September is the worst month to work on outdoor construction because mostly its the time of very heavy rainfall during the rainy season.
And although, if we compare so far with other years we lived here, it's not to much flooding so far this year, its very disturbing. Sometimes I only can work half an hour per day. Welding is hard to do or not even possible as well as painting. So, not much progress with the veranda roof.
Again so to say, we have no schedule or deadline and I am retiring so it's only a matter of accepting it. The inside of the main house is finished so we can live. On the other hand after nearly six years we want to finish this process to start with another project.
No worries about 'nothing to do'. We had to do a lot of unforeseen maintenance this month.
Our well-water is rich in lime causing chalk in water-pipes, taps, shower heads, toilets, wash bins, etc..
A problem we are dealing with since we started our process. This lime asks for a lot of cleaning and also damages a lot because of the produced chalk. Many taps we had to renew already, the washing machine needed several repairs and parts renewed, toilets many times fail to run smoothly, etc..
Beginning this month our water supply stopped. It worked out the water filter system between our 60 meter deep well and the water storage tanks was totally clogged with chalk. Also the consumer pumps did not work proper anymore.
The inside of the filter container turned into a rock although regular backwash and rinsing. The pump, again, happily we could fix ourselves.
A specialized well known company in Thailand with a branch in Surin (Filter Mart Co, Ltd,) advised to install a new filter system including a Master Zetra ZR-L automatic water softener. An expensive but necessary change and we hope and think it's worth it. We expect less disturbances and maintenance of our water system and sanitary ware.
Saturday September 20 they installed it. So far the results are great and the water is soft. We have to fill up salt every around four weeks and we made a contract for yearly maintenance and resin mix renewal.
It took two days to clean taps, glass shower walls, toilets, etc., with vinegar and everything now is (and so far stays) 'chalk free'. To give an impression, the picture below of the black bucket with only the chalk layers of one toilet water reservoir.
Another ongoing disturbance are 'our ants'. We have many species trying to escape the wet soil and drained fields and trying to find shelter in our buildings. The small 'fire-ants' disturb and destroy the most. They find their way trough electricity pipes to switches and outlets. Ruining them from working well. A matter of ongoing cleaning during the rainy season.
Last week Wednesday, we got an announcement by the village loudspeaker system from our village mayor to become even more alert because of theft in and around our village.
Electricity lines were cut and stolen. A couple of weeks ago also in our neighboring village from the German/Thai couple we know. Around midnight thieves come with a pick-up truck and just cut the cables hanging on the poles to sell the copper or aluminum. Also burglary takes place for whatever reason more as we heard.
Reason for us to take further, different and extra security measures living in the rural area, and to give a check up / maintain what we already have/installed.
For a while one out of our several cctv camera's did not work anymore after a change of WIFI settings we made after moving in into our main house. I failed to reconnect this cam so far. Because of the warning we received now I did and discovered a mouse bite the cable to the camera under the ceiling of on of our pyramids. So I had to take part of the bathroom ceiling and outdoor ceiling out to repair. Everything working fine again.
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Frans & Phatsamon
