This is a question one must ask themselves many times while living here in the Philippines. Is Patience’s really a Virtue? Sometimes I wonder. There are many times when you must bite your tongue during your day to day life here. Not to do so will cause you, unnecessary stress and anger that no one really needs in their life. As I said in the past, so many times, “Without a sense of humor, you are doomed!” On the Ship’s we are taught to ride out the storm, by steering into the waves, and never try to fight them, I had no idea that they were also teaching me about living in the Philippines. But I guess they were.
Last week I wrote “Simply the Rainy Season” and I mentioned that the power window on my new/old car had failed on a rainy day and after I got home I was then stuck at the house for many more days. Which will prove that, into every car some rain must fall, or was that life?
Monday morning, the rain had finely let up to a drizzle, so I took the new/old car to the shop, and while it was going to be there anyway I told the guys to tune it up flush and refill the cooling system with 100% coolant and add new oil and a filter while working on the window.
Foolish, foolish man! What was I thinking? Had I neglected to factor in Mr. Murphy? Yes, I didn’t even think of him. While I was walking through the market to catch a Jeepney home, my pants vibrated, I kinda liked it, and then realized it was my phone. The lady from the repair shop Miss Loleth, needed to tell me something very important; “Sir Paul, they had to take the cylinder head off your car to remove a broken spark and it must be sent to the machine shop to be fixed.” My temper started to flare up, but I remembered that it is not the fault of the young lady I was talking to, so don’t kill the messenger! I went into my polite mode and told her I understood, and to do what is nessariery to fix the mighty Honda. Because, she had gone to college with our youngest daughter, and I’ve known her for over 15 years, I’d be hard pressed to ever get angry with her. That could be why the boss had her call me?
I’m thinking, well, the company is responsible, for the extra work as they installed that spark plug during the last tune up, plus they broke it during this tune-up. See the foolish man part I referred to?
Do you think that’s the way it will work out for me? What the heck am I talking about! Is this, my first rodeo here? Have I forgotten all that has passed before? I know I’m going to be the one to pay for those extra repairs. Why? Because it’s just the way it is, live with it, or head to the airport.
But the dumbest thing I could do is to go into the shop and blow my top, as I know I’d end up with all the parts to my car in a cardboard box, with my car pushed to the curb, and me with a dazed look on my face . You think I’m kidding? I saw it happen to a Pinoy who lost his temper at an auto shop and complained he was being cheated. As a Kano, I might not even get the cardboard box.
Before anyone who doesn’t live here yet, asks about small claims court, let’s sit down over a cold beer and have a good laugh. Even if they had it; and if you won, you’d still lose, remember lawyers?
I’ll choked back any Ill feeling, put a smile on my face, and sit at my puter and write about it, I’ll get it off my chest, After I’ve saved it to my hard drive, then I’ll feel better and I’m ready for whatever may come tomorrow plus I’ll enjoy a nice ice cold SMB today.
So to sum it up, I delivered my new/old car on June 27th to have the power window fixed, I decided to leave the car and have some extra work done, a tune-up, oil change and flush and replace the coolant. During the tune-up they found an over tightened spark plug that they installed 4 months ago, and it broke off during its removal, to fix that extra problem the cylinder head had to be removed and sent to a machine shop. Eight days later I picked up the car. It costs me an extra $100.00, and they’ve had the car for over a week! After talking with the owner, a compromise was reached, we will split the cost of the extra cylinder head work, and we were both happy with that, a lot of smiling and hand shaking ensued.
If it will allow the owner of the shop and the workers to save face, I’ll put up with it, why; because I’ve been treated very well over the past 16 years by them, and this was my first real complaint, it’s a small price to pay.
a. The cost of the tune-up, oil change and filter, flushing the radiator and adding new coolant and least we forget the labor on removing the cylinder head: P. 16,200
b. The new fuse to make my power windows go up and down: P .35
c. The learning experience: That’s priceless!
I choose to live here, and I thank the stars, that my sense of humor came with me.
