jacko

Firstly the area I am in is not so bad... it would be different in many areas of the darkside, and in town. The house is alarmed. I have had all my house doors and windows replaced with UVPC double glazed units, and I am told the local thieves don't really know how to get around them. (The standard brown extruded or pressed aluminium frames are not very secure, particularly the sliding windows and doors). I do have some bars, on the maid's quarters (read my wifeys den and where I keep stuff!) it is also where I haven't replaced the windows, but a screwdriver would get them off as happened to a neighbour who was daft enough to go out without setting his alarm. It is also in full view of the house opposite. Many homes are accessed through the roof, just pushing tiles back, but mine has sprayed insulation foam there to stop that.. Touch wood!

When I first moved in I did a lot myself, spent a week getting sunburned and dizzy painting my wrought iron front fencing and used to do my own gardening. The novelty soon wears off... every job is a struggle in the heat... and waving bugs off is tiring.. (We get these tiny fruit flies this time of year you don't see in town... they love ears and nostrils!). These days I am getting lazy and the place could do with sprucing up. So now I pay more, and believe me it adds up each month.... and I have some big jobs well overdue but dread taking on, even if not doing them myself. Having local workmen inside your home is sometimes infuriating, they are often lazy and disrespectful of your home or time.... sometimes they bring kids and I am nervous of them drowning in my pool! Funnily enough I like doing a bit of plumbing now and again... sticking together that blue plastic pipe is easy. I will still take on the odd repair or upgrade job, the easy ones. But painting the walls.... no thanks.

A spot of rain yesterday and some expected for the next couple of days. But to be honest a welcome break from the heat, which has been oppressive. I felt like I was riding through a sauna on the bike yesterday which was the result of a shower hitting the hot tarmac and zapping up the humidity. I am meeting someone at a beer bar later and hope they can be persuaded into a cooled GGB. Extended Forecast.

Thanks guys for reminding me. I used to regularly get emails linking me to samples of his work, some of which were mind-blowing. I missed above posts likely because pic intensive threads are a problem on my internet, bloody position jumps all over the place as they load up.

I just saw footprints... I think my security light came on and they buggered off.

Wasn't there a guy who used to do these amazing drawings in chalk on pavements and the like? Only to become smudged and washed away by the rains.

The quite funny........ Envy

The one above is a 4 door the other a 2 door too. (Although your annual sticker is more expensive on a 4 door). I actually have one of these.

For me it was more the side effects, Viagra gave me more of a headache and flushed feeling than kamagra gels.

I am guessing this one runs.

Demolition Man

White Men Can't Jump

Natural Born Killers

I know 5 who haven't! But you are right, I do know a few houses that have been broken into. I have had people over my wall............

Didn't you spot me at the back? I have always been a bit of a wallflower cactus.

The Jackal

Yes, my early trips into China were amusing. Once ordering orange juice at breakfast I received something else....on saying something and trying to get it replace I was met with 'It doesn't matter' our translator told me. But subsequent trips I did with China Airlines AMS-BKK in their very reasonably priced Biz Class, the service was very good...they were cute too!

Peter O'Toole

Charlie Cox (24hr)

I can't remember seeing these types.....doesn't mean they aren't though. Sprinklers are normally triggered on an individual basis, the heat breaks a liquid filled glass bulb and a valve can then open releasing the water. What you see on films, where all the sprinklers come on at once, isn't reality, unless it is a deluge system which would be triggered by a detector. These glass bulbs are pretty robust and an accidental discharge is more likely by someone chasing a gecko around with a brush. Most buildings have smoke detectors, or heat detectors wired back to a central alarm panel with audio alert and a few other actions. (Release fire doors, move elevators to ground etc). I would be more worried about maintenance of a sprinkler system and the pipework supplying it. Many condos have loads of tourists in them......... younger people are likely to be noisier.

I am not sure I am up to repelling down a 200 ft building but needs must. It is a little like when I was offered a bullet proof jacket on a work assignment once..... it didn't make me feel safer, it made me feel I needed to be some place else.

Charlotte Rampling

There probably isn't enough space in most modern built condos to coil up 150 ft of rope! Let us face facts, if you want to live 'in town', there aren't many houses to be had, beyond what is known as a town house. For something bigger you are going to be nearer Jomtiem or Naklua. A well managed building which has policed regulations would be imperative. (No pets, no construction outside specific hours, no kids playing football in the corridors, no parties, no balcony gas bottles, etc etc) I also think you need to be a person who gets out a lot and the condo is just a place to rest your head.