A farang in Isan (4)

Those who regularly followed the stories of De Inquisitor know that there were medical problems in the near past. Five weeks of hospitalization four years ago and another month in December last year. Well, The Inquisitor is hardly influenced by it in terms of lifestyle.

Although it is certain that these problems will recur, all he does is faithfully take the prescribed sodamint tablets and adjust his diet a bit: salt consumption is about eighty percent lower than before, all foods with a high calcium content are avoided as much as possible . As much as possible, because occasionally a hearty steak (red meat), green vegetables as or spinach, a large glass of milk, … he still likes it. And De Inquisitor completely ignores the request to come for a checkup about every three months.

Because he discovered that there was always something going on: “Sir, we should actually take a special scan”. “Sir, this time we want to do a big check”. "Sir, we would also like to check the liver in addition to your kidneys." And also because they carried out unsolicited checks: cholesterol, sugar, ... . The Inquisitor discovered this on the bills that got a little higher every time.

Still, we need to think a little about the future. The Inquisitor had adjusted to the ambitions of a partner twenty years his junior, ambitions he no longer had at all. He is blowing out, she wants to move forward in life. A younger partner does give someone like The Inquisitor new impulses and energy, but that will decrease in the future. Actually already, The Inquisitor will soon be sixty-one. And there was talk. From now on, De Inquisitor avoids heavier work: something has to be built, trees have to be removed, heavy work on the rice fields, continuously mowing the grass at the back of the house, done with it. Day laborers can do that too.

But there's more. The Inquisitor is the person who ensures the mobility of the family: the sweetheart can't handle the big pick-up truck because of the gears. So all purchases for shop and family can only be made by him. Also: when De Inquisitor was so ill, family of the loved one had to be called in to take him away, to pick him up, to move to another hospital. And The Inquisitor also has something like this: given his outdoor life - what if he is bitten by a venomous snake? Would he have a heart attack, stroke, or whatever? That family works during the day and in such cases you have to go to a hospital very quickly.
When De Inquisitor arrived here, he had a car with an automatic transmission and it was soon fun to drive it. Because of the construction of the house and the shop, he bought that pick-up truck at the time, but with gears. The driver's ambitions of the sweet were out.

It had already been talked about, another car. But yes, that is a heavy investment, moreover, De Inquisitor has to bear his own medical costs due to exclusion by the insurance companies. Until he suddenly hears through a friend that he received a lot of money for the same car. Second-hand cars fetch much more in Thailand than in Europe. Simply: five years ago De Inquisitor bought the pick-up new for eight hundred and nineteen thousand baht. And now, five years old, they still give four hundred and twenty thousand for it. Signal to take a look for a new car. Not too big, not too small. An SUV model with automatic transmission, seven seats with folding seats so that you can load a lot, many gadgets because their 'top' model is preferred. Eight hundred and fifty-five thousand baht because of some extras such as dashcam, special color, … . Counting and weighing the pros and cons for days, then the decision: we'll do it.
Which will cost The Inquisitor several days of constant annoyance.

First the problem of sales: private is dangerous because you never know whether they have the money. And private individuals, like De Inquisitor, know nothing about the procedures. So buyers. All of whom have the annoying habit of completely ignoring the hour of appointment. One arrives immediately after the phone call despite the appointment being in the afternoon, another arrives only at XNUMX pm while he was supposed to arrive in the morning. After a while it seems that the whole area knows that a pick-up truck in good condition is for sale and more buyers show up without an appointment.

Another thing: in the first instance someone comes to your home to look. They take an enormous number of photos, conduct an extensive investigation with arguments such as 'here is a scratch, there is a dent, the rubber of the tires is bad, …'. To then say that The Inquisitor has to go to the boss with the car. Where you again have to wait at least an hour because without exception: 'the boss is away for a while'. Once the chef is there, it's time to praise and offer. Some come with an offer that is completely non-negotiable, but then there is one who wants to give the asking price. okay, nice. An hour later a phone call: he lowers his offer because 'the right rear tire has bad rubber'.

Fortunately there is no real need, they don't give the prize it simply doesn't happen, they can't put pressure on The Inquisitor. In the end, there is a buyer for the asking price. Papers are drawn up, advance payment received and then the notification that he will pick up the car the next morning. No sir, it's not happening. Only when the new car is here and you pay in cash do you get the keys.
In the coming period, this buyer will call several times a day: 'Is it possible now?'.

Then the purchase. Must De Inquisitor go to the showroom sixty kilometers further. Nice, choice made, all details discussed of what is included, what are free extras, total price fixed. Papers made, advance given. And the message: the day after tomorrow the car will be there by noon. Wow. Do they have to carry out an extra UV treatment during that time, install a dashcam, … . It didn't have to be that fast for De Inquisitor, but it was a bonus. Also called the buyer: the day after tomorrow you can pick up the car in the showroom when we pick up the new car, don't forget cash money yes.

That day report: this afternoon fifteen o'clock the new car is ready. The sweetheart and The Inquisitor at the appointed hour there, the buyer of the old car is already there, but no new car to be seen. 'Is on the way, is from Udon Thani'. The buyer already wants to settle his affairs, but encounters the veto of De Inquisitor, who wants to see and check the new car before handing over the keys to his old car. An hour later still nothing, 'the transport is thirty kilometers from here, farang'. Another two cups of coffee and an hour later all employees start to leave the place. It's XNUMXpm, they're closing. Four people have to work overtime: the saleswoman, the cashier, two workmen. The transport does not arrive until XNUMX pm. Do they have to check the car, remove all plastic on the order of The Inquisitor, polish it up a bit. And yes, the dashcam has not been installed, come in within two weeks ... . Meanwhile, the buyer has become desperate, he is still there. Well, okay. Paperwork. And suddenly another couple appears out of nowhere - the ones who buy the car from the buyer. And they immediately start haggling – can't you get some discount yet? The Inquisitor is about to explode now, remains rock hard and possibly wants to call off the sale. The ten thousand baht advance will not be refunded to the buyer. And they stop whining.

In the end everything is fine. At eighteen thirty….
Strangely enough, seven buyers, who each carried out an extensive visual investigation, did not see some things that De Inquisitor had feared: an asterisk in the windscreen and a hole in the left wing mirror box. .
On the other hand – nobody asked about the invoices for the maintenance. Don't they care, you might as well not take the car to the garage, just changing the oil is apparently enough... .

But the love is so proud and cheerful that the mood of De Inquisitor immediately improves. The technology in this car is much further than in the previous one, countless nice gadgets, the car drives well, holds the track and is completely to our liking. More than enough cargo space, comfortable seats, nice interior too. The sweet is eager to take over the wheel, but that is not possible. She doesn't have a driver's license yet, she can only learn to deal with it in and around the village for the time being.
She is also very proud because the car is in her name. And she can't resist stopping at a 7-Eleven along the way for the traditional pictures on Facebook. The Inquisitor is okay with it all, lets the whole thing pass as he devours a chemical hamburger that is so bad that the mutt that was kicking in front of him becomes the happiest animal in the whole parking lot.