Disclaimer: No mechanics were injured or lost face during the writing of this article.
Your pants started to vibrate and you liked it? Paul that is classic and could only come from you.
Ron;
There are times when I’ll ask my wife to call me, it’s like foreplay!
Paul,
Met a Russian girl in Ulsan, Korea at the Hyundi Christmas party in Dec. 2000. (6 mos. before I had met Daisy *BTW* – exwife had kicked me out 3 weeks earlier and told me to “get a girlfriend”) She was tall, athletic, (phys. ed teacher in Khabarovsk, Russia previously at $100 a month before traveling to Korea to become a hostess), saw her prancing behind the bar like a gazelle. Thought, my, my,.. OK, Christmas party is over and all of us non-Koreans were herded into a waiting bus. Guess who was sitting across the aisle from me, but tall elegant Lina. Guess I had had a few drinks before, ’cause I may have stared a moment too long. She noticed. Invited me to sit with her. Gave me her cell no. Said she would put it on vibrate. Put it in her waistband… and told me to call her often. I did…
Awww, shucks, Jade. You had me holding my breath in anticipation till the end of your post, and that’s all she gave you?
Jade;
Great story! I did 4 months in Ulsan, Korea at the Hyundi Shipyard, Stayed at the hotel up the hill, we only met Kimchi Girls, but as a married man I was on my best behaviour.
Foreplay by remote, Paul? LOL In this high-tech world, I knew someone somehow is going to one-up sex by phone before long. I mean, what’s next? LOL
Ricardo;
I guess it’s real phone sex without the $3.99 per minute! Hey remember “FAMILY SITE”! Sorry Bob!
Your right there Ron,definately a classic.
Chas:
Are you telling me you’ve never done it?
I rarely have my cell on vibrate,must try it,lol.
Chas;
You won’t reget it!
Hey paul,
Here’s a helpful tip with the spark plugs. Brush the threads of the spark plugs with a bit of Milk of Magnesia. It acts as an anti-seize. If your stomach is in still in knots, drink the rest of the bottle, flush with SMB.
Hudson;
My friend, you are assuming that I would be the one handling spark-plugs! Those days are long gone. (lol)
Awww, it could be much worse. It could have happened in the states and cost you closer to a thousand. They never would have told you the truth about why the work needed to be done. 🙂
Rusty;
I sure you’re right about that, I was sitting in a gin mill with some friends and we had a big laugh about things like that.
That’s what happened to a few weeks ago, $1000 of unnecessary repairs! Now I wander how much luck I will have at small claims court…
Marcel;
I’ve never tried small claims court, but for a thousand bucks I’d sure give it a try.
Hi Paul,
Great story,and a great result via compromise.
Patience may be a virtue,but a sense of humour is essential,(keeps the old blood pressure down too).
Regards,
Chas.
Thank you Chas;
I really did date a girl in HS named “Patience’s” At the time virtue was far from my mind. But I second your comment on humor, it’s a mandatory requirement.
Uhmmm, this girl you dated in HS named, Patience, what was it like having to remind her constantly in the car while you’re parked to be patient she will get her turn eventually? Patience, Patience 🙂
Chas;
I see you are well versed in Submarine Racing, we’d all take our ladies to the beach to watch them on Friday night when I was a kid.
Ricardo;
I never dated a girl from New England after her, they are a breed unto their own! It’s good to be from there, very far from there. (lol)
I thought “prim and proper” was reserved only for the Southern belle?
Ricardo;
“Prim and proper” is still for the Southern girls, Arrogant and demanding for the New England girls.
Ricardo;
It was a long weekend… The comment above was for you, but I typed in Chas’s name and hit send without thinking. I’m an imperfect man, in an imperfect world!
LOL “Submarine Racing”, I like that. Never heard of that one before . It had to have come from a “wise man of the sea”.
Ricardo;
That came from a long line of teenage boys parking on a Beach outside of Boston! The worst thing I ever did was explain the tides to a girl I was with, I left out moon and gravity, and told her that the world spins, and when we come to the top the water flows away. I pray she never helped her kids with their homework!
