone is overtaking when going in to a blind bend.

This is after all Thailand and you should drive accordingly.

Your just full of the right answers. You should be politician with ally our witty answers.

You're obviously from a nanny-state country where you can blaim the government for all traffic accidents. As I said before, it's the drivers not the condition of the roads that are to blaim. 90% of the drivers here and any other country are not capable of driving a vehicle and should not be allowed to drive on the roads. I mean, you can't drive 200km/h on a road that's full of potholes, flooded with water, snowy or icy conditions etc. But people do this constantly and then they blaim the government for not keeping the roads tip top when they have an accident. Posted Image