Quote Originally Posted by piwanoi View Post
Quote Originally Posted by jamescollister View Post
Sold our last rubber for the season, been my worst year all round. Crap price, too much rain, not enough workers to make sheet. Have threatened to kill the FIL, lying cheating thief that he has turned into, almost ended in divorce over him, wife sided with the family. Someone took a shot at me, not sure if in law related or one of the rubber thieves, I got banged up a few years ago. Went after the guy with a big bush knife, but can't run worth shit through the bush in sandals, so only saw his back.
Bank balance is looking poor and no income for 6 weeks or so.

Bright side, drank a lot of beer, another year in which I haven't done a days paid work, kids a happy and healthy, trees look like a very short dormant period, leaves all back. Freezers full of farang food, car payments are 2 months in advance and we just had a great night in Khong Chiam for valentines day.
FIL screwed up badly and ripped the wife [me] off for a load of money trying to bribe his way out of jail time. He's one of these life time elected government guys, thinks he untouchable out here in the jungle. Didn't take into account that they sent a bunch of forestry soldiers from Korat to crack own on illegal logging, they didn't care who he thinks he is. Wife now realizes he's not about doing the right thing, but only about him.

New year Song Kran, changes afoot, we are headed to the bank next week about a loan, building a new house at the factory, away from the family and maybe a small resort restaurant there as well. Hopefully FIL gets time, which will give me a big smile, rubber prices will improve and I will get more workers as they have cracked down on the illegal logging.

If it was all easy it wouldn't be fun.
A fascinating story Jim and no doubt 100% factual ,of course you must know along with other rubber farmers on this thread that I am very much on your side , however when some one try,s to bump you off and there is no light at the end of the tunnel, and now you are seeking a loan to try and carry on ,have you never ever asked yourself is all this really worth it?, as you say you live in the "jungle" and of course its your life and you live it how you please ,personally I would just sell up, get a nice little rented house in "civilization" with all mod cons nearby ,and spend the rest of my life stress free cos who knows the guy who tried to bump you off must have had a good reason and who is to say he won't try again?
Selling up would be an option and would have cut and run years ago when offered a big payment for the factory. More than enough to see my life out, but I have 2 young kids, it's more about their future now. Like nothing better than to sit by a beach drinking beer, but when I kicked the bucket, there won't be much left for them. This way we have a good income and a long term investment, as Mike said, richest I have ever been on paper.
As to the guy taking a pot shot, shit happens, had a lot worse as a cop and then a screw.

Went loan shopping today, what a nightmare, strangest rules ever, or Det Udom has the dumbest bankers.
SCB, have a 1-1 mil car loan with them, only 300,000 odd left to pay, no chance for a 1 mil Baht mortgage, but will lend 1-5 mil if we want to buy another car.
K bank can't give a mortgage to build on that land, charnotes only 5 years old, needs to be at least 10 years old.
Bangkok bank, charnots OK, but it's too much land, needs to be under 4 rai.
Round we went, no house mortgage, no problem if we want to buy an all ready standing or new house project, but not on our land.
Now here's what got me stumped, all we happy to loan more than I wanted as a business loan on the factory/company which is on the same land.

Next to the land office to try and figure out what's up with the charnote. Seems no name changes allowed for 10 years on new charnotes, say does that mean we can't sell it until the 10 years is up. No you can sell any time, you fill this form in, bring it in we register the sale and when the 10 years are up we change the name and the taxes are paid. Strange to me, any way sorted out a deal, BKK bank, only bank in Det that has a guy that can authorize loans off his own bat. House become admin area, small resort worker housing if we so for that, etc.

Andrew, neglected trees will be poor latex producers and you may have a problem getting tappers, I can't get them.
Be careful about the land tile, out our way much of the land is crown land and the sale can't be registered. Jim