“I wonder if Job ever visited here?”
Nice addendum to the article.
Dan;
Since you live there he would have had too!(lol)
Paul
Man have I got a lot to learn when I get there.
Here in RI if you was to deal with car issues like that the mechanics shop would bend you over and drive it home.
Neal;
We all do, and I learn something new everyday. But it’s more fun here!
Paul..that was kinda funny…the lady said Sir Paul, they had to take the cylinder head off your car to remove a broken spark and it must be sent to the machine shop to be fixed, is that short in the Philippines for spark plug?,or was their a broken spark some place…..any way sounds like you still got your spark!
Dan;
Yes they broke off the spark plug, and I paid to fix it.
“No mechanics were injured or LOST FACE during the writing of this article.”
Nice one…good job!
Aaron;
Glad you enjoyed that, but I was tempted!
You certainly have mastered the way of handling situations like this and some of the others you have written about. From this and many of your other articles it sounds as though you could write a book titled ” How To Keep Your Cool In The Philippines “. Maybe some of this is discussed in Bob Martins book ” Culture Clash ” which I have not had time to read yet.
Thanks for another good read Paul.
Bob;
I’ve thought about how it all works out here, and I believe it’s a push, as I do some very odd things myself, that can set many hands to scratching heads. One of my Navy Captains used to call me Even Keel Paul’ because no one could rock my boat.
Bob;
One nickname I had in the Navy was “Even Keel Paul” I won’t allow people to rock my boat. If I take the high road I win. But I think here it all works out to a push, because they have to also put up with my odd ways too! (lol)
I have often wondered what OFW’s and others from The Philippines must think when they come here to the USA. So many things seem opposite, I wonder if being on opposite parts of the world may have something to do with that !
Bob;
You’re the first to point that out. You might have a good working theory going there!
Paul
Its always said that cooler heads will prevail. me and my wife are planning a trip home to davao this oct. always remember with the electrical system to check the fuse’s first. like signals, fans, power options alot of times its just the fuse that burned out and needes replaced. for a for about a 1,000ph go buy all the required fuse’s and replace them all at once, at least that could help with any of your electrical issue’s.
TW;
That is an excellent piece of advice, It won’t work well for me as I feel that if I do the work, the election won’t be able to feed his kids. It’s an old Merchant Seaman Union kinda’ thinking. I hope you know I’m joking, enjoy your trip home to Davao later this year!
With the Honda shuttling from Goodyear Tires at Kuya Greg and Lucille, to the body shop owned by Chris’s cousin, to Miss Loleth at the repair shop, I would imagine it must be one of the best-maintained Honda in ‘Gapo, right Paul? Do you find yourself getting up in the middle of the night and walking to the garage half-asleep to run your hands lovingly on the car’s fender, smell the fresh paint, and wipe off with Lysol wipe the scuff mark on the right front tire? LOL
Ricardo;
What you said is very true I’m guilty of all of the above. Would you believe while driving my car to a beach/rain party Saturday, my A/C Compressor blew out a load hiss and the smell of freon. My buddy Tony (from Goodyear) took it to his house to fix and just brought it back a few minutes ago. less than $100.00 parts and labor. I’ll keep my pretty new/old car forever!
Paul,
What a deal for fixing your A/C Compressor, less than $100.00. I had to get my compressor replaced last year on 1999 Nissan Altima, over $1000.00. Your cars name isn’t Christine is it? or was that Patience? By the way have a Happy early Birthday Paul. Maybe your asawa will have a surprise party for you. As long as there is plenty of adult beverages you should be fine for your birthday. Take care my friend.
Papa Duck, I once had a recurring overheating problem with my Bimmer, not long after the thermostat was replaced. Took it to a couple of shops in VA but they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. One shop wanted to replace the water pump, but I nixed it. There was never any leak, and coolant was full. Since it was our second car, I hardly ever used it. But whenever I drove it, I had to stop every couple of miles to let the engine cool off before driving again. This went on for most of the year. On the same day a Delaware tate trooper pulled me over for doing 35 on a 35mph zone (remember that one?) , I was on my way to a small garage in rural Delaware. Problem solved within an hour. All the guy did was “burp” the cooling system while refilling it with coolant. The Bimmer never overheated ever since, knock on wood. Oh, I almost forgot to mention – he charged me nothing but for the price of a gallon of coolant!
