yosib157

Trying not to be cynical, but 'my' adopted family and all other locals I know have only a little or no knowledge of world events nor any geographical perspectives. Most are not even aware of what's happening in the next village. I don't have a 6 month reserve but same as Hummin wrote, we can cut many corners if necessary and almost live off the land.

Thanks for that. 4 Dutchmen eh? That's really a rare site. At out previous home for 18 years I had a few Dutch friends. My best mate returned to the Netherlands the same week we moved here. At Satmat is around 25 km from us so a little far to make arrangements.

Thanks for your reply Andy. At the moment we have a lot of garden work in progress which we need to finish before taking a weeks driving holiday starting on Sunday. I will send you a personal email on our return and maybe meet up.

Thanks Aha, that's the best info I've received so far. As I remember, the guy I met briefly also mentioned they sometimes meet up for coffee so things are now clicking into place. Until a few weeks ago, I used to meet up with another Aussie guy for coffee a few km back along the road to Roi Et but he has moved away. Plus 2 other Brits but they are only around every few months as they are both still working. There are no others until nearer PP. Ban Kham Hai also rings a bell and the guy I met maybe lives there. I'll probably call in at the Amazon place next Friday. We actually live 12 km the opposite direction from PP but only 15 minutes now the roads have been improved -- slightly. Thanks for the invite to Roi Et. We'll be there in 2 weeks, but as soon as I get my Visa extension business completed, we'll be off on a 4 day break towards Loei Province.

Thanks for your reply BARNET. I was asked by another guy to add the Province --- so I did. I know all those bars in Roi Et but unfortunately they are about 55km from my village and I'm not looking for an all night session as they finished years ago. My alcohol intake is somewhat restricted by a variety of medical issues and the place I'm talking about is only 15 minutes from me. I know the Riverside and I heard they have quite a following by many Nationalities. I was looking for an hour or so once a month locally chatting in English. After 23 years living in Isaan I have enough Thai language to get by, but any conversation with Thai village folk is rather limited and not the same as having a crack with other foreigners about world issues etc. Contrary to others thinking I need empathy or sympathy, we have a beautiful new house with plenty of space inside and out to sit with a can of beer watching the sunset which I can continue to do alone or occasionally with others.

Its difficult for me to reply to your comments without getting personal. However, it's not the fact that the guy was Australian but more that he spoke English. My 10 minutes chat with him was the only English conversation I'd had since our New Year's party which was coincidentally with another Aussie. I am the only foreigner for miles and just to sit down with others for an hour or so would be a real treat even without alcohol. Incidentally, I've met and chatted with more Aussies in my 3 years in this area than any other nationality and they've all been fine. Unfortunately, the two guys I got to know best are no longer around. In my 24 years living here I've never met 2 foreigners who live the same so my motto is best to live and let live.

Thanks for your input although I can't find another. The Phanom Phrai I mean is in Roi Et Province maybe 12 km from Yasothon. I doubt that this added information will produce any results as 55 members read my original posting within the first few hours then it sort of fizzled out. That said, I was pleased yesterday when someone added a 'thumbs up'

Yesterday I met an Aussie guy in Phanom Phrai who told me that a few expats meet up for a beer on Friday evenings ''near the river". Just follow your nose for about 3 km and it's there maybe near a market -- he said? Anyhoo, me and the wife drove down there and couldn't find anywhere so if any member can give me directions I'd like to take a run down there on Friday just for a chat. Thanks

per cent --- my per cent symbol didn't work on my laptop so I improvised

Belts changed by my man at COCKPIT some time ago and yes, when we were all younger, a lot of us would do our own basic maintenance. Unfortunately old age and bad knees prevent me from doing a lot of even mundane tasks and I need to depend on others. I don't know what type of fan it is but others have played around down there when it blew its radiator and a n other messed up with the a/c. Which reminds me, even the National Chain of 'specialists' Denso in Yasothon shared the old Isuzu engine myth. I always believed cold engines consumed more fuel but hey ho, we are off to Roi Et in a few weeks so may ask up there. Thanks for your inputs

Phanom Phrai -- Roi Et Province

Not been to an Isuzu dealer for around 14 years since the warranty expired because of their poor service and mis diagnostic on two occasions. For years I had a regular COCKPIT mechanic who took care of the car for years and checked everything at service time. Unfortunately he left then we also moved areas. The last 2 services, suspension refurb, split pipe and all maintenance have been done by a local garage and I think their work is better than the Thailand average. The engine has been running cold for around 3 months and i have asked that particular garage plus 2 others in my area who said the same. Apart from the odd time, I have been the only driver of the car throughout it's long life and it serves us well. Other than this irritating fault, the car runs great.

