Thread: Building our Retirement Home in Nan Province

First Day in New Home 3 February 2019

We are exhausted. Slept quite well last night in upstairs in bedroom 3 but tonight we'll sleep in bedroom 1. The village below us has maybe a hundred homes ranging in distance from us from about 100 meters to 500 meters. So I was amazed to sit in bed this morning drinking a coffee and able to hear quite loudly more than a dozen rooters engaging in their morning p@ssing match. Going out to the level 2 covered deck early in the morning and taking in the mountains and valley was everything I had hoped it would be. We still find it hard to believe our luck on managing to find and buy this land.

Today has been spent unpacking, unwrapping, putting together, placing in correct place, cleaning and organizing. Non-stop all day. The general duties gent was helping me but after the curtain folks arrived we could not do a lot in the house so I sent him home early and also gave him tomorrow off. Tomorrow will be his first day of not being at our site/home since mid-August. He has worked everyday since then.

The curtain folks did a great job although they have incorrectly measured the sliding door requirements. So glad it was their measuring and not me. They will be back to finish the job tomorrow but we are again delighted with what they did install. Again, we think we've nailed the colours. It really does look good.

Last photo for today. Liking our front entrance doors in the late afternoon sun today.

All looking fab... just like we knew it would!

Did you go for 'blackout' curtains in the bedrooms? Either all in one or as a second 'curtain' behind the show ones?

I really want this feature when we are in the same position...

BiP, congrats and all the best with the moving in - done a great job and hope you and Mrs BiP enjoy - you've got the Garden next......

Thanks NPT, been bloody busy last several days as you can image but things going well. Will be posting here and in the Greenscaping thread tomorrow morning. Regards, -BiP

Originally Posted by NamPikToot

BiP, congrats and all the best with the moving in - done a great job and hope you and Mrs BiP enjoy - you've got the Garden next......

Thanks Norton, I do intend to keep this thread ticking over doing just as you said. But will also be increasing the volume of posts in the Greenscaping thread. Regards, -BiP

Originally Posted by Norton

Brilliant BiP. Sure you and missus will enjoy the fruits of your hard work and planning for many years to come. Now the more relaxed time of making the house a home begins. As you note, an important part is becoming a part of the community.

Looking forward to this thread continueing for years as you tweak stuff.

Disappointed to report that the carport has suffered first two oil spots, courtesy of the local recycler who was picking up 114 bahts worth of cardboard, largely from the unpacking.

Hadn't noticed this in bathroom 4 previously. Thai logic???? There are two ways to fix it. Soon as I find my smallest screw driver and get up to level 2 it will be fixed.

Gas cooktop works although only used it for this test until we get the bench installed outside the kitchen and move the gas bottle there.



Stuck the number on the letter box and wired it to the gate. In the coming weeks this gate and gate post are the only element of the front south boundary that will not be replaced.

And final photos for today. Some early morning shots off the level 2 covered deck on the first and second mornings. To be honest, some of that mist is smoke from a garbage fire.

Congratulations on your build, good to see that your missus is still able to be civil to you, ie. look in your general direction, mine is still struggling to do so (building a house was my big mistake)...

On another note:

"If anyone has other suggestions to take the incessant itch out of these bites I'd love to hear it."

Try Zam-Buk green balm,I have been stung by wasps, hornets, bitten by ants, brushed against hairy caterpillars etc and this stuff takes away pain and the following itch. Not to be confused with tiger balm etc, it doesn't have a strong smell, but deffo worth a try (cheap too):

Thanks and thanks JE. Got some. Will try it this afternoon. Regards, -BiP

Originally Posted by jonnyenglish

Congratulations on your build, good to see that your missus is still able to be civil to you, ie. look in your general direction, mine is still struggling to do so (building a house was my big mistake)...

On another note:

"If anyone has other suggestions to take the incessant itch out of these bites I'd love to hear it."

Try Zam-Buk green balm,I have been stung by wasps, hornets, bitten by ants, brushed against hairy caterpillars etc and this stuff takes away pain and the following itch. Not to be confused with tiger balm etc, it doesn't have a strong smell, but deffo worth a try (cheap too):

Originally Posted by BoganInParasite

I react very badly to insect bites and am only just stopping short of cutting off both legs below the knee via the strongest steroid laced cream you can buy over the counter in Thailand and Snake Brand Prickly Heat Cooling Powder. If anyone has other suggestions to take the incessant itch out of these bites I'd love to hear it.

You and me both! after 40 years in SEA never have built up an "immunity" I have tried every lotion and potion there is, Zam-Buk can give a little relief as can anti-histamine cream.
I am not big on taking pharmaceuticals of any sort, the only thing I keep in the house is anti-histamines and I only take them when it becomes unbearable, probably 6 times a year, its the only thing I have found that works 99% of the time & gives relief!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy to report the Zam-Buk has given me relief for a couple of hours now, the most I've had over the last 30 hours. Even put the axe outside. Bit sticky though so I'll have to put some towels on the bedsheet (no longer own any trackie dacks...wonder how many of you know what they are?). Thanks JE. Regards, -BiP

Originally Posted by Airportwo

You and me both! after 40 years in SEA never have built up an "immunity" I have tried every lotion and potion there is, Zam-Buk can give a little relief as can anti-histamine cream.
I am not big on taking pharmaceuticals of any sort, the only thing I keep in the house is anti-histamines and I only take them when it becomes unbearable, probably 6 times a year, its the only thing I have found that works 99% of the time & gives relief!!!!!!!!!!!

The metal bench was fixed to the kitchen side of the house today. It was made and attached by the same gent who built the carport, the metal gates and trellises. In the next day or so I'll move the gas bottle outside to sit on this bench. In the future any emergency power generator I buy will sit on it as well. Phase 2 is to enclose this bench in a slightly larger lockable metal cage with sloping roof.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) it will be exactly one year since we first saw this land. About a third of the way through the build I thought about putting this video together and started taking photos from a set spot. Was lucky to find several earlier shots from similar positions. The music is Silk Road by a Japanese artist Kitaro.

Hope this works...

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Tp...a1AM5c4deIzxkM

Didn't work for me. The pics are nice however. I'll need to head for smileland my self some day to procure some proper windows for the fish crib.

Good looking build thus far.
Cheers and the best of luck.
The fishes.

Originally Posted by BoganInParasite

Tomorrow (Wednesday) it will be exactly one year since we first saw this land. About a third of the way through the build I thought about putting this video together and started taking photos from a set spot. Was lucky to find several earlier shots from similar positions. The music is Silk Road by a Japanese artist Kitaro.

Hope this works...



https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Tp...a1AM5c4deIzxkM

Enjoyed that, good idea.
This has been an interesting thread, very pleased to see you moved in so quickly.
I am sure that you will enjoy your new home.

Originally Posted by BoganInParasite

Tomorrow (Wednesday) it will be exactly one year since we first saw this land. About a third of the way through the build I thought about putting this video together and started taking photos from a set spot. Was lucky to find several earlier shots from similar positions. The music is Silk Road by a Japanese artist Kitaro.

Hope this works...

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Tp...a1AM5c4deIzxkM

it worked..

good job, there!

Did i miss the link to the new thread?

Originally Posted by senor spark

Did i miss the link to the new thread?

I don’t think he gave it, but go here :
https://teakdoor.com/farming-and-gard...ml#post3898621 (Greenscaping our Retirement Home in Nan Province)