Ricardo,
You got off pretty lucky on that one. Only for the price of a coolant. Normally a BMW runs into big bucks to get it fixed. Take care be safe.
Papa Duck;
The party was held at the Baloy beach at the Wild Orchard Resort, a large group checked in on Saturday and checked out on Sunday. The rain was horrific, but the kids never got out of the pool, I had a sturdy roof over my head at “Bob’s Surf Side Bar” what more could I ask for. (Our rooms were one minute away) We had to have the party on Saturday so everyone could attend.
Stay tuned for next week to read about it!
Paul
Remember a couple weeks ago I wished you a Happy Birthday (Early).
Well just for shits and giggles about a 6 weeks ago I sent you a very unique USA post card. If you didn’t get it yet I assume it was intercepted in the RP Mail system.
Neal;
If there was money attached to it, it’s gone, otherwise I’ll get it just before Christmas. But thanks for the thought! OH! today is my Birthday, I’d really forgot!
Paul
NO Beer money just a post card with a really Pic you could have appreciated.
Neal’
Have faith it will arrive! Someday!!!
Paul,
Glad you and your family had a nice b-day party. A little rain can never stop you from enjoying some cold ones. Will have to check out Bob’s some day. Have a wonderful day.
Papa Duck;
Check next Monday on LiP for “Life Is Funny” about our weekend in the rain!
Sometimes it nice to get your hands dirty and do some of the maintenance yourself. Sparkplugs take 5 minutes to remove, gap, and replace. The mechanics overtorqued the plugs and they froze. It helps to add antiseize to the threads. But if its electrical related, the only think I know is to check the fuses and then would have to get help.
I actually enjoy doing the work myself as part of stress relief and knowing I did the job right. I just wish I had a garage to properly work in. I had to change my battery last week, the condo staff was amazed that I got all dirty and sweaty over manual labor. This stuff keeps my stress levels down (along with a few cold ones).
Don;
I read your comment and read it again, I was getting set to take issue with what you said, but then I found the part about “Along With A Few Cold Ones” and thought; “How could I find fault with that?”
Paul,
If I lived in your neck of the woods, I’d change the oil in your car for a 6 pack of beer.
Don;
I’m always up for a road trip! Does the beer have to be chilled? (lol)
Hi Paul
I have bitten my tongue so many times i swear my teeth are cracked because of it. Its really no fun to shop or purchase an item at the malls here, the red tape and nonsense one has to go through to get the item home is out of this world. At the end of the day after i have cooled down and had a beer or two i realise that i cant blame the shop assistants for the service or lack of it thats provided. Im sure if i was only working for 300 peso a day i would not give a stuff about the customer neither, yep my mind would be on other things like how to provide dinner tonight rather then on some customer who can afford to spend a months salary on a pair of jeans or something else.
David;
That is my point also, I’ve had store clerks who really tried to assist me but were just as frustrated by the actions of the 4 watt light bulbs that owns the store and made those dumb rules I agree I’d be hard pressed to get angry at the employees.
Paul,
Glad it was only .35p fuse. Well one thing leads to another… As I had posted before my electric window repair took me 6 full days but cost me nothing but my time. If you had had my problem it could have been an entire new motor and lifting mechanism; but for me new grease solved it, plus rebuilding 2 switches…
Daisy’s ’96 Nissan Sentra’s engine is still apart after 4 months. New engine is paid for and delivered. I think her cousin thinks he has found himself a new career. Take your time cous. and do it right… but gosh… Ok, it’s the rainy season there… and I understand. But I hope the new engine is stored inside somewhere, and the next typhoon doesn’t bring flooding as it did twice in the past 6-7 years.
