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Nah, you don't mess with the "Flip-flop Gang" let me tell you. Besides, where would I buy my incomparable Islanders from? Got to be the best F-F in the world, bar none! Anyway, in his excellent "Phantom 38" (no relation) thread, mr said this:- woke up aching feeling like I stole a cheese burger of George foreman....... I just cant lay on concrete floors welding for ages anymore. he has my sympathy and I know just how he feels.  Two days of either standing on my head reaching into the bowels of the engine room, or on my knees/back on a concrete floor have taken their toll. Not to mention having to shift the last of our stuff out of the apartment yesterday morning. I was basically immobile by lunchtime and, if it hadn't been for the ministrations of My Little Bottle Openers, I'd probably have died of thirst. I told my eldest, as she was pumping pedals on Sunday, that instead of that streak of curse word she currently thinks she fancies, to find someone with a modicum of mechanical aptitude so that he can grovel around under my Range Rover for two days instead, whilst I shout instructions from behind a bottle. I also did something else last night which is rare for me (no tittering at the back) and that was sleep for 10 hours. I think I was still in the womb last time I did that! So now we have the posh address of Penthouse 2, Tondo Towers, Kagitingan Street, Barangay 34, Tondo, which many rock stars and other rich people would kill for. Well hard luck. First job on arrival was wash the car, as 4 months of accumulated dust was an instant magnet to the local kids. At least I know all their names now! That done, it was retire to my balcony to be force fed drink and food until bed-time and leave the kids to find something else to autograph. More as it happens...  Edit:- and it's happening already. Just been down to reattach a wire I'd dislodged doing the brake hoses - Madam's driver had my electric stuff - and there, wandering happily around in the bowels of the engine is a bloody great rat. I think I'll need to chain Madam's nowty little Shih Tzu under there as well...  |
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Last Edit: Apr 4, 2017 11:29:36 GMT by georgeb
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,373
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Must have smelt a new flavour of wiring loom to nibble on...........
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I've just been having a Google at your new neighbourhood - which isn't easy as the Google's photo car doesn't seem to have dared drive up Kagitingan Street...
Anyway, looking at the amount of corrugated iron on the roofs of the buildings I reckon some of them could be worth more as scrap.
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Last Edit: Apr 5, 2017 22:30:53 GMT by Sweetpea
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Must have smelt a new flavour of wiring loom to nibble on........... Yeah, I reckon you're right. We found the local Shaman in his obligatory hovel who said, "Pepper, boy. Pepper's what you need. Sprinkle it about, say these incantations" passing me a parchment with bony fingers, "and the rats'll be gone tout damn suite. That'll be fifty Peso" So I sprinkled and incanted and lo, so far it looks like 75pee well spent. I've just been having a Google at your new neighbourhood - which isn't easy as the Google's photo car doesn't seem to have dared drive up Kagitingan Street... Anyway, looking at the amount of corrugated iron on the roofs of the buildings I reckon some of them could be worth more as scrap. Best be quick. Half of them'll be gone the first good breeze we get. You may very well be wondering why we have swapped the luxurious accommodations in Malate for something a little more down to earth. Well, it's a combination of issues:- One, the lease on the apartment was due next month and we'd already decided we were't renewing. The landlord had a pending new tenant so it was agreed to terminate early. Two, the Girls have just finished school for the "Summer" holidays and so would have spent most of their time here in Tondo with their mates anyway, leaving me to rattle around on my tod. Three, we have uncertainty on the work front, i.e., where the next lot will come from. The port is still static, but I've had approaches from Australia, New Zealand and Canada, so it seems a bit silly to start with another lease somewhere if we're on our travels again. Even if we start the port and stay here, the chances are we'll be changing work bases as the project progresses anyway. Initially working out of Manila but later based at a new depot/HQ to be built some 50-odd km south, so again, we'd be on the move. Four, given the above, we saved three grand (GBP) by moving and, as we own this place, we've massively reduced our outgoings. So, as a temporary measure until decisions are made, here we are in the Culture Capital of Manila - if it doesn't burn down first. |
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Gis a yell if you make it to New Zealand won't you George. Keen to share a beer and swap sharns.
