Wan di, wan mai di (part 4)

The condo also has a handyman named Tjet. He is – I estimate – about 40 years old and married for the second time. Why it went wrong the first time, I don't know and I don't ask him about it.

Tjet does all repairs, small jobs in the apartments (such as installing new doors, retiling showers) and painting the outside.

He is very handy with the drill, the grinder and the hammer, but he has little knowledge of painting. (I estimate that he also - like more Thai - does not like cheese). The new door that I finally received after nine months of questions, he hung it neatly. As compensation for the long wait (at least I think so) I also received a screen door in the front door that I had not asked for.

Last year he also made and attached a new shelter for my outside door. I didn't ask for that either, but it's nice of grandmother. The previous shelter was so small that it only stopped a little rain.

Now - when it rains - I can put the key in the lock dry, even smoke a cigar outside (while it's raining) and a bit of laundry can also hang outside to dry. As a side effect, the larger roof also catches more rubbish that is thrown out by the residents of the higher floors.

Tjet is a 'good guy' as far as I can judge. A bit noisy and having a beer every day before grumbling home, but ok. He earns 300 baht a day with grandmother (only if there is work) and through the intercession of my wife (who has a good relationship with her) he now gets 12.000 baht a month.

At the moment Tjet plays more night watchman (for the same salary) because the night watchman (originally an Indian) has resigned. And if there is a lot of chores for Tjet during the day, the Indian night watchman will take over a night from him.

Tjet's moped has been financed and he proudly told my wife a few weeks ago that the last installment had to be paid off next month. However, nothing turned out to be less true. His (second) wife, who manages the finances, had to admit that she had not paid off in the past five months. When asked by Tjet what she had spent the money on, she was unable to answer. Maybe given to her family, maybe gambled away: who knows.

For Tjet, however, this was the straw that broke the camel's back. Apparently he was already having more problems with his wife. Tjet wants to divorce her but will pay her 2000 baht a month for the education of the son they have. For the time being, Tjet has moved into a room on the ground floor that previously served as an ironing room. Since the woman who did the laundry and ironing left with the northern sun, this space has been empty. A lucky accident. At least for Jett.

Chris de Boer

The condominium building Chris lives in is run by an elderly woman. He calls her grandmother, because she is both in status and in age. Grandmother has two daughters (Doaw and Mong) of which Mong is the owner of the building on paper.