My patio slab work has also fallen on hard times. It rains heavily twice every week here in FL and then I have to dig out the excavation for the slab and the footer and then reassemble the steadily rusting re-bar slowly getting to the point where the 8 cu yd. pour can be accomplished. I’ve never done concrete work before so it is a painful learning experience.
I’m going sailing tomorrow – the darn slab can wait. So there…
I wonder which gets finished first; the slab or the car.
Jade
Jade;
About your pour, I’ve noticed that the bulk of road repair here in the P.I. is done during the rain. The reason is simple, they can fix it again next year and get paid for the same job twice. So pour that patio, rain be damned, and fix it again next year! (lol)
As for Daisy’s car, we can assume that it is wrapped tight in plastic shopping bags from the local store. I’ve also had relatives who try to get a career out of a simple job, so never pay by the day, pay them a set price for the job. Sailing and beer, I can respect that!
Paul,
Patience is only part of it. You must also have Prudence.
Remember “Patience and Prudence – Tonight You Belong to Me” 1957
Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIHUsajkH7w
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2R3CmLEiGo
http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/patience_and_prudence/bio.jhtml
I’ve had Prudence. Many years ago. English. What an accent!(lol)
Jade;
How old do you think I am! (lol)
Paul,
At 61 I’m a year or two younger than you; not that it matters much at our ages!
I only heard ‘Patience and Prudence’ from the oldie’s lists, but I liked the song.
My you-tube search also turned up Dusty Springfield and Skeeter Davis, I loved those singers as well.
Once when I was 6 years old a young person who worked for my father drove me to the parochial school and I vividly recall hearing on his car radio ‘Rock Around the Clock’ in 1956. Why do I remember this so well? My parents would never play that stuff on their car radio. I like late 1950’s oldies.
Jade;
I found an Album by Sandy Posey “Sweet Dreams” 2004 I like her when I was young and all the album is her old songs with a slight country beat. Now I really like that! But we had some great music back then, and it’s still good today, even if out folks didn’t like it. But my dad loved the Moody Blues, so go figure?
Jade-
I’m with you about the great songs of a great era. They were sentimental songs portraying youthful innocence and eternal love, composed and performed by well-scrubbed kids of a bygone age. Here is one of my favorites (introduced to me by a colleague and girlfriend at LOC ):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y16Ac9O9Alc
Ricardo,
I remember that song. The was one of the songs i grew up with. Iwas just a young kid than. There sure was alot of good music back than. Have a nice day.
Hi;
This comment is only to make the comment numbers even again! Thank you for your time!
Paul your stories about your car make me glad I don’t have one here in the Philippines.
Gary;
I could almost agree, but then there are the times when I just like to go shopping without having to carry all that stuff on a Jeepney.
Shopping on Subic Freeport. you now have 10 bags, take a base taxi to the gate, haul the ten bags over the bridge. take the yellow Jeepney to the main market, tote those ten bags through the market to the brown Jeepney to take me up the mountain. Now I’m close to home with only a one mile Trike ride to get me and my 10 bags to my gate. And remember it’s so much fun to take care of 10 bags on public transportation. That’s why I have a car, and I respect your decision not to have one. But if I didn’t have one what the heck would I write about? (LOL)
Paul,
I know what you mean about public transportation. My future father-in-law just bought a 2002 Honda Civic for 200,000 pesos. My G/F told me her father will not allow her to drive his car, but it’s ok if i drive it. I guess its something about young woman drivers lol.
Papa Duck;
I’m not sure if gender is the reason he won’t let her drive, it’s the abbility to pay to repair it if she bung-bung’s it. He knows you can fix it. BTW 2000,000.00 for a Honda Civic 2002 is a good prive here if in good shape.
Paul,
You have a point about getting it fixed. It appears to be in good shape inside and out is what i’m told. Only about 100,000 k’s, which equates to only approximately 62,000 miles. not bad for a 2002. Take care my friend.
