Well, after a long delay partly because of Covid and then me prevaricating, the missus and I are about to start building. Or perhaps I should say, we are about to start starting while we wait for the designated lucky day. According to the local abbot, there was only one good day left this month and 3 next month...including the 13th , Christmas Day and the 27th (just before everybody stops work for New Year). The cynical might think these are the only days left that the monks are not already booked for weddings or house blessings. So the provisional lucky day is Jan 11th


A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-screenshot-overview-jpg


A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-screenshot-2023-11-16-193026-png

After eliminating a couple of potential builders for various reasons it came down to a choice of 2 more, finally settling on Khun A/Ae/Eh or however you would transliterate เอ๋ ? He is a full time builder, not a farmer doubling up for some off season work, and the demo houses we looked at were ok, no complaints from the owners.
We had some Sketchup drawings that were going to be turned into proper plans by a guy at the local Or Bor Tor but while we were dillydallying he moved on to greener pastures so we had to pay a proper architect to draw up plans, which is where the first minor hiccup has happened. Despite giving him lots of Sketchup drawings and screenshots of how we visualised things he did his own version. Nothing too major that requires structural revisions, just stuff like putting a window where the wall mounted TV is planned, not leaving space for the washing machine in the clearly designated laundry/outside toilet, and no windows in the workshop cum shed cum storeroom. We have a meeting planned with Khun A/Ae/Eh in a couple of days to sort these out.
My Sketchup drawing:

A "not so Grand Design" in Ubon Ratchathani-screenshot-2023-11-16-193212-png


Approx 230sq.m. of internal space including 2 bedrooms, Buddha space for the wife's mumbo-jumbo, decent sized kitchen and living areas. Lots of covered outside relaxing space as well, something I considered essential. Also the workshop/store/escape from the wife space and space for a small home gym and all her hulahoops !