Dealing with Thai time

Editor;

This isn’t meant as a complaint. I don’t expect anyone to do anything about this, even if they could. It’s just an observance of that wonderful trait called Thai time.

I have a small computer amplifier, which when it works is great. Over the past year or so, it began cutting out. I made a feeble attempt to fix it myself, and when I realized it was over my head, I took it to the little electronic fixer guy on the corner.

The gentleman’s shop was chock full, to the rafters, with TVs, amps, recorders, you name it; if it was electronic, it was in there. That should have been my first clue. He took a look at my little black box and said; sure, he could fix it. Come back in 2 or 3 days.

I went back in there on day 3, and it still hadn’t been touched. Come back tomorrow he said. I went back tomorrow, and received another tomorrow. By the 3rd tomorrow I figured I could be running back and forth to this shop forever, and still nothing would have been fixed. He seemed to agree.

I asked him where in the area I might be able to take it, since he was too busy. He said, Tuk Com. I asked, where in Tuk Com (it’s a big place). He said, Tuk Com. I repeated, where in Tuk Com. He repeated, Tuk Com. By the way, this was all in the Thai language. I smiled, picked up the still broken amp and walked over to Tuk Com.

I took it to the basement floor where the Amorn “fix anything, and they sell hard to find stuff” shop. I asked the girl at the counter if they could fix it. First, she scolded me for trying to fix it myself. Ok, I’m duly scolded, but can you fix it? Yes, come back in 2 or 3 days. (Sound familiar?)

3 days later, I return to the shop, and was told tomorrow. She promised to give me a call. After a couple more tomorrows, I decided to wait her out. A computer-music-less week later, I decided I’d give it another try. That was today. A new girl behind the counter tracked it down and came back with, “Tomorrow. Same time.” I asked her, “chua?” (are you sure?) She said, yes nung loy percent (100%). She even gave me a pinky promise.

I must be a real sucker, as I will try again tomorrow. Who knows what I will find.

Sincerely,

Paul Millard

Making super rats

Dear Editor:

In your May 16 issue there is an article about the city wanting to exterminate rats. Poisoning rats is not only unspeakably cruel but it doesn’t have the desired effect. The rats who survive the poison become “super” rats who create generations of other “super” rats who are fertile and resistant to poison.

In all the years I’ve lived in Pattaya I have never heard anyone complain about the rats on Beach Road. Those tiny rats never bothered anyone. And if humans weren’t such slobs who leave their discarded food behind there wouldn’t be so many rats in the first place.

Eric Bahrt

NHS treatment in UK

Dear Sirs,

My experience re the NHS is not as that stated by Brian Marshall. I have spent most of my working life outside the UK in shipping and shipping related business and for the last thirty years or so as a self employed person, paying my own NHS contributions.

Furthermore, in the Common Market now under the Shengen Agreement passport free travel is free throughout the area including UK, so there’s no way the NHS know where you have been living. Mind you I do retain ‘domicile’ in the UK and my OAP is paid into my local bank account there.
Harry Myers

Sewers shooting geysers

Editor;

Re: City engineers will eventually fix nagging problems around town (PM Friday, March 16): So when will the city engineers resolve the severe flooding, and the street sewer back-ups on Soi Arunothai and other streets and Soi in Pattaya? During heavy rain storms, the sewers shoot geysers of water and the street becomes a river.

And how come the city did not recover the costs of damage to the water lines from car accident participants? These guys have the money if they have a car.
John Keast

Dealing with Thai time

Making super rats

NHS treatment in UK

Sewers shooting geysers