Papa Duck;
Low mileage is normal here as we live on Islands with very few highways. My 1996 has not hit a 100,000 K’s yet, maybe next year if I drive around Luzon twice! It’s not like Kansas where it’s 100 miles to buy beer, albeit you can get corn anywhere!
People tend to take real good care of their cars here, as sometimes they cost more than their house, and cars are still cheap. (Doesn’t make sence but think about it.)
You could say the same for Puerto Rico!!!
Younger Brother Dan;
Than I will; “It’s the same for Puerto Rico!”
It’s because of things like that, that we love each other! Talk at ya on facebook!
Hi Paul – uhm, don’t you want to get yourself a new car? He he, I mean you’ve been patient with the car for so long like 15 yrs? so maybe time to give yourself a gift? He he 😉
Sugar;
Me and that car are welded at the hip, I view it this way. Okay; so once in a not so often while some thing needs to be fixed. But the last car payment I ever made was in 1982. See my point? Cash is King!
Ha ha…1982 is so long time ago and cars were cheap back then (right?)… present time now, even something like Kia or Hyundai costs a lot… so I get what you mean : )
Sugar;
The cost of the car is not important, the question is can you afford it. Open a bank account and call it “My Car” every month make a car payment to that account. In three years buy your car and never pay 1 centavo in interest. You’ll find waiting is worth it.
Paul, would it be completely useless to point out that you don’t need to remove a head to replace a broken spark plug? I just wouldn’t be able to look them in the eye without saying, “You’re ripping me off!” Will you use the same shop again? I appreciate the reasoning behind letting it all roll off your back, but isn’t there a point at which you should tell them that you have more sense than they’re giving you credit for? Otherwise, next time – if there is one – will be the same. I’m not saying that a kano needs to lose their temper, but…
Mike;
All I can do is accept what you tell me about that being the case. I’ve spent more time on ship’s than with cars. But it’s working again, I have no ulcer and my blood pressure is 120 over 80, the rain is falling, my roof is strong and all is right in my world again! Did I get hosed? Yes that might have happened, but to answer your question. Yes, I’ll go there again, because it’s better to deal with the thief you know, than the thief you don’t know! That way you might have a fighting chance. (LOL)
Hi Paul- You’ve hit it on the head; yes patience is certainly a virtue where ever you are but especially here in the Philippines.
It must be one of the few places in the world where they can turn their problem into yours and you pay for the privilege.
Just another day in paradise.
Regards.
Jim.
Jim;
Thank you and thank you again for that! I’m still laughing over your comment! Great line!
It must be one of the few places in the world where they can turn their problem into yours and you pay for the privilege. That’s classic!!!
Last comment on the car. When they removed the head, do you know if they replaced the gaskets? If they didnt, I can almost guarantee you will have a gasket leak in a few months time and they will have to pull the head off and replace with a new gasket. Worst case is that they overtorqued the bolts to try and seal the head, and will strip the bolts. As you said, it provides steady employment. Might as well order the gasket now as they wont have it in stock….
Don,
Based on my experiences, they probably didn’t follow proper torquing sequence, anyway. Doom & gloom, Paul, doom & gloom!(lol, we really need emoticons, so I can put a “wink” or “oh no” face, here)
Mike;
Doom and gloom is normal, and backwards is the direction of preference! (lol)
Don;
Gasket? They have this special goop they just spread around that seems to be the answer to those pesky gaskets. To torque, they use a ratchet wrench and a breaker bar that seems to work very well. They gauge it by watching the strain on the mechanic’s face. They gave me a free tabo to put under the car at night to collect the dripping oil, and I just pour it back in the next time I use the car. All bases are covered here in the Philippines!
Dirty oil – just pour it into the jeepney tank. Its like diesel anyway. They know how to recycle in the Phils.
Don;
Now that’s an idea that would work here, and any extra I can give to Trike Drivers to mix with their gas for the two stroke engines!
Senior:
Great article on lessons learned on dealing with difficult situations and making it all work out so everyone can save face and even though it cost you a couple dollars. You got to drive away in your car. You are right when you say bring your humor with you becuase it is a head scratching culture, thats what makes it such an enjoyable time never a dull moment.
