Thread: A swimming pool in Thailand – so easy

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Originally Posted by FloridaBorn

Originally Posted by Klondyke

And here my invention (patent pending) for tile cleaning:

Erm sorry to mention you're a couple decades too late on you patented tile scrubber.

Another day I showed "my invention" to some pool people in EU, they were really excited. Not only by my sophisticated modification of the broom but by the ScotchBrite type with the suitable handle, they cannot find anything like this in any EU department store, not to mention in a special cleaning boutique (not sure about Harrod's).

Unfortunately, they do not have there a Big C affilliate nor a Walmart.

Since the requests for that have not stopped coming I am now really on a thought to have it made here (that one was made by ash wood imported from US East Coast - and I am having still a lot of that) and make a huge purchase at Big C for the ScothBrites (that might be a problem) and ship a full container at least 20 ft (FCL20) to Rotterdam or Hamburg.

Originally I was thinking also on another (nonEU) country (different continent) that is importing a lot from Asia. However, now when I know that they have had something like this already for a couple decades (wondering whether it is at least half so good as "my invention"), I have dropped the idea.

Now, I only worry that - before my patent application will be positively awarded - "my invention" will be hugely copied.

I do not know how in Florida. In fact, the Walmart does not have anything else then from Asia, perhaps they are already importing the ScotchBrites from Big C?

It's not a Walmart product it comes more from specialized pool stores. Sorry to burst your bubble but you can't patent your product now as you've gone public with it by posting it here. Best to just try and get it going yourself and sell as many as you think you can before this company that does hold a patent comes after you with a cease and desist order and maybe worse.

BTW My best guess is they've been around stateside for at least 15 to 20 years the also have a pivoting and rotating head for changing angles the head is not fixed stationary. Or alternatively you could contact them about being a distributor in Europe and make money that way without the liability.

Originally Posted by crepitas

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Originally Posted by FloridaBorn

Originally Posted by Klondyke

And here my invention (patent pending) for tile cleaning:

Erm sorry to mention you're a couple decades too late on you patented tile scrubber.

Another day I showed "my invention" to some pool people in EU, they were really excited. Not only by my sophisticated modification of the broom but by the ScotchBrite type with the suitable handle, they cannot find anything like this in any EU department store, not to mention in a special cleaning boutique (not sure about Harrod's).

Unfortunately, they do not have there a Big C affilliate nor a Walmart.

Since the requests for that have not stopped coming I am now really on a thought to have it made here (that one was made by ash wood imported from US East Coast - and I am having still a lot of that) and make a huge purchase at Big C for the ScothBrites (that might be a problem) and ship a full container at least 20 ft (FCL20) to Rotterdam or Hamburg.

Originally I was thinking also on another (nonEU) country (different continent) that is importing a lot from Asia. However, now when I know that they have had something like this already for a couple decades (wondering whether it is at least half so good as "my invention"), I have dropped the idea.

Now, I only worry that - before my patent application will be positively awarded - "my invention" will be hugely copied.

I do not know how in Florida. In fact, the Walmart does not have anything else then from Asia, perhaps they are already importing the ScotchBrites from Big C?

Great invention mate..mind if I copy it for house floor tiles??...beats crawling around with pot scrubber scrubbing off the gecko shit etc..was gonna glue on 3M type pot scrubbers to old floor sponge mop or worn out scrub brush broom..yours is a better solution..cheers!

I guess that all it's good for cleaning all that gecko dropping of the floor

I might make one for the bathroom

Finally I have finished the cleaning of the washed up concrete walkway around the swimming pool (evenings after working hours). Amazingly, whilst the time is advancing, we have not realized how it is slowly getting dirty, forgotten how it looked when it was new.




And here one where the contrast of the intake water (the unwanted dirt substances are either laying settled at the bootom or floating on the surface) and the water usage:

And here one how it looks from the other side of house:


The river is getting higher, to the house behind the large chamchaa trees (under the toll tree in the middle):

Hopefully it will not be so bad as 9 years ago - just before finishing the reconstruction of a ghost house (an abandoned collapsed house that Thai people never want to buy, even when cheap):


The water came up no further than to the fence:

How convenient to go fishing straight out from the bedroom:

However, it was a good (not easy) decision:

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Finally I have finished the cleaning of the washed up concrete walkway around the swimming pool (evenings after working hours). Amazingly, whilst the time is advancing, we have not realized how it is slowly getting dirty, forgotten how it looked when it was new.

Like I said a sprinkler can with some pool bleach in it mixed 50/50 with water will not only clean it up even better but if you let it dry on the surface without rinsing it the residue will stave off future growth for a longer period of time.

The river looks angry and scary the ghost house you speak of seems to be under water already maybe that's why they abandoned it not the best choice for location?

If I had property that close I'd think seriously about a second perimeter wall as a water barrier for the future to give you some buffer zone from flooding.I went through the previous floods and not something I want to go through again in my lifetime let alone several times.

Originally Posted by FloridaBorn

.I went through the previous floods and not something I want to go through again in my lifetime let alone several times.

Actually, I weathered the last Great Flood in Pathum Thani and it was a brilliant experience...Just asked the gf if she wanted to stay or leave and she was determined to stay (being a river gal used to the floods), so we were well-prepared when the water started coming up through the floor...And we were just two of a handful of people who remained in the village...We were "Flood Central," and fielded many calls from anxious neighbours inquiring about their homes and asking for pictures for insurance purposes...

