Lego Mindstorm

Well I’ve finally got time to play with my new toy. Fantastic is not the word. I will be having a lot of fun with this for sure. I tried a few very simple moves and it is not so hard. Clearly I’m no expert but time will be on my side with this one.
Will be much more challenging when we get the humanoid up and running. And now I’m not working for a few months who know’s what wonderful toys I’ll be making. Well cannot sit around here typing when I’ve got Lego to do!!!!

House Construction Part V

Progress is being made. We've got to the stage where the roof is on, walls being plastered about 50% done, and its all beginning to take a real shape. In fact it looks very good. Remaining is the rest of the plastering, electrics (surface mounted) which makes it very easy, and final plumbing. And tiling etc. I suppose I could go on and on about what needs to be done. Painting will be the last item of course. When will we complete? Very good question. I reckon in about 3 weeks with a few bits and pieces left to do.
We have already decided to extend the front and add on a big covered area for sitting around. So keep watching this space. (Ken and Nwet, if you are reading this again note I'm unable to respond to you. No email address).
Whats it all cost? I'll post all that info once completed. But realistically about 4,500 to 5,000 Baht per square meter...

Chill Bar Pool League Our Standing

Been playing pool as usual every Monday night. This season has been poor but at least I do get out and about. But I've just found a new 'widget' to go on this page. The pool league league table. So check it out down on the left hand side columns on this site to see how we are doing. If you can't be bothered I'll save you the effort of looking and tell you. Badly!!!! Very badly....

Lego Mindstorm NXT 2.0

I know what have Lego toys to do with Elephants and Things. Nothing, absolutely nothing. It's just that I decided to buy one to learn about robotics and have a bit of programming fun. So beware more weird stuff on this to follow. Bought it through Amazon. They won't ship to Thailand so having it send by DHL. Exciting....
Toy is due by end of the month and for sure July is going to be a busy one learning all about it. Photo from www.lego.com

Prawns Large and Small

Some time back we put some small prawns in our pond. Those that survived the cat fish did well. Law of Natural Selection seems to be doing its stuff in our pond. We caught a few the other day and one of the kids seemed very interested in it all.

However to catch the small ones is it seems quite simple. First buy your trap from the local market. People use bait and a net trap. The bait attracts the prawns into the trap. Once in, there is no way out for the little fellers, unless 'helped'. But help I mean of the human kind which means they are on their way to becoming part of a meal!

So here is a quick video of us catching some prawns and 'helping' them from the trap to the plate.

House Construction Part IV

Just posted Part III but only a few days on from that things are progressing well. Septic tank has been excavated and installed. We are using concrete rings with small holes in the side to act and allow seepage. The system worked well on the other local houses so should work here for us.
So short video showing the progress from 3 days ago. It does have some noticeable changes in it from the last one.

Loads more to do but need to keep on top of it. Wanna has been staying up there to ensure we keep supplying all the necessary materials and fitting etc. So will keep pressing. We are looking for completion end of June.

Bananas and Fish

We recently visited a tourist spot called Pattaya Floating Market. We had been when my Mother was over here a few years back, and I Blogged at the time so will repeat all the usual stuff! We have been back again several times but this time it was much more impressive and it was good to see it had developed and seemed to be going from strength to strength.
One stall was selling Bananas. I have never seen such a variety of Bananas. Yes in Seychelles I made a point of colleting as many different types as I could. And did well with over 20 types if my memory serves me right.
But here were not only a wide range 30 + but some so very different to anything I had seem before. Needless to say I have since bought new strains of Bananas and planted these in our garden.
Another new feature at the Market was a massage/foot cleaning. Not really sure what you should call it. You sit with your feet in a fish bowl. Yes a fish bowl. The fish nibble at your feet. I know and I thought the same thing!!! Ugh!!! It’s the initial reaction of nearly everyone me included. But once you get over the strange sensation it really is and surprisingly so, a super feeling and after the 20 minute session your remove your feet and they feel so soft and massaged. I don’t thing the fish take much from you but… It was really good. I’ll go again.

House Construction Part III

Quick work progress update.

Got the roof on! Keeps the rain out and we can managed to lay the floor slab getting ready for the start of the walling. The roof is a major piece of work to get complete. Don't ask me about safety features. Non starter....

And then straight on with the flooring. Needed a concrete truck with pre-mixed concrete to make a quick and indeed a tidier job of it all. Went really well. It is so easy for the men to have it arrive than mix by hand. Which they were prepared to do! Job was completed in a morning.

Now off to buy windows doors etc. Walling to commence tomorrow....

On The Road

Amazing what you see on a day to day basis on the roads here in Thailand. So much so that I just get used to it. Then every so often I get a reminder that this is not normal opractice elsewhere or is it?

I was coming home last night and ahead of me was a pickup. At first I was not sure what I was looking at. Peopel, plastic boxes etc, then some additional feet and legs protruding from the top level. How many people I am not sure.