Xmas in the rice paddies

[Peter Hendricks]

Dear friends,

Our move initially didn't go well: despite lots of help from our
friends we ran out of time packing up and had to leave everything
unfinished. Su went to stay with her family and I went to Germany, as
planned. While there I did the usual, spending quality time with my
mum, visiting friends and family. Mum had a surprise for me: she had
bumped into Stephan, who I had sat next to in my first two years of
high school. We had had no contact for about 47 years, but he
remembered so much that I had long forgotten. He spontaneously lent me
one of his bikes, something not many people would do even for people
they know well. This means I was mobile and able to have some fun in
the glorious summer we were having. Thank you, Stephan!

The month flew past, of course, and I had to return all the way to NZ
for a week to finish packing. I needed all of every day I was there,
even with help. Then one more plane ride and Su and I were reunited.

Our original plan was to hire a cabin, so we could live on our land
while building our dream mud house. Su was adamant that you cannot
leave the container, or indeed a building site unguarded or everything
will get stolen. We would then build a cottage, return the cabin, then
build the house.

Then I got to see how NOT to build a house, just down the road. Brand
new, the floor tiles were unevenly spaced with bits of grouting
missing here and there. The metal roof frame had been tack welded with
only 2 tacks per joint and in many cases even they were not adhering
to one side. I said to Su that the roofing iron was actually holding
up parts of the frame and in the first decent storm the roof will take
off with those attached. Su then met a young builder living close by
who showed us a house he had just built. I was impressed. There was
nothing I could fault. So we changed the plan and hired him to build
the cottage for us.

I had never given any thought to placing the container, except which
way it should face. I was just going to set it onto some concrete
blocks, but Ling, the builder pointed out that the earth that had been
dumped there had not settled, so it would sink in. So he built some
proper foundations and proceeded to weld it down. There was something
else I had not considered in all of this: because there now was no
cabin, we now had to camp there until the cottage was built! Su
insisted somebody had to be there in the dark to guard it. So a wooden
platform was acquired, some shade cloth, tarpaulins and mosquito
netting set up and we camped there.

But there was more: no power, water, toilet and the worst: no
Internet! Nothing to sit on, either. I can't sit cross-legged. 12
hours of this every night, we would actually have to talk to each
other for 4 hours every night! I revolted: I did not come to Thailand
to live in the stone age. But then her younger sister volunteered and
for the last few weeks the two have camped out there, while I stay at
the family home. Otherwise, you would not be reading this now!

In a further plan change, we are having a toilet and shower built, as
well as a car port. Once that is up we can set up a temporary home in
there with a few modern conveniences, like a real bed, fridge, etc. As
I write this it should be finished in a week or two. Power and water
are already connected and I was impressed how quickly that happened.

Here are some pictures with comments for you:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qfjHDKgvYrVqpiRh7
To see the comments you need to click on the first picture and then
page through them one by one.

Unfortunately, Su's health has taken a bit of a beating. To continue
the treatment from NZ she went to see a dermatologist, but he refused
to prescribe the medication, "because it attacks the liver". We knew
that. That's why it needs to be monitored, we were told. What he gave
her instead doesn't work. When she went back he told her to be
patient. Wait for what? Until she looks like a reptile and he whole
body itches?

A similar thing then happened to me, but in a strange twist the doc
gave us the name of a pharmacy, where I obtained my meds without a
prescription! My confidence in the Thai medical profession is shaken.

Meanwhile, I got two Thai driving licences, for bike and car. The
process was quite, how shall I put it? Interesting, surreal... First,
I need an official residence. To get that, the "house master" has to
go to the administration office, accompanied by the village head man
(it's never a woman....) and a government officer. Problem: the family
say the head man is corrupt and they refuse to speak with him. We went
to an immigration office and they were happy to issue a certificate of
residence, without any proof or requirements whatsoever - but they
charged a whole lot of money for that without a receipt. With that we
went to the appropriate office. My eye sight was tested, which I
almost failed, due to lack of 3D vision. They then showed a DVD
explaining all the road rules. Because we arrived late there was no
time to show the English version. Solution: I did not need to pass the
theory exam! So I now have two shiny new licences. The only sad thing
is: they got the address wrong. Oh well, they need to be renewed in a
year anyway. By then we will have our own address. We can have one, as
soon as we have a toilet, inspected by an official from the local
clinic, and a roof. It's in a different hamlet, so a different head
man.

That's all for now from the rice paddies. We wish you a merry Xmas and
happy new year.

Kind regards,
Peter & Su.