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Gis a yell if you make it to New Zealand won't you George. Keen to share a beer and swap sharns. Think I owe him a beer or three as well for entertaining us all on here. Kettle always on and beers on ice for you George. |
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Gis a yell if you make it to New Zealand won't you George. Keen to share a beer and swap sharns. Don't worry, I certainly will. To be honest, Australia is looking favourite at the moment, purely from the amount of work going on there and Sydney's leading the race. I will get to NZ one day whatever happens, it just looks too good for a road trip to miss. However, it's early days yet and a lot can happen in a short time. As opposed to here, where nothing can happen for a long time! Think I owe him a beer or three as well for entertaining us all on here. Kettle always on and beers on ice for you George. That's mighty kind of you Rian. I'll let you know where you'll need to move to! My personal choice is to stay here and get my freight operating, but needs must and all that... |
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So we can look forward to the Sidney Ring??
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I'm really not sure how to respond to that!  |
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THE_Liam
Yorkshire and The Humber
If at first you don't succeed... HAMMERS.
Posts: 1,363
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Apr 11, 2017 19:23:34 GMT
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On the subject of property George, have you never been tempted to buy somewhere? My mate is retiring out there in a few years with his wife, and he was showing me some of the villas they have in Davao, new built beach front 3 bed villas for the price of a former coal miners hovel in Featherstone! Might have to rethink retiring to Cornwall myself if they're still that cheap in 35 years*
*As if there's any chance anyone of my age will be allowed to retire at 65 lol
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Apr 11, 2017 19:55:51 GMT
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Might have to rethink retiring to Cornwall myself if they're still that cheap in 35 years* *As if there's any chance anyone of my age will be allowed to retire at 65 lol As if anybody only working to the age of 65 would be able to afford a place in Cornwall.... |
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THE_Liam
Yorkshire and The Humber
If at first you don't succeed... HAMMERS.
Posts: 1,363
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Apr 11, 2017 20:43:21 GMT
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Might have to rethink retiring to Cornwall myself if they're still that cheap in 35 years* *As if there's any chance anyone of my age will be allowed to retire at 65 lol As if anybody only working to the age of 65 would be able to afford a place in Cornwall.... Depends where you want to live, somewhere like Camborne, Redruth or St Austell isn't that dear. No more than Leeds really. |
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Apr 11, 2017 22:55:52 GMT
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On the subject of property George, have you never been tempted to buy somewhere? My mate is retiring out there in a few years with his wife, and he was showing me some of the villas they have in Davao, new built beach front 3 bed villas for the price of a former coal miners hovel in Featherstone! Might have to rethink retiring to Cornwall myself if they're still that cheap in 35 years* *As if there's any chance anyone of my age will be allowed to retire at 65 lol Had things gone to plan, then we'd be living by Lake Taal or on the coast near Batangas by now. However, thanks to chronic government indecision, there just aren't the finances available. When (if) things buck up and we get back on our feet, then we'll start to think again about buying somewhere. Good job we've got the Tondo properties, so at least a bolt-hole was available. You're right though, property is dirt cheap. |
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hopeso
Part of things
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I take it that as a Falang, or what ever a foreigner is known as,you can legally buy property out there.
As I understand it a Falang in Thailand can't purchase property on the ground, you can purchase an appartment in a block though.
Perhaps that could be a better reason to move out to where you are?
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THE_Liam
Yorkshire and The Humber
If at first you don't succeed... HAMMERS.