From start to finish and cleanup, with particular emphasis on daily life in a sea of water, it was a terrific adventure...

Even managed a trip to Cambodia for supplies...And we bought a small boat and motor and hired a Thai friend to run it as a water taxi, paying him a very generous wage while we pocketed the rest, which paid for the boat almost immediately...The prices that people were paying to go grocery shopping were outrageous; however, we gave everyone a good deal and even free trips for those who had little or no money...

And we had some crazy parties at night with the few "survivors" who stayed in the village...Some insane drunken karaoke moments where electrocution was a slip away...

BaitongBoy
Excellent story and I admire your attitude.

Klondyke
More pics please if you have them of the conversion from ruin to your home.

Unfortunately my tablet won't let me green anyone, when I try to comment the window disappears.

Originally Posted by bankao dreamer

Unfortunately my tablet won't let me green anyone, when I try to comment the window disappears.

Just green them any way, don't try to write it don't work on a Tab

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Originally Posted by FloridaBorn

The river looks angry and scary the ghost house you speak of seems to be under water already maybe that's why they abandoned it not the best choice for location?

Perhaps you have missed the point when I wrote the flood was 9 years ago.
Here it is how it looked during most of the year:



It was abandoned from another reason: allegedly, a rich policeman had it made for his Mia Noi. Until his Mia Luang showed her power, then it was abandoned very fast and left to the lending bank to keep the change.

Yes, admittedly I did, I thought those were recent jpegs the contrast is quite stark that water was quite high and moving very fast for being so high, if it made it higher no doubt you'd have had plenty of wash out.

Originally Posted by bankao dreamer

BaitongBoy
Excellent story and I admire your attitude.

Hey, thanks for that bd...I'll dance at your wedding!...Heh...

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

Originally Posted by FloridaBorn

.I went through the previous floods and not something I want to go through again in my lifetime let alone several times.

Actually, I weathered the last Great Flood in Pathum Thani and it was a brilliant experience...Just asked the gf if she wanted to stay or leave and she was determined to stay (being a river gal used to the floods), so we were well-prepared when the water started coming up through the floor...And we were just two of a handful of people who remained in the village...We were "Flood Central," and fielded many calls from anxious neighbours inquiring about their homes and asking for pictures for insurance purposes...

From start to finish and cleanup, with particular emphasis on daily life in a sea of water, it was a terrific adventure...

Even managed a trip to Cambodia for supplies...And we bought a small boat and motor and hired a Thai friend to run it as a water taxi, paying him a very generous wage while we pocketed the rest, which paid for the boat almost immediately...The prices that people were paying to go grocery shopping were outrageous; however, we gave everyone a good deal and even free trips for those who had little or no money...

And we had some crazy parties at night with the few "survivors" who stayed in the village...Some insane drunken karaoke moments where electrocution was a slip away...

Do you have children? Puts a bit of a different of perspective on the whole thing, though they did learn a lot and we came out of it mostly unharmed, except the continual lung and respiratory infections we suffered many months afterwards and the possibility of a dozen other serious illnesses could have been contracted. I will agree though that I do see a positive side to many such tragedies and it's the humanity that often comes out that is short most times during our daily lives. That humanity when every one has to help out for anyone to survive as a community the good in most people comes out and it's heart warming.

Of course here in Florida there are hurricanes, though less often and less serious than one would think, but when one does come through your community everyone comes together for the good of the entire community especially in the after math when people cut trees and branches that have blocked the roads and offer other resources someone else may be lacking. Differences are put aside for the moment and it's refreshing.

Originally Posted by FloridaBorn

Do you have children? Puts a bit of a different of perspective on the whole thing,

Yeah, but of course it would...I would have responded accordingly had my daughter been with me...We would have had that adventure together...

My favourite picture of The Great Flood was one I took on the main road of a little girl on a raft built by her parents...

I call it The Little Princess...She was sitting in the middle of the raft under a large umbrella dressed in her Sunday Best with her wide brown eyes focused on the strange falang in the red bandana who was disrupting her entourage...

And the disease and sickness never materialized because of awareness and preventive measures...

Yes it did, it just wasn't publicly reported much, there was no education nor preventative measures there's probably still water stains on most of Bangkok to this day. They never rinsed down a thing and the dried crap became atomized into the dry atmosphere for the weeks that followed and caused a host of respiratory illnesses some of which we personally experienced. We had multiple, recurrent lung infections and allergy issues and it was directly related to the crap in the air post flooding. Many people contracted all manner of water born illnesses and the list is endless, just not highly publicized.

I'm talking about my own experience...It was not an issue for us...The main thing is keeping yourself clean, especially if you've been out in the muck...

And when you absorb the knowledge of people who have been through floods many times, and heed that knowledge, you should have no trouble...

9 years ago incidentally discovered:

Nothing left in the house what can be easily removed:










Even the teak pylons (sau mai sak) have been stolen, replaced by a poor rod keeping the foreroof in place - quite dangerous to pass under:

Seeing only now what we have bought from the bank:

This small room with low roof?



It has to be torn down (didn't somebody say that before me?):


So it is better (double block wall without sau - some vertical rebars inside embeded in concrete):