A day in the life in the North

[Stumpy]

The world is regressing and there it is, to think otherwise is moronic

In many ways I agree SA. I guess every generation says the same as it changes so drastically over their lifetime and they long for what they remember and are comfortable with. My Pop says the same thing at 88. Occasionally I say the same, that it is all going to hell in a hand basket.

I am glad life is finite. Why people go too crazy lengths to live longer or forever is silly. I passed on my best effort with my daughters. No regrets from me. I have lived and continue to live a great life which is probably why my demeanor is always laughing and smiling. No stress, no worries, no debt and a nice place to call home and a temple near by where my wife will have me torched when the time comes and we close the book.

Beautiful morning here btw. 17c, slight morning breeze and some baseball on soon. Few calls for work and done for the day except for what I want to do. It's an open book and lots of area to go do it.

[Stumpy]

Kids are not for everybody.

And why I stated probably one of the best. Some people and children do not mix for a host of reasons. But I will agree based on what I see in the UK I can understand why they would poll that way. I mean who wants to get up and feed their children peasant beans every day ...

[misskit]

Funny how I am in the middle road of all this. I live in a house in a real Thai moo baan, surrounded by Thais. They range from uni profs to chicken heads. I bought a house to have some privacy and yard space. As I grow older, I can’t be assed with yard work as much and had turf replaced with rocks. I still care for all my orchids, though. When I get older, if I decide to stay in Thailand, it will be in a condo where I can walk instead of drive.

I’ve no children, not because I didn’t want them, but life just worked out that way. Must say, having no children has given me a charmed life filled with travel.

The majority of my friends are Thai and they aren’t uneducated people. I love them dearly and that is the major reason I am in Thailand, in the North, where people are a bit more genteel than other areas.

[Stumpy]

had turf replaced with rocks

Many go that route MK. I discussed this with my wife and said, when I croak, what will you do? she says she will hire help to keep it up. I said fair enough, I won't be here so all good. She very much enjoys all the green. We did have discussions that after her Dad passes we are open to selling up and moving to Sicily. We are going there early next year to look at some Villas. Who knows.

When I get older, if I decide to stay in Thailand, it will be in a condo where I can walk instead of drive.

Many take that approach and it works. My Dad absolutely hated scaling down, he loved the vineyards and walking them every morning but he did it for my mom who has since recently passed. Life is funny that way.

I live in a house in a real Thai moo baan, surrounded by Thais.

Me too MK. There are no westerners/foreigners anywhere nearby. Some houses are 85 year old Teak homes, many are pretty run down but the people living in them are 70+ and it works for them. I see many of them frequently in the mooban park area on the Wang river. I go down and sit with the old guys fishing sometimes and see if they catch anything. Happens from time to time but they sure are relaxed and living pretty easy. Most their children moved to BKK for work and return home on holidays and send money to help. Many of our neighbors have stalls and sell at the market so I see and know them. My wife is friends with all of them.

[misskit]

Many of our neighbors have stalls and sell at the market so I see and know them. My wife is friends with all of them.

Same here. Hard to find fault with people who are up before dawn and work well into the evening to pay for their children’s uni education.

Many very decent people around.

[Edmond]

When I get older, if I decide to stay in Thailand, it will be in a condo where I can walk instead of drive.

Interesting choice. I hope/plan to live here until I peacefully pass on in my sleep in 30-40 years time, it being single story and not having stairs would be useful as one gets old. My mother (76 and still healthy) recently moved from her 3 story house to a ground level apartment with that as a main reason. Of course a condo does have elevators, so I guess my is really nothing at all.

[misskit]

^^^ Have you seen the website where old houses are being sold on the cheap to preserve them in Italy?

[Edmond]

This thread seems to be a case of:

SA thinks living in a condo in Pattay.... Chonburi is best, because he does.
Tax thinks living in a condo in Hua Hin is best, because he does.
Stumps thinks living in house in Lampang is best, because he does.
Chitty thinks 4+4 = eating crayons, because he does.

[Stumpy]

Have you seen the website where old houses are being sold on the cheap to preserve them in Italy?

Yeah I have MK. My Uncle sent me some info and we sort of laughed but honestly I wouldn't want to live on the mainland. Not that its bad, but our family is from Sicily and if I was going to bail out of here, it would be there. Cool thing we can move and stay at families place to get situated. They live just outside Palermo. There are villas for sale along the coast. No issue buying. Be a nice place to run it out albeit I do love where I live now in Thailand and it might be hard to pack up and go. Time will tell. An upside that would sway my wife is the loads of seafood in Sicily. The trip next year after I retire will be the test of her interest. Not pushing either way. Just nice to have options.