Posts: 1,363
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Apr 12, 2017 10:26:06 GMT
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On the subject of property George, have you never been tempted to buy somewhere? My mate is retiring out there in a few years with his wife, and he was showing me some of the villas they have in Davao, new built beach front 3 bed villas for the price of a former coal miners hovel in Featherstone! Might have to rethink retiring to Cornwall myself if they're still that cheap in 35 years* *As if there's any chance anyone of my age will be allowed to retire at 65 lol Had things gone to plan, then we'd be living by Lake Taal or on the coast near Batangas by now. However, thanks to chronic government indecision, there just aren't the finances available. When (if) things buck up and we get back on our feet, then we'll start to think again about buying somewhere. Good job we've got the Tondo properties, so at least a bolt-hole was available. You're right though, property is dirt cheap. Just googled Batangas, that looks like paradise! |
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Apr 12, 2017 20:42:19 GMT
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I take it that as a Falang, or what ever a foreigner is known as,you can legally buy property out there. As I understand it a Falang in Thailand can't purchase property on the ground, you can purchase an apartment in a block though. Perhaps that could be a better reason to move out to where you are? It's the same here. A White Guy can't purchase landed property. Although he can be willed it in the event of Madam meeting an untimely swimming accident or somesuch...  An apartment is no problem although I'm pretty fed up of living in one after the best part of 10 years, so it's definitely a house next. Oh, and on the Thai thing, a foreigner can purchase an apartment as long as less than 49% of units are owned by Falang. 51% at least must be in Thai ownership. A pal of mine waited five years to buy a place he'd had his eye on in Chiang Mai, whilst the percentages came right! Just googled Batangas, that looks like paradise! Yeah, there's some nice spots down there. |
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Well, I bet you are dying to know how we’re getting on in that centre of the social universe, home of the glitterati, destination of choice for the Jet-set that is Tondo aren’t you. Being as you ask and, lazing the days away on the pristine white beaches aside, it’s got its ups and downs. The main down being the endless bloody processions, what with it being Easter. The first one today was at 05:30, band and everything. Woke the dogs up, but the Girls slept blissfully through it thankfully. Nothing worse than two crabby teenage Filipinas at Zero-dark o'clock! There’ll probably be another 4 or 5 going past before the day’s out. Watched a little something yesterday. You get two trestle tables, like you’d use for wallpapering, cover them with banana leaves, spread rice along the length, dot some other and less identifiable stuff on top of that, shout, “Go” and watch fifteen or so blokes devour it in minutes, You ask your youngest what it’s all about, as it’s obviously holiday related (Extreme Last Suppering perhaps?) to be met with the explanation, “I dunno.” So, none the wiser, you have a little Empi Light and coke to celebrate. Oh, and they came to read the meters yesterday.  That boy can drive the Cherry Picker a treat, threading it through the wire-birds nest. One of the upsides is honest to goodness daylight. You know, that stuff you get when it’s, well, daytime, but was pretty much unknown down the Pit of Hell. Anyway, having an abundance of the stuff, I’ve been catching up on all sorts of little jobs that before, would have required eyes like a cave-fish. Sorted out the driver’s window that would give a lurch as it was halfway down due to a bracket coming adrift. Ten minutes with a drill and a nut and bolt sorted that out. Tidied up some wiring under the bonnet that just could not be done my torchlight. Another ten minutes with the soldering iron. Fitted a new serpentine belt tensioner that I happened to have in stock, as the old one had started to whine a bit. Hardest part was fighting the spring tension on the new one. Fifteen minutes. Done the door lock that was getting a bit reluctant and, for the first time since ownership…  Got a properly clean engine! Did you know it's a spectator sport in Tondo? Well, it is. I had nine or ten watching. Must be novel on all sorts of levels! And talking of level, the great thing about the angle it's parked at is that everything in the bay is easily reached.  So aye, pottering gently and working through a little list of small things that need attention. Only big job still to do is re-bleed the brakes. They were okay driving here but there's a fair bit of pedal travel. So we're buying up DOT 4 as we see it until I've got 5 or 6 litres to do a proper job. Of course, we are reminded of the Shamans sage advice to season the engine liberally with pepper to deter rats. Don’t bother, it seems they love the stuff and yesterday morning saw a slightly peppery coloured one scampering happily around. It doesn’t, however, appear over-fond of the Philippine equivalent of WD-40 and this morning it seems to have moved on. Thinking about it, the reason he didn’t like the WD-type stuff is that it’s probably made from his boiled mother and other close relatives. Or something. Whatever, he’s buggered off. Think I've found some secure parking for the '38 just around the corner as well. Somewhere the little darlings of Tondo can't endlessly autograph the bonnet. Going to have a look next week. Oh and another thing. I gave Kuya, Madam’s driver, the task of moving on my old radiator which has been kicking around for nearly a year along with the brand new 22” Kenlowe fan I’d bought many moons ago before I decided to stick with the viscous item. So we’ve liquidated the assets and will be drinking them later. I’d love to know who he sold the rad to and, more to the point, as fitting what! |
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Last Edit: Apr 15, 2017 0:57:01 GMT by georgeb
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Radiator......??
Jeepney, some other crazy asssed mode of modded transport?
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93fxdl
Posted a lot
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,015
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Earlier camborne was mentioned, which always reminds me of this
Ttfn Glenn
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hopeso
Part of things
Posts: 349
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Apr 15, 2017 12:34:27 GMT
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That made me laugh! Not heard Jethro for so long.
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