midlifecrisis

Certainly some improvement. The rainy season is almost over, is it not? A blessing in a way that it isn't business as usual in Pattaya...less water usage.

That's great! Most companies bailed. I worked for HP for a time. They grandfathered in many of us but new employees were excluded. All of us were offered the ability to be in the 401K plan. HP had a company contribution for those in the 401K plan. Plus they had a discounted employee stock purchase plan. I forget the percentages for both. Company matches for most companies were based on company profitability. Ebb and flow. The other thing about company pension plans was you needed to be vested. With layoffs you could lose out on a percentage of retirement. This applies in the government employee sector but there are fewer layoffs generally. My son wanted to move out of California but postponed that until he was 100% vested (ten years) in the state's pension plan that was applicable to his union. He worked in a county hospital. Now he works in private hospital and has a 401K. A very complicated subject

The village blacksmith hired an enthusiastic new apprentice willing to work long, hard hours. He instructed the boy, “When I take the shoe out of the fire, I’ll lay it on the anvil. When I nod my head, you hit it with the hammer.” The apprentice did exactly as he was told, and now he’s the new village blacksmith.

I hate it when grandma goes out.

They have had a number of "bailouts" from on high. Is there any hope of another?

If they have a company pension plan they are behind the times. I can't speak for Europe and Asia but US companies saw the writing on the wall decades ago. They understood they couldn't earn enough to pay the liability.

The 10th grade teacher asks Jessica: 'What part of the human body increases to 10 times it's normal size when excited?' Jessica responds: 'That's disgusting! I don't have to answer that question!' So the teacher asks little Johnny, who responds: 'That's easy...the pupil of the eye.' 'That's correct, Johnny. Very good!' And turning to Jessica, she says: 'I've three things to say to you, young lady... first, you didn't do your homework; second, you have a dirty mind; and third, you're in for a big disappointment!'

How old is the child? I assume there will be furniture on the balcony. The biggest danger is a child pushing furniture over to the railing/wall and then climbing up to look over the railing. In that case, the gaps in your metal railings are not the only problem. The larger a child gets, the less of a problem the gaps become and the more of a problem climbing becomes. As to the gaps. Something cut to size (for the sake of example plywood but something nicer or at least painted and decorated). Now drill a through hole through the facade piece and the vertical poles of the metal work matching positions (measure twice/cut and drill once). Bolt the facade to the metal. A nice look would be plexiglass that maintains the visual/light through. You need to be a little bit more careful drilling hard plastic over wood but it isn't bad. Always keep in mind your furniture is not innocuous.

I have tried a few non alcoholic beers and none of them taste good. To me it's like decaf...why bother?

I had no idea it was so pervasive.

That's wrong.

At a municipal course, paid for by taxpayers, I could understand it but not at private courses.

That's interesting!

What's better than roses on your piano? Tulips on your organ.

In the PI the lady I was with got annoyed at such a scheme once and stepped in to negotiate. It worked.