[Stumpy]

it being single story and not having stairs would be useful as one gets old

That is good point. I always felt that as people age they stop moving, lose mobility and slowly become incapable of basic functions. IMHO staying active is key to staying agile and capable. Of course many other factors are in play. My Pops who is 88 goes up and down stairs no issues, in fact likes it. My FIL here who is 79 goes and up and down our 2 flights of stairs.

But I do understand that everyone is different and age impacts them very differently for a host of reasons. There will be no elevator here or escalator. If I can't get up the stairs...I sleep with the dogs or in the shop or the hammock at the pool bar.

[Seekingasylum]

Same here. Hard to find fault with people who are up before dawn and work well into the evening to pay for their children’s uni education.

Many very decent people around.

And from my personal observations and from friends, it seems many obtain useless diplomas from largely tenth rate colleges after which they return to their moo baans and loll about in feckless indolence expecting their parents to house and feed them until some whim might take them into the embrace of temporary employment.

[cyrille]

Oh, your take is not so positive.

Who'd have guessed.

[Stumpy]

Had a good rain blow through here last night. Place is soggy.



Quick walk out to the back forty so the dogs can run the wall line and check for cats.

\

Maggie immediately goes and gets the ball we play fetch with.



Breakfast of champions to start the day. .

[Stumpy]

Beauty sunset tonight. Wife and I were relaxing by the pool as we ate some dinner.



An eassssssy Thursday night. Wife's friend dropped by after dinner and they are chatting, while I enjoy an ice cold beer.

[Stumpy]

Well Last 2 weeks have been busy as hell. Work for work. Company has new automobile lighting products kicking off, Trip to BKK for a pick up of a few things then last week or so of flooding in the local area.





Main BKK drive was to pick up the ATV I ordered. Tight fit into the back of the ol Hilux but no problemo



Stayed at the Oriental Gardens on Wireless road. This place is such a clean quiet place



No trip to BKK goes without a stop at the butcher shop. Bought a slab of porterhouse steaks. They cut and vacuum sealed them and ended up with 12, with the last end cut being only a NY cut.



Wife and Enjoyed a later evening cocktail getting ready for the trek home

After settling back in at home a few days later the rain started. And did it rain. I was considering buying a small boat. But..I can't say the timing was perfect, but it did work out as no better way to break in the ATV then to go sink it in water.



Started along a side road on the Wang river. Some small houses and animal covers underwater



Wang full flooded and over the banks near our place.



That is a full length small scooter/walk bridge that was heading down towards the Ping river.



I road along the river side with the water coming up and over the wheels on the ATV. I have some vids with the Go Pro

After 5 long days of rain sun was out. Uncle asked us to come get more plants.





Sure has some beauties. He pretty much comes every morning and has breakfast with my FIL.



I set up a smaller one on a cement pipe stand I made in the pool bar area.


I hear more rain is coming......Time to gas up the ATV...

[malmomike77]

^ saw the rains and the wang had burst its banks - glad all is well.

Those plants are great, i wouldn't leave that fern on the concrete, it'll burn

[Stumpy]

^ saw the rains and the wang had burst its banks - glad all is well.

Those plants are great, i wouldn't leave that fern on the concrete, it'll burn

Yeah it was pretty wild up this way. Wang was rising about a meter an hour for awhile. We had one night that it pissed down almost 12 hours. My weather station rain meter showed 21.2cm. I wasn't worried much in our area as it heads south but I knew it was going to be some water from Lamphun and CM. I went up mountains on the ATV and all the tributaries were over the edge flooding rice fields. Our friends in Thoen left and stayed with us a few nights as the area was flooded.

As for the plant, I just washed it and moved to the shade. They only like diffused or morning sun.

[misskit]

That bird’s nest fern is HUGE! What a beautiful thing.

[Stumpy]

Caught this interesting pic the other night as the sunset.



Shall we say the calm before the storm?

[cyrille]

Shall we say 'a spare foot of in-seam'.

[Stumpy]

Shall we say 'a spare foot of in-seam'.

Good one Cyrille. However with Levi's 501's they always tend to bunch up when sitting. however if you are British and wear peg leg skinny jeans.....well really....you shouldn't. Its dated like Mohawks and ear rings.

[Stumpy]

Well let's start the morning off with rain. Unheard of in these parts. Cool 25C and 100% humidity.

[misskit]

The rain has just reached my place. It is pouring down. A good day to stay indoors.

[Stumpy]

Yeah. It is clearly socked in here. It's dark grey skies and pouring and has been for last 4 hours. Glad I mowed the lawns yesterday. Now it's relax and enjoy the weather.

[aging one]

Blue skies, cool breeze today for the first time in a few days here in BKK. Nice to dry out for a day. We shall see how long it lasts.