A women's restroom for a deputy department chief is the latest addition to the executive offices of the Royal Forest Department. But it did, so to speak, close its doors shortly after it was opened.
Atchara: Little time to settle
Workers swung into action to build a new women's toilet facility when it was announced that Atchara Wongsaengchan had been promoted to deputy director-general of the Royal Forest Department.
She had become the department's first female deputy chief in its 115 years of history.
Before she took up the post and settled into the job, a private restroom fitted with appropriate utilities had to be provided. The fixtures already in place would not be suitable.
After the restroom refurbishment was complete, workers began sprucing up her office. But Ms Atchara was not to stick around long enough to see the office facelift completed.
In fact, she spent barely a month as the RFD deputy chief before she was shifted to the Department of Mineral Resources to serve as its deputy director-general.
Throughout this year, Ms Atchara has had a whirlwind tour of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, being given quick stints here and there in various departments.
Before her appointment as the RFD deputy chief, Ms Atchara was deputy director-general of the Marine and Coastal Resources Department. She stayed in the post for a few months and then moved to the RFD.
Ms Atchara's big break came last year when she was named director of Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation, a post that was to groom her for deputy chief of the marine department.
Almost a year has passed and after a lot of post-hopping, Ms Atchara has now landed the job of deputy chief of the Office of Atoms for Peace under the Science and Technology Ministry.
This time round, she has crossed over to a different ministry altogether. But an inter-ministry shift for a C-9 senior official in the post of deputy department director-general does not involve any kind of lengthy and tedious process.
All that needs to be done in order to move to another ministry is to get written permission from the permanent secretary-generals of the two ministries and the switch becomes official.
Ms Atchara used to work closely with outspoken Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, who is also head of the Water and Flood Management Commission (WFMC).
She was secretary to Mr Plodprasop while he was director-general of both the RFD and the Fisheries Department before Mr Plodprasop went into mandatory retirement.
A source close to Mr Plodprasop said the minister was not comfortable with a change of secretary or his front office as his old staff know their way around the office and understand him and can meet his professional needs.
The 'invisible' Democrat No.2
It is eerily quiet in the office of the Democrat Party secretary-general, stoking some observers' curiosity as to whether the occupant of the room is really in charge of the party's affairs.
Chalermchai Sri-on has more or less been in stealth mode since his rise to the second-most important post of the party after the Democrats' defeat in the July 3 general election last year.
Chalermchai: In Suthep’s shadow
In a stark comparison to his predecessor, the high-flying Suthep Thaugsuban who is the rallying point for party morale and various activities, Mr Chalermchai is rarely seen or heard in public.
He will surely go down in the party's records as one of its most reclusive secretary-generals ever.
Mr Chalermchai may be less well-known as secretary-general of the country's oldest political party. But as a House member, the owner of a pineapple canning empire in Prachuap Khiri Khan was responsible for toppling the Prachuapmohs who for years had been re-elected MPs of the province and retained dominance of the provincial political scene.
After the Democrats' loss in last year's election, Mr Suthep called it quits as party secretary-general and the vacancy was filled by Mr Chalermchai amid doubts in some quarters over his ability to pick up where Mr Suthep left off.
Expectations of Mr Chalermchai ran high, that he would be able to expand the party's popularity beyond its traditional bastion in the South.
Many members were full of hope the Democrats would be able to score much-needed breakthroughs and claim electoral victories in constituencies in the Central Plains, the North and the Northeast, the region which is the toughest nut to crack for the opposition party.
The party source said the members needed proof of the pudding and were waiting to see how Mr Chalermchai planned to boost the party's fortunes. They insisted it was not enough that the party retains existing MP seats; it desperately needs to adopt new and versatile strategies that would allow it to win over larger slices of the pie of MPs, particularly in constituency-rich provinces in the North and Northeast where the ruling Pheu Thai Party holds sway.
However, Mr Chalermchai has not delivered what has been expected of him, according to the source.
He should have performed at the very least on a par with Mr Suthep in terms of being the front man of the party to trumpet what the Democrats plan to do to revamp themselves.
Mr Chalermchai was reportedly Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva's preferred choice for party secretary-general. He was elected to the coveted post after criticism that there were more suitable candidates to replace Mr Suthep.
The party source said some elements in the party have persuaded Mr Chalermchai to come out of his shell and take centre stage in robustly rebutting allegations directed at the Democrats.
They do not believe he should leave the job to the ''frontline lieutenants'' _ the likes of party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut and MPs Thepthai Senpong and Sirichok Sopha.
When prodded to publicly put up a defensive guard for the party, Mr Chalermchai responded with a question: ''Do I have to hold a press conference for that?'' according to the source.
Lobby job with the Dubai boss
Three men could be in the running for leader of the Pheu Thai Party, but it is not expected that the winner will have to do very much.
A meeting to elect the new party boss and executives on Oct 30 has been marked prominently on the party's calendar as there is a lot riding on it.
Viroj: Not a trouble-maker
Viroj Pao-in has been acting party leader of Pheu Thai since Yongyuth Wichaidit stepped down over the Alpine land controversy.
Pol Lt Gen Viroj, as the most senior deputy party leader, was entrusted with the caretaker role until the party finds a permanent replacement for Mr Yongyuth.
The long-retired senior police chief could be the real deal with the support of the majority of party members and the green light from the Dubai boss.
A highly placed source in Pheu Thai said at least Pol Lt Gen Viroj is not a trouble-maker for the party.
A prime qualification for Pheu Thai boss, which provides a distinct separation from leaders of other political parties, is that he or she must possess outstanding oratory skills and be able to effortlessly showcase a vision for the party.
The new leader must also emulate what is considered to be Mr Yongyuth's most noted asset _ his ability not to put himself on a collision course with the Dubai boss.
An ideal Pheu Thai commander must also refrain from stirring up trouble for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra while steering clear of disrupting the party's coordination with its MPs.
In addition, the leader must maintain smooth contact with the Chansonglah faction of the party.
The source said all of the qualifications are found in the party secretary-general Jarupong Ruangsuwan, who is also transport minister.
Mr Jarupong ascended to the party secretary-general's post with the full knowledge he might be subject to a five-year political ban if the party is dissolved for any reason in the future.
This was construed by some party members as a selfless intent to stick with the party and being courageous enough to take on a party executive post regardless of the political risks.
His warm relations with the Dubai boss and the Chansonglah faction gave him the edge over other potential candidates.
Most interesting of all, the source pointed out, Mr Jarupong also has contact with Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda. Mr Jarupong's father, Jarubut, was House speaker at one point during Gen Prem's tenure as prime minister between 1980 and 1988.
Mr Jarupong may give Pol Lt Gen Viroj a tough run for his money but he too could encounter an uphill battle competing against Defence Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat, if he decides to vie for the party leadership.
The source said compared to Mr Jarupong, ACM Sukumpol is no less qualified for the position. He is also believed to be even closer than the party secretary-general to the Dubai boss.
The Dubai boss is expected to fly to Hong Kong close to the executive meeting date. During his stay in the territory he might have to welcome groups of visitors from Thailand whose missions will be to lobby for the candidates they support.