I don’t think that bald spot on your head is from age it’s from scratching it to many time. LOL
Mike;
Now I know why I’m going bald! Great thinking shipmate!!! You’ll find that you will learn something new everyday. You might not want to, but you will!
I made a comment on somebody’s blog, can’t remember which now, maybe Matt’s Tropicalpenpals that I have been a little disappointed that we the ‘expats’ don’t do as much to help ourselves as I think we could. I lived in Puerto Galera last year and asked around all the expats there for a good, reliable mechanic for both the bike and the car. Everyone just laughed !! “If you find one let us know” they all said. Well it was like that for almost everything. I see plenty of expats with excellent articles and comments and I have already learnt everything I need to know about the 13a Visa just from this site. Why cant we do something similar about the different things that we all need. You know, who’s got a good plumber, a good sparky, a good landscaper, a good builder, a good carpenter ( hey this is Karma ‘Yesterday once more’ just stared playing as soon as I wrote a good carpenter ). Heck I’m not going to list them all but you know what I mean. It would take a matter of days before a web site like this had probably dozens of good reliable recommendations in all sort of places all over the Philippines. I know that Paul had a bad experience this time with that mechanic but he has had 16 yrs of good service. I wish I could say that I knew somebody I would be happy to return to and that is for anything. Now if I am showing myself to be the stupid newbie and that a directory like this exists and I just don’t know about it then just enjoy the moment and throw the flack this way!!
I’m really enjoying all these blogs and the great and very humorous comment by many writers.
All the best guys and gels
Cemlyn
Cemlyn;
Set up a local list of people who are good dependable workers yourself, I can make a phone call and get someone 100 percent honest to perform any job. But again it’s local!
Paul. I have not been anywhere long enough to do that. I’m surprised that after all these years of expats being here that there isn’t a directory , on a blog somewhere, that if I need a plumber for example, I just look up the directory. Not adverts but recommendations from other expats. Impossible to cover all areas of course but the major areas would be covered fairly quickly.
Cemlyn
Cemlyn;
Here in the Subic area it exists, I can go to the American Legion, VFW, Retired Affairs or the Fleet Reserve Club and find anything your looking for. No one has put it on a web site as it just word of mouth so far. I’ve had a lot of people ask me where to hire someone for this or that, and if I know I’ll tell them and vice versa. It’s been working like that here for over 50 years.
Thanks Paul. We lived in Baloy for a couple of months. We didn’t like it much. We were lookign for good beach living at the time and we didn’t like the water quality so we moved. I’m aware that the ex military chain is pretty strong, especially the American one. Your Vets organisations are way better than ours. In fact it would be closer to the truth to say we haven’t got one. Ours is the Royal British Legion but it is really for very old retire servicemen. I was always impressed with the American Vets when I visited the US. The Aussies do well with their RSL’s as well. In the UK once you are retired the service just doesn’t want to know. I remember when I retired my last job was as custodian of a Secret and Classified enclave in a War Operations Room. I handed over all my keys, cards and so on and then set about leaving the base. I handed my id over at the gate. The next day I went back to go to my office to go through a few bits of paper and I was not allowed onto the base without an escort. Local civilian with passes to go to the bowling lane were ok but not the retired head of a WOC. That left a nasty taste. I believe in the States you are given your Vet card as you hand over your military ID. There is dignity in that. Passing from the active to the retired Corps.
Anyway, nice to know that a directory of sorts does exist somewhere. It would be nice to collect it all together at some time.
Thanks Paul
Cemlyn
Cemlyn;
I very much enjoyed the Aussies RSL’s I used during my many port calls as a merchant seaman when we visited down under. I was admitted by showing my US retired military ID and welcomed by all. A great bunch of guys that I would have been proud to serve with anywhere anytime. I have also worked with your Royal Navy both on Diego Garcia and Portsmouth UK. Again a finer lot I’d never met, and the beer was wonderful! I like to visit Baloy, but it’s too seedy to live there.