In the Pink

[atlas2 4,329]

Only read this if you're already thoroughly bored .......and then only as an exercise to see if it's possible for your hitherto boredom limits to be breached.

 

.......Or if your telly's playing-up and gone pink too.

 

 

There was no lead-up to this..........Watching the news Thurs morning and the screen of my TV dimmed and pinked.

 

First thoughts: 'Just this channel'? .........Nope it was the lot.....

 

Second thoughts: Google the problem........Found quite a lot of info and quick tips. Tried them all, didn't solve the matter.

 

Third thoughts: Thank God it happened before the World Cup has started.

 

Phoned local repairs.......Numchai would come out in a couple of days. TG will only service TG TVs..... mine's a Samsung.

 

Investigated the 'pink peril' more deeply and though it looked like there could be possible straightforward solutions......General consensus was the TV is on the way out anyway.....I positively can't risk a 'pink-out' during an England Work Cup Game, especially with my son over......So time to update my viewing experience

 

I have a fantastic Android box that works well with ordinary TVs and my concern was that the complete dominance of SMART TVs in the over 49' size might cause conflict as to who was the smartest? (obviously not me)....and cause technical problems and glitches I could do without .....Further research said this would not be the case ...So I'd determined to go 'get SMART'

 

Budgeted about 40,000.......and set out to buy new.

 

Tesco and Big C had good options for about 22,000.....They've come down in price it seems. Numchai was next. Found what I wanted......20,499 but, 'if you'buy it today 19,000' ........Lovely jubbly cheap as chips.

 

They'd deliver that Thurs afternoon too. Thailand's great for that.

 

On time.......Two Numchia lads and the TV arrive.........Congrats to them...I'd drawn a hopeless 'treasure map' in the shop to guide them to my condo.....(or prison cell-block according to Squire Jacko')

 

...Old one off the wall and packed away.....However, for want of 4 screws slightly longer than the ones taken out of my pinko Samsung the new TV can't today be fixed to the existing wall brackets.

 

I didn't fancy leaving these lads alone while I shot off....and got some .They wouldn't go......But assured me tomorrow about 4 all would be well.

 

Setting up the TV went smoothly......works much better off my internet than the old one. Beautifully clear...impressed. One of the lads grabbed my guitar and so the set-up..... was set to music. He asked me to play but I used the old frozen shoulder excuse.

 

Now here's the rub....

 

Friday I called......didn't want to stay in all day so asked for the time they'd be round.

 

Nothing booked, no-one knew anything about it........could have been in waiting all day. They kindly offered a technician for Sat' with an 800 bt call-out......I said, 'just 5 mins and 4 screws......I'd do it myself but I've got a frozen shoulder!

 

I'm not paying 800 baht so I trot back to Numchai.....get the screws myself.......Setting up I discover I need rubber feet....get those locally.......And with a lifting hand from some other cell-block inmates......My lovely SMART tv is a-fixed.

 

Have to juggle between 3 'controls and a wi-fi mouse for my android.......But it is bloody SMART....All my free, old analogue stations that come through the prison satellite are now duplicated into crystal clear digital.

 

Lot's to learn still ........but I'd recommend a SMART upgrade.

 

Got to go now......"1's throwing a party"

Edited June 2, 2018 by atlas2

[jacko 8,822]

I am sure the GMAWLTF will love the new TV!

 

Personally going through some hell at the moment as my truck would not start this morning. Was due to go on a beer run and take the cat to the vet! A Ford tech arrived at the house and couldn't do anything, now arranging to get it towed to Laem Chabang. This is arranged by calling Ford in Bangkok, who will probably book a tow truck I have seen near the house to come get me, I will have to pay 2100 baht before the truck is even sorted, and I bet the guy would have towed it the 12km for 500 baht had I gone directly to him. This has been a hellish month for expenses, one being getting the damned ttruck serviced in the first place, and this is the second issue since! Next week I have dentists, trip to immigration, renew driving licences and was to spend Friday night in town for the Firework Festival and Big Ass or whatever concert!

 

Have I enough beer and will my cat die?

Should I have spent that cool million on the new truck I was viewing while waiting for mine to be screwed up?

Edited June 2, 2018 by jacko

[atlas2 4,329]

Actually Squire......you've had a rough run lately what with the Shitx shitx lightening.......But you've managed to keep your pecker up.

 

My Yaris is 11 years old........I've serviced it at least 4 times a year, but I think Toyota just follow a pattern and somethings may be being ignored. I've decided to keep it for another 5.......So next service will be at that yellow Quick- fit place near Big C. I'll give them a long list. I expect expense.

 

You'll be delighted to know that my romantic entanglement get's ever more expensive. Tomorrows outing will cost me 12,000 +....Yikes I can buy another telly for that!!!!

 

I'll give a full report.....

[jacko 8,822]

Actually Squire......you've had a rough run lately what with the Shitx shitx lightening.......But you've managed to keep your pecker up.

 

My Yaris is 11 years old........I've serviced it at least 4 times a year, but I think Toyota just follow a pattern and somethings may be being ignored. I've decided to keep it for another 5.......So next service will be at that yellow Quick- fit place near Big C. I'll give them a long list. I expect expense.

