10 years of Thailand blog: Readers speak – Bert

As you know, Thailandblog exists 10 years. We paid attention to this by, among other things, letting the bloggers have their say. Now it's the readers' turn. Today Bert from Limburg.

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Questionnaire for readers of Thailandblog

What is your name/nickname on Thailandblog?

Bert de Platmaker

What is your age?

56

What is your birthplace and country?

Limburg Netherlands

In which place have you lived the longest?

Limburg

What is/was your profession?

Military

Do you live in Thailand or in Belgium/the Netherlands (where approximately)?

We do the 8/4, in TH we live with our daughter in BKK (or vice versa) and in NL with my parents

What is your bond with Thailand?

Firstly my Thai wife and secondly the climate, I hate the cold

Do you have a Thai partner?

Ja

What are your hobbies?

Actually none, I just do what I feel like. One day it's a bit of odd jobs in the garden and the next day I'm going for a swim or a walk. Still like to travel a bit through Thailand and enjoy the wonderful climate

Do you have other hobbies since living in Thailand?

No

Why is Thailand special to you, why the fascination for the country?

Once, 30 years ago I was a reasonable pub tiger and after an afternoon of drinking we often went for a meal at the Chinese restaurant. Jokingly, it was once said that we should go and eat a babi panghang in China and that's how the ball started rolling. Collecting information at the holiday fair, but China turned out to be slightly above our desired budget and the lady at the stand said then you should go to Thailand, you can also enjoy good food there and that is how I ended up in Thailand.

From then on every year and in 1993 I met my current wife and in 1997 we made the decision to live together in NL. Fortunately, it was much easier then than it is now. My wife learned NL at school for 2 years, at that time still voluntarily and fully paid for by the municipality.

In 2011, during the umpteenth reorganization at Defense, I was given the opportunity to retire early with a (bad) scheme (35% of my salary). Too little to survive in NL, but enough to advance our dream of living in TH someday. Must adhere to the 8/4 schedule due to insurance. So far no problem with it, then you also have good contact with your NL family, but it may become difficult later in life.

And the reason to ever go to TH, good food. Unfortunately, I don't like most TH food very much, but there are still plenty of things I do like and nowadays in TH you can find a lot of western food affordable in the BigC, Max Value or something. This may be different outside the city, I have no idea because I live in the city myself and my parents-in-law and acquaintances also live in an urban environment with Big C or Makro nearby. And a cauliflower or broccoli or pork steak etc really doesn't taste any different than in NL, only you will have to stand at the stove yourself.

How did you ever end up on Thailandblog and when?

Recommended by an acquaintance I met on another forum

Do you also write comments?

Sometimes, when I have the time and inclination

Why are you responding (or why are you not responding)?

If I can help someone with my response, I will respond and if I see something that is absolutely wrong in my eyes, I will respond too. If things have already been reported 4 or 5 times then I don't respond anymore and to some questions I don't respond at all because I don't have the knowledge to answer them

Have you ever written a story for Thailandblog (reader submission)?

No

Why/why not?

I've never actually taken the courage and time to sit down and write a story. Also think that I don't have the capacity to put an interesting story on paper. Who knows someday in the future

What do you like/special about Thailandblog?

I like to read about the different ways people live in TH as farang and also the fact that people with a question are always helped. Certainly in the field of visas, but also other matters.

I have a special appreciation for Dr Maarten

What do you like less/special about Thailandblog?

I don't like the reactions of the people who look through the typical pink or black glasses. Overly pro Thailand, or the other side. Everyone has their own way of life and everyone thinks they are doing it right in their own way and then those reactions are not appropriate in my opinion

What kind of posts/stories on Thailandblog do you find most interesting?

Actually everything

Do you have contact with other readers or writers on Thailandblog (with whom and why)?

No

What do you think of the many comments on Thailandblog? Do you read them all?

Almost all

What function do you think Thailandblog has?

Informative and entertaining

What are you still missing on Thailandblog?

What I regret is that the comments are only posted after they have been approved by the editors. Then a discussion sometimes dies before it is finished. But this is an editor's choice and we have to accept that

Do you think Thailandblog will make it to the next anniversary (15 years)?

hopefully yes