Just looking for my father-in-law
Chalerm has returned from Anyburi with fresh gossip. His ill grandmother has given Chalerm the farm and the house in the village. This is not popular with the rest of the clan.
I don’t know what Thai inheritance law says but Chalerm is granny’s favourite. Chalerm is close to his grandmother and thanks to my money he has provided for her in her retirement in a way none of the other family members have.
Chalerm is not eager to have the farm. Four years after moving from Anyburi he finds the place boring and spooky. He says it is scary at night because it is dark everywhere and there are strange sounds from the woods.
Earlier the grandfather gave property to his children but Chalerm’s father sold his share and spent the money. This is not forgotten. I can see why granny wants to bypass the father (who is the oldest son) and give the property to Chalerm.
Chalerm’s father is wanted by the police. Granny had a visit from Bangkok cops who were looking for him in the village. What did he do this time? Chalerm can’t explain in English what it is about but I believe the issue is fraud or embezzlement.
It must be important since police from the capital could be bothered to spend all day going to Anyburi. It is a three hour drive from Bangkok.
The handsome, charming and unreliable father has never set foot in The Mansion and if he is a wanted man I hope he doesn’t.
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:28 pm
What does this mean for Clalerm?
Who works the farm? I presume granny employed workers to do that or it would go to rack and ruin eventually.
Will Chalerm have to visit the farm more often now to supervise?
What do they grow on the farm? Is it a commercial enterprise or subsistance farm?
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:34 pm
I don’t know much about it. The house is in the village and the fields are somewhere else.
My understanding is that they rent the fields out to other farmers. They have no animals anymore.
After the grandfather died they tried to sell the house for 50 000 B but there were no takers.
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Sounds like Chalerm needs to trade in his
for a pair of suitable for the farm.
January 3rd, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Congratulations, Chalerm and Silom, you are farmers now! Which certainly is a sign of esteem by the grandmother and a great honour to you. But there’s another side of the coin: As the future caretakers of the family land you certainly gain not only honour, but also responsibility for the family welfare. Family members might expect work and income, which you as the caretakers will have to provide.
Luckily you make millions with the business of hotel promoting! The room club promotion was a good start, I hope.
January 3rd, 2007 at 4:23 pm
As I understand it, there is an official process involved in transferring a title in Thailand, just as in the west. Relying on the fact that granny has ‘given’ Chalerm the farm may not be enough if she passes away, especially with all those relatives around.
My bf’s mother wants to give him the title to the family house and farm. Apparently that requires a visit from a provincial official. This can happen within days if a sum of perhaps 10,000 baht is paid, or ‘in the fullness of time’ (i.e. possibly never) if only the official rate is offered. That’s for a typical wooden Issan house on stilts and some rice fields.