I have sent you you a personal email

I have taken my 130,000km 3.0 litre Isuzu to 3 local mechanics to ask why the old bus is running cold (according to the dashboard gauge). They all said that this model always runs cold as it gets older an explanation which totally baffles me. It probably reaches 35 - 40 0/0 but never higher. Otherwise the old bus runs exceptionally well as I've always had it serviced and sorted every year since new. Has anyone else been given this strange explanation or knows if it's a thermostat or other problem. Thanks in advance

I've passed a car parts breakers in Roi Et dozens of times over the years but now when I need a few bits, I can't find it. We'll be passing through Roi Et next at the end of this week so can anybody please give me a Google maps location of such a place anywhere in that area.

I didnt ask for my posting because of your question, but because the moderators removed an inflammatory one from 'Scott' Incidentally, I did use the DTAC 004 prefix but still needed the 001 before that. It's repetition but I have used all the systems suggested but, for a variety of reasons, these days I don't have or don't use them all --- only LINE and emails and sometimes with one person, a little on Facebook. Thanks all the same.

Thanks for even more comments, but, as I am satisfied with how I finally completed my business, could the moderators please close this topic. It also appears that inevitably someone has taken time to write inflammatory comments --- so I'm done.

Thanks for that-- and I did. 3thb/min for landline is far cheaper than the link I used. Wish I had known that before buying 600 baht of DTAC cards. Either way, in the unlikely event that I should ever need to call the UK again, I will certainly keep your link and use mytello.

Thanks for all the responses. I last called the UK maybe 10 years ago using SKYPE and have only used LINE for everything for the past 4. Since then I have had no need to call the UK, but this time it was essential that I contacted two specific Government Offices who only use land lines for communication and refused to take the required information using emails. Maybe different for other Government departments. I cannot remember how long it is since I bought a phone card and didn't even know how to load it. However, I eventually connected using the prefix 001 before 44. Apparently this is necessary when calling from a mobile to a UK landline, but it was extremely expensive. This method may be not be the best, but it worked for me and my issues have now been resolved. Hopefully others in my situation may benefit from this information in the future.

Yes I have Skype, LINE, Facebook and 3 emails but the Government offices I need to call do not use any other contacts but by phone. I can't really share more than that on an open forum. But thanks for the suggestion anyway.

I was using the same mobile and number I used last week

Did anyone else have problems calling the UK yesterday (Tuesday)? I tried for an hour to call 4 different official numbers in the UK and everytime I only got "no such number'' or number unavailable. These were all numbers I had called before so I dunno what was happening.

Being retired from UK Government Service, I used to sign for fellow Brits and none was ever declined. However, a month ago when mine arrived at our new address, I noticed some significant changes from previous forms and having only lived in this isolated area for 18 months, I didn't know who ask. So off to my ttb bank where they instantly refused point blank even though I've had the account for 20 years. Right out of the blue, my missus suggested driving 65km to Roi Et Immigration where they willingly obliged, naturally, for a small donation. The Officer concerned was a Lieutenant Colonel no less so it should be OK. I have information they are tightening up on these forms so signing your own may cause future problems. 18 months ago a 74 year old friend of mine received his first as he had never told them he was here. Wrong advice from the wrong person who said they would never find out -- until they stopped his pension. The guy is now back in Blighty living in a Salvation Army Hostel or similar trying to pay back 7 years of over payments.

Does anyone know of a local gate/fence maker from Yasothon to Phanom Phrai. Wood and metal combination would be my first choice but not essential. I've tried browsing the web but no luck so far. Any information or recommendations would be appreciated.

Pre-Covid we visited the huge New Years Market, fair, carnival behind Roi Et General Hospital. Can any locals tell me if it will be re-opened this year as we'll be in the vicinity and would like enjoy it again.