 

You'll be delighted to know that my romantic entanglement get's ever more expensive. Tomorrows outing will cost me 12,000 +....Yikes I can buy another telly for that!!!!

 

I'll give a full report.....

Yes, the 2 lightening hits were aggravating, and the dentist issue has been expensive too, with a couple of failed but expensive routines and painful nights of little sleep. The latest, a root canal, is 15,000 baht then a crown on top a further 8-10,000 baht.

Have a good outing.. sounds classy!

Edited June 2, 2018 by jacko

[yorta2 694]

So fucking sad! Sorry for the non-pity, but that is life. Atlas, you did say, "Only read this if you're already thoroughly bored", and I respect that, but it did start a rash off everybody's else's problems. The only reason for my post is that I have problems too, but I sort them myself, hopeefully.... However, I do acknowledge your problems as being those (usually) related to those we have to face in Thailand. And I do acknowledge that (probably) the other reported problems are just related to what we face in Thailand, I guess my rant is invalid. Bugger! Mai Pen Rai.

[jacko 8,822]

We have to keep up that image of whinging POMS.

Truck at the garage, at home with a cold beer now.

[atlas2 4,329]

So fucking sad! Sorry for the non-pity, but that is life. Atlas, you did say, "Only read this if you're already thoroughly bored", and I respect that, but it did start a rash off everybody's else's problems. The only reason for my post is that I have problems too, but I sort them myself, hopeefully.... However, I do acknowledge your problems as being those (usually) related to those we have to face in Thailand. And I do acknowledge that (probably) the other reported problems are just related to what we face in Thailand, I guess my rant is invalid. Bugger! Mai Pen Rai.

 

 

We have to keep up that image of whinging POMS.

Truck at the garage, at home with a cold beer now.

 

 

 

Yes....... we'd never ever dream of talking about any real problems.

[Butch 3,456]

busted TV, was that the X/Y Sustain bored? (pardon the pun - yes there is such a thing as an X/Y Sus board as well)...

 

Smart TV's are bloody wonderful, mine came with Netflix, youtube and all the other gubbins built in, plus it's 4kHD which means I can watch some really high quality Xhamster stuff. All I need now is smellyvision....well actually given what I've been watching recently, probably best not to....

 

glad it got sotrted Atlas. 12 grand for a date is a wee bit on the steep side though, looking forward to that report!.

[atlas2 4,329]

 

glad it got sotrted Atlas. 12 grand for a date is a wee bit on the steep side though, looking forward to that report!.

 

 

There were 3 for brunch........So that inflated things by a third.....And has perhaps been misleading.

 

Mantra's Sunday brunch is highly rated..........It deserves to be.

 

I'd booked during the week and asked for a romantic table.....They'd listened ...The soft seated semi-circular sofa was...... easier on the eye than it is to say.

 

After ordering a wonderful Aussie cabernet for me, and something white and sparkling for my lady guests it was a case of where do we start? Going by the spoons and things laid out in front of me and having seen Downton Abbey I guessed the salad bar......I chose 'Greek' with feta and loaded the plate with lots of the smoked salmon.....grilled red and green bell-peppers and whole wheat bread.

 

Next stop Crustaceans and molluscs.......Dripping with them.... I'm not sure of the collective noun for crabs but there must have been a whole dose of them...All fresh and dressed to be got at. On my best behaviour I resisted childishly playing with the claws

 

Then things started arriving ......one the girls was an old 'brunch-hand' and she'd ordered up dim sum. And also Thai tasters. I can only recall the duck

 

I eschewed what I'd mainly come for...ie the roasts....even though they looked wonderful, because I'd spotted lean lamb chops cooked in a tandoor oven, served with a mint raita.......My tongue was instantly pierced by a thousand cupidic arrows of zest and zing......I went back for another...and another. Then the actual chicken tikka looked enticing so that was to be cooked and brought over.

 

No room for the cheese.......strolled into the dessert room. The chocolate fountain grabbed my attention. Dipping strawberries and other fruits into molten chocolate seemed a happy compromise for the diet I'm on

 

Meanwhile, throughout the wine had kept coming....I'd knocked back a bottle......My guests had made a decent stab at emptying Mantras' wine cellar too. Pissed as farts and 'appy as Larry.......Four hours had passed by. Time to get a taxi.

 

It worked out under the 4000 per-person I'd estimated.....

 

I think the breakdown is bt 2000 for brunch and another bt 1600 for the unlimited wine upgrade....So say bt7200 for two people. Worth it' dochapoc' or 'especially' as this month they are giving a free night in the Amari for every bt 5000 spent......So I got 2 nights at the Amari.

 

My one regret is ........

 

I think I under-tipped. The service had been great. But being a tight-arse is ingrained.....I console myself by feeling guilty about it.

Edited June 4, 2018 by atlas2

[jacko 8,822]

A good dump sometime today and it will all be a wallet draining memory.

 

It actually sounds very good, did you wear your best socks and sandals?